No matter how great the outcome, most people aren’t overjoyed at the thought of surgery. And while LASIK eye surgery is fairly non-invasive and an elective, outpatient procedure, when the words “laser,” “eye” and “surgery” come together, people get a little freaked out.

It’s smart to be cautious about your health, and it always pays to do your homework. But it can be hard to know where to start. Luckily, we’ve seen tons of patients over the years and learned a thing or two about common questions and concerns people have about LASIK eye surgery. These should help put your mind at ease and point you in the right direction for further research. At the very least, you know you’re not alone in questioning the idea of voluntarily placing a laser near your eyeball—even in the name of better vision.

Here are the top three concerns we’ve found people have when researching LASIK eye surgery. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and you should discuss any questions you have with your eye doctor or LASIK surgeon. Feel free to contact us for a consultation so we may answer any additional questions or concerns you may have.

Fear of Lasers Involved with LASIK Eye Surgery

Yeah, we know it sounds a little weird at first: you are paying someone to beam a laser at your eye. Even after hearing testimonials of people with better than 20/20 vision, it’s still a weird concept. But the beauty of lasers is that they are more accurate than any other surgical instrument available today. Doctors across disciplines are always looking for less invasive ways to cut patients less, and lasers make this possible.

The reality is, LASIK is more uncomfortable than anything else. Imagine a day at the dentist, where your mouth is stretched wide for several minutes. Painful? Not really. But uncomfortable and a bit awkward? You bet. And just like at the dentist, we use a local anesthetic so the procedure is practically painless. Most of the fear people associate with LASIK surgery centers around the idea of a laser and is more mental anguish than physical pain.

Cost Concerns Regarding an Elective Procedure

As an elective procedure, most health and vision insurance plans do not cover LASIK surgery. However, as it is becoming a more common, and sometimes even most effective, method of vision correction, you should check with your provider to see if they cover any part of the cost of LASIK surgery. Also check with your employer, as some companies have referral relationships or discount programs for employees.

Even if you will be paying all or most of the LASIK bill yourself, you have many options to help defray the cost. We offer 100% financing at a competitive rate, as well as referral incentives that can pay you back up to the full cost of your surgery. And when you think about how much you will spend over the course of a lifetime on eye doctor visits, glasses and contacts, you can actually end up saving by undergoing LASIK eye surgery. Just be careful to avoid LASIK “sales and specials” offering super reduced rates; in these cases, you get what you pay for, and not in a good way.

Blade-Free Custom LASIK vs Traditional LASIK

Laser eye surgery always uses a laser to correct vision problems, but traditional LASIK surgery uses a metal blade to slice the corneal flap to begin the surgery. Some still practice this method of laser vision correction, but the safest and most accurate LASIK surgery is blade-free and uses a laser to both cut the cornea and correct vision. This eliminates sight-threatening complications that have been seen with the use of a blade, as well as reduces post-procedure dry eye, glare, and halo problems.

Why the difference? Blade-free is more customized to your eye, giving more precise and accurate results, and some say faster recovery. It is the most state-of-the-art LASIK eye surgery available, and a good investment.

Got more questions? Give us a call toll-free at 866 970-8476.