Making It Safe and Affordable
LASIK surgery is only one of many available options for reducing or eliminating your dependence on glasses or contacts. Other popular options include LASEK, PRK, IntraLASIK, bladeless LASIK, non-cutting laser procedure, and flap-less LASIK. LASIK involves the formation of a flap, created with a fine automated instrument or with a laser (as in bladeless LASIK).
Some ophthalmologists believe that bladeless bladeless LASIK surgery may be safer since the flap itself is being cut with a laser. Others believe that it would be much safer to do away with the flap altogether (as in a non-cutting or flap-less procedure). Either way, the Fifth Avenue Eye Center believes that there is no one procedure that is best for all people. Rather, each patients needs to be carefully diagnosed for and advised about the vision correction procedure that fits him or her best. In fact, the success of each individual procedure dependends to a large extent on the suitability of the chosen procedure to the patient's individual eyes.
Patients interested in eye surgery should be aware of one vision correction procedure that does away with the laser altogether. This procedure is called Implantable Contact Lens surgery, or ICL surgery. Since this procedure does not require a laser to reshape the cornea, it is completely reversible. Unfortunately, in their pursuit of financial gain, many "commercial" LASIK centers have lost sight of the patient's interests. What's worse, they have lost the surgical skills to perform the right procedure for the right patient. This is how LASIK became perceived as a universal procedure that's right for anyone and everyone. So, our advice is that you be extremely cautious of commercial "assembly line LASIK" providers. You can help your cause by making sure that your surgeon is a certified opthalmologist with fellowship training in corneal procedures.
The Fifth Avenue Eye Center will work with you to figure out a financial solution that meets your needs. Usually, health insurance will cover at least part of the surgery. Low interest payment plans can be arranged, and a flexible spending plan can be set up for LASIK surgery or cataract surgery. Over time, you'll find that the money you invested in your vision correction procedure saved you the mounting expenses you shell out for glasses and/or contacts.