It is estimated that 70 million Americans, or more than 25 percent of the adult U.S. population, suffer from myopia, or near sightedness. Approximately 25 percent of the population suffer from hyperopia, or farsightedness. The incidence of farsightedness increases with age. At least fifty percent of all Americans over the age of 65 have some degree of hyperopia. This means there are millions of people throughout the U.S. living lives influenced, to some degree, by their reliance on glasses and contact lenses.
Fortunately, LASIK surgery can set many of them free. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with myopia, hyperopia or have astigmatism, laser vision surgery can give you near perfect vision without the aid of glasses or contacts. If you’ve been considering LASIK, here are five steps you should take to prepare for this life changing procedure.
1. Put together your medical history – This includes diseases, medications, complications and past procedures as well as allergies and family medical history. The doctor may need to know about your general medical condition as well as your eye health history.
2. Schedule a consultation with a LASIK doctor – This should include a complete exam and evaluation of candidacy. Your LASIK surgeon will determine which type of procedure is best suited to resolve your particular vision issues. You’ll learn about potential side effects and complications as well as what to expect after surgery.
3. Ask questions – It’s natural to be nervous about laser vision correction surgery. The best way to resolve that nervousness is by asking questions. The LASIK doctor and his staff are used to alleviating the concerns of patients with information.
4. Determine a payment method – While not common, you may find that your health insurance will cover a portion of your LASIK expenses. If you have a Health Savings Account, you can usually use those funds to cover the cost of your procedure. Credit card payment is also generally acceptable. Financing may be available through a third party.
5. Set the date for your procedure – Depending on your doctor’s recommendations, you may want to schedule your procedure for a Thursday, take Friday off from work, and plan to recover over the weekend. You will need a ride home after surgery because your eyes will be dilated and your vision may be fluctuating. However, you should be able to drive yourself to your day one post-op examination.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 700,000 LASIK procedures are performed annually. This means each year, 700,000 people discover the joy of living life without a need for glasses or contact lenses. We’d like to make you one of them. Call Eisner Laser Center today to schedule your free consultation.