Lasik Price Shopping: The Ultimate Guide
- Posted on: May 15 2021
- Stephen Slade, MD
When we think of price shopping, the average person thinks of car shopping or even house shopping, with both of these things being on the higher-priced side of purchases that people make in their lifetimes. However, in our line of work, price shopping is actually EXTREMELY Common, with patients calling multiple LASIK surgery practices to check out their price before even seeing a doctor.
Its understandable that LASIK, although not the same price as a car, is definitely a bigger investment than the regular thing someone invests in on a daily or weekly basis, so we wanted to provide our patients and followers with some helpful background info if they are in the market to price shop vision correction surgery.
According to the Refractive Surgery Council , the national average LASIK surgery price is $4,200, so LASIK may not be as expensive as you originally had in mind.
Although on the lower price scale, vision correction is still considered an investment, so instead of just calling and asking for prices, patients need to look for expertise and quality in their surgeons vs. discounts or deals.
If youre thinking about LASIK and price is a deciding factor, some important questions to ask yourself are:
Are there deals and discounts in LASIK? Of course!
How To Know If You Need To See An Eye Doctor
During a routine visit, your primary care physician may check your eyes quickly. In the long run, though, that wont be enough to keep your eyes healthy and properly diagnose any issues. You should see an eye doctor if:
- You think you may have a vision problem or eye disease
- You have blurry vision or swollen, red, or painful eyes
- Your vision is blurry, even when you wear your glasses or contacts
- Your primary care provider says you need a dilated eye exam
Six Reasons Why Increasing Your Fees Is A Smart Idea
Ophthalmology is truly blessed, having both the most commonly performed surgical procedure and the most commonly performed elective surgical procedure . I have reported on trends in elective procedures in CRST starting with the publications debut issue. Over the years, several of my articles have explored the relationship between price, demand, and value in refractive surgery. My main message at that time was that surgeons were undervaluing their services relative to the benefits the procedure offered. To put it bluntly, I advised them to stop discounting because it did not increase demand and was affecting perceived value by the public negatively.
Consumer research also indicated that most individuals didnt want cheap surgery. When LVC prices were lowered between 2000 and 2002, demand dropped, the category gave up $1.7 billion in revenue, and refractive surgeons lost an average of $335,000 in net income.1
Since that time, prices have stabilized while demand has fluctuated. LVC surgical volume is still far below its peak. Today, a quarter of a century after the first FDA approvals for LVC, theres another message that needs to be delivered: Its time to raise your fees.
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What Is Lasik Eye Surgery
LASIK eye surgery is a refractive surgery, meaning it corrects certain vision problems such as astigmatism. LASIK has the potential to completely rid patients of glasses and contact lenses, giving many patients more freedom with their vision. LASIK is extremely effective, with few risks involved. The lifestyle benefits for patients who are active are tremendous, allowing them to pursue their hobbies, sports, activities or career options with less dependence on contact lenses and glasses. If you are tired of depending on contact lenses and eyeglasses, LASIK surgery in Houston may be right for you!
What Is The Recovery Like After The Surgery
The first thing you need to know after having LASIK is you cannot drive yourself home. Make sure you have a friend or a family member that can get you home safely.
Once home, youll probably be exhausted, so the best thing you can do is rest. If your surgeon gives you eye shields, wear these while youre sleeping to keep from rubbing your eyes or bumping them in your sleep.
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The Lasik Procedure Explained
During LASIK eye surgery, the goal is to remove corneal tissue using an excimer laser, gently reshaping the cornea. This changes the focusing power of your eye, allowing for sharp vision.
Before LASIK surgery, you will come in to our office in Houston for a consultation. The consultation will make sure you are a good candidate for LASIK surgery.
Before the LASIK procedure, your doctor in Houston will make the necessary pre-operative preparations. You are positioned under the laser microscope, with a lid speculum to hold your eyelids back, so you do not blink during the procedure. Next, our doctors use a microkeratome device to create a thin corneal flap. The flap is then lifted back, exposing the inner layers of the cornea. The next step is to use the excimer laser to reshape the cornea, using the specifications that were prepared before surgery. Lastly, the flap is smoothed back down and reseal itself, requiring no stitches.
A Leader In Ophthalmology
In 2007 Dr. Slade received the Barraquer Award, the high award from the largest society of refractive surgeons. The Barraquer Award is given only once a year to one doctor in the world. Dr. Slade was selected by his peers for both Best Doctors and Best Doctors in America and has received the Honor Award of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
He is a regular presenter at medical meetings and has received several Best Speaker awards and has twice won First Place at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Film Festival. He has served on several Editorial Boards including the Journal of Refractive Surgery.
