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Home > Archive > Lasik Eyes Surgery > October 2004 > Traditional vs. Custom Lasik conundrum- Is custom worth the money?
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Traditional vs. Custom Lasik conundrum- Is custom worth the money?
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| Itafran 2004-10-12, 10:08 pm |
| Hi,
I've been looking at this forum for a few days now, as I'm going
through a decision process to have my eyes corrected. I'm -4D with
..75 astigmatism in both eyes. I've met with two surgeons so far who
confirmed I'm a good candidate. I'm quite sure they are both capable,
and would do a good job no matter the technology. Their interviews
were comparable and they both came up with a suggestion for
monovision, as in less than 10 years I'll slowly but surely approach
the threshold where presbyopia will become a problem.
The first one (referred to me by co-workers who've all had positive
experiences with him) has access to both a traditional laser, a Visx
S3 (which he owns) as well as custom lasik technology (in another
location). His approach was something to the effect of: "if you want
to spend an extra $1,000, we can take that money from you, but the end
result is going to be comparable no matter which laser I use--a good
surgeon will do a good job even without the flashy eye tracker...which
helps if you are doing so many patients at a time that you need the
machine to guide you".
The second surgeon, who does not own the laser but uses a facility
with LadarVision, insisted that custom is much better and that the
degree of HOAs would be much lower afterwards with custom lasik than
with traditional, and to reinforce his point he said he's charging the
same money for both types of procedures.
So cost is now becoming a factor, $2,400 vs $4,300. I can
potentially afford the higher cost, but the difference is so great
that I'd like to know if any of you can share recent news about how
effective custom lasik really is. Obviously as more surgeons upgrade
to the new technology, which is probably easier to use, they become
proponents of the latest, but is it worth it? thanks for any insight.
Ita Fran
| |
|
| From what you have said, it doesn't look like monovision is
appropriate for you.
The VISX S3 and S4 are just about the same system except that the S4
does wavefront. The tracking is the same in both. I'm not sure of
the numbers, but I believe that only half of LASIK candidates have
conditions which meet the criteria of Wavefront Lasik. That is
supposed to change if the FDA ever approves a broader range of
treatments for the VISX.
Without knowing more... I would suggest you save a lot of money and go
for the S3 laser. Your results will probably be identical.
Furthermore, you should try monovision with contact lenses before
having it done with Lasik. A doctor suggesting monovision is just
asking for complaints.
How old are you? And do you do a lot of book reading?
On 12 Oct 2004 19:28:41 -0700, itafran2002@yahoo.com (Itafran) wrote:
>Hi,
>I've been looking at this forum for a few days now, as I'm going
>through a decision process to have my eyes corrected. I'm -4D with
>.75 astigmatism in both eyes. I've met with two surgeons so far who
>confirmed I'm a good candidate. I'm quite sure they are both capable,
>and would do a good job no matter the technology. Their interviews
>were comparable and they both came up with a suggestion for
>monovision, as in less than 10 years I'll slowly but surely approach
>the threshold where presbyopia will become a problem.
>
>The first one (referred to me by co-workers who've all had positive
>experiences with him) has access to both a traditional laser, a Visx
>S3 (which he owns) as well as custom lasik technology (in another
>location). His approach was something to the effect of: "if you want
>to spend an extra $1,000, we can take that money from you, but the end
>result is going to be comparable no matter which laser I use--a good
>surgeon will do a good job even without the flashy eye tracker...which
>helps if you are doing so many patients at a time that you need the
>machine to guide you".
>
>The second surgeon, who does not own the laser but uses a facility
>with LadarVision, insisted that custom is much better and that the
>degree of HOAs would be much lower afterwards with custom lasik than
>with traditional, and to reinforce his point he said he's charging the
>same money for both types of procedures.
>
>So cost is now becoming a factor, $2,400 vs $4,300. I can
>potentially afford the higher cost, but the difference is so great
>that I'd like to know if any of you can share recent news about how
>effective custom lasik really is. Obviously as more surgeons upgrade
>to the new technology, which is probably easier to use, they become
>proponents of the latest, but is it worth it? thanks for any insight.
>Ita Fran
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| Dr. Leukoma 2004-10-13, 7:55 am |
| Ragnar, would you please state your qualifications for giving out LASIK
advice on the internet?
DrG
RM <rm@yahoo.com> wrote in news:og8pm0l6ala8h4qslrt1or5scrus0to4uh@4ax.com:
> From what you have said, it doesn't look like monovision is
> appropriate for you.
> The VISX S3 and S4 are just about the same system except that the S4
> does wavefront. The tracking is the same in both. I'm not sure of
> the numbers, but I believe that only half of LASIK candidates have
> conditions which meet the criteria of Wavefront Lasik. That is
> supposed to change if the FDA ever approves a broader range of
> treatments for the VISX.
> Without knowing more... I would suggest you save a lot of money and go
> for the S3 laser. Your results will probably be identical.
> Furthermore, you should try monovision with contact lenses before
> having it done with Lasik. A doctor suggesting monovision is just
> asking for complaints.
>
> How old are you? And do you do a lot of book reading?
>
>
> On 12 Oct 2004 19:28:41 -0700, itafran2002@yahoo.com (Itafran) wrote:
>
>
>
| |
|
| For one thing, I don't try to mislead people liike you do. For
another thing, even when I guess, I'm often right. While I don't have
a medical degree (neither do you) I do have an extensive medial
background. But that isn't really the point. There have been more
than a few people posting messages here that KNOW the facts, yet they
will only post things that sound negative
Here's something you don't do, correct your mistakes. I looked back
and found the 46 month reference. You are correct about that, but you
still haven't said how long it takes you to fit custom lenses.
