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Having said that, I think it is worthwhile to mentionthat the cost of LASIK continues to come down. This isin part due to improvements being made to the overallprocess, such as the use of more efficient and cheaperlasers.
According to the FDA the average cost of LASIK eyesurgery was in the region of $1,344 in 2005. This is asignificant reduction from the original numbers listedin 2002 of nearly $1,600.
However, be as it may, when deciding on the type ofLASIK eye surgery or surgeon, price should never bethe overriding factor. Remember you’re not buyingshoes you’re taking a risk, so why not take the bestcalculated risk by going to someone who has built upa good reputation?
Here are a few things that may help you understandwhy the costs of LASIK laser surgery are high.
• The fee of leasing the building where the surgeryis located
• The leasing or purchase of the laser as well asmaintenance of the blades or lasers can increase LASIKcost. Surgeons may also be upgrading to newer and moreefficient lasers.
• There may be additional, per eye fees to be paid tothe developer or manufacturer of the laser, if themachine is leased.
• You may need special gowns, masks, gloves,medications, or surgical solutions to keep theoperating room sterile and safe.
• There may be Advertising and insurance for theoffice.
When you are considering different LASIK surgeryoptions it may be a good idea to ask your surgeon thefollowing:
• What is and what isn’t included in the cost of theLASIK eye surgery?
• What if complications occur or if enhancements areneeded. Will I be charged and if so, how much?
• What about the cost of LASIK medications such asanti-inflammatory or painkillers?
• Will I need temporary contact lenses after LASIK?Are they included in the cost or will they be paid forseparately?
• What about follow-up visits after LASIK? What arethe costs if they are not included in the fee for thesurgery?
Don’t forget to contact your insurance company todetermine if they cover the cost of LASIK lasersurgery. Some insurance companies don’t cover the costof LASIK because they see it as a cosmetic enhancement.
If financing is not a problem you should stronglyconsider using a LASIK surgeon who best fits yourneeds and addresses your concerns.
For those who already had successful LASIKprocedures, the cost of LASIK laser eye surgery is asmall price to pay compared to the joy offered bytheir newly improved vision.
When it comes to caring for your eyes and eyesight, regular visits to a good eye doctor are essential. An eye test every 2 years is a good idea.
During those check-ups, the eye doctor will examine your eyes not only for acuity of vision, but also for early signs of certain eye problems which can creep up on us quietly and steal our eyesight. As we approach the age of 40, it's time to pay more attention to these possibilities.
Here are some eye diseases to ask about.
Glaucoma
&bullAsk your eye doctor for a glaucoma pressure test.
Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions related to the pressure inside the eyeball (intraocular pressure). Our eyes need a certain amount of pressure to work correctly, but in glaucoma, that pressure is increased.
The higher pressure causes no discomfort or pain
Without a pressure test done by an eye doctor, we wouldn't know the pressure had increased. But it works silently to damage the optic nerve, where it leaves the eyeball to carry visual information to our brain.
What increases the intraocular pressure in glaucoma is blocked drainage.
&bullNormally, the eye fluid (aqueous fluid, unrelated to tears) can drain from the eye back into the bloodstream by seeping through tiny channels in the inside corners of the eyes.
&bullAs fluid is created, some drains out, keeping the intraocular pressure even and steady.
When the aqueous fluid is blocked from draining out enough to balance the new fluid being created, the intraocular pressure rises, progressively damaging the optic nerve, and causing us to gradually become blind.
Detached retina
&bullAsk for a full eye examination to check on the condition of the retina.
Our eyes are like little cameras and the retina is like the film. It's the inside back surface of the eye, where images are formed of what we see, and are then transmitted as electrical activity to the brain, by the optic nerve.
If the retina is at all weakened, for example by a little hole or tear, then gradually the eye fluid (intraocular fluid) can leak underneath it and cause it to peel off.
When it's not smoothly lining the back of the eyeball, it stops functioning well as the film in this little camera. Images deposited on it are now blurry or dim.
Aside from blurriness, you might notice
&bullA shadow encroaching on your vision on one side;
&bullOccasional bright flashes; and/or
&bullShowers of dark spots (floaters).
If these symptoms become more severe and you notice any diminishing of your vision, see an eye doctor immediately, to avoid progressive damage to your eyesight.
This condition can be treated, either by a laser or a freezing treatment, if it's caught early enough. If not, surgery under general anesthesia will be needed.
Cataracts
&bullAsk what might be the cause of your visual symptoms.
Just as a camera has a lens which focuses light onto the film, so our eyes have a lens which focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye.
Sometimes, most often as we age, the lens can become cloudy. This will impair our vision, and cleaning our glasses will be of no help.
Symptoms
&bullLights may become too bright, dazzling you
&bullColors may start looking faded
&bullThings may look misty or dim
If you find that you're having trouble with driving, reading, using the computer, or any other activities that require good visual acuity, see an eye doctor without delay.
Uveitis
&bullAsk what's causing this inflammation in your eyes and whether it can be cured.
The uvea is the middle layer of tissue around our eyeball, with the outer layer being the sclera (including the cornea), and the inner layer the retina, which is at the back, but also curves around towards the front of the eye.
The uvea can become inflamed in a number of ways that are different in each individual. There are many causes for it, many ways it can affect other parts of the eye, and some other conditions in the body that it can relate to.
The term intraocular inflammation is used to include all the variations. There are many tests that your eye doctor could run, depending on how the uveitis appears in your case.
Treatment goals
&bullIf there's pain or discomfort, to relieve it
&bullPreventing loss of eyesight
&bullTo address the cause, if that's possible
Your eye doctor may prescribe some type of eye drops, or corticosteriods, or some newer drug. Once it occurs, uveitis tends to stay, and must be controlled when it can't be cured.