Dr. Slade has produced many articles, book chapters, holds four patents or patents pending in the field, and has authored nine textbooks on refractive surgery. He has been featured in numerous news segments aired on CBS, ABC, and PBS as well as numerous national affiliate stations.
Dr. Slade has been quoted in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal as well as numerous local press stories. Dr. Slade was the featured surgeon on the Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary 20/10 by 2010? narrated by Walter Cronkite.
Stephen Slade, MD was the first doctor in the United States to use the latest technology for cataract removal, the Femtosecond Laser. This high-speed laser actually took over several of the steps in cataract surgery that were done by hand.
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How To Find A Good Eye Doctor
Its important to know if you need to see an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist for your eye condition.
People who need glasses or contacts arent the only ones who visit an eye doctor. The only way to make sure your eyes are healthy is to get a comprehensive eye exam. Many common eye diseases have no early warning signs.
An Optometrist is usually the first line of contact for patients seeking initial consults and eye exams. From there, the eye clinic will work with you to match with the appropriate specialist for your individual needs.
When Is Lasik Eye Surgery Medically Required
Most insurance plans dont cover the cost of Lasik eye surgery. But there are a few rare exceptions where some insurance plans might consider a Lasik procedure to be medically necessary, not elective. These situations could include having vision problems because of surgery or an injury, or if patients arent able to wear glasses or lenses.4 Standards for Lasik coverage may vary between insurance plans, so be sure to check with your healthcare provider.
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Richmond Hill Vs Baker County
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Watch it: Will be streamed on News4JAX+ and televised live on WJXT Channel 4.
Notable: The Wildcats rebounded from a tough Week 1 half against Bradford with a 25-20 win over Oakleaf. RB Cam Smith remains the focal point of the Baker County offense. Hes rushed for 166 yards and a pair of TDs on 17 carries. On defense, Orlando Holland is coming off a season in which he had nearly 30 sacks. Derrick Major and Davion Dean have a couple interceptions apiece for Baker County. That production has been big for Baker County, which graduated its entire secondary that was the backbone of last years state semifinalist. RB Zion Gillard , WR Mason Wilcox and QB Tyler Goldrick lead Richmond Hill.
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The Top Eye Doctors In Houston Tx
LASIK and other forms of laser eye surgery and refractive surgery require skill and experience. Our eye doctors have experience with many refractive surgery techniques and offer them here in Houston, Texas. This helps you because you are not squeezed into a one size fits all operation. Our doctors were the first in North America to perform LASIK.
We were also the first in North America to implant the accommodating IOL, the Crystalens which helps treat presbyopia or difficulty with reading vision. We also have the nations longest experience with all-laser LASIK where no blades are used. Our eye doctors have performed tens of thousands of refractive surgery procedures on patients from Houston, Texas, and around the world.
Stephen G. Slade MD, FACS, and Richard N. Baker, OD have practiced together since 1983. In 1995 they founded the Laser Center of Houston as a referral clinic for patient care, physician education, and as an investigational site to advance the art of refractive surgery. Since then, Bennett Walton, MD, and Shama Essa, OD have also joined the practice.
They head a multilingual team of technicians, many of whom have had refractive surgery themselves at the center. Drs. Slade and Baker have directed the training of most of the surgeons now doing LASIK in the United States. Many of these same surgeons have chosen Dr. Slade for their own surgery. Indeed, Dr. Slade is the Doctors Doctor, over 400 eye surgeons have chosen us for their own refractive surgery.
How To Know If You Are A Good Candidate For Lasik
Lasik is a popular procedure for correcting vision problems. But like most surgeries, it can carry risks for some people. LASIK may not be a good idea for people with thin or irregular corneas, for people with glaucoma or autoimmune conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, or for people who take corticosteroids.5 Talk to an eye care specialist to find out if youre a good candidate for laser eye surgery.
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An Open Letter To My Patients
I feel incredibly humbled and grateful that you have chosen us to accomplish quality vision for the life you live. My lifes work is to help people, just like you, enjoy life without the barriers created by poor vision. I love what I do because experiencing life with better vision allows people to connect with one another and enjoy the world around us every waking minute of our lives.
