Hitwise Top 10 Medical Site
  Search for Doctors    specialty zip code  
Return to: Home » Health Articles : LASIK Eye Surgery Articles : Presbyopia Surgery: Decreasing Dependence on ...

Advertisement

LASIK Eye Surgery Cost & Profile

  • Avg. Cost: $1700
  • Candidate: Over 18 with healthy corneas
  • Length: 10 minutes
  • Treatments: Usually one
  • Results: Permanent
  • Back to work: 1-3 days

 Compare Procedures

Common Questions & Answers about LASIK Eye Surgery

"I am 50 yrs old, have been wearing eyeglasses since I was 7 yrs. old for myopia. I now also have bifocals. I've also been told I have severe astigmatism and also congenital cataracts. Could I possilby be a candidate for lasik surgery?"

Latest LASIK Eye Surgery Doctors

PhotoLASIK Eye Surgery Fishkill, New York
David Steinberg,
PhotoLASIK Eye Surgery Toronto, Ontario
The Bochner Eye Institute,
PhotoLASIK Eye Surgery Plantation, Florida
Raananah Katz, MD
PhotoLASIK Eye Surgery Wellington, Florida
Salvatore DeCanio, Jr., OD, FAAO
PhotoLASIK Eye Surgery Silver Spring, Maryland
Capital Eye Physicians & Surgeons, LLC,

Get the Beautiful Living Newsletter

Free monthly newsletter of up-to-date elective surgery stories with unique perspectives directly from doctors and patients.


We Value Your Privacy!

Search: 

Presbyopia Surgery: Decreasing Dependence on Reading Glasses One Eye at a Time


Advertisement
Monovision is the term for the surgical correction of one eye to achieve enhanced vision up close

Eyes age and vision begins to worsen.  Even if you have had good vision your whole life you are not exempt from this rule.  For some people cataracts make the world look cloudy, and many unlucky elderly suffer vision loss, sometimes even resulting in blindness, as a result of macular degeneration.  But even if these age related maladies pass you over, you will develop presbyopia by the time you are 50; it happens to everyone.

Presbyopia is the name for the eye condition that causes people in middle age to be reliant upon reading glasses.  With age, the power of the eye begins to deteriorate, and focusing objects up close becomes more of a strain.  Some people embrace it as a sign of wisdom and maturity, and others try to disguise it, grasping desperately to what they perceive to be their fading youth, but with new advancements in eye surgery dependence on reading glasses does not have to be a reality.

Monovision

So what's the answer to the how to get rid of readers question?  Monovision.  No, not walking around like a pirate with one eye covered with a black patch.  Monovision is the term for the surgical correction of one eye to achieve enhanced vision up close.  Your good, or dominant eye is left alone or mildly corrected for distance vision, while your non-dominant eye is surgically corrected to focus objects up close, like the morning newspaper.  To perform this surgical enhancement, doctors typically use one of two procedures: LASIK, the famous name in eye surgery, or conductive keratoplasty (CK), one of vision corrections newest members, FDA approved for the treatment of presbyopia in 2004.

CK

Instead of using a laser, CK is performed with a small pen shaped instrument inserted into the cornea. This customized instrument emits and controls radiofrequency energy (RF) into the eye, producing heat that makes the cornea steeper. A treatment pattern is mapped out on the eye with eight to thirty-two treatment points. RF is then distributed to each point through the Keratoplast tip, changing the shape of the cornea. The result of this changes the way the cornea directs light to the rest of the eye.  The whole procedure takes about 3 to 5 minutes. The procedure is relatively painless, involves no cutting, and can be done in the doctor's office or clinic.

Patients experience no infections and no major surgical side effects, and about 10% of patients need additional treatment following surgery.

LASIK

Though CK is safe and effective, one of the drawbacks is that its effects only last 2-5 years, while monovision performed using LASIK lasts forever.  Some people opt for CK accepting that they will be back for touchups, but others accept the possible complications, including blurred or haloed vision, associated with LASIK in exchange for the convenience of a one-time correction.  With the advancements in customized technology, including the new Wavefront technology, eligible patients can receive better corrected vision with a slighter chance of side effects. 

