Lasik

Parent Cafe
21

<p>Some national chains advertise Lasik prices as low at $299 an eye, but a look at the financial reports of those same chains will find that the average Lasik cost is about $1,350 per eye. The price of Lasik varies from about $1,400 to $2,900 per eye, depending on the surgeon and technology, according to St. Louis research firm Market Scope. We have detailed articles about [Lasik[/url</a>] and [url=<a href=“http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-cost-price.htm]Lasik”>The Real Cost of Lasik in 2012 and Lasik Results]Lasik</a> Cost](<a href=“http://www.USAEyes.org%5DLasik%5B/url”>http://www.USAEyes.org) that may be helpful.</p>

<p>What is paid will depend greatly on the patient’s unique circumstances, which procedure is recommended, and market competition.</p>

<p>Glenn Hagele
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
[url=<a href=“http://www.USAEyes.org%5DUSAEyes.org%5B/url”>http://www.USAEyes.org]USAEyes.org[/url</a>]</p>

22

<p>I had Lasik in Feb.at age 55. Before that, my vision was -6.5, -7.0, and I also was wearing bifocals because of presbyopia (a condition that everyone gets at middle age). I had worn glasses since I was 2-years-old. The kind of Lasik I got was the most expensive type – the type that involves having a mapping done of my eye so that the surgery is custom, not generic. I figured that if I was going to have the surgery, I just was well get t</p>

<p>After years of wearing contacts, I could no longer wear them because of presbyopia. I had tried wearing a contact in one eye that corrected for nearsightedness, and having a contact in the other eye that allowed me to read, but that made me feel like I permanently was woozy.</p>

<p>I thought long and hard before getting Lasik, but finally decided to have the procedure done because due to having to wear glasses, I had no peripheral vision, which made me a danger while driving particularly when backing up.</p>

<p>I got a recommendation from my longtime ophthamlogist, and was referred to a person who had done thousands of Lasiks. I was told that I would still have to wear glasses to read.</p>

<p>The procedure was exactly as described to me: It took less than 5 mins. per eye (and was videotaped. S watched it on TV at the surgeon’s office). I was told to expect my eyes to feel like they had ground glass in them for about an hour, and to be very light sensitive, needing to wear extremely dark sunglasses. I also was told that I might permanently see starbursts at night when I see cars’ headlights, and I might see halos around street lights at night. And I was told that my vision would continue to fluctuate for about a year.</p>

<p>All occurred, including my still seeing starbursts, but, frankly, I was seeing that with my glasses, so thought that was normal vision! I honestly don’t remember if I’m still seeing halos around street lights. Clearly, if I am, it’s not a big deal.</p>

<p>To everyone’s surprise, however, I can still read without reading glasses. And my vision is about 20:15 in one eye, 20:20 in the other. Sometimes one eye has been 20:25 while the other has been 20:20. </p>

<p>I am so glad that I did this! The biggest benefit for me is being able to drive safely. My parking as well as backing up have improved immensely. I had had no idea before how much glasses (and even contacts) had interferred with my driving. I think that my depth perception also has improved. It’s the best money I’ve ever spent.</p>

<p>As for costs, I think I paid $2,000 per eye. I decided to select the best surgeon, not select based on finding the cheapest cost. My vision was too important for me to try to get a bargain on the surgery.</p>

23

<p>I see no reason to do it given the perfectly fine alternatives and the short and possible emerging long term risks. Contacts and glasses are not that expensive anymore. -5.25 or so.</p>

24

<p>I guess all those minuses mean that everybody is nearsighted. I am a +6.50 far sighted and was told LASIK would not work on my eyes. Well, actually they said they could do something, but I would still need daily contact lense use which did seem kind of pointless. My doctor also was tested and told she was not a candidate, although I’m not sure why. However, based on this limited experience I would be nervous about putting money into a flexible spending account before the evaluation because if you end up not being a candidate for the surgery, you are pretty much stuck.</p>

