Lasik Eye Surgery Experience: Procedures and Lasik Cost

I was nearsighted since 11 years old and most of the time I always use prescription eyeglasses. The dependency on eyeglasses gives limitation and discomfort in many activities especially when exercising, swimming and on beach activities.

Since I heard many good things about Lasik eye surgery procedures for eye correction, I wanted to investigate Lasik vision correction for myself. The fact Lasik statistically is one of the safest surgery procedures. Lasik eye surgery procedures and results continue to improve, Lasik laser technology and surgeon experiences are improving as well. All of this is like a small assurance for successful eye surgery.

Since many surgeries procedure related so much in skill and surgeon experience, selecting the suitable doctor is very important. The first visit is also an important to know whether you are a a good candidate for Lasik, your doctor will perform a kind of eye exam and gives some result. I visited three eye doctor to get second and third opinion as well as to know which one give more satisfying explanation regarding the procedures.

In general, there are two types of Lasik eye surgery procedures: we can say it Blade and Bladeless. Many people refer “Blade” Lasik as traditional Lasik and “Bladeless” Lasik as IntraLase Lasik or iLasik.

Basically Lasik surgery performs by applying excimer laser to re-shape the cornea as prescribe. How much tissue on the cornea is removed for this reshaping process depends on how bad the person’s eye sight was. In traditional Lasik, the eye doctor creating a flap on upper epithelial layer using blade before applying the excimer laser. After laser energy is applied, the flap is replaced to serve as a type of natural bandage.

IntraLase require no blade incision on upper layer, it works by creating a micro layer of water bubbles just below the surface of the cornea; this layer of bubbles allows the surgeon to gently lift the flap back without using a blade, and then the cornea is reshaped.

There is no exact finding which one have better result, every eye doctor have their own preference and experience, a good doctor usually gives whatever is best for the patient and allow their patient to make the decision. Here a several facts regarding both procedures:

• Microkeratome to make flap in traditional Lasik is more sophisticated nowadays. This tools is only good if use by skillful eye surgeon.
• Suction in a microkeratome procedure lasts in less than 5 seconds; compare to suction using IntraLase lasts 20 seconds at least.
• Clinic will charge more on IntraLase flap, the cost difference up to $350 for one eye.
• IntraLase Lasik eye surgery was more likely to produce initial vision problems with light sensitivity and discomfort in the first day post surgery. But give better long term visual outcomes according to WallStreetReporter.com, June 2005.

Even though Lasik is quick and ambulatory procedure (you can walk in and walk out at the same day of eye surgery), Lasik cost is not cheap and may differs widely from one clinic to another and depends on many factors. Usually the cost quoted per one eye even if both eyes are corrected on the same day.

According to a leading industry analyst, less than 7% of LASIK procedures performed in the U.S. in 2008 cost less than $1,000 per eye. But on average the cost of blade Lasik is around $1,500 for one eye and additional $500 for IntraLase Lasik. I highly recommend making a few appointments and getting quotes from two or three clinic to get better figures.

Now, although I'm not completely free from nearsighted but practically I don't need any eyeglass or contact lens in most of my activities.