Study: Glasses After Lasik
Posted Under: Studies
Study: Glasses After Lasik
They had Lasik surgery but still need glasses.
A new Consumer Reports Health survey finds that while 80 percent of people who’ve had Lasik or other laser vision-correction surgery are “completely” or “very satisfied,” 55 percent of those who had gone through the procedure said they still had to wear glasses or contact lenses at least occasionally.
Although many expected this would be the case, most (61 percent) said they were disappointed about that. The majority of respondents (56 percent) say they had the surgery-often pitched as an alternative to glasses-to correct nearsightedness.
The survey was of 793 adults who had laser vision correction surgery since 2001.
“The typical national price (per eye) for laser vision surgery is $1,657, yet the survey reveals wide variation in costs per eye. Seven percent of consumers who reported their costs said they paid less than $499 per eye; 12 percent paid between $2,500 and $3,999 per eye; and 4 percent shelled out $4,000 or more per eye. Twenty-three percent of respondents were unsure of what they paid.
“The surgery is not without risk: 53 percent of those surveyed experienced at least one side effect within the first four weeks of the surgery and 22 percent of patients experiencing them six months after surgery, especially dry eyes and visual symptoms like halos, glare, and starbursts around lights.
“The majority (56 percent) of respondents had the surgery to correct nearsightedness, while others had it done for astigmatism (35 percent) and farsightedness (20 percent).
“Satisfaction with one’s surgeon is key-it strongly predicts overall satisfaction with laser eye surgery, even more so than where the procedure is performed. Thus, choosing a surgeon carefully is more important than choosing the pace of surgery. Consumer Reports Health offers detailed tips for selecting the right surgeon.
Consumer Reports Health has noted in a previous report that some of the low prices advertised for vision surgery can be potentially misleading. Among other things, the price quoted may be for only one eye. And if a free consultation is offered, you have a right to just that.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has taken a hard look at Lasik eye surgery, spurred in part by a lack of reliable data about how often side effects occur. “Laser vision correction surgery is a largely unchecked industry and consumers need to know the right questions to ask to be sure they’re protected and that they’re getting good quality care for their money,” said John Santa, M.D., director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. “Vision correction surgery is increasingly popular but there is a concerning lack of unbiased, concrete evidence about its safety and efficacy.”
It’s not easy to sort through the evidence surrounding vision-correction surgery, as much of the current available research comes from surgeons who do the procedure, and who may be more likely to publish positive results, said Santa. In addition, various surgeries and lasers offer advantages in specific circumstances, but Santa notes that the lack of well-designed comparisons makes it impossible at this time to identify one laser vision corrective surgery as better than another overall.
Since the vast majority of consumers pay most or all of the costs of the procedures out of pocket, the new Consumer Reports Health Patient Power Tool Kit, available to subscribers, will help consumers get high quality care at the right price. The tool kit will:
“Help determine whether you’re likely to be satisfied based on your personal odds and expectations.
“Provide detailed information from consumers who have undergone the surgery.
“Give a safety assessment of laser vision-correction surgery, based on the latest evidence.
“Guide you through the decision process, including key questions to ask your surgeon and red flags that should alert you about getting a second opinion.
“Tell consumers what to expect before, during, and after the surgery.
“Detail the costs of surgery, insurance coverage, and payment strategies.
The tool kit is available to subscribers at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
