The cost is about 1500-2000 dollars per eye. It is not usually covered by health insurance.
Laser burns are used to reshape the eye allowing light to focus better on the retina. PRK is a precise ablation of the inner tissue of the cornea. Prior to firing the laser, about 30 square millimeters of the front layers of the cornea are removed with a scraper blade.
The patient is placed on medication to help control pain and to prevent infection and control inflammation of the wound. After several days the front tissue of the eye regenerates and the distance sight is improved, hopefully. This cannot be assured because people do not all heal in the same way.
Stabilization of the healing occurs in weeks to months. Although many patients are rewarded with 20/20 vision at distance. A few patients do not have as good as vision after the surgery as before. If your results are less than perfect you will have to live with it for your whole life.
This procedure will undergo much change in the next years, keep an eye on it.
This procedure goes back to the 1980s in the United States. A skilled eye surgeon carefully cuts the front surface of the cornea most of the way through. The cuts weaken the cornea causing it to bulge in such a way to cause the eye to be less nearsighted.
The scars that form should be out of the line of sight. Healing is the big issue after the surgery. Because of the risks involved with both of these procedures, they disqualify the person from military service
The PERK study performed on patients with this eye surgery showed that almost 40% of the patients ended up being farsighted. Surgeons now claim better results.
The cost is usually 900 - 1500 dollars per eye and is not usually covered by health insurance.
If you are nearsighted you are the best candidate for wearing contact lenses. They are made of many different designs and best of all, their effects are adjustable and reversible. If your eyes change, and they usually do, the lens can be changed to keep your vision perfect.
You should really give contact lenses a trial before considering surgery. The cost is usually 70- 160 dollars per eye and may be covered by vision insurance.
Orthokeratology is the molding of the cornea with specially shaped contact lenses. There is little danger to the eye. Retainer lenses need to be worn some of the time.
Doctors of Optometry perform this procedure. The cost is in the range of 270 to 430 dollars per eye.
Glasses are the best form of vision correction for many people. They have been around for several hundred years. Thinner lenses are now possible. With plastic lenses, sore noses aren't much of a problem.