I’m seriously thinking about getting the corrective surgery for my eyes, and had a few questions. I’m not looking for horror stories or success stories, but rather what I should look for in making that last important choice – WHERE to get it done.
And no, I’m not looking for “Try place X, they’re great!!” I’d like some advice on what information I should request from each place, and what I should look most for. Price is of some importance to me, but it isn’t the end-all-be-all. Basically I’m looking for the smart questions to ask of each place/doctor, and any hints or tips on what would signify a place to consider highly, and what, if seen, should tell me to walk out of that office and never come back.
Also, I searched back through a few posts on Lasik, and the prices mentioned there were in the upper $3000s. In DC, the prices I’ve heard advertised range from $3000 total all the way down to $998 per eye. Do people expect this trend to continue, or is it simply a price war in the DC area? I mean, are prices dropping on this as it grows “older,” so to speak, as VCRs went from $2000 to $200 almost in a heartbeat? Or is this – $998 an eye – likely to be the plateau?
How many procedures has the Dr. done? In my case he’d done over 4000 procedures, including his wife and sister, so I figured he was pretty comfortable with it.
What is the worst possible situation that could happen as a result of this operation? I was told straight up: “Same as any other surgery: you could die.” I was impressed that they didn’t try to gloss over the procedure and make it seem like it was no big deal. The Dr. explained that with even the most routine procedures, such as a tonsilectomy, there is risk of infection which if not handled could lead to worse trauma or even death. (He then admitted that of course if all the usual procedures were followed, and I was sure to continue to use the prescribed drops, the chance of dying would be extremely unlikely)
I asked the Dr.'s assistant what the worst thing was that happened in the 5 years since he’d been assisting the Dr with this procedure. He answered that in one instance a man’s flap was cut too small or off center. It was merely replaced, allowed to heal and then the procedure was performed successfully 3 months later.
I think the important thing is to make sure you feel like they’re being honest with you and not a shady outfit. You can find out what tests they should be taking from several LASIK info sites, rather than looking at your glasses, asking how old you are and asking how you’d like to pay for the procedure.
Costs continue to go down as more and more Drs get their lasers paid off or are bought out by chain LASIK companies. I paid $4500 for both eyes a year ago (this includes lifetime eyecare and a guarantee that the procedure will be redone if needed at no extra charge) but the same Dr is now part of a chain and charges $2995. I have seen advertising when I was in Canada for like $500 per eye, which sorta makes my hair stand on end, but I don’t know how much of that has to do with the national health and if the laser is approved for the LASIK procedure there.
Vaguevixen gave some good advice. I would add that you should make sure the laser has been approved by the FDA. There are some doctors in the country using unapproved lasers at cheap prices, and I’ve read about their horror stories.
Here,in Charleston, The Storm Eye Center at MUSC has an excellent reputation, esp. Dr. Solomon. Incidentally, I had the old scapel method (radial keratomy) done 10 years ago, before the lasers were approved. Expect after the operation of the possibility of glare, esp. at night. I had horrendous vision and needed an enhancement opn. if you have really bad vision, you may need one too, even i laser. As a result of the multiple opns, I had horrendous glare at night for several years. Now, it’s not bad.
A good question I’ve heard is “How many prospective patients do you turn down?” I’d be wary of a doctor who is willing to cut up everyone who walks in his door.
On the other hand, I do not know if low nonzero figures are better or worse that high figures. But ask WHY he turns them away, and THAT could be revealing.
Another factor worth considering is whether follow-ups are included in the price (they almost always are), and whether the price includes later touch-ups if necessary.
I, too, have considered LASIK, and have gone to the seminars and such. I think if you are going to proceed, you gotta find a doc who has done hundreds of them in order to have confidence. It gets pretty deep, however, despite the claims of how easy it is. Two different laser manufacturers, for one (which to choose?)… Time or Newsweek did a cover story sometime in the last year, and to date, this has been the most informative thing I have read on LASIK. I think it was Time. Seems that Summit Technology is working on a laser procedure that will map the entire eye, inside out, promising true eagle vision. As for me in my work and hobby, I need my near vision to be perfect without glasses. LASIK can eliminating glasses for me, but only for seeing far. So still, I would need a pair to see things up close (yuk). Another issue is presbyopia, which I am presently dealing with at age 40. If I do LASIK now, am I going to have to do it again? Lots of questions. At the speed this technology is advancing, I think it will pay in terms of results to wait another several years. Of course, if I were 70, I would go for it yesterday. As for pricing, it is about $2000/pair of eyes presently in Indianapolis. Has some to do with reductions in usage fees as well as competition, though competition is a factor, too.
You can have your lasik and see close too. The way to do it is to have it only on one eye. That eye will have 20/20 (hopefully) far vision, and your other eye will remain myopic. The brain compensates and you’ll have fine far and near vision without glasses. Presbyopia will not affect your far vision and you’re already myopic in the other eye, so I don’t see why you would then be concerned about presbyopia. You’ll be all set.
I’m not sure what determines how much improved your near/farsightedness will be, but I’m now 20/20 both far AND near. That’s another question you might ask about…in my case it wasn’t an issue. I think it depends on how old you are when considering the procedure. (Whether or not you already use reading glasses, etc.)
I think the biggest risks of LASIK are the ones that aren’t talked about much. The doctors make a big deal out of the high percentage of people who achieve 20/20 vision, and the relatively low risk of having worse than 20/40. But the overall incidence of side effects is actually very high when you include all the other nasties like permanantly dry eyes, halos, poor night vision, blurring under stress, etc.
I’ve been hovering on the fence thinking about LASIK for a long time now, but I just got a real scare when a report came out in Britain a couple of months ago on long-term studies of LASIK patients. The study said that after at least 2 years after the surgery, a high percentage of LASIK patients (30%? 50%?) could not pass the British driving exam’s night vision requirements.
This report has prompted the Canadian government to re-evaluate LASIK and driving. There is a study going on now which may result in all LASIK patients having to take periodic vision tests to maintain their driver’s license, and if you fail the night vision part you will no longer be able to operate a vehicle after dark.
I’ve posted before, and as one who had the RK done 10 years ago, I would highly recommend the PRK (lasik). I was -8 dioptics in both eyes and had to have enhancement surgery done in both eyes, twice in one. As I said, the glare and halos at night were very bad for a couple of years. I still have to wear glasses, as I have surgically induced astigmatism in both eyes, with plano on the left and -2 (myopia) on the right. The glare is caused by the slits in my cornea, and with the enhancement procedures, amounted to 16 cuts. Most opthalmologists would not have done RK with my diopters.
However, with time and corrective lenses, the glare is all but gone now. True, it’s been 10 years, both I had 16 cuts, which you don’t get with lasik. My vision also fluctuated, worsening at night, as my cornea was still undergoing changes (become less concave). There is some fluctuation, but not bad now, and I wear 2 different glasses, one for day vision and one for night vision.
I assume your vision is not as bad and lasik can be done no matter how bad the myopia, at least to -9 diopters. You may have some glare and halos, and that may last two years, but they will eventually go away as your cut heals, I think. You get only one cut, for the flap. I’s not a doctor or an eye specialist, but I think that should heal over time. If I had to do it over, I’d do the lasik. In fact I looked into a possible lasik recently, but since my vision is still changing plus the fact I have early cataracts, Dr. Solomon won’t do it. (Another doctor, a friend of mine, with whom I play tennis. wanted to do it. I won’t disclose his name. So it’s important to get a doctor who will give you an honest approach to its value for you.
