Am I Eligible for Lasik Eye Surgery?
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Lasik surgery is a popular procedure in LA. It may have something to do with the LA lifestyle. Where appearances matter and outdoor activities are always popular, people don’t want the hassle of contact lens or eye glasses.
There are many doctors who specialize in lasik eye surgery in Los Angeles. One of the reasons for this is that LA has some excellent medical schools such as USC and UCLA. It is also a very popular place for people who care about their appearances and have the money to spend on elective procedures such as Lasik and rhinoplasty. You should have no problem in finding a fantastic doctor who offers Lasik. However, whether you are eligible for the actual surgery is dependent on a number of factors.
The main factors determining whether or not you are a good candidate for eye correction surgery are:
- You must have healthy eyes. Your doctor will likely knock you back for surgery if you have any condition that will influence how your eyes responds to the surgery or how it heals afterwards. This could include conjunctivitis, injury or chronic dry eyes. Large pupils can lead to a higher risk of glare, halos, starbursts and ghost images after the operation. Thin corneas can lead to blinding complications. Other conditions that can affect how you eyes heal after Lasik include autoimmune dieseas such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, immundefienecy condition such as HIV and particular medications like steroids or retinoic acid. Glaucoma, keratoconus and cataracts can also mean that you are unsuitable for surgery.
- Refractive instability refers to your vision being unstable - to have lasik your must have stable vision That is, your sight has stopped becoming worst. For most people their vision becomes stable in their 20s. Other factors can also affect your vision, such as hormones fluctuations from diabetes, breastfeeding or pregnancy; or certain medications.
- You are an adult. Currently, no lasers are approved for LASIK on persons under the age of 18.
- Your eye sight might too bad to treat. Some types of myopia may need large amounts of corneal tissue removed and reshaped, which may simply be too much for you.
As you can see, not everyone is suitable to undergo a Lasik procedure. The list above isn’t an exhaustive one and there may be other factors that may mean Lasik is not for you or that another procedure is a much more suitable one for you. This is why you should declare your full medical history to your surgeon and discuss any concerns that you may have about the surgery.
A sign of a good Los Angeles Lasik surgeon is someone who takes the time to ensure that you have none of the risk factors that will preclude you from the surgery. This is something to keep in mind when you are scouting around for a surgeon in the Los Angeles area. By being fully aware of the risk factors you will be able to have a more knowledgeable conversation with your surgeon and be able to ask more informative questions.
The Cost of Lasik Eye Surgery in Los Angeles
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The cost of Lasik eye surgery varies according to location, the surgeon’s experience and the technology used. In large metropolitan cities like Los Angeles, you should expect to pay a little more than in outer areas. However, the price across America is relatively consistent between areas.
A conventional Lasik operation should be cheaper than a waverfront customer Lasik procedure, which is a newer technology. An all-laser Lasik operation should be more expensive than if your surgeon uses a microkeratome.
According to Allaboutvision.com the average price for Lasik eye surgery in the USA is currently:
- $1,662 for non-customized LASIK using a bladed instrument (microkeratome) and excimer lasers that are not guided by wavefront analysis.
- $2,105 for all laser-based vision correction procedures in which a single price is quoted.
- $2,341 for wavefront-guided LASIK using IntraLase.
The price per eye for laser eye surgery in Los Angeles can range from anywhere between $499 to $3,600. Remember that these are average prices and your surgeon may charge more or less demanding on his or her competition, experience and technology. Your eyesight may also be more difficult to correct. However, as already mentioned in “What to Ask Your Los Angeles Lasik Surgeon”, the cost of the procedure shouldn’t be the main factor in choosing to go ahead with the operation.
In fact, you should be very wary about lower priced Lasik operations. Sometimes these prices are misleading and do not represent the full cost of the laser eye operation. Patients often enticed by low costs that do not include “extra” fees and charges, and are then forced pay more for the final surgery or are up-sold a more expensive product. Another possibility is that lower prices may only apply to regular corrections and people requiring more difficult procedures may need to pay more. Also, cheaper surgeons may be charging low fees because they are using older technology or do not have the experience of other surgeons.
