They just recently offered it through them, though I believe they still view it as cosmetic surgurey under most circumstances, so its not fully covered in my case.
as far as i know, they don't have any info on their website, though i have not checked recently. Best to go to your local Kaiser center, preferably a bigger one with many departments (not just a pediatrics/pharmacy type place) and ask the optometry department when they are going to have a seminar about laser eye surgurey. Keep in mind the last eye exam i had with Kaiser was over 8 months ago, so things could have changed.
Laser eye surgurey is not [absolutely] necessary to correct vision. Thats what glasses are for and have been for a long time. Why does Kaiser charge $99 (as do most other places) for a contact lense fitting when with glases, you only pay your co-pay (if you have one at all)? Because Kasier, and I'm sure many other health care providers, views contact lenses as a cosmetic enhancement/alternative to corrective lenses; glasses. I have not met one optometry office yet that covers contact lenses and/or laser eye surgurey, fully, under medical/health care insurance. This may, however, change in the years to come.
slag
Lifer
- Dec 14, 2000
- 10,473
- 81
- 101
I went in for my initial appointment today and am going to get the procedure done on 12-1-04. I am having regular LASIK done on my eyes at the cost of $3600 total. Out here, this is not something you can dicker on the price.
I am looking forward to the procedure. My left eye is -8 and my right is -9.something. I have only a small astigmatism, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Slag
I am looking forward to the procedure. My left eye is -8 and my right is -9.something. I have only a small astigmatism, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Slag
Originally posted by: gflores
"However, a recent study suggests that people whose professions involve large amounts of reading have higher degrees of nearsightedness."
From your link. Also, that's what my dad says, and he tells me he's never wrong
thats why i said "studies in the past"....plus the study is ambiguous, it only states that they have higher degrees of nearsightedness, not that it causes it to increase.
btw, it's not just your dad that says that, it's what every parent says including mine.
they just want you to cut back on watching tv, playing computer and videogames all the time.
sunlight? or the sun?
if you're referring to the sun, it's not recommended to stare at the sun anytime, post lasik or not.
LOL =) We know how much the kittay's love the lasers, if you've ever played with one with one of those laser pointers.
I've already gone in for my Lasik consultation/testing on 11/16 of this month. Prior to going in for this, over the phone they told me the average cost per eye was $1900 (so I presume from this it could be lower as well since it is an Average). Well, the initial price they quoted me was just shy of $2600 per eye. Then they slapped on a bunch of discounts, including $160 off from my insurance provider (which was lower than I was expecting) and a $200 Gift Certificate that was in the mail. The total was around $4080 or so for both eyes after all discounts, and including the $150 charge for my initial testing (cost taken off surgery cost).
They also have 18 month no interest financing, but they charge you $150 for this, which I didn't really discover until the day prior to my scheduled surgery (11/23), so because of this, and some uncertainties about the total cost I've post-poned my operation and will schedule it at a later date. I'm allowed to schedule it within 6 months of my initial screening without losing the $150 deposit.
Here's the guy I'm going to, he's in the Central FL area. As far as I know he uses all the latest technologies including Wavefront, & IntraLase.
http://www.filutowskieye.com/Home.cfm
Nice thing about this guy, is that the procedure includes a lifetime guarantee, that as long as you have a yearly eye exam..... if you're ever deemed to need an enchancement (prescription waivers, fixing with the laser), you just get charged $150 per eye, supposedly for life.
They also have 18 month no interest financing, but they charge you $150 for this, which I didn't really discover until the day prior to my scheduled surgery (11/23), so because of this, and some uncertainties about the total cost I've post-poned my operation and will schedule it at a later date. I'm allowed to schedule it within 6 months of my initial screening without losing the $150 deposit.
Here's the guy I'm going to, he's in the Central FL area. As far as I know he uses all the latest technologies including Wavefront, & IntraLase.
http://www.filutowskieye.com/Home.cfm
Nice thing about this guy, is that the procedure includes a lifetime guarantee, that as long as you have a yearly eye exam..... if you're ever deemed to need an enchancement (prescription waivers, fixing with the laser), you just get charged $150 per eye, supposedly for life.
slag
Lifer
- Dec 14, 2000
- 10,473
- 81
- 101
I'm getting mine done on Wednesday for $3600.00 total, including tax, etc. It's normally 2300/eye but insurance is picking up $500.00 per eye. And I get free enhancements and everything lifetime also as long as I get yearly checkups from my normal eye doctor, but dont have to pay any fee per eye or anything for this. Its included in the original cost.
