Monday, May 12, 2014

The Cost of LASIK & Wavelight Allegretto Eye-Q Benefits

While LASIK eye surgery cost has dropped substantially in the last decade, it is still considered an expensive procedure by many patients. One of the main reasons why LASIK eye surgery cost is so high stems from the use of best-in-class LASIK technology. Today, let's discuss the Wavelight Allegretto Eye- Q Laser, a recently FDA-approved piece of LASIK technology used in industry-leading LASIK facilities that can increase LASIK costs, but can improve someone's quality of life in faster time.  

Approved by the FDA in September 2013, the impressive Wavelight Allegretto Eye-Q Laser is currently the fastest LASIK laser available in the United States market. Manufactured by the trusted Alcon brand name, this next-generation technology has reduced surgery times and improved corneal reshaping precision. In cases where the Wavelight Allegretto Eye-Q laser is used, this can greatly affect LASIK eye surgery costs. However, LASIK eye surgery should not be seen as a coupon-clipping procedure. Essentially, you get what you pay for. Bait and switch tactics typically promise impeccable results at a low expense. But, more than likely, the technology used will be considered outdated and less safe. Sacrificing quality for short term financial savings is not worth it if a less-than-reputable eye surgeon performs your LASIK eye surgery with legacy equipment.

Luckily, the Allegretto Wavelight Eye-Q Laser's technology is brand new and offers LASIK patients a multitude of innovative surgical benefits, including:

  • A high-speed 400 Hz eye tracker that follows a patient's eye positions 400 times per second for optimal laser pulse accuracy    
  • Energy controlled calibration settings that are engineered to pass through three checkpoints before pulsing, ensuring a rounder, more natural corneal surface
  • One of the largest optical zooms available today, overcoming a previous LASIK eye surgery limitation that caused procedural difficulty for patients whose pupils are larger than the normal optical zoom of a LASIK laser 
  • Lightning fast laser pulsing speeds of 400 bursts per second, correcting one diopter every two seconds
Investing in and operating the Wavelight Allegretto Eye-Q Laser is not cheap for eye surgeons. Deploying brand new technology such as this increases LASIK eye surgery cost, but hopefully does not hinder ideal candidates from saving for their procedure.

Yes, LASIK eye surgery cost is substantial for most folks. But, when considering the quality of life improvement and the year-over-year expenses of glasses and contacts, LASIK eye surgery cost may not seem so unreasonable.