If you’re tired of wearing prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses to see clearly, LASIK is might be the answer to your prayers. A tried-and-true alternative that delivers immediate and long-lasting results, LASIK can give you perfect vision within seconds.
You don’t have to live with blurry, headache-inducing vision – and you can say goodbye to glasses and contacts with one quick and pain-free procedure. Before you decide to get LASIK, however, make sure you consider the following important factors first.
Know Your Surgeon
LASIK can’t be performed by any eye doctor or any old surgeon – and you certainly don’t want to just choose the surgeon who’s offering a seemingly irresistible deal. You need to be selective in choosing your LASIK surgeon if you want to avoid potential complications and problems with the procedure and your vision.
Make sure you choose a surgeon who has the following:
Extensive experience. Practice makes perfect, and a surgeon with extensive experience will be better suited for the job. He or she should have a record of success in LASIK, as well as a history of offering patients the best possible care and treatment. Make sure your surgeon has been practicing for years, not mere months.
Valid certificates. Don’t just believe what you’re told. Take the time to find out about the surgeon’s area of expertise. More importantly, verify his or her certification status. You can do this by visiting the American Board of Ophthalmology website.
Great ratings from patients. What’s more revealing than a former patient’s first-hand experience? Positive reviews are helpful because they allow you to learn about a surgeon’s professionalism, work ethic, and staff. They also clear up uncertainties and general concerns, such as the overall discomfort of the procedure.
The Surgery and Recovery Time are Very Short
LASIK is unlike any traditional surgery. You won’t spend hours preparing for surgery, on the operating table, or in recovery. The laser can get the job done within 20 to 50 seconds, and it typically takes up to 15 minutes, the FTC reports, to complete the entire LASIK procedure.
Keep in mind that the time frame really depends on the patient’s eye problem. Worse conditions take longer to correct. Since LASIK is indeed an outpatient procedure, you can look forward to going home right after the surgery. Within 24 hours, it’s very likely your vision will be perfectly restored and improved. Your eyes, however, will be hypersensitive to bright lights for at least one week. This is a common side effect during the first half of the recovery period. If you rest and refrain from doing activities that strain your eyes, you’ll expedite the healing.
Understand the Costs
Due to the large pool of providers, the price of LASIK varies greatly, and these three things are the primary factors: location, surgeon, and procedure type. Fortunately, in the years since it was first available to the public, LASIK has become more affordable thanks to surgeons offering sensible financing options and increasingly more affordable technology. However, beware that extremely low costs are usually provided by inexperienced surgeons who use second-rate technology. You want to find a good deal, but you don’t want to sacrifice your vision in the process.
According to LASIK.com, the official site of LASIK surgery, you can find surgeons offering the procedure for as little as $299 per eye – meaning you could pay just $600 for perfect vision. Though prices vary from surgeon to surgeon, the average price of LASIK in 2017 was $2,088 according to AllAboutVision.com. That’s considerably less than relying on contacts and glasses, which LASIK.com reports can total $4,700 over a 20-year period.
Refractive surgeries aren’t covered by most insurance companies since they are widely deemed to be elective procedures. That’s why it’s important to find a LASIK surgeon who can perfect your vision at a price you can afford.
Where to Find the Best Surgeons and Prices
You don’t have to search far and wide for proficient LASIK surgeons – there are thousands out there, and you can find experienced, reputable surgeons online. If you no longer want to live with eye problems, it’s time to do your research on LASIK and decide if this procedure is the answer. Fast, painless, and effective, LASIK can cure your glasses and contact lens woes for decades to come.
You’re bound to find the right surgeon who will treat you for the right price. Comparing prices from different doctors and surgery centers with an online search can save you from unnecessary headaches when it comes to cost. And don’t hesitate to look around for new customer deals or incentives. Often, LASIK specialists and surgeons will offer lower prices to those who have an easy prescription to fix or who are new to the doctor’s office.
Like anything, it’s always a good idea to be aware of the latest research. We recommend comparing at least 3 or 4 options before making a final decision. Doing a search online is typically the quickest, most thorough way to discover all the pros and cons you need to keep in mind.