Having grown up with bad vision and astigmatism myself, I can fully identify with the frustration, hassles, and even risks of being dependent on glasses and contacts just like you may be now. We all have embarrassing stories from childhood that wed rather forget. One or two probably popped into your head just now. One that painfully sticks out for me was when I was a junior high kid. Along with many of the other boys in my class, I had been invited to a birthday party at the lake. As soon as they said it was my turn to water ski, I immediately dove headfirst into the water. One problem: I had forgotten to take off my glasses before diving in! After thrashing around in the waves, grasping at my quickly disappearing glasses as they spiraled toward the bottom of the lake, that summer day still ranks as one of the most humiliating and frustrating experiences of my childhood. There went my chance to ski and have fun with the other boys and with it my ability to see, not only for the rest of that day but also the next several days until I could get a new pair of glasses.
With warm regards,
About Slade & Baker Vision Center
Slade & Baker Vision Center is a Houston LASIK and laser cataract surgery eye practice. Our eye care center insists on the highest standard in patient care with advanced technology. World renowned LASIK surgeon, Stephen Slade, M.D. was the first U.S. eye surgeon to perform LASIK eye surgery.
Contact today for more information!
| Houston, TX77027 |
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Revision Optics Finishes Phase One Of Fda Clinical Trial
PresbyLens Renamed Vue+
LAKE FOREST, Calif.-ReVision Optics , a leading company in the research, development and manufacture of implantable medical devices designed to assist patients that need reading glasses, announced today that it has completed enrollment and initial follow up in Phase I of its US clinical trial and has filed for expansion. The clinical trial is for the study of the PresbyLens, recently renamed Vue+, for the improvement of near vision in patients with presbyopia, the age-related loss of near vision.
The Vue+ study will evaluate 400 presbyopic subjects for three years. The investigators for Phase I included Dr. Stephen Slade of the Slade & Baker Vision Center in Houston, Texas, and Dr. Jon Dishler of the Dishler Laser Institute in Greenwood Village, Colorado. RVO anticipates that Dr. Dan Tran, of the Coastal Laser Eye Center in Newport Beach, California Dr. Y Ralph Chu of the Chu Vision Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota Dr. John F. Doane, of the Discover Vision Center in Leawood, Kansas Dr. John Olkowski, of the EyeSight Vision Institute, in Honolulu, Hawaii and Dr. Robert Lehmann of the Lehmann Eye Center in Nacogdoches, Texas, will participate as investigators after FDA approval to expand the trial.
ABOUT REVISION OPTICS:
*Caution, the Vue+ is an Investigational Device and is limited by United States federal law to investigational use only.
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Border Classic On Saturday: Baker County Richmond Hill Wrap Up Showdown
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Border Classic presented by Bakers Sports puts high school football in the spotlight this week, with seven games over three days. All games will be streamed on News4JAX+ and select games will be broadcast live on WJXT Channel 4. We look at the matchups.
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What Can I Expect During The Lasik Procedure
Before LASIK ever begins, your surgeon starts by giving numbing eyedrops. These slowly travel over the surface of your eye and make sure you dont feel any pain during the procedure.
Next, a speculum will be used to hold your eyes open. During LASIK, two lasers are used: a femtosecond laser and an excimer laser.
The surgeon creates a thin flap in the top of the cornea with the femtosecond laser. After creating the flap, its then pulled back.
The excimer laser is then used to remove a tiny amount of corneal tissue from the middle layer of the cornea and then the flap gets placed back down. There are no stitches or bandages used during LASIK since the flap comes back together on its own.
Know Your Options Other Types Of Lasik Eye Surgery
There are several types of LASIK surgery, which you and your doctor will discuss prior to your procedure. Each procedure offers different benefits and can sometimes be combined with one another.
Not everyone is a candidate for LASIK, as there are certain things that would make LASIK surgery riskier for you. Luckily, there are plenty of other options when it comes to permanent vision correction. Dr. Slade in Houston will discuss with you which method of vision correction will suit your eyes.
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What Impacts The Cost Of Cataract Surgery
The main factors that affect the average cost of cataract surgery include:
- Type of lens. The type of intraocular lens you need affects the overall cost. A monofocal lens that corrects vision at one distance is less expensive than a multifocal lens. Premium lenses include toric IOLs to correct astigmatism and presbyopia-correcting IOLs.
- Type of surgery. Traditional surgical techniques, such as phacoemulsification, are lower in cost. Laser cataract surgery uses the most advanced technologies and is the most expensive.
- Surgeons fees. A surgeons experience and reputation often affect their fees.
- Surgery setting. Ambulatory surgical centers typically cost less than outpatient surgery in a hospital.
- Pre- and post-operative care. Pre- and post-operative doctors visits, medications, and testing can impact the overall cost.
These variables will affect the on-paper cost of your cataract surgery. However, your health insurance coverage is the biggest factor in determining your out-of-pocket cost.