LASIK COST - Celebrities & LASIK

Celebrities & LASIK - A New Trend In Hollywood

It seems these days everyone has had or plans to have LASIK surgery. If you are a fan (or were) of the reality TV show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, you may have seen the episode where Jessica Simpson has LASIK surgery. She was quite scared, and there was much ado about the whole procedure.

The doctor did everything a normal eye doctor would do; including giving Jessica a mild sedative, I believe to calm her nerves before surgery. LASIK is surgery, but not one that should incite much in the way of fear. Of all the different types of plastic surgery performed today, it is one of the least invasive. You are even awake during the procedure, though admittedly, this may cause some fear in those shy of medical procedures.

Other Popular Celebrities And Their Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery, LASIK surgery... any surgery that improves your health in some way or makes you feel better about your health, is worth looking into, if you can afford it. If you cannot, the good news is most clinics today offer financing.

A reputable LASIK clinic often offers financing for patients that cannot afford to pay for LASIK treatment in full. However, be wary. Some clinics offer unusually low prices for a reason. You want to make sure you get the best surgery for your money. LASIK does involve surgery on your eyes after all, and you do not want an amateur performing surgery.

Who do you know that has had LASIK or other plastic surgery procedures? It is hard to say, especially in Hollywood, where the art of deception is often key to the success of many.

Some stars are very open about their experiences with surgery. For example, Kathy Griffin is one of many stars to willingly admit she has had work done to improve the way she feels about aging and her body.

Here is a list of a few celebrities we think have taken advantage of all LASIK has to offer:

* Nicole Kidman
* Lorenzo Lamas
* Troy Aikman
* Michael Bolton
* Drew Carey
* Courtney Cox
* Tiger Woods
* John Tesh

Who knows? The list could go on and on... there are many people that take advantage of all refractive surgery has to offer.

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LASIK COST - Do Insurance Cover LASIK?

Elective Surgery vs. Other Types of Surgery

Many health companies consider LASIK an "elective" procedure, meaning your life does not necessarily depend on having the treatment. Elective procedures generally include cosmetic treatments that bolster image and perhaps your self-esteem.

If this is the case, the surgery will probably not be covered by your insurance, but it doesn't hurt to double check. Some insurance companies will offer a portion of coverage, especially if your doctor feels you need the surgery. This coverage, often offered by larger corporations, is usually an indemnity plan.

Don't forget however, to ask your doctor if your LASIK surgery might qualify as medically necessary. Many procedures that were once called "cosmetic" are now labeled necessary, and if that is the case your insurance should help you out.

LASIK Insurance Guidance

If you have any type of healthcare policy, you should contact your benefits coordinator and find out what exactly is and is not covered. You can ask your company questions regarding the amount of coverage offered, what procedures may be covered, and how much you will have to pay whether you use an in-network or out-of-network healthcare provider.

Costs of LASIK Surgery

When talking about surgery it is important you pay attention to the costs associated with LASIK, because not all companies charge the same price for various procedures. Usually you can expect to pay $1000 to $2600 for each eye depending on the complexity of the surgery.

While for many this may not seem like much, for others this can be an unreasonable price. For this reason many people decide to have LASIK surgery performed when an ophthalmologist or surgeon has "special rates". Just be sure if you plan to take advantage of a service like this, you first find out what exactly the special rate includes, and how well the doctor providing the service performs. You will want to check references to make sure you pay for quality surgery.

Getting LASIK Without Insurance

If you don't have insurance coverage, there are still many ways you can finance your surgery and work with a good LASIK eye surgeon. Many companies now offer financing for "elective" procedures, which may include various LASIK procedures. Some surgeons offer their patients "discounted" plans that lower the costs associated with paying for surgery out-of-pocket.

Keep in mind, however, that the discounted plan may not be as advantageous as financing your LASIK procedure through other means, such as a loan from your bank. Often when a surgeon provides the option of a "discounted" fee for service plan, the plan limits the types of LASIK covered, so you may not get the surgery you want if you take advantage of these plans. This is one reason it is important you and your doctor determine ahead of time what procedure or type of LASIK is most likely to produce a good outcome.

If all else fails, ask your doctor for payment plan options. You may find you are able to pay a small monthly fee with a finance charge to compensate your doctor for surgery. This is common practice for many surgeries insurance companies deem medically "unnecessary".

Original Article - Snappy Writting

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LASIK COST - Costs Of LASIK Eye Surgery

Not that you know what to look for, let's find out what you really need to know about the costs LASIK surgery of.

Here are some considerations when reviewing LASIK costs:

* Be clear if working with a company advertising a price that the price reflects your prescription and your individual procedure/needs. Some lasik discounts only apply to people who need minimal vision correction. If you fall outside the range defined by the deal, you may be unpleasantly surprised when you receive your bill.

