Is LASIK a Good Investment Even If My Prescription Changes?

/0 Comments/in /by

This question is a common one for anyone who struggles with relatively stable near-sightedness. Maybe they’re used to going to the eye doctor once a year for five years and coming out with the same bill of health and the same prescription. Maybe after the 6th year, their prescription changes by .25.

They wonder whether they would have been better off getting LASIK if their prescription changes were so small. If this sounds familiar, we’ll look at the pros and cons of the surgery and whether it could still be the right choice for you.

Calculate the Costs

Considering most insurance won’t cover this surgery, LASIK in Brunswick, GA can cost you a few thousand dollars per eye. This is a one-time cost, though, as opposed to the ongoing costs of contacts, glasses, saline solution, repairs, cleaning solution, etc. Depending on how much everything costs per year, it might make financial sense to take the financial hit. If the surgery is likely to last for at least seven years (based on the trajectory of your current prescription fluctuations), you might find that you’re still coming out ahead.

Calculate the Hassles

Contacts and glasses are more than just their direct costs, they’re also a good deal of work. Replacing them, cleaning them, making repair appointments, worrying about whether you’ve fallen asleep in your contacts: these can really just be the beginning. For some, these hassles aren’t really hassles but merely a step in their general routine. For others, though, they might find that the constant upkeep is more of an annoyance every day. Again, if LASIK can save you some headaches for several years, you might find you don’t mind the financial costs for you.

Work It Out with an Eye Doctor in Jesup

With eye doctors in St. Marys, Jesup, and Brunswick, GA, the staff at Vision Source Family Eye Care can help you work out whether LASIK is a good financial choice for you. Plus, our eye doctors can also let you know what your options are if your prescription changes over the years. In some cases, you may not need to have the surgery redone. Contact us today if you’re thinking about taking this step.

Common Types of LASIK  

/0 Comments/in /by

At your next eye exam in Jesup, GA, ask your eye doctor about LASIK. LASIK is a treatment for nearsightedness and farsightedness. Millions of people around the world have benefited from this eye treatment, and it might be right for you. Because LASIK has been around for many years, it has evolved into a variety of different kinds. These different forms of LASIK help to make it appropriate for more people and enable LASIK to be used to treat more eye issues. Following is a summary of the different types of LASIK that are now available.

LASIK

Short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, this is the most standard form of LASIK. A small flap is made in the cornea, and a very thin layer on the bed of the cornea is removed. The flap is then closed.

LASEK

Short for laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy, LASEK involves using a microkeratome cutting device to make the corneal flap. The cornea is then exposed to ethanol to remove a very small layer. Afterwards the flap is closed. This type of eye surgery is best for those who have thin corneas.

PRK

Also known as photorefractive keratectomy, this procedure involves scraping away the epithelium (the top layer) of the cornea, rather than making a flap.

epi-LASIK

Short for epithelial laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, epi-LASIK consists of separating the top surface of the cornea from the middle part of the cornea, and then reshaping the cornea using a laser.

Intraocular Lens

This isn’t technically a type of LASIK, but it is a type of corrective eye surgery. It consists of surgically inserting a corrective lens into the eye. It is commonly used as part of cataract surgery in addition to being used as a vision correction surgery.

SMILE

SMILE is short for small-incision lenticule extraction, whereby the eye doctor uses a laser to reshape the cornea with a lenticular, or lense-shaped portion of tissue.

If you’re tired of wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses, LASIK might be right for you. Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK, though. It will depend upon your specific eyesight issues, as well as your overall eye health. Contact your optometrist in Jesup, GA to book an appointment and see if LASIK is an option for you.