How Much Does Laser Eye Surgery Cost?
Is laser eye surgery for me? What is the best laser eye surgical procedure? How much does laser eye surgery cost? These are just some of the questions that people who are interested in laser eye surgery are asking. If you, too are thinking about having a laser procedure performed on one or both of your eyes, then you may also want to have these same questions answered. If so, you have come to the right place. Here we will not only answer your questions but also provide you with a comprehensive guide to laser eye surgery.
Laser eye surgery is the latest and most effective way to correct visual problems like farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. The two primary methods of conducting laser eye surgery are called LASIK and PRK. These two procedures differ mainly in the way that the middle layer of our cornea is exposed before it is subjected to laser treatment. In PRK, the top layer – the epithelium – is scraped away to expose the stroma, which is the middle layer. In LASIK surgery, a flap is created in the stroma. This flap is then folded back at the end of the procedure.
PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, is the very first method of laser surgery that was used to correct low refractive errors. This method is best suited for patients who have thin corneas and larger pupils. Take note that PRK involves a bit of discomfort and a longer recuperation time so you will have to schedule your surgery carefully. Patience is also required because results from this type of surgery are gradual and much slower than those from LASIK.
LASIK is an abbreviation for Laser In Situ Keratomileusis. It is a more advanced form of laser eye surgery that causes less discomfort and delivers results much quicker than PRK. These two benefits are the main reason why LASIK has largely replaced PRK in recent years. It comes in two forms, namely: a “blade” and a “bladeless” version. The blade version employs the use of a special medical instrument to create a flap on the epithelium whereas the bladeless version requires the use of high-energy lasers that also come in two forms – excimer and femtosecond. Bladeless LASIK is often called Wavefront and Intralase.
So, is laser eye surgery right for you? Well, there are several guidelines by which you can check if you are a good candidate for the procedure. Some jobs prohibit refractive surgery of any sort so you should check with your employer. If you just had your eyeglasses or contact lenses changed within the past year, if you are taking regular medications, if you are into contact sports, or if you are under 18 years then laser eye surgery is not a very good option for you.
Cost is also an important issue to address when deciding to undergo laser eye surgery. How much does laser eye surgery cost? Well, the prices vary depending on your location and on how prominent your surgeon is. But on average, PRK costs range from $1000 to $1500 per eye. Ordinary LASIK can cost anywhere from $1300 to $2000 per eye whereas wavefront LASIK can cost as much as $2500 per eye.
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One Response to “How Much Does Laser Eye Surgery Cost?”
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Excellent writeup and very clear explanations. It’s worth noting that there is also information answering your question on how much laser eye surgery costs at laser-eye-price.com. There is also some pretty exciting information there about the new presbyLASIK technology breakthrough which is now being used to correct Presbyopia farsightedness. Pretty amazing.
Looking forward to more articles like the one above,
Stephen