Are You Eligible for Laser Eye Surgery?
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Thousands of people every year undergo laser eye surgery in Australia. It is becoming increasingly popular among the 50 per cent of Australians who require glasses or contacts to see long or short distances. There are now hundreds of surgeons who are well qualified to carry out the procedure.
Laser eye surgery has been conducted in Australia since the 1990s and the incidence of complications is relatively low. However, not everyone is a good candidate for laser eye surgery. There are a number of factors that will determine whether a surgeon will perform Lasik surgery on a person. By ensuring that you are a good candidate for Lasik eye surgery, the surgeon is trying to minimize the risk of complications.
According to the American FDA, here are some of the main factors that will influence someone eligibility for laser eye surgery:
- The health of the eyes: conditions that affect how the eyes will respond to surgery or how they heal after may exclude the person from surgery. This could include conditions like chronic dry eyes, conjunctivitis or some type of injury. Thin corneas increase the risk of blinding complications and large pupils increase the risk of glare, starbursts or ghost images post-operation. Autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can affect how your eyes heal after the surgery, as well as immundefiency conditions such as HIV or medications such as retinoic acid. Specific eye conditions like keratoconus, cataracts and glaucoma may exclude a persons from surgery.
- Stable vision: your vision must not have become worst or better in recent times. It is not until people are in their twenties that their vision stops becoming worst. Hormonal fluctuation can also affect your vision such as what can occur with diabetes, pregnancy, certain medications or breastfeeding.
- How bad your vision is: if your vision is extremely bad then large amounts of tissue in the cornea may have to be reshaped. This could simply be too difficult.
This list is not exhaustive and there may be other factors that will mean that you are unable to have laser eye surgery.
By being aware of some of the risk factors you will be able to have a frank discussion with the surgeon. If you think that you might be at higher risk of complications or if you are ensure, let your doctor know.This will ensure that you are at ease when it comes to choosing whether to go ahead with the surgery or not. A good surgeon will ask you detailed questions about your medical history to eliminate any potential risks and will listen to your questions in a patient and friendly manner.
Questions to Ask Your Australian Laser Eye Surgeon
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After you have made a list of the most promising surgeons in your area, you will need to decide which surgeon you are going to choose. What you are looking for is an experienced and qualified surgeon whom you trust.
As already mentioned, laser eye surgery in Australia is unregulated and any surgeon can perform Lasik without formal post-graduate training. Despite this, there are many qualified and experienced laser eye surgeons in Australia - but figuring out which surgeon is best for you is not necessarily easy.
Your decision to choose a surgeon shouldn’t be swayed by an expensive commercial or slick marketing technique. Nor should it be based on cost or how close the surgeon is to your home. As a matter of fact, how close the surgery is to your home should be the least of your worries because the operation takes about 15 minutes per eye and you walk in and out of the clinic.
An American website of the Council of Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance suggest 50 questions to ask your laser eye surgeon. Some of these questions include:
- How long have you been performing refractive surgery procedures? (Not less than three years.)
- How many total procedures have you done? (Not less than 500.)
- How many refractive procedures of the exact type you intend to use for me, with the same equipment, and the same refractive error, have you performed? (Not less than 100.)
- Will you provide me the names and contact information of at least ten previous patients who have had the exact same surgery with similar refractive error?
A good sign is if the surgeon holds an academic appointment and that the clinic provides you with plenty of information of what is going to happen and when. You should be wary of any clinic that tries any type of marketing trick to get you to sign up or pressures you into undergoing the operation. The Australian Choice magazine suggests that the clinic should be accredited to a quality standard like the ISO 9000 which indicates that there are appropriate written procedures in place.
You also want a surgeon who will be actively involved with you from before the operation right through to afterwards and follow-up. This is in contrast to a surgeon who you only see during the operation and leaves the rest to trainees or assistants.
A good surgeon or clinic will fully explain to you the risks and possible complications that can arise from the operation. Like all medical procedures, laser eye surgery is not risk free and you should have your concerns answered in a patient and factual manner, and with language you understand – even if you ask a tough question. The surgeon should screen you fully to see if you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery and should be prepared to say “no” if you are not.
However, probably the most important thing is if you trust the surgeon. You can come to this conclusion by asking for the information outlined above and doing some further research.
In Australian, there are many laser eye surgeons who have excellent reputations. By doing some decent research and asking some appropriate questions, you will quickly find one with experience who makes you comfortable and at ease.
The Cost of Laser Eye Surgery in Australia
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What you will pay for laser eye surgery in Australia typically varies according to where the surgeon is located, what technology they use and their experience. In large cities like Sydney or Melbourne, prices are usually a little less than in regional or country areas due to the competition. In fact, it may even be difficult to find an eye surgeon in regional areas who specializes in laser eye surgery. Despite this, most often the price for Lasik surgery only varies slightly between locations.
A wavefront custom laser operation will be more expensive than a traditional laser eye procedure because it is a newer and more advanced technique. If your surgeon uses lasers for the entire procedure then it will be more expensive than if they used a microkeratome to create the flap in your eye.
According to a recent Australia Choice Magazine, laser eye surgery will cost you between $1500 to $3700 an eye (for an average of $2,500 per eye). You should be aware that neither Medicare or your private health insurance will pay all or part of the cost. However, there is a possibility that the cost could be claimed against the medical benefit tax offset, where you get a rebate for 20% of your net medical expenses above $1500. Please check the Australian Tax Office website www.ato.gov.au for more information and consult a tax professional.