25

<p>Can I go off-topic for a sec?</p>

<p>My prescription is +1.50 in my left eye and +1.75 in my right eye (I have a lazy eye)…why is the + so much more uncommon?</p>

<p>I want to get lasik when I’m old enough as well. Contacts are a huge hassle, especially since I have 0 period and am often rushing out the door to arrive at school on time. But I do love my contacts…strangely, my vision has improved much more quickly and a HUGE amount since I started wearing them 6 years ago. Not quite sure what caused this, but it’s sure great.</p>

26

<p>

Uhhh… excuse me. Have you spoken to every opthamologist in the entire US ?? You “know” this to be a “fact”?? Why is this presented as if it were a given, when it is only an assumption? This is how nonsense gets promulgated and distorted. It is important to separate what one hypothesizes, not what they have decided is the “truth”. This turns their “truth” into lies. JMO</p>

27

<p>I agree with jym626. Though not opthalmologists, both of my optomotrists had lasik on their own eyes.</p>

28

<p>

</p>

<p>I don’t know how many you asked but this is SOOOOOOOO not true fo the optometrists and opthamologists I know. They HAVE had LASIK.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>This is almost too funny. How big was your sample? The fact is, that many who have had LASIK still wear reading glasses. </p>

<p>There are reasons you may not be a good candidate for LASIK but it isn’t because opthamologists or optometrists do not choose or believe in it!</p>

29

<p>Thanks Lukester!
The reality is, not everyone is a candidate for LASIK. My H looked into it and realized that he would have to sacrifice too much of his near vision to get adequate distance vision. No thanks. Another friend had LASIK and has to wear reading glasses. I have progressive glasses and progressive contact lenses (they are like trifocals, onlywitout any lines inthe lens), but still find that my “near” vision is not as good with my contacts in as with my glasses, so most of the time I wear my glasses. The statement that “all opthamologists are required to wear contacts” is ridiculous. No, it is beyond ridiculous.It is absurd. People, especially those in the vision field, are likely to wear or use what works best for them. If I were to consider LASIK surgery, I would certainly want my opthamologist to have the best “near” vision possible as he is looking in the scope to cut on my eyes. I would not want his/her vision compromised just to make it look like he/she doesn’t need glasses. Boy, that is a giant lawsuit waiting to happen. Why do people make ridiculous broad sweeping statements and present them as fact?? Sheesh. Ok, rant over.</p>

30

<p>Being able to see is the greatest gift of all (next to having children). I would never entrust my eyesight to a machine and another human being. Read what Kathy Griffin, the comedian, had to say about her experience.<br>
She is rich and has access to the best medical help. It didn’t work out for her.</p>

<p>[Kathy</a> Griffin](<a href=“http://www.kathygriffin.net/lasik.php]Kathy”>http://www.kathygriffin.net/lasik.php)</p>

31

<p>Hi soozie!
We crossposted. I have a few opthamologist friends who have said that they wouldn’t have LASIK done on themselves. They comented that after the lens is sliced, the connection that keeps the flap attached is pretty small. They commented (I suspect in jest) that all it might take is one big gust of wind to blow the flap out of ones eye! Again, I suspect they were exaggerating, but they preferred to keep their eyes intact and wear glasses. Now, that said, I am sure there are plenty of opthamologists who have had the procedure, and certainly of the risk if one’s lens blowing out of one’s eye was great, this wouldn’t be such a popular, successful procedure. However, I am still laughing at the ridiculous statement that “all optamologists are required to have LASIK or wear contacts”. I agree with you. It is almost too funny. And that it was presented as some sort of fact would be scary if it wasnt so laughable.</p>

32

<p>Razorsharp wrote:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Yikes, you would never entrust your eyesight to another human being? What do you do for eyecare (forget Lasik)??? Um, to my knowledge, in order to receive good eye care, you will need to entrust an eye doctor for diagnosis and treatment of any kind, not just the Lasik kind. Further, this is true with any medical care. Good luck!</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Well, well…if I made all my medical decisions for myself based on an incident where a procedure didn’t work for someone else, I’d have no medical procedures done at all. Every procedure has risks of complications. Every doctor explains those risks and then you must decide on treatment. For every story of of a procedure that went wrong or had complications, there are many more that were fantastic! Do what feels good for you but do not judge on the experience of ONE person only. Every body is different and every doctor is too.</p>

