Is LASIK Eye Surgery Worth It?
Some people incorrectly believe that Lasik eye surgery is all about vanity. Sadly, the insurance companies often seem to think so and most won’t cover this surgery. Yes, it is elective, but it is far from cosmetic.
With vision being corrected to 20/20 much of the time, the need for glasses and contacts vanish. Not having to replace your glasses every year or so will save hundreds of dollars a year and the cost of Lasik eye surgery will eventually be recovered. However the benefits of being free from your glasses or contacts far outweigh any monetary considerations.
Glasses get scratched and constantly dirty. There’s no vanity involved in appreciating clear vision. They can break when you play with your grandchildren and are easily misplaced. Imagine the freedom that comes from permanently taking off your glasses.
One woman reported she was thrilled at being able to wear sunglasses for the first time. She had tried the clip-ons and found them bulky and then she had invested in a pair of prescription sunglasses but grew annoyed at constantly having to switch out her glasses. The irony here is that Lasik eye surgery enabled her to wear glasses – sunglasses!
Contacts can be equally aggravating, even though they too were invented to get rid of glasses. Yet they are so easy to lose and the eye infections seem to be part of the territory when wearing contacts full-time. The new ones have managed to create some beautiful eyes although they can still be a burden.
It’s almost funny the way we have come to shop for Lasik eye surgery. After all, it’s hard to imagine walking up to our physician to inquire about the price of the appendectomy we need. He’s our doctor and we need the operation; end of story. Yet that’s not the way people look at the cost of Lasik eye surgery. Most people would rather pay their own ophthalmologist the going rate than shop for a bargain price with a doctor they’ve never heard of.
The problem is that so many people who choose Lasik eye surgery haven’t been to an eye-doctor in years so it doesn’t matter to them who does the surgery.
When these people start looking for a doctor to perform the surgery, they often get caught up in the advertisements touting ridiculous prices and unscrupulous doctors who perform the surgeries regardless of whether or not the patient is a good candidate.
LASIK is a relatively new technology and thus the long-term effects are not well known. You should take into account the cost of lasik eye surgery but don’t make your decision relying simply on cost, ask your surgeon what is included and what is not included, what will you have to pay for if enhancement surgery becomes necessary or complication occur. This is no time to hold back on your healthcare. The cost of Lasik eye surgery will cost a lot more in the long run if you are not diligent about choosing your surgeon.
