LASIK at Northwestern: The Importance of Quality

Thursday, March 19, 2009

LASIK and PRK can be a substantial expense.  With prices reaching into the thousands of dollars for either procedure, patients are right to expect top-notch care and results for their investment.

At Northwestern LASIK Physicians, our philosophy is to provide premium care for our patients from start to finish.  We believe that any lapse, whether in technology, counseling, or the frequency and quality of post-operative care, exposes our patients to unnecessary risk and discomfort.

With this in mind, we offer the following assurances to all of our patients:

• You will receive an informative consultation.  The surgeon responsible for your care will give you a candid assessment of the risks and benefits of LASIK, and recommend the most advantageous procedure.  Everyone's eyes are different, and we will not advise you to select a procedure if you are a borderline candidate, nor will we encourage you to select a more expensive procedure if it will not substantially enhance your vision.



• We will discuss financing and payment options.  Payment is acceptable via cashier's check, cash, and credit or charge card.  We offer financing at low fixed rates through Capital One, including interest free options up to 18 months.  Finally, many of our patients are able to deduct their surgeries from their taxes by taking advantage of employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts.



• On the day of the procedure, we will make sure that you are ready for surgery.  Any surgery, even LASIK, can be a source of stress.  Our doctors and staff are ready to answer any final questions you may have at the time of your surgery.  We will provide you with a post-operative kit and will carefully review post-operative care.



• We will provide you with necessary medication during and after your surgery.  Medication typically includes prescription eyedrops and/or artificial tears, and will be provided by our office free of charge.  By incorporating these expectations into the cost of the procedure, you are insulated from hidden costs resulting after your surgery.



• We will provide you with thorough and conscientious post-operative care.  At most LASIK clinics, you will only see your surgeon at the time of the surgery.  Follow-up care is typically performed by an optometrist or a technician.  At Northwestern, we believe that continuity of care is important in monitoring the healing of the treated eye.  For this reason, all of your post-operative visits will be with the same doctor who performed your surgery, and who is familiar with your medical history and particular needs.  Your post-operative care will be covered for one full year after your surgery.  This duration of care is particularly important considering the desirability of a refractive enhancement.



• We will improve your vision to the best of our ability.  While your vision will improve most noticeably within the first day (for LASIK) to week (for PRK) of your procedure, the eye will continue to heal on its own.  Several months after your surgery, your doctor may observe that the procedure has not lived up to its fullest potential; with an enhancement, your vision could be improved even further.  At Northwestern, since our goal is to provide you with the best possible vision, we will provide enhancements free of charge within a year of your surgery.  We will ensure that you receive the same quality of post-operative care for you enhancement as we offer for your original treatment.

There is a tendency sometimes to treat LASIK as a very commonplace procedure, which helps to explain the abundance of discounts and bargains available in the marketplace.

However, the eye is a very delicate instrument, and one which we rely upon constantly, whether driving or reading, whether in work or in recreation.

While our commitment to quality care from start to finish does result in some higher prices than the competition, we believe that the end result is worth it.  Your vision is important to us, and you deserve the best care available.

Posted By admin at 03:40 PM