Conversely, simply paying more doesn’t necessarily mean you will get the best surgeon or the most update to technology. They may charge a higher price because they simply can because of a customer’s lack of research or understanding, or a shortage of surgeons at that particular time. It sometimes can be difficult for patient to know whether they require more expensive surgery or technology if they haven’t done the appropriate investigations. This is why researching the laser eye surgeon’s credentials are extremely important when comparing prices between various medical clinics and also the type of surgery you are likely to need.
The bottom line is that when researching the cost of Lasik surgery in Los Angeles you should obtain a full and written quote which includes the full cost of the surgery and any extras that may need to be charged. Combine this with the research you have done on the surgeon yourself, and you will be able to determine what is an appropriate price for your area in LA. You may even find yourself a bargain.
What to Ask Your Los Angeles Lasik Surgeon
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Once you have made a short list of Lasik surgeons in the Los Angeles area, it is time now to sort through them to find the surgeon who will do your procedure. You are looking for a fully qualified, fully experienced doctor who is worthy of your time and trust. There are many such eye surgeons in a large city like LA.
Your decision in choosing a good laser eye surgeon shouldn’t be based on a glossy magazine or pamphlet. Conversely, while Lasik surgery in Los Angeles can be expensive, you shouldn’t simply go for the surgeon who charges the least. Don’t make a decision based on cost, the Lasik technology that will be used or even the location of the doctor’s office. In fact, the location of the medical office should be least of your concerns when you consider that the surgery only takes 15 minutes per eye and is done as an outpatient procedure – you can walk in and out in under an hour.
As already mentioned “Tips on Finding a Lasik Surgeon in Los Angeles”, the first hurdle the LA surgeon should pass is whether they are associated with an academic medical center and/or is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
On the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance website there is a list of 50 questions that you should ask your Lasik surgeon to determine his suitability. These questions include:
- How long have you been performing refractive surgery procedures? (Not less than three years.)
- How many total procedures have you done? (Not less than 500.)
- How many refractive procedures of the exact type you intend to use for me, with the same equipment, and the same refractive error, have you performed? (Not less than 100.)
- Will you provide me the names and contact information of at least ten previous patients who have had the exact same surgery with similar refractive error?
Experience is of course essential. While not a hard and fast rule, it is generally accepted that an experienced Lasik surgeon has performed over 500-1000 procedures. It is generally a good idea to look at surgeons who use Lasik has a major part of their practice.
When you first visit the surgeon they should explain to you in full the risks and complications that can occur with laser eye surgery. They should also answer your questions or concerns in a professional and patient manner – even any really tough question you have about the surgery or their experience. They should explain to you in simple language the procedure using every day language and should treat your like an equal.
The surgeon should also be prepared to say “no” and who selects their patients based on who is appropriate for the surgery. Someone with a lax patient criteria should be avoided.
In Los Angeles, a good Lasik surgeon will have a solid reputation in the medical and general community. You can discover this reputation for yourself by asking your regular medical or health professional, and people who already have had the procedure done. Just make sure that you choose a surgeon after you have done your research and have had him or her fully address any concerns that you may have had.
Tips on Finding a Lasik Surgeon in Los Angeles
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There are many surgeons in the Los Angeles area specializing in laser eye surgery and it can sometimes be a seemingly overwhelming experience when you are sorting through the names of the many doctors. Who has the best reputation in LA? Who will give you the best care?
These questions are understandable when you undergoing a Lasik procedure. After all, someone is going to be operating on one of the most sensitive and fragile organs of your body that you probably rely on the most to move about the world. Therefore, it is a good idea to thoroughly research the surgeon who will operate on you and the medical facilitate in which it will take place. However, before you can do this you will need to develop a list of names of potential surgeons.
