Within San Francisco, you’ll have several options for correcting your vision.  The most popular of them is Lasik eye surgery, a procedure that was started more than 50 years ago.  Lasik surgery involves using a special laser to lift open the cornea to create a flap, and then sculpt the cornea underneath it.  After the cornea has been reshaped the flap is then replaced back on the eye, the entire procedure takes only minutes.  Success rates for Lasik treatment are very high with patients who have low to moderate levels of farsightedness, regardless of whether they have astigmatism or not.

The other common yet not nearly as popular by name laser eye surgery is PRK, an acronym for Photorefractive Keratectomy.  Unlike Lasik surgery, PRK utilizes a different laser to sculpt layers of tissue on the surface of the cornea.  By doing so, it changes how light refracts inside the eye and allows better focus to the retina.  Like the Lasik treatment, PRK is a very short procedure and can treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and those affected with astigmatism.

Depending on the condition and severity of your eyes, most patients needing laser eye surgery can be treated with Lasik surgery.  Most eye surgeons specialize in one or the other treatments, and will best be able to help you choose the right option for you.

Both surgeries are usually done as outpatient procedures and recovery time is short, within a day for most.  A requirement is that someone brings you to and drives you home from the procedure though and it’s nice to have that person available for a few hours afterwards to help get your bearings until your vision is back.  Most patients report near perfect vision within a day or two after laser eye treatment, and many return to school or work the very next day.

The only other option is to continue wearing glasses and contacts, which will continue to cost you money year in and year out.  Opting to go with corrective laser eye surgery will not only increase the enjoyment in your life, it will also reduce some bills that accumulate through expensive eyeglass frame purchase and disposable contacts.

Choosing a Lasik surgeon in San Francisco is good for patients, there are lots of choices.  All are board certified and very qualified to do their jobs, but with so many choices how do you pick?  Simple, look for what fits your needs best.  Things to consider when choosing a laser eye surgeon:

• Office hours. Are they open early in the morning or later in the evening to accommodate your schedule?  Do they offer weekend hours?
• Medical insurance. Several medical insurance carriers now cover fully, or in part laser eye corrective surgery as part of their normal plan.  If your insurance covers this, ensure the laser / Lasik eye surgeon you’re going to accepts it.
• Deferred, no or low interest financing. In the event that your medical insurance doesn’t cover the cost, some corrective laser eye surgeons offer deferred, 0% or low interest financing to help offset the cost of the procedure.  The terms are usually very good and the monthly payments are also very affordable.
• Testimonials. Ask them for testimonials from other patients if you are curious how the experience helped others and what they went through.
• Warranty and follow up costs. Some surgeons offer extended warranties for the service as well as discounted follow up visits should they be needed.  Be sure to inquire about this.

Corrective eye surgery has an amazingly high success rate, more than 80% of patients have their correction to the desired vision after a treatment.  A follow up visit can give an enhancement bringing the number in closer to perfection.   There is very little pain associated with Lasik treatment and there are no stitches and rarely are bandages even used.

The benefits to not having to wear corrective eyeglasses are evident and it will improve the quality of life tremendously.  No longer will you need to pay hundreds of dollars a year for new lenses and frames, continually clean them, and spend even more money on corrective sunglasses.  Enjoy life without looking through lenses for the first time and you’ll wonder why you didn’t make the choice for corrective eye surgery years ago!