* Make sure your costs include the cost of follow up visits. You don't want to have to pay extra for visits occurring after your procedure. You should also consider asking the center what their policy is about you calling and coming in if you feel you are experiencing complications after surgery. Provisions for this should be included in their literature.

* Check to see whether the price quoted you includes providing enhancements within the first year of surgery. Many enhancements are performed within this time frame. If possible, make sure you avoid additional fees associated with enhancements. Typically you can negotiate this as part of the actual fee you pay up front. Most competent surgeons make this very clear.

* Find out how much the LASIK surgeon charges PER EYE. Some people mistakenly believe they are billed $2500 total for both eyes, when the fee is actually $2,500 for EACH eye.

* If you feel your vision problems inhibit you from participating in daily life, then you may want to find out if you can encourage your health insurance company to pitch in for part of the cost of surgery. While many insurance companies do not contribute to procedures like LASIK, an equal number do, or at the very least offer some coverage.

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LASIK COST - What Are The Risks

Most patients are very pleased with the results of their refractive surgery. However, like any other medical procedure, there are risks involved. That's why it is important for you to understand the limitations and possible complications of refractive surgery.

Before undergoing a refractive procedure, you should carefully weigh the risks and benefits based on your own personal value system, and try to avoid being influenced by friends that have had the procedure or doctors encouraging you to do so.

* Some patients lose vision. Some patients lose lines of vision on the vision chart that can not be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery as a result of treatment.

* Some patients develop debilitating visual symptoms. Some patients develop glare, halos and / or double vision that can seriously affect night vision. Even with good vision on the vision chart, some patients do not see and in situations of low contrast, as at night or in fog, after treatment compared to before treatment.

* You May be treated under treaties or more. Only one percent of some patients achieve 20/20 vision without glasses or contacts. You May require additional treatment, but further treatment May not be possible. May You still need glasses or contact lenses after surgery. May this be true even if you only need a very low order before the surgery. If you used reading glasses before surgery, May you still need glasses after surgery.

* Some patients May severe dry eye syndrome. As a result of the surgery, your eye May not be able to produce enough tears to keep the eye moist and comfortable. The dry eye not only causes discomfort, but may reduce the visual quality due to intermittent blurring and other visual symptoms. This condition will be permanent May. Down by intensive therapy and the use of plugs or other procedures May be required.

* The results are generally not as well in patients with very large refractive errors of all kinds. You should discuss your expectations with your doctor and you realize that May still need glasses or contacts after surgery.

* For some patients sighted, the results May decrease with age. If you are a visionary, the level of improvement in the vision you experience after surgery May decline with age. This can happen if your manifest refraction (a vision exam with lenses before dilating drops) is very different from your cycloplegic refraction (a vision exam with lenses drops after expansion).

* Long-term data are not available. LASIK is a relatively new technology. The first laser was approved for the LASIK in 1998. Hence, long-term safety and effectiveness of LASIK surgery is not known.

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LASIK COST - When Is LASIK Is Not For You?

You are not a risk taker. Certain complications are unavoidable in a percentage of patients, and there are no long-term data available for current procedures.

* It will jeopardize your career. Some jobs prohibit certain refractive procedures. Be sure to check with your employer/professional society/military service before undergoing any procedure.

* Cost is an issue. Most medical insurance will not pay for refractive surgery. Although the cost is coming down, it is still significant.

* You required a change in your contact lens or glasses prescription in the past year. This is called refractive instability. Patients who are:

* In their early 20s or younger,
* Whose hormones are fluctuating due to disease such as diabetes,
* Who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or
* Who are taking medications that may cause fluctuations in vision,

are more likely to have refractive instability and should discuss the possible additional risks with their doctor.

* You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.

* You actively participate in contact sports. You participate in boxing, wrestling, martial arts or other activities in which blows to the face and eyes are a normal occurrence.

* You are not an adult. Currently, no lasers are approved for LASIK on persons under the age of 18

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LASIK COST - What Is LASIK?

LASIK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The goal of this Web site is to provide objective information to the public about LASIK surgery. See other sections of this site to learn about what you should know before surgery, what will happen during the surgery, and what you should expect after surgery. There is a glossary of terms and a checklist of issues for you to consider, practices to follow, and questions to ask your doctor before undergoing LASIK surgery.

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser. A mechanical microkeratome (a blade device) or a laser keratome (a laser device) is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back revealing the stroma, the middlesection of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced. There are other techniques and many new terms related to LASIK that you may hear about.

(SOURCE: http://www.fda.gov/CDRH/LASIK/)

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