As with all surgical procedures, there is a learning curve for surgeons.  Patients should look for a doctor that has experience with the particular procedure that they are having done. 

Published: 10/22/2004, Last Updated: 11/30/2004

By LocateADoc.com Medical Staff Writers

Our writers strive to present an objective, upfront and open view of the medical procedures you're interested in. We present you with both the good and bad, and work to represent both doctors' and patients' points of view. Our articles contain facts and statistics obtained from medical associations, medical and surgical journals, and through doctor and patient interviews.

Article 7 of 31

« Previous LASIK Eye Surgery Article   Next LASIK Eye Surgery Article »

LASIK Eye Surgery Surgery Information Guide

Basics of LASIK Eye Surgery
"I've heard about the surgery and I'm looking to learn a bit more about things like cost, whether it's right for me, and what options I have."
  1. LASIK Basics
    What you should know about LASIK surgery, including information about the latest technology.
  2. LASIK and Refractive Surgery Timeline
    Get a brief history of refractive surgery and see how technology has advanced.
  3. Information on LASEK
    A slight variation on the traditional LASIK procedure is becoming available, LASEK. This procedure may be an option for patients who are not good candidates for the traditional procedure. We have put together some information LASEK for your review.
  4. Vision Problems: Which one do you have? What does it mean?
    Learn about common vision problems, how they form, how they're measured, and how they can be corrected.
  5. LASIK Joins the Military
    LASIK, along with PRK, is being used to help active soldiers become independent from glasses and contacts.
  6. Online Video Presentation About LASIK Procedure
    Watch an online video presentation about the LASIK procedure. It covers the basics of LASIK: what to expect, how long the procedure takes, recovery time, etc.
  7. Another Commercial Laser Labeled for LASIK
    On May 11, 2000 Summit Autonomous received FDA approval to market its LadarVision System laser in the United States. The new approval allows surgeons to treat up to -9.0 D of myopia and up to 3.0D of astigmatism.
  8. Excimer Laser Procedures (LASIK, PRK, PARK)
    Photo-Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) uses the excimer laser to correct low to moderate amounts of refractive errors.
  9. From Contact Lenses to LASIK – When to Make the Switch
    If you’re one of the millions of people hoping to switch from contact lenses to LASIK this year, the first step is setting up a consultation with your local eye doctor. Knowing when to make the switch will depend on your overall eye health, as well as how stable your eyes currently are.
Details of LASIK Eye Surgery
"I already know some basic things about the surgery and I'm ready to research some of the details and maybe ask some questions."
  1. Comparing the LASIK Lasers
    With all the different lasers available for use in LASIK eye surgery, how do you know which one is right for you? Does it matter? To help answer these questions we called upon some of the country's leading ophthalmologists to present a better vision of today's laser market.
  2. Is IntraLase a Safer Alternative for Your Eyes?
    Touted as "all-laser" LASIK, IntraLase promises better vision with fewer complications, but is it really true? Read how the procedure works, the pros and cons, and what type of patients benefit most.
  3. New Technology Increasing the Chance of 20/20 Vision to 99%
    Have you heard of the newest advancement in LASIK technology that offers a 99% chance of 20/20 vision without the use of glasses or contacts? Iris registration is the name of the special eye tracking tool that makes LASIK more precise than ever. Find out how it works, who's a candidate, and all the other advantages and limitations you need to make an informed decision.
  4. Covering the Cost of LASIK and Laser Eye Surgery
    If you are like most patients, the price of LASIK is an important consideration when deciding whether or not to undergo surgery. Learn about the different options that can help you make LASIK more affordable.
  5. LASIK Complications: Definitions and treatment options
    Learn about the possible complications of LASIK surgery, how they can be prevented, and how they are treated.
  6. Presbyopia Surgery: Decreasing Dependence on Reading Glasses...
