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Critical Steps For Lasik Success
Let's have a frank discussion about quality of care and pricing. LASIK
has a reputation of being expensive although prices have decreased somewhat
since the initial use of laser technology for elimination of refractive
errors. Lasik is very technology intensive and the best lasers cost
over one half million dollars. Microkeratomes for creating the corneal
flap are very expensive. Proper laser and microkeratome maintainence
adds a signiflcant expense. A laser technician and microkeratome technician
must be in the operating room with the surgeon for the procedure to
proceed with maximum safety.
Concerns have risen as some LASIK centers have attempted to decrease
overhead expense with practices and policies that can undermine quality
of care. These "discount" corporate laser centers usually
exist to generate profits for their founders, executives, and stockholders.
Many of these centers have all or many of the following characteristics.
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The surgeon is an employee of the company and may not have control
over issues that affect quality of care. Some discount centers are
started by advertising an incredibly low price to generate a large
backlog of patients. The center later employees the surgeon who
agrees to accept the policies of the center and is promised the
backlog of surgeries.
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The patients only contact with the surgeon is during the 20 minutes
in the operating room and the surgeon is not involved in critical
pre and postoperative care. Questions from patients concerning problems
are directed to other employees of the center. Surgeon turnover
at these facilities is very high and patients will unlikely be able
to follow up with the same surgeon a year or two after their procedure.
Individuals who travel to discount centers in distant cities are
often unable or unwilling to return for postop care. They present
to their local ophthalmologists with problems thus relieving the
discount center of it's duty to provide postoperative care. At a
recent international meeting of ophthalmologists, postop patients
who went to discount centers in Canada and returned to the U.S.A
were described as deer caught in the headlights because they did
not know who to turn to with problems or questions.
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Agressive and misleading advertising. What about those incredibly
low prices ( 299.00 to 499.00 per eye that are popping up on billboards
and in newspaper ads? Unfortunately this is almost always a bait
and switch ploy designed to get people in the door or attend a free
seminar. Very few people actually qualify for the low price based
upon their presciption. The low price only applies if a lower quality
Nidek laser is used and does not include enhancements that might
be needed at a later date. Furthermore, the low price applies only
if surgery is done "within 30 days of the posting of the ad.
The counselors at these seminars are trained in standard retail sales
techniques and encourage patients to select more expensive treatment
options. They seek to collect nonrefundable deposits and are paid commissions
based on their ability to get patients to sign up, preferrably for the
more expensive option. Patients are told before surgery that they need
to purchase tear duct plugs to prevent dry eyes in the postoperative
period. (These plugs are rarely needed.)
At Eyecare of Southeast Idaho are committed to providing the highest
quality care possible at each step of the LASIK procedure. An optimal
result requires the following:
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Very precise preoperative measurements of refractive error (myopia,
hyperopia, and astigmatism). The laser is programmed based upon
these measurements. Dr. Jones personally performs these measurements
and mandates at least two sets of measurements on different days
for accuracy. The final measurement for soft contact lens wearers
must be done at least 5 days after removing soft contacts and at
least 3 weeks after discontinuing rigid (gas permeable) lenses.
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Precise function of the laser and microkeratome. Dr. Jones uses
the Visx Star S4 laser which is the highest upgrade of the Visx
laser. This laser offers customized wavefront treatment, 3D eye
tracking, variable beam delivery, and a wider treatment zone for
the most predictable and precise laser vision correction available.
The laser and microkeratome are meticulously maintained by the most
experienced, full time staff. Dr. Jones is affiliated with TLC Laser
which has extensive training programs for all technicians and the
ability to consistently provide the finest and highest upgrades
of all equipment. These amenities are difficult to match by independent
centers.
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Quality postop care. Fortunately LASIK is a very safe and proven
procedure. Accurate and timely detection of infection, flap wrinkling,
or other rare problems is critical. Occasionally an enhancement
consisting of a few seconds of additional laser treatment at a later
date to fine tune the original vision correction is needed for an
optimal final outcome. The decision regarding an enhancement is
very critical and must be made by the patient and surgeon.
Our pricing is based on the need to provide highest quality of care
by using the best technology available in the most efficient manner
possible. All critical aspects of preoperative and postoperative care
are performed by Dr. Jones. We have a very low advertising budget as
most of our publicity is generated by word of mouth, lectures, seminars,
physicians referals. We are able to use the finest and latest technology
and share expenses through our affiliation with TLC. Please call our
office to discuss fees and all aspects of the lasik experience.
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