Scared of LASIK? Get the Facts!

If you’ve been living for years with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, constantly annoyed with contact lenses and glasses, you’ve undoubtedly heard about how  Laser Vision Correction can improve your vision. You may have even gone so far as having a Laser Vision Correction  consultation to find out that you are, indeed, a good candidate for the procedure. So why haven’t you taken the plunge and had LASIK eye surgery?

Maybe it’s the cost of the procedure (although there are excellent financing options available). But maybe you are apprehensive – scared, even – about having someone perform a procedure on your eyes. It is understandable to have anxiety about ,Laser Vision Correction  but consider this: According to the Eye Surgery Education Council, “LASIK vision correction has the highest patient satisfaction rate of any elective surgery: 95.4%, according to a 10-year survey of scientific studies from around the world. And new advances in technology now deliver better outcomes than ever. The majority of patients enjoy 20/20 vision or better after laser vision correction. Nearly all patients achieve 20/40 or better, which is fully functional and good enough to drive legally in most states without corrective lenses.”

Other studies have shown that there are more than 700,000 Laser Vision Correction   procedures performed in the United States every year. Satisfied patients express feelings of amazement because they can see with clarity, first thing in the morning; play sports, swim and travel without worrying about glasses or contacts; and have clear peripheral vision.

 Laser Vision Correction is not something to jump into; you should take time to fully research the Laser Vision Correction  surgeons in your area to determine who offers the best technologieLaser Vision Correction s and has the best track record of success. Notice we didn’t mention finding the best price. Advances in  technology have bumped up the cost of Laser Vision Correction  slightly, but the overall results are superior and, according to most who’ve had it, well worth the money.
You should also be fully aware of the potential complications of Laser Vision Correction  , which can include:

·         Dry eye syndrome

·         Possible need for glasses or contact lenses after surgery

·         Potentially debilitating vision problems like glare, starbursts, halos or double vision

·         Vision loss

If you want to find out all the facts about Laser Vision Correction , contact the doctors at Pacific Eye Specialists to schedule a free  consultation at www.pacificeyespecialists.com/index.html or call 415 921 7555. You can also take a free online Laser Vision Correction Self-Evaluation on this website.

Can You Be Too Old for LASIK?

The short answer to the question, “Can you be too old for Laser Vision Correction?” is: No.

A person cannot be too old to have a Laser Vision Correction  procedure – there is no maximum age at which Laser Vision Correction is no longer effective. However, the condition of your eyes may prohibit you from being a good candidate for Laser Vision Correction, regardless of your age.

The hard truth is that your eyes are continually changing as you grow older. There are a couple of eyesight conditions that begin to occur for most people that cannot be corrected by Laser Vision Correction  surgery:

·         Presbyopia, when you lose the ability to see up-close without reading glasses. This typically starts in your 40s.

·         Cataracts, when the eye lenses become more opaque. This starts slowly and can gradually become quite difficult to live with in our 60s and beyond. Cataract surgery replaces the impaired lenses with artificial ones, and refractive errors can also be corrected at the same time.

There is a small segment of society that does not experience significant changes in their vision over time. In those cases, it is possible for a person of advanced age, who has good overall health and generally healthy eyes with stable vision, to have a Laser Vision Correction  procedure to correct a refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

Why not find out if you can enjoy the rest of your life with 20/20 vision? You’ve got nothing to lose and clear sight to gain. 

The only way to truly determine if you are a candidate for Laser Vision Correction  is to schedule a Laser Vision Correction Evaluation with a respected practice like Pacific Eye Specialtists in San Francisco and Daly City, CA.  Visit their website at www.pacificeyespecialists.com or call 415 921 7555 to schedule your Free Evaluation today.

Give Your Valentine the Gift of 20/20 Vision

If you are searching for the perfect gift for your sweetheart, consider giving the gift of laser vision correction…and the possibility of 20/20 vision. Valentine’s Day is all about showing loved ones how much you care, and what better way to show your love than by arranging a laser vision correction consultation?

Laser vision correction eye surgery can correct the refractive errors that cause nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These are the conditions that cause people to need glasses or contact lenses to see clearly. Unfortunately, not every person is a good candidate for this procedure. The only way to determine if your loved one is a good laser vision correction candidate is through a comprehensive consultation and eye exam by a reputable laser vision correction provider.

If your loved one finds out that laser vision correction is right for his or her eyes, you can decide together how to proceed. There are often laser vision correction financing options available to help pay for the procedure, which costs, on average, $1,600 - $2,500 per eye, depending on the type of technology used. Steer clear of discount laser vision correction providers that advertise the procedure for less than $600 per eye – these often have hidden fees, are performed with inexperienced surgeons or use outdated technologies that can lead to vision complications.

When performed by a reputable and experienced laser vision correction surgeon, many LASIK patients achieve 20/20 vision – or better – after the procedure, and they often experience a visual freedom they have never had in their lives. Now that’s an amazing Valentine’s Day gift!  

Of course, risks accompany any type of surgery and laser vision correction is no exception. Vision changes, such as halos, glare, double vision and starbursts; dry eye syndrome; vision loss and the need for glasses after laser vision correction are some of the risks. Discuss these complication possibilities with your laser vision correction provider.

Wouldn’t it be great to gaze into your sweetheart’s eyes – without looking through glasses? Contact Pacific Eye Specialists today to schedule a laser vision correction consultation and learn about financing options to help you afford this thoughtful gift. Visit pacificeyespecialists.com or call 415-921-7555.

How Much Does LASIK Cost?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a long list of lasers that are used for laser vision correction. While the FDA has the power to regulate the sale of medical devices in the United States, approving only those that are deemed reasonably safe and effective, the power stops there. The FDA does not have the power to regulate how doctors manage or market their laser vision correction practices, including how much doctors charge for laser vision correction eye surgery.

The average cost of laser vision correction surgery ranges from approximately $1,600 per eye for non-customized laser vision correction to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. These are just average costs; variables that can affect the bottom line may include:

•  Pre-operative testing
•  Equipment for eye tracking, corneal measurement and topography, pupil size and tear film analysis
• Surgery equipment, such as traditional blade LASIK or laser
• Whether the office owns or leases the laser technology

You may have heard some laser vision correction centers offering incredibly low prices on laser vision correction, such as $499 per eye. While this sounds great, these low prices are usually a ploy to get you into the center where, upon further examination, you discover the fine print:

• You may not be a candidate for the super low pricing because your eye prescription is too strong (meaning you need a correction greater than 1.25 diopters)
• The center may also be using much older, and not as precise or effective, technology
•  You may be “nickel and dimed” for small costs that are typically included in the overall laser vision correction fee

When you are researching laser vision correction centers, make sure you are comparing apples-to-apples. You want to ensure that the surgeon you choose has the proper training, plenty of experience, offers the latest state-of-the-art technologies and is up-front with all of the costs for your procedure. Quality surgeons will also openly discuss the advantages and potential risks of laser vision correction and will only approve patients for laser vision correction after a full evaluation.

Your eyesight is not something you want to gamble on; saving money is good, but don’t let price be the only determining factor in your laser vision correction surgeon choice.

Contact us today at 415-921-7555 or visit our website pacificeyespecialists.com.