Tuesday, March 9, 2010

What you need to know about LASIK

LASIK surgery center Los Angeles

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis. The LASIK procedure has been performed in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles for many years and has been perfected using the latest in technology. Laser vision correction has even expanded in the past few years, as newer technology opened doors for even more people to rid themselves of glasses and contact lenses. For qualified candidates of LASIK Los Angeles patients, laser eye surgery corrects different eye defects such as myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia.

How much does Lasik Eye Surgery costs in Los Angeles?

In Los Angeles Lasik eye surgery varies from surgeon to surgeon. Some techniques require more advanced technology and equipment, so it may be more expansive than the traditional technique. For example, IntraLase is a newly developed technology that uses a laser beam to create a corneal flap instead of using a metal blade. This technique (also known as Blade-Free LASIK, or All-Laser LASIK) raises the costs of the LASIK surgery by about $300 per eye.

In Los Angeles LASIK surgery costs vary from $1000 to $2500-$3000 depending on the LASIK eye surgery center and surgeon. If you are looking for the best (and most expensive) LASIK surgery center Los Angeles & Beverly Hills are the places to go.

What are the other alternatives?

Some of the alternatives for LASIK eye surgery are PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis). LASEK is a newer procedure similar to PRK. If no type of laser eye surgery is an option at all, then you may want to look into implantable contact lenses. The Visian ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) can correct a wide range of myopia without removing or destroying the cornea's delicate tissue. The lens is made of an advanced biocompatible material called Collamer. Because the Visian ICL is placed inside the eye, refractive outcomes and optical performance are consistent. The result is excellent quality of vision.

Lasik complications

Every surgery has risks and LASIK eye surgery is no different. Here are some frequently reported complications of LASIK:

- Overcorrection or undercorrection

- Dry eye

- Infection

- Double vision

Although there are some risks involved, patients having unresolved complications six months after surgery has been estimated to about 3%.