So are you ready to get rid of
their dependence on glasses or contacts. What's the next step? Call several LASIK Center franchises and see who offers the lowest price? Think
again.
It's your eyes we are talking
about! Why would you want to shortchange? Center that performs Lasik but can
not offer a procedure that is right for you. For some patients, fitting
contacts, CK or refractive lens exchangemay be the best option. LASIK center
just can not offer this option. What's worse, they May be tempted to offer
LASIK when he was ill suited for you. And even if LASIK is the best procedure
for a low cost can often mean corners are cut.
Patients should seek surgeons
who are experienced, qualified, use high quality equipment and can perform
procedures other than LASIK. Do not just go for Lasik "franchise" as
if you were getting oil changes for your car. LASIK is a surgical procedure,
and surgeons have variable capacity. Talented golfers use the best and varied
tools for achieving results, and the same goes for the surgeon. However, once a
state-of-the-art equipment does not necessarily mean that a good surgeon. It is
best to have confidence in the surgeon based on face-to-face meeting.
Make sure you have met with
the surgeon before the day of your procedure
Part like elective surgery is
to have confidence in your surgeon. Consider meeting and interviewing at least
two different surgeons. Ask for recommendations from friends or family you know
who have had LASIK. Do not accept the meeting with a surrogate or technician
ahead of time. How can you be comfortable with your surgeon if you have never
met him? Patients should have the opportunity to meet with the surgeon to
discuss their individual situation before the day of surgery. If the patient
does not meet the surgeon on the day of surgery, the meeting is expected to
happen before you go into the surgery room. The patient may not meet the
surgeon for the first time, and that, under the laser.
In elective surgery, such as
LASIK, there should be enough time to read the informed consent document before
surgery. All potential complications should be addressed by the surgeon before
you are asked to sign it. The consent form should never be signed under duress.
Ask about anything you do not understand or do not want to explain.
Make sure your surgeon is
qualified.
Some LASIK surgeons can learn
by taking a weekend course. Qualified completed a Fellowship in Refractive
Surgery. Fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery involves training that
occurs following the completion of a 3-year ophthalmology training program.
This training includes strict didactic and hands-on work under the tutelage of
an experienced surgeon. Fellows learn to recognize who are good candidates for
LASIK, alternative vision correction procedures and how to handle
post-operative complications.
Excellent surgeons often
recognized through awards and special honors. Does the surgeon Literature list
of such differences? Ask if they are involved in research, teaching or
contributing scientific articles.
Ask how many Lasik procedures
the surgeon has performed. After appropriate experience is important, but that
most of the proceedings failed. How many LASIK procedures were complications,
and how did they manage? What is the satisfaction level of patients?
Make surgeon medical license
to see if there have been reports of disciplinary action or suspension of their
surgeon looking at his / her State Medical Board Web site (which can be found
on Internet search engines).
Choose a surgeon with quality
equipment
Your surgeon should be able to
offer that IntraLase blade-free LASIK procedure with a proven safety profile.
Custom LASIK making use of wavefront analyzer is another important option. This
technology provides more precise results and is much less likely to result in
night driving difficulties. Make sure your surgeon wearing scrubs and gloves
when performing your action. Ask what measures are in place to prevent
infection.
When going through the
Preoperative Evaluation, ensure specific testing is done.
In order to determine
suitability for LASIK. Some tests must be performed. Your rating your surgeon
should include surgeon thoroughness judging your suitability for LASIK. LASIK
evaluation includes the following:
I tear film evaluation
It is normal for patients to
experience temporary dryness after LASIK. Patients who have inadequate tears
before surgery are at greater risk of long-term dry eye symptoms after LASIK
and should increase lubrication before surgery. Some patients have a feeling of
dryness while wearing contact lenses lenses absorb moisture from the tears.
That is not to say that the eyes are dry when contact lenses are not worn.
There are different methods to assess the tears: including special paint, tear
collection or visual inspection.
II. Pupil size estimates
After LASIK, some patients
experience glare and halos. Often this is due to a combination of larger pupil
sizes, and larger amounts of nearsightedness or farsightedness, which was not
recognized as a risk factor before surgery. With large pupils, rays of light
from the peripheral cornea are more likely to cause symptoms of glare and halos
after LASIK. Measuring your pupil size can be important in determining which
procedure is best for you. The risk of nocturnal visual symptoms can be
minimized by ensuring LASIK flap is the proper size and making use of Wavefront
technology.
III. Corneal Topography
Corneal topography shows the
surgeon whether or not the cornea is normal or abnormal astigmatism
astigmatism. Some patients with an abnormal condition called astigmatism have
corneas keratoconus.These often weaker than normal corneas, and thus can not be
treated with LASIK.
IV. Pachymetry
Pachymetry is the medical term
for the measurement of "corneal thickness." As you already know, the
LASIK procedure involves creating a flap in the corneal surface and using a
laser to reshape the cornea by removing tissue. It is possible that too much
tissue can be removed by laser. This could destabilize the cornea and lead to
corneal bulging. This condition is called ectasia and results in distorted
vision.
Before surgery, the surgeon
should calculate how deep the laser will penetrate and be sure not to penetrate
through the safe level, which is why you measure the thickness of the cornea is
imperative.
V. Evaluation epithelium
Attached to the surface of the
cornea is a thin layer of clear "skin" or epithelium. In some
patients, this layer of skin may not be firmly attached. If so, what is the
cover in the LASIK procedure, the skin layer can be brushed off by a
microkeratome, which leads to a higher risk of complications. It is important
to identify in advance with microscopic examination of the cornea, if the
"loose skin" condition exists.
By now it should be clear that
not all LASIK procedures and surgeons are the same and your choice of surgeon
should not be based on price alone. LASIK is a medical procedure. In providing
services in the form of a surgical procedure, there are a number of factors
that play a role in the compensation process.
As a general rule, lower fees,
less the surgeon and patient interaction exists. This is because lower fees
means that more patients to be treated, in order to generate the same level of
income as fewer patients at a higher cost.
There are other factors that
may account for the difference in fees even if they meet the surgeon at each
visit before and after surgery. More experience of the surgeon, usually larger
fees. In other words, the greater the expertise, the higher the fee. As with
any profession, some surgeons are more skilled than others, which includes not
only the surgical expertise, and diagnostic skills as well as LASIK is not
always the best treatment for all. Some patients May be better suited for other
procedures, and some patients should not have surgery at all.
Equipment and physical plant
is another cost factor.
There are several studies that show that
environmentally controlled rooms is essential to good LASIK outcome. Surgical
suites have a separate heating and cooling units from the rest of the clinic.
Humidity should be strictly controlled. Air Filtration Systems May have some
impact on outcomes. There are several different manufacturers of flap creation
devices and lasers to perform the procedure all with different prices and
related costs as there are different makes and models of cars. You would want a
Ferrari or a Hyundai? Generally, all laser or blade-free LASIK procedure is
safer and more accurate than standard LASIK, but costs more. Wave-front guided
procedure costs more than wavefront-optimized procedure that costs more than
conventional LASIK. Expensive techniques tend to provide better results and
fewer side effects, such as night driving difficulties.
If nothing else, I hope this
article gets you thinking that not all LASIK procedures are identical and that
there are different degrees of surgeon skill and level of protection. Patients
should not shortchange yourself by shopping for the lowest price. LASIK vision
correction surgery is an investment that pays for itself many times over in the
year compared to the cost glasses and contact lenses. Take the time to do your
research. Dividends may mean lifetime of clear vision comfortable.