With a pool of about 43 million candidates for refractive
surgery in the US
alone, one would assume that there should be millions performed every year on
patients to correct their vision with Lasik surgery. And you might be surprised
to know that only 12 million of Lasik patients have undergone the procedure
since it was first approved in 1995.
Also, the average age of the refractive surgery candidate
with myopia is 40 years and with hyperopia, 55 years. This would mean that this
segment of the population should be financially able to afford a procedure that
cost less than $2000.00.
It is reported that ninety-six percent of refractive
procedures performed today are laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
Ophthalmologists, or Eye MDs, have known for more that a century that
surgically modifying the shape of the cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye,
could correct refractive error.
Besides price, the key factors in the decision to have
refractive surgery are candidacy, effectiveness of the procedure, and safety.
Put another way, refractive surgery prospects
Approximately 700,000 LASIK procedures are performed
annually, making it one of the most common surgeries in the United States .
More than 90 percent of people who have LASIK achieve 20/20 to 20/40 vision and
are able to perform all or most of their daily activities without glasses or
contact lenses.
So what are the questions that patients are most likely to
ask:
Can you correct my
prescription with surgery? (candidacy)
Will I be 20/20 after
surgery? (effectiveness)
What can go wrong?
(safety)
How much will it
cost? (price)
Looking at the numbers released from the American Academy
of Ophthalmology , the number of eye surgery when from about 1.2 million
procedures a year to about 750,000 projected for 2011. And studies have shown
time and again, a direct correlation between the number of Lasik procedures
performed per year, and the general economy. Any downturn in household income
or consumer index sentiment has a measurable effect on the number of patients
seeking the lasik surgery.
For more info about Lasik check out http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik/lasers.htm.