LASIK Surgery Center

The cornea of our eye helps to focus light which then creates an image on the retina. Imperfections can result and these imperfections hinder our ability to see clearly – to see the image on the retina clearly. These imperfections result in myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism (multiple distortions). Technology has made some impressive inroads in being able to correct for this, essentially changing the cornea’s shape to sharpen the image on the retina. A laser is used for this, and the surgery is known as LASIK.

The first thing to consider before jumping into LASIK surgery is surgeon’s experience. Questions like, “how long they’ve been performing LASIK,” or, “what is their experience with new LASIK technologies,” are vital. Another item to check out are client testimonials, either online or in print somewhere. A good surgeon has these on hand or easily searchable online. In line with experience is surgeon reputation. Their education and experience are paramount, but in the eye surgery world, ever evolving technology means that a good surgeon is up-to-date and belongs to key medical memberships such as the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery or the International Society of Refractive Surgery. Additionally, the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) offers a certification that takes roughly 18 to 24 months to complete. Many LASIK surgeons have successfully completed this so inquiring to these should be part of the due diligence process.

Next is cost, a biggie as we all know. As with any medical procedure, finding the cheapest or most affordable is not recommended. These are your eyes after all, would be good to keep an eye on them. There is a wide range when it comes to cost however so looking into doctors, clinic locations, and a combination of skills and experience (as well as equipment) will lead you to the price point you’ll feel comfortable with. Granted, no price point is comfortable. It’s a price point after all. But you get the drift.

In conjunction with price are knowing the financing options available. Your insurance provider should be able to shed some light on the options that will be covered. In fact, that’s the first stop before even weighing the pros and cons of pricing. If you already know what’s covered and what isn’t, you can then delve deeper into how much you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. Another option, depending on your insurance coverage is opening a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) where money is placed into the account and then withdrawn tax-free and used for certain types of procedures, LASIK included.

After all this, comparing centers and surgeons is the best next step. Consumer Affairs has an online tool where you can punch in a range of variables and they will spit out the best centers according to your search fields. Now, this will not consider your insurance coverage nor some pricing, but it will allow you to compare centers which is a valuable tool.      

LASIK does not have to be scary in the least. But do check it out thoroughly, it might seem commonplace, but a surgery is a surgery.