Don’t Get Fooled By Misleading LASIK Advertising
Are you considering LASIK? Although it is a fantastic way of achieving visual freedom from glasses and contact lenses, it’s crucial to do your research.
Not all LASIK surgeons and practices that offer this vision correction procedure are created equal. If a provider is offering a deal that sounds too good to be true, seems like they are cutting corners, or is misleading their patients, these are red flags to be on the lookout for.
If you’re interested in undergoing a refractive procedure like LASIK, doing your research and finding a trustworthy surgeon can help you avoid the pitfalls of deceptive advertising. At Eye Associates of Tallahassee, we take the time to schedule a personal consultation with every patient to determine whether LASIK is right for them.
Even if you’re found to be a good candidate for LASIK, we want to make sure that you understand the risks, cost, and follow-up care that comes with correcting your vision. LASIK is an investment, and you only have one set of eyes. Keep reading to learn more about LASIK and how to avoid misleading LASIK advertising!
Understanding LASIK
If you’re looking into LASIK, you may already know what the procedure does and how it works. LASIK is a laser vision correction procedure that reshapes the cornea.
Reshaping the cornea corrects refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. LASIK has a 96% satisfaction rate with patients, with most achieving 20/20 vision or better after undergoing the procedure.
As the most popular elective procedure that patients choose to undergo, it’s easy to see why millions of patients worldwide have had it. Since becoming FDA-approved over twenty years ago, LASIK has only continued evolving thanks to state-of-the-art technology and expertise.
Most patients find that they can reduce or eliminate the need for relying on glasses and contact lenses to see after undergoing LASIK. However, it’s not uncommon to see providers overselling LASIK to potential patients.
Common Misconceptions About LASIK
Because of its immense popularity, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there about LASIK. If you’re considering LASIK, the best thing you can do is find a reputable practice.
If something doesn’t feel right to you, listen to your instincts. Here are a few things to watch out for while you’re looking for a practice to perform your LASIK procedure:
The LASIK Surgeon Only Flies In To Perform LASIK
Many LASIK practices cut corners by having LASIK surgeons fly in and out to perform LASIK on patients. If you choose a practice with this option, you may not even meet your surgeon face to face until the day of your procedure.
If something happens, do you want to take a chance and have a different surgeon look at your eyes after you’ve had LASIK? When you choose a practice that flies in their LASIK surgeon, this is the risk that you’re taking.
At Eye Associates of Tallahassee, Dr. Deanna Louie performs our LASIK procedures, and she is the only surgeon in the Tallahassee area that provides Contoura Wavelight LASIK. If you’re not confident in the surgeon performing LASIK on your eyes, this is a big red flag and a sign that you should keep looking.
Bladeless and Traditional LASIK Procedures are the Same
When it first became FDA-approved, LASIK was performed using blades. But thanks to technological developments and the evolution of the procedure, LASIK is now performed using two lasers.
The two lasers used are an excimer laser and a femtosecond laser. The excimer laser removes precise amounts of corneal tissue with ultraviolet energy.
Then, the femtosecond laser reshapes the cornea to correct refractive errors and creates a flap in the cornea. You’ll find that in addition to a bladeless LASIK experience, you also undergo a completely customized LASIK procedure with Countoura Wavelight LASIK technologies.
The combination of Wavescan 3D diagnostic scanning creates a unique map of your eyes that’s a roadmap to align the Wavefront treatment during LASIK. Even if your eyes move during the procedure, all results remain exact and tailored to your customized measurements.
Traditional LASIK used a microkeratome blade, but compared to Contoura Wavelight LASIK, it simply doesn’t measure up. If you find a practice advertising LASIK that includes blades, you may not end up with the results you want.
Lowest Price Ever: LASIK Starting at $299 Per Eye!
Bargain pricing is never a good sign when it comes to surgery, especially one on your eyes. Some LASIK providers boast low prices to draw in patients and surprise them with additional costs afterward.
Others get away with undercharging because they cut corners and hire inexperienced surgeons, putting their patients at risk. They may also use outdated technology, resulting in patients not getting the results they want.
LASIK pricing is challenging because it depends on numerous factors:
- The surgeon’s skill
- The complexity of the treatment
- The quality of your vision
You’re going to pay more if you have a strong prescription, and an experienced surgeon is going to cost you more as well. But remember that LASIK is a serious investment.
You get what you pay for, and you shouldn’t take risks with your eyes. Many providers understand this and offer financing plans to help patients afford the procedure.
It’s understandable if you want to get a good deal, but when it comes to undergoing something like LASIK, going the less expensive route may not be the best option.
Finding a Trustworthy Provider
As a permanent procedure, you’ll only need to have LASIK once. But before you can get to that point, you need to find a surgeon you can trust.
It may be challenging to know what you’re looking for, especially for LASIK surgeons and eye care practices. If you’re considering a procedure like LASIK, ask yourself the following questions while evaluating a potential provider:
- Can you speak to the actual surgeon? Be wary of surgeons that don’t provide in-person consultations and appointments.
- Are they board-certified? Safety is paramount when deciding on a surgeon, so make sure yours is qualified. A good LASIK surgeon may have performed LASIK thousands of times.
- Are they offering a low, flat-rate cost? If practices provide a low, flat-rate cost, this is a red flag because a trustworthy provider will not discuss price until they’ve evaluated whether you’re a good candidate for having LASIK.
- Does the price include follow-up and aftercare? This is where additional costs usually get added on, so make sure these things are included before scheduling your procedure.
You need to go into your LASIK procedure feeling both confident and well-informed. It’s much easier to accomplish this if your LASIK consultation is comprehensive and you feel like you understand all risks and potential complications.
Above all else, you should have realistic expectations about what LASIK can accomplish. At Eye Associates of Tallahassee, our team works directly with patients to determine if LASIK is right for them.
Your consultation includes an extensive evaluation, corneal topography, and wavefront measurements. If you’re a good LASIK candidate, we can help you decide whether you want to schedule the procedure and discuss financing options.
Are you interested in having LASIK? Don’t be misled by false promises. You deserve to see the whole picture before making any commitments.
