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LASIK surgery, (LASIK is an acronym for "Laser-Assisted in Sutu Keratomileusis) is currently the most commonly performed type of refractive vision correction surgery. LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. There are a number of reasons why LASIK is so popular, including the fact that it's fast, it's relatively painless (especially when compared to PRK eye surgery), it's affordable, and most of all it provides good results for most patients within one or two days after the procedure.
During LASIK laser eye surgery, an instrument known as a microkeratome is used to carve a thin, circular flap in the part of the eye known as the cornea. A laser can also be used to create this flap. The eye surgeon then folds this corneal flap up and out of the way, and removes some of the corneal tissue beneath with a excimer laser (also referred to as "ablating" the tissue). This is a type of laser that uses a cool UV light beam to remove a very precise amount of tissue from the cornea, which reshapes it to become either flatter or more curved, depending on whether the patient is nearsighted or farsighted.
Once this process is complete, the flap is folded back into place, covering the area where the corneal tissue was ablated. Then the patient goes home, the area is allowed to heal, and most people experience much improved vision within a day or two after having the procedure.
LASIK surgery is known for it's fast recovery time. Immediately after your surgery, the doctor will have you relax and rest for a short time. Then you'll be allowed to go home (with someone else driving, of course). When you get home, you should lie down in a quiet place and rest for a few hours in.
Typically patients can return to work the next day after surgery, but most LASIK surgeons advise their patients to take a few days off instead to allow their eyes to fully recover from the procedure. They also advise against any type of strenuous exercise or activity for at least a week, as this can potentially traumatize the surgery area and set back the healing process.
After LASIK laser eye surgery, most patients will find that their vision improves almost immediately, but for some the improvement is more gradual over a period of days or even weeks.
LASIK is an outpatient surgical procedure - you walk into the clinic or doctor's office, have the surgery, then walk out again when it's over. The actual procedure often takes less than five minutes, and you'll be away and aware the whole time.
The results from LASIK surgery can vary. Most patients report 20/20 or better vision after the procedure. Others may only achieve 20/40 vision, which is still quite good. And some people will still require the use of glasses or contacts after undergoing LASIK, although with a much lower prescription level than before.
Postoperative complications and side effects with LASIK surgery are rare, but can include infections of the eye, or problems with night vision, such as halos or starbursts at night while driving or riding in a car. Rarely people experience very clear vision after the surgery, but then over time their vision blurs, which is referred to as "regression." And even patients who experience 20/20 vision after the LASIK procedure, may still need to wear contacts or reading glasses after the age of 40, as their vision goes through the normal aging process.
As you might imagine, the cost of LASIK laser eye surgery varies widely from one provider to another, and one part of the country to another. Other factors that can influence the price are charges for newer technology like custom wavefront LASIK, or all-laser bladeless LASIK surgery.
Also keep in mind that prices quoted for the procedure only include one eye, even if both eyes are done on the same day. So you'll want to double the quoted price if you plan on having both eyes corrected.
Generally speaking, the average cost for LASIK surgery ranges from $500 per eye on the low end, to over $2200 per eye for an all-laser procedure including customized wavefront analysis. But be careful before considering "budget" LASIK surgery, and always read the fine print before going ahead with any procedure. Remember, these are your eyes your talking about, and skimping on cost can end up costing you a whole lot more if you get stuck with problems later or you need to go in for follow-up surgery.
While choosing a surgeon for PRK or LASIK is not as difficult as choosing say a heart surgeon, it's still important to do your homework and find a good doctor to perform the procedure. The last thing you want to do is to undergo a bad eye surgery, as most people place a very high value on their vision.
Some things to look for in a good surgeon is the person's level of training and experience, their willingness to work with their patients to resolve any problems that might crop up after the procedure. If you can, see if you can talk to some of their former patients to see what kind of experience they had. You'll also want to make sure the doctor is board certified to peform LASIK in the state where you live. The American Board of Opthalmology requires that board-certified doctors complete continuing education and training related to eye surgery. The American College of Surgeons is another organization that board-certifies LASIK eye surgeons.
Probably not, unfortunately. Most insurance companies consider LASIK and other vision coreection procedures an "elective surgery" and don't cover the costs. There are some insurance companies that will pay for a portion of the procedure under certain circumstances, if the medical situation falls within their parameters for inclusion.
You might contact your insurance provider before scheduling your surgery, just to see if some the the costs can be covered under your policy.
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Did you know that over one million laser vision correction procedures are performed in the US each year?
Becase of the accuracy of results, speed of recovery, and ease of treatment, lasik laser vision correction has become one of the most commonly performed surgeries throughout the US and the entire world.