LASIK in KC area.
Darkstar757
Diamond Member
- Feb 1, 2003
- 3,190
- 6
- 81
hey bud
I wish you a speedy recovery
Im going to get my eyes looked at.
I wonder if anything can be done because I have astigmatisism
I wish you a speedy recovery
Im going to get my eyes looked at.
I wonder if anything can be done because I have astigmatisism
Contact lenses are the only solution for some people (myself included), and they ARE covered by health insurance when medically necessary.
Unfortunately most carriers will cover one pair of lenses per year (up to $200), which barely scratches the surface of lens fitting for a keratoconus patient.
I would estimate that I've spent close to $1500 of my own money on contact lenses and related processes in the last two years, plus about $400 of insurance carrier money.
Viper GTS
I'm sorta late for the thread, but just in case it does anyone any good:
I had LASIK performed two years ago. It was the best money I ever spent, and no, I didn't go to a "discount LASIK provider". I had had glasses since age 7, and contacts since age 16 (I was 32 when I had the procedure done). My contact prescription was nearing -7.00 in both eyes. I couldn't see a thing without my glasses.
After the procedure, I now see clearly, without halos or dry eyes. It was miraculous to get up from the LASIK operating table and be able to (blurrily) read the writing on a dry-erase board across the room... without my glasses. And it might just be my mind playing tricks on me... but I swear colors now look brighter since I've had the procedure. No one told me that I would see colors brighter... it was just a pleasant surprise. Any other LASIK folks have that experience?
It takes a day or so to begin to see clearly - it is best to keep your eyes closed as much as possible for 24 hours after surgery. I was prescribed a steroid eye drop and an antibiotic eye drop to use for a couple of weeks after surgery.
All that being said, there ARE risks. For example, night halos are sorta common, in which you see halos around lights at night. There is also a very small risk of never being able to correct your eyes past 20/40 after the procedure, even with glasses - something about the LASIK procedure can mess up your vision so it's no longer correctable to 20/20. Again, the risk is small, but present. Dry eyes, eye infections, corneal flap loss, anything can happen. The better the surgeon, the less chance of anything happening.
I did have one scare not too long after my procedure. I woke up and had lost my vision. Not just blurry... totally BLACK. It returned after a few minutes, but I went straight to the eye doctor, who performed another corneal map and checked everything out. All was fine. I can't remember, but I think he prescribed me more antibiotic eye drops. I haven't had a problem since.
I would recommend the procedure, but ultimately, you have to consider: it's your eyesight. You only have one pair of eyes, which are probably correctable with glasses. Make an informed decision, and make sure that you get a good doctor, regardless of cost. Talk to several people who have used that doctor. Ask questions - not of us, but of the doctor. He or she is the only one that can give you ALL the information. And if you find one that sugarcoats the procedure, or makes ANY guarantee whatsoever, I strongly urge you to find another doc.
Hope this helps.
I had LASIK performed two years ago. It was the best money I ever spent, and no, I didn't go to a "discount LASIK provider". I had had glasses since age 7, and contacts since age 16 (I was 32 when I had the procedure done). My contact prescription was nearing -7.00 in both eyes. I couldn't see a thing without my glasses.
After the procedure, I now see clearly, without halos or dry eyes. It was miraculous to get up from the LASIK operating table and be able to (blurrily) read the writing on a dry-erase board across the room... without my glasses. And it might just be my mind playing tricks on me... but I swear colors now look brighter since I've had the procedure. No one told me that I would see colors brighter... it was just a pleasant surprise.
Any other LASIK folks have that experience?It takes a day or so to begin to see clearly - it is best to keep your eyes closed as much as possible for 24 hours after surgery. I was prescribed a steroid eye drop and an antibiotic eye drop to use for a couple of weeks after surgery.
All that being said, there ARE risks. For example, night halos are sorta common, in which you see halos around lights at night. There is also a very small risk of never being able to correct your eyes past 20/40 after the procedure, even with glasses - something about the LASIK procedure can mess up your vision so it's no longer correctable to 20/20. Again, the risk is small, but present. Dry eyes, eye infections, corneal flap loss, anything can happen. The better the surgeon, the less chance of anything happening.
