IMAGE PLUS BLOG

We thought this week that we’d take a closer look at the technology we use here at Image Plus Laser Eye Centre to help hundreds of Manitobans live a more fulfilling life without the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Originally developed to measure optical distortions inherent in powerful telescopes, Wavefront technology has now been adapted to laser vision correction.

The WavePrint System™ by VISX® uses Fourier WaveFront sensing technology. This technology is exceptionally good at measuring subtle variations in high order distortions (e.g. spherical aberrations, coma). The system creates an incredibly detailed and accurate wavefront map of the eye. This map is as unique as your fingerprint or DNA sequence.

Diagnosis

The first step toward improving your vision through laser eye surgery is the assessment. The Advanced CustomVue Wavefront technology allows a higher level of diagnosis and treatment than traditional diagnosis methods. The VISX WavePrint map that is produced using this method shows the surgeon how light focuses in different areas of the eye, allowing the doctor to decide whether you are a good candidate for Advanced CustomVue™ WaveFront laser vision correction.

It also allows the doctor to determine the accuracy of your current glasses prescription and to personalise your laser treatment plan to your eye’s unique vision distortion.

Treatment

VISX® Star S4 Advanced CustomVue™ WaveFront laser vision correction is performed with The WavePrint System™. This system includes:

* The WavePrint Map
* 3D ActiveTrak™ Eyetracker;
* Variable Spot Scanning (VSS™)
* Iris Registration (IR™)

Your surgeon is then afforded the opportunity to personalize your treatment in accordance with the Wavefront map. This technology also allows the surgeon to track any minute movement your eye makes during the surgery, via the 3D ActiveTrak™ Eyetracker, across all three dimensions. The machine repositions the laser in real time to compensate for these movements, ensuring the accuracy of the application of the treatment.

The VISX® S4 Variable Spot Scanning (VSS™) allows for more accurate reshaping of the eye based on your personal Wavefront profile.

VISX® Iris Registration (IR™) is the newest component of Advanced CustomVue™ WaveFront. It allows far greater accuracy for the surgeon, and accounts for the rotation that occurs in our eyes when we move from a sitting to a lying position.

We chose our technology carefully to ensure that we are providing the best possible treatments and outcomes for our patients.

For more information please visit VISX® and/or Clinical Study Results or visit The FDA Website for approval.

If you’re going to let someone perform surgery on the part of your body that gives you the most important of your five senses (your eyes), you want to make sure that you are comfortable with your choice of surgeon.

Your choice of surgeon will be based on your individual expectations and needs, and by asking questions which will help you to decide what you are comfortable with, you will be able to determine whether a laser eye surgery practice is right for you.

Some of the questions you might ask could include:

• Is the surgeon happy to take as much time as is required to answer all my questions and allay any fears that I may have?
• Will the doctor who performs the surgery be the one who performs all my follow up care?
• Will I have a personal consultation with the surgeon before my surgery?
• Do I feel comfortable with the staff at the surgery centre, including non-surgical staff.
• Does the centre offer financing options if I require them? Are the terms reasonable?
• Does my fee include all post-operative care and any medications I may require?
• Will the surgeon be available to perform any emergency post-operative care should the need arise?
• Do the staff seem rushed or stressed? Do they appear to have time to do their job properly?

By asking, and answering these questions to your satisfaction, you’ll be in a position to make an informed, educated decision when choosing your laser eye surgery centre.

Laser eye surgery has helped change the lives of millions of people by allowing them both the ability to see clearer and chance to finally ditch those awkward eyeglasses and pesky contacts.  However, although this wonderful procedure is readily available almost everywhere in the world, it can still unfortunately be financially out of reach for some people.  However, there are a few things that you can do to help defer the cost of laser eye surgery and start seeing clearer today!

1. Get Help From Your Insurance Company

Laser eye surgery, including the popular Lasik procedure, usually ranges in cost between about $1000 to $2000 per eye, the price often varying depending on what sort of vision correction needs to be accomplished.  Most medical insurance companies will not cover the costs of laser eye surgery as a “necessary procedure”, but there is still some modicum of help that you can get from certain sorts of insurance carriers.  Indeed, although most medical insurance companies currently do not cover Lasik, many HMO’s and PPO’s will have contracts with certain clinics in order to provide a reduced rate for you!  So, looking into this fact could be one way in which you could save money on your laser eye surgery.

2. Write-Off Laser Eye Procedures on Your Taxes

It is a relatively little-known fact that the IRS will often allow people to write-off the cost of laser eye surgery on their taxes!  The IRS, believe it or not, actually has the presence of mind to regard vision correction surgery (unlike procedures like breast enlargement and teeth whitening) as something that promotes the general functioning of the human body, and thus will allow you to use it as a tax deduction.  And, of course, because of this, it is also possible to write off all expenses that relate to your laser eye surgery, such as medications, the cost to travel to and from the laser eye center, and any other necessities that could come into play, such as food and lodging if you have to travel far for the procedure.

So there you have it; it is possible to lower the overall cost of your laser eye surgery without having to settle for a substandard surgeon or clinic (and beware: there are many of them out there with some pretty impressive-sounding pricing), so if you are thinking of getting laser eye surgery, consider these two simple tips when figuring out your laser eye surgery budget.

Wishing Dr. Wiens and staff a safe trip and lots of knowledge gained in Atlanta, Georgia this November, 2008.

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