Lasik Eye Surgery
Whether you are seeking to get lasik eye surgery in Dallas Forth Worth or New Your City, there are important factors that you need to know about this method of using lasers to improve a person’s eyesight. Using laser eye surgery as a means to improve one’s vision is not only a recommended medical procedure, but Lasik technologies make it easy for men and women to correct abnormalities in vision through a simple process.
The term Lasik actually refers to “laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis” and has grown to be the most popular method used to correct vision and restore a person’s eyesight to near 20/20 vision.
If you are thinking about having corrective eye surgery using lasers, the first thing you need to do is to determine if you are a good candidate for lasik eye surgery. This assessment will best be determined by an optometrist, a surgeon who specializes in the medical field of the eyes. It is always best to get an eye doctor’s recommendation before you under any medical procedures that deals with your eyes. To decide if you are a candidate for eye laser eye surgery, a doctor will perform an exam on you to determine the depth of your vision and to ascertain if there are more serious medical factors causing you to have poor sight.
Is LASIK an FDA approved procedure?
Procedures are not approved by FDA, although FDA approves devices. There is no such thing as an "FDA-Approved" procedure, although you often see that sort of language used. Instead, the FDA approves devices based on data obtained using some procedure. In the case of excimer lasers, that is either LASIK or PRK. The excimer lasers in common use in the United States have not been approved based on LASIK data, they've all been approved based on PRK data. The result is that the lasers are "labeled" for use in PRK, since they have been studied based on using the lasers to perform PRK. That doesn't mean that the doctors cannot legally perform LASIK with the lasers, they can - under a provision called "practice of medicine". Using a device for something other than what it was studied for is called "off-label" use.
When will the FDA approve excimer lasers for LASIK?
There is a current effort to have the lasers re-labeled by the FDA to include LASIK in the labeling, based on data obtained in a surgeon-funded study called the CRS LASIK Study. That group is affiliated with the ISRS and was organized by the surgeons to respond to the problems of having to operate off-label. On July 22 and 23 the FDA Ophthalmic Advisory Panel heard presentations and recommend FDA approval of the re-labeling request. After this approval process is completed, the lasers will be labeled for LASIK and LASIK will no longer be "Off-Label". However, the FDA still won't have "approved" LASIK - they'll have simply re-labled the lasers to be used for LASIK
How do I know if I'm a good candidate for vision correction surgery?
Your eyecare professional (optometrist or ophthalmologist) and you should decide. Large majorities of nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic people are potential candidates for laser vision correction. Typically, patients who are at least 21 years of age who meet certain medical and visual criteria are suitable. The best candidates tend to be people who are dissatisfied with their contact lenses or glasses and are motivated to make a change, whether it's due to occupational or lifestyle reasons.
During the medical exam, the medical doctor (MD) will check for signs of cataracts and other degenerative eye diseases. He or she will then examine your eyes for signs of excessive dryness or other conditions that may need treatment before you are cleared for lasik eye surgery. When a surgeon checks your eyes, one of the procedures commonly done is check the curvature of your eyes and map out the cornea by sending a series of light waves into your eyes using wavefront technology to get a more accurate picture of your optical readiness to undergo lasik surgery.
Before you are cleared for laser eye treatment, the MD will also assess the state of your health by asking you’re a series of questions designed to see if there are other health issues that may prevent you from have the surgery. This is standard precaution that all laser surgeons perform. Sometimes, there may be something as simple as a certain medication that could delay your ability to undergo the laser eye operation. If all fine then you will be cleared to go for corrective laser treatment for eyes.
How much does lasik cost?
The most recent statistical data for the cost of the operation is approximately $2,150 per eye. While the price reflects the average total fees of refractive surgeons across the United States, other factors that may affect the overall costs of lasik undoubtedly as listed below:
The geographical area in which you live
The kind of eye laser technology you decide upon
The experience, reputation and training of the refractive surgeon performing the eye surgery
The type of medical device employed to create the corneal flap
The need for any post operative medications
Any post care examinations that may be required
Any unexpected complications that may arise requiring additional medical care
Outside the United States the price for one eye is approximately $900 USD in Latin America, $500 USD per eye in the Czech Republic, JPY 300.000 in Japan and about AUS $2,500 per eye in Australia.
The pricing of eye laser surgery is an expensive one and most insurance companies regard it as a cosmetic procedure instead of primary care. You will have to consult with your insurance carrier to see if they cover the cost of laser eye treatment as a corrective measure necessary in promoting overall good health. If the cost of lasik surgery is not covered, you will have to look for other financing means to get the operation done.