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Well, this looks like as good a thread to hop back into the pool as any. First I wish to thank KC for reaching out to me and providing, me with a working sign in. I had twice previously tried new sign ins, but they never worked so I just gave up. Probably because I kept attempting to sign on as Rockin' Doc (rather than The Hot Corner). I must have reverted to my original name with the move to this new site and didn't remember. I'm getting old and forgetful, but now you can thank (or blame) KC and cooby for my being back after a prolonged absence.
Now to TransMonks enquiry regarding refractive eye surgeries. There are several procedures available and no single procedure is best for everyone. The three most prevalent procedures are as follows:
LASIK (Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis) is the most widely known and the most frequently performed of the procedures.
PRK (PhotoRefractive Keratectomy) is very similar procedure to LASIK. The two differ primarily in the way they surgeon deals with corneal epithelial layer of the cornea prior to using the laser.
SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is the newer procedure that works very well for certain patients. It is more commonly done in Europe, but the results in the US have been very good, but fewer candidates meet the criteria.
Clear Lens Extraction or Clear Lens Exchange - Is a purely surgical procedure similar to cataract surgery for extremely nearsighted patients that do not meet the criteria for the 3 primary laser procedures listed above.
Your regular eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) should be able to tell you if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery. They should be able to suggest 2-3 qualified ophthalmologist (I always recommend a corneal fellowship trained ophthalmologist) that can then evaluate you (with the aid of background information from your last few exams as supplied by your referring eye doctor) and advise you which procedures are best for you, as well as cover the pros & cons of each. Since these procedures are considered elective and are therefore not covered under most insurance plans, the cost varies from region to region as well as between doctors. My advise is to choose your surgeon with the advice of your doctor who knows your eyes and go with an experienced corneal fellowship trained ophthalmologist with experience in several procedures, so they can pick the one best suited to your eyes. In my area of practice, the cost varies between $3700-$4500 for both eyes (depending on the procedure and the doctor).
Be very wary of having refractive surgery (particularly LASIK) if you have a history of eye (or contact lens) discomfort due to dryness. Increased dryness is a common and often long term side effect of LASIK. You want your prescription to be holding reasonably stable for the past 2-3 years. Lastly, be sure either your doctor, or the surgeon performs pachymetry (corneal thickness measurements) prior to having any procedure done. There is a small percentage of patients that have naturally thin corneas which may preclude them from having some or all refractive procedures.
Sorry this is so long, but this is what I do all day. Oh and it's nice to be back.
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