Cosmetic Laser Eye Surgery - Is It Worth It?

Cosmetic laser eye surgery may not be covered by most health insurance policies, but it doesn't stop more Americans from undergoing it each year. The most popular cosmetic laser eye surgery is LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis).

LASIK figures in the US have gone from 1.4 million procedures in 2005 to an estimated 1.8 million in 2006. That brings the total number of Americans who have had LASIK done on their eyes to a whopping 10 million!

If so many American undergo LASIK, why wouldn't an insurance company cover it? Health plans don't cover cosmetic laser eye surgery because it is still regarded as an aesthetic procedure rather than a medical one, such as cataract, corneal, and eye muscle surgeries.

Many may argue that correcting your vision is hardly the same thing as a beauty treatment, but the insurance industry says otherwise. To fill in the demand for financing, a number of doctors and clinics have offered easy payment schemes to those who opt for LASIK.

Even doctors connected with the ophthalmology departments of big hospitals may device a payment scheme for patients, especially for their professional fees. So why not ask?

How Are Lasers Used On The Eye?

The procedure isn't the stuff of science fiction where a laser beam zaps your eye and you get 20/20 vision. The laser actually does the work of the microkeratome blade that preceded it.

A laser is used to guide the blade to coincide with the exact position of the eye that is ideal to create a perfect corneal flap in terms of thickness and position. The surgeon can also use a laser instead of a metal blade to create a corneal flap via which correction is administered.

But LASIK can also involve a metal blade to create the corneal flap, AND a laser to reshape the cornea.

Cosmetic Laser Eye Surgery – How Effective Is It?

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, out of 10 LASIK patients, 7 achieve 20/20 vision. However, 20/20 is not necessarily “perfect” vision. Over- or under-correction may occur and you will need another LASIK procedure to get optimal vision.

Also, even if LASIK corrects your distance vision today, when you reach age 45 you're likely to need reading glasses still.

Is Cosmetic Laser Eye Surgery Safe?

If you go to a qualified surgeon, yes, it is likely to be safe. What's more, the success rates are pretty high, very rarely falling below the 90% mark. The reason for this is that the more a surgeon performs LASIK, the more his success rate rises. This is the same reason why eye surgeons with greater experience demand a higher fee.

Notice how each private practice will boast not only about the doctor's success rate but also the number of procedures performed.