Lasik surgery

[GN One Day...]

I've heard that you should go to an Opthamologist, not an Optometrist. I think I got that right, the one that's an MD (no offense to anyone intended). I think that has something to do with the price differences too. On another board, some guys said they had them done for <$500 for both eyes. My wife's Dr. did them for $500 per eye. Well worth it. It doesn't even boil down to the cost of this vs. contacts, solutions, eye doctor visits etc. It's more of a quality of life issue than dollars and cents.

 

[Tom87GN]

I've got 20/15 lasik eyes on right now and I'm loving every minute of it. The doctors will tell you that your eyes are going to change when you are about 40-45 anyway, and then you'll need to wear some type of reading glasses only.

My eyes also felt like they had sand in them for several days, and then I had the "starry" effect with headlights at night. It's been about 5 months now and that has all gone away and I'm completely happy.

The way I see it (no pun intended ), even if I have to go back and do this all over again in 10-15 years, it's well worth the hassle and discomfort of contact lenses or glasses for that period of time. I had a much more enjoyable time at the Nats this year due to the fact that I could see everything. Those who never had bad eyes are just plain lucky.

 

[BLACK6PACK]

Its $299 per eye down here. My sister had it done about 3 years ago and loves it. She paid $2500 per eye though!

 

[Tom87GN]

Whoa!

Originally posted by BLACK6PACK
Its $299 per eye down here. My sister had it done about 3 years ago and loves it. She paid $2500 per eye though!

That's a lot of money!

Mine cost me $3600 for both in Indianapolis, Indiana. $299 per eye sounds like the blue light special at Kmart or something. I'd be suspicious of that. I think they might fly in doctors to perform the surgery and then you'd have a hard time with follow-ups if needed. I had to go back 4 times, as one of my eyes developed an "irritation" that required antibiotics for 2 weeks. Everything is fine now!!!

 

[Crazy D]

I was gonna have it done 3-4 years ago, went in for the consultation and they told me my pupils were too large! *#$%#%! My eyes measured 8 and they could only go to 7.x or something like that. Does anyone know if they have improved on the size of eye they can handle in the last couple years? Because if they ever do, I'm there. I look like hell in glasses and contacts are such a bi***. Not to mention this procedure will pay for itself over the course of your life.

 

[BLACK6PACK]

The guy that does it for $299 an eye is the most experienced dude in south florida. He made a killing when it was $2000 an eye and paid for all the equiptment. Now its like free money. $299 an eye at at 5 minutes per eye with some down time, he could easily bring in $1800 an hour. Thats some nice cash!!

 

[Tom87GN]

Originally posted by BLACK6PACK
The guy that does it for $299 an eye is the most experienced dude in south florida. He made a killing when it was $2000 an eye and paid for all the equiptment. Now its like free money. $299 an eye at at 5 minutes per eye with some down time, he could easily bring in $1800 an hour. Thats some nice cash!!

No joke there! The amount of money that they are charging makes it look like they are making a killing on it, but in reality they probably aren't when you factor in the malpractice insurance, employee salaries/wages and insurance, and all the other overhead costs involved with providing that type of service.

Nevertheless, these guys are living the high life. The computer does most of the work, they just have to go to school for their whole lives to get to use it.

 

[Captain Mark]

I just heard about the big lasik doctor's house here in Dallas. It's like 24,000 square feet, 3 stories high. He has the biggest TV made inside his house. It takes up an entire wall inside his humongous entertainment room..............
I love being a fireman!

 

[Vector]

If you recall, Ned Flanders had it done. It got rid of his glasses, but many years later, in a future episode, he was totally blind.
(The Simpson's)

 

[Tom87GN]

The true reason why we all will complain about how much these lasik doctors are making is merely because we are not doing it ourselves. They had the balls to take the necessary steps to get there and now they are reaping the benefits of their decisions. We just get to pay them for their services. I'd like to be the guy who gets the bottom line at the end of the day too!!!

Hind sight is always 20/20 they say......and I always find myself saying "why didn't I think of that?"

 

[Lee_Burough]

There are different computers available for these surgeries....

I was trading stocks a few years ago and one of the stocks I was following went down drastically over night.

I read up on the company and learned that the company sold equipment for these eye surgeries. A competitor had announced their new computer.

Over night, this company had slashed its royalty for each surgery. That allowed the opthalmologist to lower their prices and compete with the new technology coming out.

That is one reason for the price difference, there are many more qualified surgeons out there now too

I saw a special on TV (you know everything you see on TV is true, right?) and an opthalmologist who taught other opthalmologists to do these surgeries was still wearing glasses because he didn't know the long term effects of the surgery. A number of pros and cons on this subject.

Capt Mark, if you're still on Active Duty, you should get some good advice from the military facility near you. Marines are getting this surgery by the thousands. Something about one less piece of equipment to carry along for the picnic I retired from the AF Academy hospital, used to share an office with the opthalmologist, I'm told they do LASIK for active duty now. Check it out.

 

[V6UnderPressure]

I am definitely considering it but was curious if any of you who did had your insurance cover it.(HMO etc.) If they would cover some of it, id get rid of these drasted contacts that bother the hell out of me in spring and summer and dry out in the winter. AHHH, just cant take it anymore! ANYONE use their insurance? Being that its surgery would it be considered a hospital type visit???

Scott

 

[Captain Mark]

My insurance will not cover it. Already checked.

 

[Tom87GN]

Most insurance companies won't cover this surgery at this time. I do know some people who work at the local university and they say that they get some sort of benefit or coverage, but us normal people do not. My doctor even said he rarely sees an insurance company cover any part of the lasik surgery.

Bummer, but it's still worth every penny!

 

[GN One Day...]

My wife's insurance (sucks!) wouldn't cover it. That's why we planned this year's medical reimbursement at her work around it, and set up for an extra $1000 to be withheld from her checks, pre-tax, over the course of the year. We had to fork out the money, but 2 weeks later we were reimbursed the $1000 and it didn't have a huge impact on her paycheck. Almost like financing interest free, but also tax free. Her check is probably $50-55 lower each month because of it, net, so it really worked out well.