According to Ella Faktovorich, MD of the San Fransisco Medical Society in her article "Vision Correction Surgery: It's Becoming the Most Common Elective Surgery in the World," “Vision correction surgery (also known as refractive surgery) is rapidly becoming the most common elective surgery in the world.” The reasons behind this are simple: The surgery has a high percentage of success, it is relatively cheap, and it is becoming widely available. Most laser eye surgeries peel back the corneal cover and reshape the underlying tissue with a laser. This provides a smooth curvature to the cornea that focuses the incoming light into the retina.
Lasik surgery is the most common type of vision correction surgery, but there are several options available depending on the need of the individual. Some vision problems, like astigmatism, may be better served with a new process called Wavefront Lasik. This specialized laser vision correction procedure was developed based on a system established to repair the Hubble space telescope.
What is Wavefront Lasik Surgery
To understand what Wavefront Lasik surgery is, it is first important to have a basic understanding of optics. A wavefront is a collection of waves that reach an optic receiver at the same time (in this case the human cornea). These waves are then focused to a series of points on the retina. When there is a slight defect in the curvature of the cornea, then the waves are distorted causing a vision problem. These distortions cause nearsightedness and farsightedness as well as astigmatisms and other focus-based problems.
This was the same problem that scientists had with the Hubble telescope. The mirror on the telescope was misshapen by a matter of 2.2 microns (a micron is 1 millionth of a meter). “Astrophysicists developed this (wavefront) technology when they needed better technology to repair the Hubble telescope.”( “Wavefront” Future Vision Laser Center) Now because of the development of this technology there was a newfound ability to measure and correct defects on a microscopic scale.
The makers of today’s Lasik surgery tools are able to produce “wavefront technology that provides more accurate results (25 times more accurate), producing a 3D diagram of the eye from which the laser reshapes the cornea accurately.”(Wavefront Lasik)
Laser Eye Surgery Clinics
When looking into corrective eye surgery, it is extremely important to find a quality surgeon. With the industry expanding at the rate it has, there are clinics doing laser eye surgery almost everywhere. Finding a good surgeon isn’t quite as hard as it sounds. There are several places to look, the first being the eye doctor that is already being seen. An optometrist or an ophthalmologist in the area can probably recommend a high quality surgeon in the vicinity.
Check for licensing through the National Practitioner Data Bank or the American College of Surgeons. Both of these are good places to check the validity of surgeons' credentials, or visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology's website, and use the "Find an Eye MD" feature; specify "refractive surgery" under "specialty."
Advantages of Lasik Eye Surgery
According to WebMD, LASIK has many benefits, including:
- Around 80% of patients will have their desired vision after LASIK.
- LASIK is associated with very little pain.
- Vision is corrected nearly immediately or by the day after LASIK.
- Usually no bandages or stitches are required after LASIK.
- Adjustments can be made years after LASIK to further correct vision.
- After having LASIK, most patients no longer need corrective eyewear.
How Much Does Lasik Surgery Cost
Laser eye surgery costs have leveled out in the past few years according to a study by a leading independent industry analyst. “Average LASIK prices in 2010 were about the same or slightly less than in 2009.”(allaboutvision)
LASIK prices, after rising for several years, seemed to stabilize from 2006 to 2010 as shown by these average LASIK costs charged at a single price — meaning no extra charges were added on for new technologies*:
- 2006: $1,950
- 2007: $2,099
- 2008: $2,105
- 2009: $2,140
- 2010: $2,150
Costs are also dependent on the type of surgery performed. The average LASIK costs for the most common forms were*:
- $2,150 for all laser-based vision correction procedures (including LASIK) in which a single price is quoted.
- $1,580 for non-customized LASIK using a bladed instrument (microkeratome) and excimer lasers that are not guided by wavefront analysis.
- $2,170 for wavefront-guided LASIK using a laser-created flap.
(All of these prices are for surgery on one eye, for both double the cost.)
*All statistics available at allaboutvision.com
Sources:
Faktovorich MD, Ella. “Vision Correction Surgery: It’s Becoming the Most Common Elective Surgery in the World” sfms.com Accessed July 2010
Keenan, John P ed. “Eye Health Center: Lasik Eye Surgery” Webmd.com Sept 26, 2009. Accessed June 2010
“Vision Surgery Costs” AllAboutVision.com Accessed 2010
“Wavefront” Future Vision Laser Center, Chicago. Lasikofchicago.com Accessed July 2010
“Wavefront Lasik Information” Wavefront-lasik.com Accessed July 2010
Kenneth Sleight - Ken Sleight is a resident of Haslett, Mi. He was voted among his friends as, "most likely to be the phone a friend on Who Wants to be a ...
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