The most obvious starting when looking for a Lasik surgeon in LA is the advertising on TV, the radio, newspapers and magazines. However, don’t let a slick advert be your sole guide to choosing a surgeon and you should be on the look out for any misleading claims.
Another common way of discovering a good laser eye surgeon is by simply asking someone who has had the procedure. Usually they have already done their own research on their eye specialist and will be able to tell you how they found the surgeon and the surgery that they underwent.
You could also ask your regular MD or optometrist about whether they can refer you to a good Lasik surgeon in your area. Typically, medical and health professionals associate with one another and know the reputations of professionals in other specialties.
A good resource is the American Academy of Ophthalmology website (www.aao.org) which lists surgeon specializing in laser eye surgery. The Yellow Pages also lists Lasik eye surgery centers in your area and you can visit their website or call their office for further information, prices and to check the background of any potential surgeon. You should ask any potential Lasik surgeon whether they are associated with any nearby academic medical centers. A surgeon who is a member of an academic medical center will be up to date with the latest information, techniques and procedures. Another good sign is if the surgeon is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. This college has a stringent entry requirement and is on the fore front of advancements in surgery.
You should also remember that you do not have to stay with one surgeon. While you should extensively research the doctors background, you should also find one who you feel comfortable around and who will put you at ease during the operation. Therefore, it may mean you will need to interview more than one surgeon before you find one that meets your needs.
Finding a Lasik Los Angeles surgeon doesn’t need to be a difficult task. Combining your own research with asking friends and family who have undergone the procedure, and the medical and health professional that you see, you will quickly develop several leads of surgeon who will be up to the task.
What is Lasik Eye Surgery?
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More and more people are turning to laser eye surgery so that they can throw away their glasses or contact lenses forever. Millions of people around the world have benefited from the Lasik procedure. If you are investigating having Lasik eye surgery in Los Angeles then you will want to know what exactly Lasik surgery is and how it is performed.
LASIK stands for “Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis”. It is a medical procedure which is performed by an ophthalmologist using a refractive laser in order to correct myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness) and astigmatism. It permanently changes the shape of the eye’s cornea, which is the clear piece of tissue which covers the front of the eye. This procedure is designed to correct a patient’s vision so that they no longer require the use of eye-glasses or contact lenses.
The operation is conducted while the patient is awake and is an outpatient procedure. Throughout the operation the surgeon will be assisted by a computer that will adjust the laser as your eye moves. The entire surgery will take less than five minutes and both eyes can be done in the one procedure. It is also a painless operation.
The first stage of the operation is when the ophthalmologist creates a flap in the cornea. To do this, a corneal suction ring is used to keep the eye in place. Then, using a special knife called a micorkeratome, the ophthalmologist cuts into the cornea and leaves a hinge on one side of the flap. The flap is then folded back to expose the “stroma” or the center of the cornea.
Using a excimer laser, the cornea stroma is then remodeled by vaporizing pieces of tissue micrometer in thickness. If you are nearsighted, the surgeon will attempt to flatten your cornea. If you are farsighted, then the aim will be to make the cornea steeper. For those who suffer astigmatism the goal is to smooth the irregular cornea.
Once this is complete, the flap is repositioned and is kept in place by natural process until healed completely. After the operation, the patient is given antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops to aid the healing process.
Research in to the Lasik procedure suggests that the occurrence of minor complication is around 3 to 5 percent. This minor difficulties include dry eyes and night time glare. The risk of more serious complication is thought be less than 1 percent. Most patients only experience mild discomfort for a day or two.
If you are considering undergoing a Lasik procedure in the Los Angeles region then your first step will be to find a surgeon that you trust. A good surgeon will examine your eyes, determined what type of vision correct that you will need and how much tissue will need to be removed from your eye to correct your vision. He or she will also ask you about your general health to determine if you are suitable for the operation.