33

<p>

I was referring to the continuation of eyesight (as is becoming blind). I was not referring to routine eye sight testing and correction by eyeglasses not insolving surgery. </p>

<p>Picture being blind for the rest of your life. Are you really willing to take any risk that might result in that consequence? Not me. Miscalibrated machine. Malfunctioning machine. Doctor having a bad day or even malpractice. Caveat emptor to the rest of you.</p>

<p>

Yes, it’s called playing Russian Roulette – eventually someone gets the bullet.</p>

34

<p>I had my Lasik performed in 1999 - There is still not a day that goes by that I don’t think this was the best thing I could have done! I was extremely myopic (don’t recall the numbers anymore, but bad) & astigmatic. I became allergic to my lens (chronic giant papillary conjunctivitis) which made wearing any lenses impossible after years & years of use. For me (vanity won) there was no choice. As many other posters have said, be sure to go to an ophthalmologist who is very experienced in the procedure with top notch equipment. The initial (should be free) exam is critical, & you will not be able to wear your lenses for a specific period of days/weeks (ask your ophthal) before the exam. In 1999, I think I paid $5000 for both eyes. It is a life-changing procedure & I would recommend it in a heartbeat so long as your ophthal says your eyes qualify for it. Do not go to a “Lasik-mill”. I was back at work the day after I had my procedure done. Good luck & enjoy it.</p>

35

<p>Susan, I agree with you. If people refused any type of medical treatment because it didn’t go well for another patient, many doctors would be out of business in a hurry, in addition to the drastic effect that would have on healthcare, in general! </p>

<p>And, seriously, who would make a medical decision based on what the experience was for some celebrity? Pretty ridiculous.</p>

36

<p>Razorsharp, I wasn’t just referring to vision testing and correction that is routine. You said you would not trust your eyesight to another human being. What if you need any other sort of eye surgery (not Lasik)? What then? </p>

<p>Also, you mention Russian roulette…something is going to go poorly for some patient. Well, hate to break it to ya, but this is true of almost any medical procedure. </p>

<p>And who cares about a celebrity? If I were researching the risks, I’d look at the data, not a celebrity’s story which means nothing to me other than she got publicity to speak publicly about what went wrong in her case. For her story, there are thousands of very happy Lasik patients. </p>

<p>alwaysamom…agree with ya.</p>

37

<p>I had LASIK done 2 years ago. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I couldn’t be more pleased. I love no longer having to depend on glasses anymore. I couldn’t take contacts much longer than 6-8 hours a day before I wanted to claw my eyes out. I wouldn’t hesitate to do LASIK again if needed. There is some talk about celebrity examples. Many professional athletes have turned to LASIK to improve their game. Tiger Woods is one. Greg Maddux a pitcher was with the Atlanta Braves when he had. I’m sure there are many others. Having LASIK is obviously a personal choice and isn’t for everybody. Arm up with information, then make a decision.</p>

38

<p>My S1, a college Jr., will be having LASIK done this coming Thursday. He has been wearing contacts for 2 years and was beginning to develop eye infections from the contacts quite easily. They were Accuvue Dailies (-2.50 each eye) so cleaning them was not the reason. S1 is in ROTC and will be active duty military after graduation next year. He needs perfect vision for the career he hopes to pursue. I have my fingers crossed that all goes well. He is having it done by the most reputable guy in town who also did DH’s eye surgery 7 years ago. Cost is about $3600.</p>

39

<p>I’m still chuckling over the “I know all opthamologists are required to wear contacts so no one sees them in glasses” line. That’s had me snickering all day!</p>

40

<p>Me, too, jym26. I’m wondering WHO it is who is doing the ‘requiring’? :)</p>