LASER WARS/ Focus on reality when pondering eye surgery

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 2, 2000 | by Bill Radford

ICRS (Intrastromal

Corneal Ring Segments)

Two tiny plastic ring segments are implanted in the cornea. Even though they're very small, their mass is enough to change the shape of the front surface of the eye and correct refractive error. The rings are manufactured under the trade name Intacs by KeraVision Inc. The Intacs procedure, approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year, has the advantage of being reversible, but is only for mild myopia.

Clear Lens Extraction

This procedure, similar to cataract surgery and used to treat a wide range of hyperopia and myopia, involves removing the eye's lens and inserting an artificial lens. An advantage is that cataract surgery has been performed successfully for years and is familiar to many surgeons. But there is more risk of infection, since this is an intraocular procedure. Also, clear lens extraction produces less accommodation (ability to see near without reading glasses).

RK (radial keratotomy)

Used to correct myopia. Spoke-like incisions are made with a calibrated diamond blade in the periphery of the cornea. The normal pressure inside the eye causes the area around the incisions to flatten, changing the way it focuses light on the retina. RK is rarely performed anymore: The change in refractive error is felt to be less predictable than laser surgery.

Source: The American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery, The Lasik Institute

The cost of LASIK

A year ago, the cost of LASIK surgery in Colorado Springs was about $2,000 per eye. That cost has fallen as new companies have entered the market.

Here are prices recently touted at various centers in town. Some are listed as temporary offers and all are subject to change. When asking about price, find out if the cost includes such procedures as the initial exam, follow- up care and enhancements - new surgeries needed in cases of overcorrection or undercorrection. Insurance considers LASIK an elective procedure and rarely pays for it.

Colorado Eye Associates: $1,495/eye

Laser Vision Institute: $895/eye

Laser Vision USA: $995/eye

Peak Vision Center: starting at $1,399/eye depending on prescription

Total Vision ICON Laser Eye Center: $999/eye

Wright Eye Center: $1,760/eye for treatment on the VISX laser and $1,495/eye for treatment on the Nidek laser

Doctors using the Nidek laser generally can charge less because the Nidek company doesn't require a user fee each time the laser is fired; VISX does. However, VISX recently trimmed that fee to help doctors fend off the Nidek competition.

What to ask doctors

Here are some questions to ask before choosing a LASIK surgeon:

What is the doctor's education and training?

How long has the doctor performed LASIK? How many LASIK procedures has he or she done?

How familiar is the doctor with the laser that will be used?

How familiar is the doctor with procedures at this altitude? In Colorado, eye surgeons normally compensate for the high elevation by removing 30 percent less tissue than they would at sea level.

Ask the center about success rates and the visual acuity of patients after the procedure.