subject: Some Questions and Answers about LASIK [print this page] Some Questions and Answers about LASIK Some Questions and Answers about LASIK
As it is more and more popular, questions about LASIK come to be abundant as well. Here below lists some basic questions and answers about LASIK, hoping to give people a general knowledge about the modern eyesight correction surgery, including its definition, efficiency and cost, etc...
The definition of LASIK
What is LASIK? This must be the first question one wants to know. LASIK is actually an abbreviation for Laser-Assisted inSItu Keratomileusis. It means that the surgery is accomplished by reshaping the shape of cornea with a laser. The word "Keratomileusis" is a Greek word, referring to "horn". It describes the shape of eye cornea, which happens to be horn shaped.
How is it performed?
The procedure will actually cost several minutes, which would be completed with two steps. The surgeon will firstly make a flap with a microkeratome, lifting the upper layers of the cornea, and then apply an excimer, a fine precision laser, to reshape the cornea. Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism are resulted from the out-of-shape cornea and can all be corrected by such a tiny laser.
Am I suitable to have a LASIK surgery?
Not every patient is suitable to have a Lasik surgery. Firstly, one has to be over 18 years old and have the same prescription for at least one year. Secondly, you should not and have never suffered from any serious eye diseases, such as cataracts (clouding of the lens) and macular degeneration (atrophy of the retina) and some other diseases alike. People having age-related eye problems are not good candidates as well.
That's the reason why you should have a detailed eye examination before you have the surgery, so that your eye doctor or surgeon would determine whether you are qualified to have such a surgery or not.
How much will you pay for a LASIK surgery?
In general, each eye requires $1500 to $4000 to get vision corrected. And it does not include the post surgery fees. However the exact price is determined by each eye surgery clinic. For the fierce competition, many clinics would give discounts to attract more patients to have LASIK in their clinics, therefore, check relative information in respective clinic before a surgery and find one where good services and low price are provided.
