The Lasik Eye Surgery Blog

Distinct Advantages of Visian Eye Surgery

Visian eye surgery is a procedure that has many different advantages. Those considering the procedure should speak with their eye care professional to learn more about the possibility of this surgery helping to improve vision. The main goal of the surgery is to give patients implantable lenses that help to provide crisper and clearer vision overall. There are also many other advantages to this surgery as opposed to other surgeries and other treatments for vision problems such as glasses and contact lenses.

Vision surgery typically provides a restoration in vision in as little as fifteen minutes for each eye. It is an outpatient laser eye surgery which means that the patient can return home the same day as the procedure, within just a couple of hours in most cases. There is a very short recovery time and most patients can resume normal activities after just one day. The Visian implant is an invisible lens that cannot be detected by the naked eye. It is very comfortable and is normally not felt by the patient after the procedure. It is also a reversible procedure unlike laser surgeries and provides a UV block that helps to protect the eye from UV radiation.

Visian surgery produces much better results and fewer side effects than traditional laser surgeries. Patients should speak with their own eye care specialists in order to determine whether this procedure is right for them. 99 percent of all patients who have undergone the Visian procedure have had noticeable positive results in their vision.

 

 

What Are Intacts and How do They Work?

Intacts were designed to provide patients with keratoconus with clearer vision. Keratoconus is a condition that causes deterioration of the corneal structure and gradual bulging. The cornea is typically round in shape. Those who have keratoconus tend to have a cone shaped cornea. The cause for the condition is not known and those who suffer with it traditionally wore contact lenses to correct their vision. It causes a decrease in vision over time. While traditional contact lenses were used earlier, intacts are used widely today to correct the vision of those who have keratoconus.

Intacts are corneal implants that are inserted into the cornea to reshape the curvature from cone shaped back to the round shape that is normal. The reshaping greatly improves the nearsightedness that comes with keratoconus. Unlike laser procedures, intacts do not require the removal of any tissue. Patients with these implants do not feel them like they do contact lenses. They require no maintenance and nearly 100 percent of all patients who have intacts have seen a major improvement in overall vision. Many have had their vision restored to 20/20 or better. One benefit of intacts over laser surgery is that this procedure can be redone or completely removed if necessary.

This gives the patient the option of having them replaced or readjusted as needed. In cases where the intacts were removed, most patients were able to have their vision corrected to at least 20/20 after the implants were taken out. Those with keratoconus have a much better chance of receiving near perfect vision with intacts implants as opposed to laser surgery options.

 

Things that May Increase Your Lasik Eye Surgery Cost

When determining your overall Lasik eye surgery cost there are several factors that you will need to consider. Costs for the procedure vary greatly from one region to the next and may also vary depending on the specific services that are included with each price quote. Lasik eye surgery can cost anywhere from just under $500 to more than $2,000 for each eye. Keep in mind however that lower cost quotes typically only include the price for the actual surgery procedure and nothing else. You should also note that ophthalmologists that are inexperienced or new to doing the procedure may charge less.

If you have received a fairly low quote for the procedure then you will need to determine which services are included in the quote. Things that may increase your LASIK eye surgery cost include the technology as well as the specific type of laser that is used to perform the procedure. Certain newer lasers can raise your cost by as much as $250 to more than $500 for each eye. In addition, custom Lasik surgery which includes using wavefront technology to specifically map the cornea can also raise the cost by $500 or more for each eye. The cost for the actual procedure is relatively the same in most areas but you should still check with your eye care specialist to determine just what is included in the cost.

Most patients feel that newer technology and lasers are well worth the additional cost. Again, you will need to discuss these factors with your surgeon prior to the procedure.

 

What to Expect during Your Houston Lasik Eye Surgery

Lasik eye surgery is an outpatient procedure which means that you will enter and leave the eye care center the same day as your surgery is performed. There are many centers that will perform your Houston Lasik eye surgery. You should keep in mind that each center is a bit different. There are however many similarities at most eye care centers as to what you should expect during the procedure. The procedure itself normally takes only about five minutes for each eye and patients are awake during the surgery. A mild sedative may be given before the procedure to help you to relax during the surgery.