I did have one scare not too long after my procedure. I woke up and had lost my vision. Not just blurry... totally BLACK. It returned after a few minutes, but I went straight to the eye doctor, who performed another corneal map and checked everything out. All was fine. I can't remember, but I think he prescribed me more antibiotic eye drops. I haven't had a problem since.
I would recommend the procedure, but ultimately, you have to consider: it's your eyesight. You only have one pair of eyes, which are probably correctable with glasses. Make an informed decision, and make sure that you get a good doctor, regardless of cost. Talk to several people who have used that doctor. Ask questions - not of us, but of the doctor. He or she is the only one that can give you ALL the information. And if you find one that sugarcoats the procedure, or makes ANY guarantee whatsoever, I strongly urge you to find another doc.
Hope this helps.
Depending on the severity of your astigmatism, the equipment used by the doctor, and the experience of the doctor, yes, LASIK can correct it.
slag
Lifer
- Dec 14, 2000
- 10,473
- 81
- 101
Thanks.
I just woke up from my nap and am seeing much better, but not perfect. My right eye is blurrier than my left eye, but it also needed more correction so hopefully it just needs healed better. I'm putting in the 2 drops every 4 hours and using REFRESH rewetting drops whenever I need them. I've worn glasses since 3rd grade and contacts since I was 16 and am now 30.
Hopefully after I sleep on it overnight, my eyes will get much better. I'm very hopeful and optimistic knowing that it takes time for things to heal and recover. My prescription was -8 in my left eye and -9.something in my right eye, so I was pretty blind before.
I had a minor astigmatism in my left eye that was corrected
For the first few days, you'll notice ANY little bit of blurriness and wish you could take your "glasses" off and clean them a bit. But it will (usually) go away as your eyes heal and get used to the new focus. Keep your eyes closed as much as possible the first 24 hours. I vegged out listening to TV the whole day.
Our experiences are quite similar, it seems. You've had your glasses and contacts as long as I had them, and were only 2 years younger when you had the LASIK done. Your eyes were slightly worse than mine, but they should correct just fine. I, too, had slight astigmatism, which I never knew I had until the LASIK doc told me.
I would advise you not to take the risk of eye surgery. Your cornea is very delicate and very thin.. The cornea is actually comprised of several layers. One of the most important layers of your cornea is called the endothelium. The endothelial layer of your cornea "pumps" liquid from you eye out and away from the cornea. WYou are born with all the endothelial cells you will ever have. These endothelial cells do NOT regenerate. That is once these cells are damaged or die then they NEVER grow back.
As you grow older these cells gradually die off. Any surgery to the eye and especially cornea can potentially damage the endothelial cells. As you damage cells combined with natural cell decay you could wind up with not enough endothelial cell density to do it job. That is you do not have enough cell function to kepp your Corneas clear and free from fluid. What results is Cornea edema. The cornea swells from too much fluid and you will not be able to see.
ASk your doctor about this. educate yourself about this. there is no long term history as to the LT effects of Laser surgery and cutting of cornea. You are taking a BIG RISK. There is a risk free solution called eyeglasses. They work, they do not damage your cornea and they are now fashionable. Give them a try!
As you grow older these cells gradually die off. Any surgery to the eye and especially cornea can potentially damage the endothelial cells. As you damage cells combined with natural cell decay you could wind up with not enough endothelial cell density to do it job. That is you do not have enough cell function to kepp your Corneas clear and free from fluid. What results is Cornea edema. The cornea swells from too much fluid and you will not be able to see.
ASk your doctor about this. educate yourself about this. there is no long term history as to the LT effects of Laser surgery and cutting of cornea. You are taking a BIG RISK. There is a risk free solution called eyeglasses. They work, they do not damage your cornea and they are now fashionable. Give them a try!
How are they not an option? If your vision was correctable via laser obviously it was also correctable by glasses and/or contacts.
I would kill to be able to wear glasses, unfortunately I'm stuck with contacts until they no longer work. When that happens I'll be looking at cornea transplants (both eyes).
Laser eye surgery increases your risk for KC, on top of all the more commonly known risks.
Viper GTS
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