    Monovision eye surgery can decrease dependence on reading glasses. Learn what it is and the options available
  7. Tired of Wearing Glasses for Seeing at a Distance? Why LASIK...
    It seems that LASIK has been all the rage in vision correction surgery since it was approved for use in 1998, generally accounting for somewhere around 95% of all refractive surgeries. But now a new procedure, using the technology that has been successful during cataract surgery, may offer a more desirable option for severely nearsighted patients.
  8. Study Recommends Longer than Previously Suggested Discontinuance...
    Discontinuing use of conctat lenses before LASIK surgery is an important step to reducing surgical risks. A new study finds that the use of some lenses shoulod be stopped earlier than previously advised.
  9. FDA-Approved lasers
    FDA-Approved lasers for LASIK, PRK and other refractive surgeries
  10. LASIK Surgery Considerations
    Considerations outlines the criteria you will need to weigh in order to make a well-informed decision.
  11. LASIK Glossary
    Glossary of technical words related to LASIK
  12. U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Policy on LASIK
    According to the Federal Air Surgeon's Medical Bulletin, Fall 1998, the FAA accepts LASIK for its pilots, as long as...
  13. LocateADoc.com pays for Nashville, TN father's surgery
    Winning LocateADoc.com's November $2k contest, Anthony Edwards, a firefighter from Nashville, Tennessee won a chance to rid his life of the inconvenience of wearing glasses.
  14. The Excimer Laser
    The Excimer Laser has added a tremendous amount of precision, control and safety to treating nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
  15. The Future of LASIK – What to Expect
    Is now the best time to pursue LASIK surgery, or should you wait a few more years until technology gets even better? Learn about your future options with LASIK and corrective eye surgery.
Ready for LASIK Eye Surgery
"I've pretty much finished by research on the surgery and I think I'm ready to find and meet with a doctor to get started."
  1. Is Lasik Really the Answer to Vision Problems? Complications...
    LASIK surgery accounts for over 2 million services for vision correction each year and has quickly become one of the most effective ways to maintain good eye health while correcting common vision problems. Still, many people are walking away from the doctor’s office with less than perfect results. Learn about the potential complications to make an informed decision for corrective eye surgery.
  2. Find Laser Eye Surgery Doctors In Other Cities
  3. Patient Financing
    Think you'll need help paying for your surgery? Almost anyone is a candidate for easy financing of up to 100% of the surgery costs.
After LASIK Eye Surgery
  1. Recommend Your Doctor
Featured Articles & News Related to LASIK Eye Surgery
"What other related things might I like to know?"
  1. FDA Approves First LASIK Device for Monovision
    Patients who suffer from monovision can now receive LASIK surgery so that they will never have to wear bifocals again.
  2. Are You Paying Too Much for LASIK? The Real Costs of Corrective...
    Have you ever wondered why LASIK costs more in some cities and states than others? If you’re considering LASIK eye surgery, make sure you’re not paying too much by considering the following factors:
  3. Six Foods That Improve Your Vision
    Poor eyesight is often associated with aging and genetics, but experts suggest that eyesight damage can be prevented with everyday foods. Are you eating enough of these six important foods?
  4. Eight Signs You May Need Cataract Surgery
    Cell degeneration begins as early as your late 20s and vision impairment is just one of the major health problems associated with aging. Are you showing signs of cataracts?
  5. Key Benefits of Zyoptix Laser Eye Surgery
    The Zyoptix system is designed by Bausch & Lomb, and the company claims that this system is more precise than the standard LASIK treatment. How does it work? Here's a closer look at this innovative vision correction system.
  6. Do's and Don'ts After LASIK Surgery
    Have you recently had LASIK surgery? Make sure your recovery is as smooth as possible with these tips and suggestions.
Browse All Articles

Related Subjects and Keywords: LASIK  conductive keratoplasty  presbyopia  refractive eye surgery 


Search: 


Advertisement

Dissatisfied with our Health Articles? Have a health article suggestion?
Tell us how we can improve.