It is important that you have someone with you who can drive you home after the procedure. Your Lasik eye surgeon will likely ask you to lie down and then ensure that the laser is positioned correctly right above your eye. A retainer is also used on your eyelids in order to keep you from closing your eyes during the procedure. You should keep in mind that some procedures do take longer than others. The higher your prescription for contacts or glasses, the longer the procedure will take. After the surgery your surgeon will allow you to rest for a bit.

You may be given a prescription for pain although most patients report no uncomfortable symptoms at all after having Lasik surgery. Your doctor will give you any specific additional orders regarding medications and rest as well as when you can resume normal activities after your procedure.

 

 

Is Laser Eye Surgery Cost Worth It?

When considering laser eye surgery, cost is often the first thing that comes to mind. Considering that this surgery can run around $2,000 per eye there are many people who simply think that it is not worth the money. However, when you factor in the cost of prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses, not to mention the products that you must purchase in order to use contacts and other vision enhancers, the cost of laser eye surgery becomes a bit less overwhelming. Those who wear contact lenses will typically spend between $500 and $800 every year. After only a couple of years you could easily hit the $2,000 mark.

Since the cost of laser eye surgery averages around $2,000 per eye you can expect to even out after only about five years or sooner. Now you should consider that laser eye surgery lasts much longer than a single pair of contacts. Some patients never have to have any additional vision enhancement after this surgery. This means that after only five years or so your vision would be completely paid for and you would not have the daily task of cleaning lenses and/or glasses and ensuring that you are stocked up on lens solutions and other products.

When it comes right down to it, determining whether laser eye surgery cost is worth the money depends on how badly you want to have perfect vision every day without the use of lenses and glasses. Each person will be different. Talk to your eye care professional to determine if this is a good step for you.

 

 

Understanding How Intacts Work to Improve Vision

If you are nearsighted then the curve of your cornea is steeper than average. This causes the light rays that enter your eye to bend too much which in turn causes them to focus in the front of the retina. Objects that are far away are blurry. Some patients that have very mild myopia or nearsightedness can actually function without contact lenses or glasses for some tasks but for the most part, lenses are required for everyday functioning. Intacts are designed for those who have slight myopia as well as mild astigmatism. They gently enhance the shape of the cornea and allow light rays to focus correctly, thus producing clearer vision.

Intacts are inserted on the sides of the cornea to gently reshape the cornea’s top layer. This allows enough light rays to enter the eyes and help to bring about clearer focus. Most patients who receive intacts have perfect vision after the procedure. Intacts are different than laser eye surgery. Intacts, unlike Lasik and other surgical procedures, do not change the cornea or remove tissue from the eye. They are currently the only procedure that helps to strengthen the structure and maintain the natural shape of the cornea. They can be removed and/or replaced as needed or desired and offer more flexibility for eyesight changes in the future such as those that come with age.

Those who are considering intacts as vision correction should discuss the pros and cons with a regular eye doctor. Overall, this procedure allows those with slight myopia to enjoy crisper and clearer vision without the need for contacts and glasses and without undergoing invasive surgery. Read more about Intacts.

 

What Happens After Your Vision Eye Surgery

Visian eye surgery can help many patients who are not qualified to have the Lasik procedure done for vision correction. If you feel that you may qualify for this procedure you should speak with your regular eye doctor who can set up an appointment for you with a surgeon who performs the procedure. Visian surgery is much like Lasik with regards to procedure time and your care before and after the surgery. As the surgeon completes your Visian procedure, he or she will administer eye drops to your eyes. This helps to prevent infection and swelling in the eyes.

You will be expected to continue the use of the eye drops for a few days after the surgery to ensure that your eyes begin to heal correctly and to minimize the risks of inflammation and infection. Sutures or stitches are typically not used in the Visian procedure because the incision area is small enough that it does not warrant stitching. Your surgeon will also likely cover your eye with an eye patch or a shield to keep out light that may cause discomfort in the first day or so after the procedure. You will need to return to the surgeon within 24 to 48 hours after your surgery to have the patch removed.

