Lasik Cost Not Too Expensive

Lasik Guru — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:06:00 +0000

Steven Walters asked:

Lasik surgery has been gaining in popularity over the past years and one of the reasons is that lasik costs have been declining making it more affordable for everyone. Lasik is also popular because it is easy, the recovery period is short and it is safe compared with other vision correction surgery.

Really when you think about all the benefits you receive from lasik surgery the total cost of lasik is quite low. Just think, after your lasik surgery you’ll never have to pay for contact lenses, saline solution or glasses ever again.

Just remember that costs can and do vary widely for lasik surgery. The price is determined by many things such as the doctor performing the lasik, the problem being corrected, the facility where the lasik is performed and the lasik technology being used. You’ll also find that the area of the country you live in will effect the lasik cost.

No doubt you’ve seen ads that promise just $500 per eye for laser vision correction surgery. Don’t be fooled by these low low prices. Usually they don’t include pre-operative and post operative appointments and may also not include testing that can make the surgery safer. A much more realistic lasik cost is between $1000 and $2000 per eye if you include everything.

With all the benefits of lasik it’s a shame that the high cost still puts it out of reach for many people. Insurance usually will not cover the cost of lasik surgery since it is considered elective surgery and even if it is covered the insurance often will only pay a small amount of the total cost of lasik.

Lasik financing is another option used to pay for the surgery and this helps many people to afford their lasik procedure. If you can find a way to make lasik surgery a possibility for yourself you’ll love the freedom you gain from your contact lenses and glasses. Many people think that this freedom justifies the cost of lasik eye surgery and makes it completely worthwhile.

Even with the high cost of lasik people are choosing to accept the price and have lasik done in increasing numbers. Lasik surgery centers have never been so busy and the competition fortunately is causing the price of lasik surgery to decrease. Adding to this is the number of baby boomers that are beginning to have vision problems due to their increasing age. This is a group that is huge in the U.S. and has the money to indulge themselves with lasik.

Many people find that the benefits of lasik surgery outweigh the cost of lasik and this trend should continue into the future as prices continue to decline. Actually, any lasik cost is very likely to be balanced by the savings you’ll get once you no longer need to buy glasses, contacts and saline solutions. Lasik is a very good investment for the future.

Is LASIK Safer Than Contact Lenses?

Lasik Guru — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 07:40:32 +0000

A lot of eyebrows were raised in 2006 when a study conducted by researchers at Oregon Health and Science University’s Casey Eye Institute suggested it may be safer in the long run to have LASIK surgery than to wear contact lenses. Now a new survey may explain why the conclusions of that study may indeed be correct.

Poor contact lens care habits

Synovate, Inc., a global market research company, recently asked 508 contact lens wearers a number of questions about how they care for their contact lenses, and the results were startling. All respondents were over age 18 and wore their lenses on a daily wear basis (removing them prior to sleep every day).

The survey of contact lens wearers revealed:

* 40% don’t wash their hands prior to handling their lenses.
* 20% don’t use fresh solution when cleaning their lenses.
* 40% have put their lenses in their mouth to clean them.
* 70% wear their contact lenses when swimming.

All of these behaviors cause more bacteria and other harmful microorganisms to be transferred to the eyes, increasing the risk for serious eye infections. Couple these statistics with the fact that an estimated 38 million Americans wear contact lenses, and you have a huge number of people who are putting themselves at risk for sight-threatening eye infections.

In fact, according to the Casey Eye Institute study, over a 30-year period, the risk of a contact lens wearer experiencing significant vision loss due to a contact lens-related eye infection is 5 times greater than the risk a LASIK patient has of experiencing a similar vision loss due to a surgical complication.

Proper contact lens care reduces risks

Experts agree that most contact lens-related eye infections could be prevented if wearers would care for their lenses properly and replace them on a timely basis. The American Optometric Association (AOA) has established a set of eight recommendations for safe and healthy contact lens wear:

1. Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses.
2. Carefully clean and disinfect your contact lenses upon removing them, following the directions provided by your eye doctor.
3. When not wearing them, store your lenses in a clean contact lens case. Rinse the case with your contact lens solution after each use, and leave it open to air dry. Replace the case at least every 3 months.
4. Use only the contact lens care products recommended by your eye doctor.
5. Use fresh solution each time you clean and store your lenses. Never reuse old solution left in the case.
6. Replace your contact lenses as recommended by your eye doctor. Don’t stretch your wearing period, even if your lenses still feel good.
7. Don’t wear your contact lenses when swimming or in a hot tub.
(Water in swimming pools and hot tubs often contains chlorine-resistant microorganisms that can adhere to your contact lenses and cause a serious eye infection.)
8. See your eye doctor as directed for contact lens follow-up visits and routine eye exams.

Choose the healthy option

If you decide to continue to wear contact lenses (or you are not a good candidate for LASIK), be sure to follow the AOA’s guidelines to keep your eyes healthy, comfortable and seeing great for years to come.

But if you simply can’t bring yourself to follow these guidelines, consider having a LASIK eye exam and consultation to see if you’re a good candidate for laser vision correction. Though all surgery involves some risk, LASIK may be safer than contact lenses for you in the long run.

Source: http://lasiksurgerynews.com

Lasik Blog » contact lenses

Lasik Cost Not Too Expensive

Is LASIK Safer Than Contact Lenses?