Does LASIK Hurt or Is the Just a Myth?

"So...Does LASIK Hurt?"

It's a question everyone who desires vision correction wants to know. 

Having to endure pain in order to have clearer vision through laser correction is one of the top myths out there. In the very early days of LASIK eye surgery, pain was a more likely factor. This was due to what is now considered archaic technology, especially blade LASIK technology. In today's vision correction laser suite, all laser, blade-free technology provides an extremely safe, fast and comfortable patient experience. Not only does a LASIK procedure take less than 10 minutes, but any discomfort tends to be low-grade and lasts for a couple to a few days.

Pain is one of several myths associated with LASIK. In addition to wondering, "Does LASIK hurt?" many people think LASIK:

• causes a long recovery
• requires patients not to blink
• only uses blade technology (all laser, blade free technology is the best practice)  

However, these fears are all myths. In fact, LASIK eye surgery only takes roughly 10 minutes, and the lasers calibrate automatically whenever someone blinks or moves their eyes. Also, blade-less technology is the highest quality LASIK surgeons should be using today. All laser technology offers faster corneal restructuring, improved safety and a better grade of surgical customization, as each person's corneas require different settings during correction procedures.

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.

How Much Does LASIK Cost?

One of the first questions people ask while researching eye surgery is, “How much does LASIK cost?” Answering this question is an important step in determining if laser vision correction is the right solution for you and your specific situation. After conducting a healthy amount of research and undergoing a comprehensive eye exam to identify your physical eligibility for LASIK eye surgery, cost is the next logical research step.

In general, having LASIK eye surgery is costly. For facilities using older technology that utilizes a blade to create corneal flaps, surgery will likely cost $1,000.00 to $2,500.00 per eye. In other settings where bladeless, all-laser technology is used, LASIK costs approximately $1,000.00 to $3,000.00 per eye. A price report conducted by an industry-leading analyst identified the following prices as average LASIK eye surgery costs in 2012 (Source: allaboutvision.com):    

• $1,689 for non-customized LASIK using a bladed instrument and excimer lasers. These lasers are not guided by Wavefront technology.

• $1,947 for Wavefront-guided LASIK using a laser-created flap. A state-of-the-art example of Wavefront-guided technology is the WaveLight Allegretto Eye-Q Laser, an industry-leading machine that creates flap using only lasers.  
• $2,159 for all laser-based vision correction procedures in which a single price is quoted.

Learning how much LASIK costs is a proactive step in determining how you will pay for it, should you be deemed a suitable candidate. While the price of LASIK is considered high, there are avenues individuals can take to ease the pain of their procedural bill. For instance, while numerous folks save money over a span of time or finance their surgery, many patients use FSA (Flexible Spending Account) funds to pay for a portion of LASIK. If your employer offers an FSA option through your health benefits, any money put into the account counts as pre-tax dollars. This can save LASIK eye surgery patients as much as 20% when it comes time to pay for your procedure.   

Not All LASIK Procedures Are Equally Suitable for Patients

A lot of people out there don't know there are several kinds of LASIK eye surgery. While everyone isn't suited for a laser vision correction procedure, some folks' vision conditions may be ideal for one procedure over another. The main three types of LASIK are blade-free OptiLASIK, no-flap PRK LASIK and Monovision (sometimes called Lens Replacement). With the most advanced laser technology available, folks searching for clearer vision have extremely safe resources via top notch eye care specialists and surgeons.

OptiLASIK, a fully blade free form of laser vision correction, suits many patients whose corneal structure is strong enough to undergo flap creation. Created with a laser, the corneal flap exposes the cornea, supplying your eye surgeon with ability to painlessly and efficiently reshape it. Blade-free LASIK procedures eliminate complication risks tied to traditional LASIK and maximize patient comfort.     

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) expands the availability of LASIK eye surgery to those whose eyes cannot handle the traditional flap LASIK procedure. This may be due to several factors, such as: 

•  Unstable corneal thickness 
•  Corneal scar tissue
•  Substantial risk for long-term or chronic eye dryness
•  General corneal structure issues 

PRK LASIK requires state-of-the-art technology such as the Allegretto Eye-Q Laser. The corneal cover is removed and allowed to heal for several days. Then, the Allegretto machine reshapes the cornea to complete the procedure.

Monovision, or Lens Replacement Surgery, uses Wavelight technology to refocus your eyes. This option is great for approved patients looking to correct near and/or distance vision issues. Many times, eye care specialists recommend a "test drive" in which temporary contacts are used for two weeks to ensure the patient's brain properly adjusts to the visual changes. If this test drive is successful, lens replacement will set your non-dominant eye to be focused for near vision while your dominant eye is refocused for distance vision. In many cases, monovision rarely applies to folks outside of the cataract-affected community.