Of course, you will not be permitted to drive home from the procedure and will likely not drive for a day or two afterwards. Once your surgeon has removed the patch and ensured that your eyes are healing, you should be released to drive and perform other duties that require your vision.

Read more about visian eye surgery.

 

 

The Variations in Lasik Eye Surgery Cost

When you begin planning for Lasik eye surgery you may notice that there are many variations regarding cost at different eye care centers. Some Lasik centers offer quotes that only include the actual procedure while others will quote everything from the initial examination to your follow-up care. It is important when determining your Lasik eye surgery cost that you speak with your surgeon and learn just exactly what is included in the cost that is quoted to you. If you see prices that are seemingly very low, then they may simply not include all needed services. For instance you may see the procedure advertised for under $500 per eye.

This typically includes only the cost of the procedure per eye. You will also be responsible for other charges that may include the cost of your initial eye exam, follow-up appointments as needed, facility costs and surgeon’s fees. When you factor in these fees you will notice that your cost increases dramatically. The average Lasik procedure cost is around $2,500 per eye. If you get a quote that is much lower than this national average then you should be certain to inquire as to just what services are included in the quote.

Many eye care centers offer prices that seem entirely too good to be true. If you think that this is the case then find another center. Some centers reduce their costs to patients by using methods and equipment that are not sanitary. Remember that when something looks too good to be true it probably is.

Read more about Lasik eye surgery.

 

Will Insurance Cover Laser Eye Surgery Cost?

Laser eye surgery is considered to be an elective eye surgery in most cases. Because of this, most insurance companies do not typically cover laser eye surgery cost. There are of course exceptions to every rule. If you are having laser eye surgery for refractive errors that are the direct result of an injury or surgery, many insurance companies will pick up the tab. Most major insurance carriers also cover the cost of laser eye surgery for refractive errors that are considered to be very severe although there is currently no level of impairment that is considered to be standard. If you fall into one of these categories, it may be best to contact your specific insurance carrier and inquire about coverage for laser surgery.

Laser surgery typically costs around $2,000 per eye on average. Because of the high cost and the fact that most insurance plans do not cover the procedure, many laser eye surgery centers offer a financing option that will allow patients to make smaller payments. The average payment typically runs between $150 and $400 every month. The actual monthly payment depends on the amount that is financed so if you have the ability to pay for a substantial part of the procedure, your monthly payments will be much lower than the average.

Many employers also offer Flexible Spending Accounts or FSAs. If you are planning to have laser eye surgery done you should check with your particular employer and inquire about whether an FSA is available. Read more about laser eye surgery.

 

How to Choose a Surgeon for Your Houston Lasik Eye Surgery

If you are planning to have Houston Lasik eye surgery and have not yet chosen a surgeon to perform the procedure, there are a few things that you should keep in mind when searching for your surgeon. Of course, your regular eye doctor can likely recommend a surgeon who has a good track record for performing the Lasik procedure. Be sure to check with your regular eye doctor if he or she cannot perform the procedure in your regular eye care center. You should be certain to ask questions of any surgeon who you are considering for your Lasik procedure. Ask the doctor how many times he or she has performed the procedure and how satisfied past patients have been with the results.

Keep in mind that the medical field changes constantly. There are always new medicines and new developments in technology that may have a bearing on your Lasik surgery. Look for a Lasik surgeon that keeps updated with the latest technologies revolving around this procedure. Find out if he or she reads up on the latest literature and stays updated on new developments. You may consider a surgeon who practices or has dealings with an academic center in your area.

If you live in a rural area then your choices may be severely limited. You may want to check around in larger cities that are close to your area to see if the surgeons there offer the qualifications that you want. Those in larger cities will typically have more experience and updated technologies than those in rural areas. Read more about Houston Lasik eye surgery.