When getting a quote for laser eye surgery, you should ask for specific details to make sure you are not mislead. Occasionally, low quotes are deliberately misleading as they don’t represent the full cost of the procedure. Once signed up, the patient is then hit with extra fees. Your eyesight may also be more difficult to correct and therefore you may need to pay more than the average individual. Finally, a low quote may be for a procedure that uses older technology so be sure to check what equipment the surgeon will be using.
On the other hand, if you go with a higher priced surgeon you will not necessarily be getting a more experienced surgeon or a better procedure using newer equipment. This is why you need to get the full details of what exactly you are paying for, including the actual procedure, equipment and surgeon background. By going to a few different clinics you will quickly build up a picture of what is good value and what is not.
Some clinics will offer you a loan to pay for the laser eye surgery. In these cases, be sure to fully investigate the interest rate and conditions attached to the loan. You may be better off getting a loan from another financial institution or waiting to save up enough money.
The bottom line is that you need to do a bit of research. As with anything – a new car, plasma tv or renovations – you will need to compare quotes and investigate fully what you are getting to avoid any nasty surprises
How to Find a Laser Eye Surgeon in Australia
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Laser eye surgery in Australia is an unregulated industry. This means that a surgeon does not require any formal postgraduate training before they can start practicing and you don’t need to obtain a referral from your GP. Given that there are many surgeons and clinics advertising that they practice Lasik surgery, how do you know which one has the best reputation? And who will give you the correct care and treatment?
The first thing to do is to ask a medical practitioner that you trust – such as your GP, optometrist or ophthalmologist - about whether they can recommend a good surgeon. Alternatively, you could ask a friend or family member who has had laser eye surgery about their surgeon and how they found the experience. But don’t just take their word for it. Go to several clinics to get alternative opinions and compare prices and standards.
When visiting a laser eye surgery clinic there are several attributes that you would like to see. The first is if they have an academic appointment. This will mean they are involved in teaching and research, and will be ahead in updating skills and exposing themselves to new techniques and technology.
You will also want to have a surgeon who is well experienced in laser eye surgery. How many operations has he or she done? How good have the outcomes been? Ask to see any data they have on the outcomes from the clinic.
The surgeon should be involved both before and after the surgery, not just while the surgery is taking place. He or she should not be leaving the check-ups, assessments and other work to assistants or surgeons-in-training. Related to this, the clinic itself should give you a range of information about the surgery, and what will happen before and after when you come in for the operation. They also should be willing to answer any questions you have in a polite and patient manner.
The choice of surgeon shouldn’t be related to the price that they charge. Don’t simply go for the cheapest surgeon. At the same time, the most expensive option may not necessarily be the best. Also, be careful that the price you are being quoted includes all the necessary check-ups and any follow up surgery or work that may be needed. Some clinics will quote you a low price only to reveal later that you will have to pay for other extras.
Above all, you will need to find a surgeon that puts you at ease and that you trust. They should be polite, friendly and be willing to answer any of your questions.
Laser eye surgery in Australia is big business. On your way to find a good Lasik surgeon you will be exposed to many glossy advertisements and slick marketing gimmicks. Some even have information seminars complete with PowerPoint presentations and guest speakers. You will need to see through all this by asking the rights questions about the surgery and surgeon, and comparing several clinics and prices. Finding a good Lasik surgeon in Australia need not be a difficult task. Armed with the right information you should be able to find one in no time at all.
What is Laser Eye Surgery?
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If you are one of the 50 percent of Australians who wear eye glasses or contact lenses, then laser eye surgery could be the 30 minutes that revolutionizes your life. It is a medical procedure designed to reduce an individual’s reliance on contact lenses or eye glasses. Best yet it is simple and is done in an extremely quick 30 minutes per eye.
Millions of people world wide have utilized laser eye surgery. It was first introduce in Australia in the early 1990s and today thousands of Australian are choosing to use the procedure to correct their vision.
Typically, people who undergo the operation do it for cosmetic reasons, have a job that won’t allow them to wear contact lenses or glasses, or dislike the inconvenience of contact lenses.
Laser eye surgery is scientifically called “Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis” or LASIK for short. The operation involves a surgeon using a computer assisted laser to reshape the inner cornea, which is the clear covering that helps your eye to focus. The laser used is a “cool” laser which, instead of burning tissue, vaporizes it. While surgery results can’t be guaranteed, according to Australian Choice magazine most people are extremely happy with the end results.
A person is awake throughout the procedure and you are able to walk in and walk out of the surgery. The whole procedure is also painless. Generally, a person’s eyes are comfortable the day after surgery, when they can usually begin their normal routine again.
The actual operation consists of three parts. First, the surgeon cuts the cornea with a special blade or laser to create a flap of tissue. The flap is pulled back so that the laser can strike the inner part of the cornea. If the person is short-sighted then the surgeon will flattened the cornea. If they are long-sighted then the cornea is made steeper. A person will an a astigmatism will have the curve in their cornea made more even. After the reshaping has occurred, the flap is replaced and will naturally bond to the eye so stitches are not needed.
After the operation, the person will typically have only minor discomfort and will have to be driven home. They will be able to see but not perfectly straight away.
Minor complications as a result of the operation is rare at around 3 to 5 percent of procedures. More serious complications are through to be less 1 percent. The most common complications are:
- Over or under-correction, which will require another operation after 3 months.
- Dry eyes
- Visual problems such as haze, glare, lights or light sensitivity
- Eye sensitivity
If you are looking to have Lasik done in Australian then you will first need to find a good surgeon. Thankfully, most surgeons offering the procedure in Australia are well qualified and can do excellent work. However, you still need to do your research and make sure you are fully informed by your surgeon of the all the risks associated with the operation.
