Lasik Surgery is an Effective Treatment

If you suffer from a minor vision defect requiring corrective lenses, you might be considering having Lasik Surgery. There are many clinics in Aurora, Loveland, Denver and other communities along the Front Range metro region where lasik surgery can be performed - and the good news is that Colorado is one of the less expensive areas in which to have lasik surgery.

Lasik is short for LAser in-SItu Keratomileusis, which is a form of Lasik Surgery. Lasik surgery involves the use of microscopic instruments, which emit a strongly focused beam of light in order to cut a thin slice of tissue from above the cornea. This tissue is folded back, enabling the surgeon to expose the corneal tissue. A precision laser scalpel, called an excimer, is then used to correct the defect. Afterward, the flap of tissue is replaced; since it is still attached to the eye, there are no sutures necessary. Healing is rapid and actually begins within hours following lasik surgery. Most patients are able to drive and can return to their normal, everyday activities within a day or two.

Lasik surgery is an effective treatment for correcting myopia (near sightedness), hyperopia (far sightedness), and astigmatism (lens misalignment). However, lasik surgery is ineffective in the treatment of more serious vision problems such as cataracts, detached retina and macular degeneration.

Another type of lasik surgery is Custom Wavefront Guided Lasik, which can be effective for patients who suffer from higher order aberrations in their vision. Such optical aberrations affect a relatively small percentage of eye patients. Such patients may benefit from Custom Wavefront Guided Lasik, which involves customized reshaping of the corneal surface. The aberrations are measured with an instrument called an Aberrometer, which is able to share a digital interface with an excimer laser. These microscopic instruments are used to shape the patient's corneal surface; each treatment is exactly suited to the individual's particular optical needs.

Earlier, it was pointed out that Lasik Surgery in Colorado is less than that in many other parts of the country. Nationwide, lasik surgery can range from as little as $200 to as much as $4000 per eye. In the Denver-Colorado Springs metro area, lasik surgery fees run between $500 and $1500 per eye, depending on the patient's condition, the amount of pre-operative and/or post-operative care required, the need for follow-up procedures and any necessary prescriptions. Most lasik surgery facilities offer generous, interest-free financing.