On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 12:19:19 GMT, "Dr. Leukoma"
<drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
>Ragnar, would you please state your qualifications for giving out LASIK
>advice on the internet?
>
>DrG
>
>RM <rm@yahoo.com> wrote in news:og8pm0l6ala8h4qslrt1or5scrus0to4uh@4ax.com:
>
| |
| Itafran 2004-10-13, 7:11 pm |
| RM <rm@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<og8pm0l6ala8h4qslrt1or5scrus0to4uh@4ax.com>...
> From what you have said, it doesn't look like monovision is
> appropriate for you.
> The VISX S3 and S4 are just about the same system except that the S4
> does wavefront. The tracking is the same in both. I'm not sure of
> the numbers, but I believe that only half of LASIK candidates have
> conditions which meet the criteria of Wavefront Lasik. That is
> supposed to change if the FDA ever approves a broader range of
> treatments for the VISX.
> Without knowing more... I would suggest you save a lot of money and go
> for the S3 laser. Your results will probably be identical.
> Furthermore, you should try monovision with contact lenses before
> having it done with Lasik. A doctor suggesting monovision is just
> asking for complaints.
>
> How old are you? And do you do a lot of book reading?
>
Thanks RM, I'm 40, and I like to read, but I hardly ever read books
for more than 1-2 hours at a time. I would be more concerned about
working at my PC, as I have a desk job, and I often have prolonged
spans in front of it... Or ensuring I can drive at night without
strain. And yes, both surgeons suggested I spend weeks trying
monovision with contacts, which I will definitely do. The amount of
monovision I want to compromise with, however, is not more than -.75
in my non-dominant eye.
Ita Fran[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> On 12 Oct 2004 19:28:41 -0700, itafran2002@yahoo.com (Itafran) wrote:
>
| |
| Rebecca 2004-10-13, 7:11 pm |
| "Dr. Leukoma" <drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote in message news:<Xns95814C377CECDdrgleukomacom@63.240.76.16>...
> Ragnar, would you please state your qualifications for giving out LASIK
> advice on the internet?
Hear, hear.
| |
|
| One word, CREDIBILITY.
On 13 Oct 2004 12:21:12 -0700, rebeccaNO_SPAM@lasermyeye.org (Rebecca)
wrote:
>"Dr. Leukoma" <drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote in message news:<Xns95814C377CECDdrgleukomacom@63.240.76.16>...
>
>Hear, hear.
| |
| Dr. Leukoma 2004-10-13, 7:11 pm |
| RM <rm@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:s1mqm09q0pqa9iikig1no5adpdqg46odl1@4ax.com:
> For one thing, I don't try to mislead people liike you do. For
> another thing, even when I guess, I'm often right. While I don't have
> a medical degree (neither do you) I do have an extensive medial
> background. But that isn't really the point. There have been more
> than a few people posting messages here that KNOW the facts, yet they
> will only post things that sound negative
>
> Here's something you don't do, correct your mistakes. I looked back
> and found the 46 month reference. You are correct about that, but you
> still haven't said how long it takes you to fit custom lenses.
From what I have read, and from what I gather, you have seldom been right.
If I am constrained by time, it takes one week. Period.
DrG
>
> On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 12:19:19 GMT, "Dr. Leukoma"
> <drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote:
>
>
>
| |
| Dr. Leukoma 2004-10-13, 7:11 pm |
| RM <rm@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:a94rm0129b2nmn0kli48iupgu8i1mf1t85@4ax.com:
> One word, CREDIBILITY.
>
>
> On 13 Oct 2004 12:21:12 -0700, rebeccaNO_SPAM@lasermyeye.org (Rebecca)
> wrote:
>
>
>
....and I have that in spades. Thank you very much, Mr. Ragnar Suomi, or
whomever you are.
DrG
| |
| serebel 2004-10-13, 10:08 pm |
| "Dr. Leukoma" <drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote in message news:<Xns95814C377CECDdrgleukomacom@63.240.76.16>...
> Ragnar, would you please state your qualifications for giving out LASIK
> advice on the internet?
>
> DrG
>
>
Ragnar's advice in this instance is right on. His qualifications are
like mine, experience and research.
SErebel
| |
|
| Seldom been right, eh? I hope you don't think you are fooling
anybody.
OD's not content with being OD's and calling themselves "surgical
rehabilitation doctors" are a sick joke.
On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 21:16:48 GMT, "Dr. Leukoma"
<drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote:
[vbcol=seagreen]
>RM <rm@yahoo.com> wrote in
>news:s1mqm09q0pqa9iikig1no5adpdqg46odl1@4ax.com:
>
>
>From what I have read, and from what I gather, you have seldom been right.
>
>If I am constrained by time, it takes one week. Period.
>
>DrG
>
| |
|
| Your a legend in your own mind.
And while we are at it, might as well remind people that Dr. Leukoma
is a ficticious character.
On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 21:18:15 GMT, "Dr. Leukoma"
<drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote:
>RM <rm@yahoo.com> wrote in
>news:a94rm0129b2nmn0kli48iupgu8i1mf1t85@4ax.com:
>
>
>...and I have that in spades. Thank you very much, Mr. Ragnar Suomi, or
>whomever you are.
>
>DrG
| |
|
| On 13 Oct 2004 19:45:16 -0700, serebel@aol.com (serebel) wrote:
>"Dr. Leukoma" <drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote in message news:<Xns95814C377CECDdrgleukomacom@63.240.76.16>...
>
> Ragnar's advice in this instance is right on. His qualifications are
>like mine, experience and research.
>
>SErebel
Yes.. that and not intentionally misleading people. Dr. Leukoma, or
whoever he is, has been pulling some doozys lately in the misleading
department.
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