You will sit down in a reclining chair in a room specially designed for LASIK enhancement surgery. There will be a large machine with a microscope attached to it and a computer screen as part of a laser system. The whole process should not take more than 30 minutes to complete.

The first step your doctor will take is to clean your eye and place a numbing drop of liquid in it. With LASIK enhancement surgery now underway, a ring will be placed around the eye to create suction to the cornea. This will cause the first discomfort of the surgery and blurred vision.

While the suction ring is still around your eye a cutting instrument called known as microkeratome is used to cut a flap in your cornea. From this point on during the LASIK enhancement surgery you will experience some fluctuating blurred vision.

During the evaluation for LASIK laser eye surgery your doctor should have informed you that you will need to be able to stare at a laser for 60 seconds or more during the surgery. You will do this after the tissue has been folded back and dried out by the doctor during the procedure. The laser will direct your eye to the spot that the surgical laser will use to perform the vision correction.

At this point LASIK enhancement surgery may take on an unexpected smell - an odor of burning flesh. This is generally because your eye is under the intense scrutiny of the laser. Though the laser may make some very human sounds (ticking) and smells (burning hair) it is often a controlled process.

The computer in the room that is hooked up to the laser controls the amount of energy delivered to your eye. Some tissue will be vaporized and finally the flap of the corneal tissue is put back in place, effectively ending the LASIK enhancement procedure.

After your LASIK enhancement is completed, your doctor will supply you with a shield or patch for your eye to prevent irritation. You will quickly realize how many times your eye gets bumped or you involuntarily rub it when you cannot do so. Wear the patch and save yourself some heartache.

LASIK risk continues to drop as doctors and engineers perfect the equipment used in the process. The risks involved in the LASIK procedure also drop as doctors continue to screen for the right candidates to have the surgery. Research now shows that with the right pre-testing and surgical care the risk of any complications in LASIK surgery are less than 1%.

The most common risk with the LASIK procedure is a complication with the flap created by the surgeon to cover the cornea. In traditional LASIK surgery the flap is created when tissue is cut by a surgical tool known as a microkeratome. Since this tool, a metal blade is used by a human being there remains a risk related to human error.

When this type of traditional LASIK procedure is performed the risk is when the flap is then used as the natural bandage at the end of the surgery it is not the right size. Therefore, the complication is an irregular bandage that irritates the eye and causes what is known as an irregular astigmatism. This LASIK risk is greatly reduced by a newer “bladeless” LASIK procedure.

In the bladeless LASIK procedure the risk of complication is reduced because the blade or microkeratome is no longer used. It is replaced by IntraLase, or another type of laser, that eliminates the human error.

When assessing these LASIK risks it is recommended that when you are considering LASIK surgery that you ask your doctor how he/she goes about correcting these problems. Some complications that arise from the LASIK procedure can be made even worse by over or under correction. Ask your doctor as part of your original process how they handle this situation.

While many people who are rejected for LASIK are rejected for thin corneas, bladeless LASIK offers these people a second chance. IntraLase lasers offer a more controlled environment in the bladeless LASIK surgery. Instead of cutting through with a blade, the laser is guided by computer technology.

The IntraLase laser allows for more curvature during the bladeless LASIK surgery, reducing the margin for error. The fact that it is a laser and not a blade also lends to the idea of avoiding infections or contaminations. Bladeless LASIK prevents long-term recovery that accompanies most surgeries.

Prior to LASIK a lot of people had unsafe or imperfect surgeries to correct vision that eliminated them from the opportunity to try LASIK. With bladeless LASIK, these potential customers get a second chance because of the near 100% success rate of the procedure.

Some patients follow traditional LASIK with follow-ups to make other corneal flaps or reduce eye-irritation. Bladeless LASIK with InterLase appear to have reduced the possibility of this happening.

The natural reaction to the thought of bladeless LASIK is that it eliminates the need for a practiced and season doctor to perform the surgery. While it may be true to a point, the fact is that bladeless LASIK requires a good deal of knowledge in physics and engineering.

While surgeons may have only been required to have knowledge of medicine and anatomy in the past, they now must be computer savvy. The advantages of bladeless LASIK seem to boil down to two basic ideas, a higher success rate and less chance of follow-up procedures.

When selecting a surgeon, avoid going for the lowest price as there are other factors that may end up increasing the overall cost.

Consider the following in your assessment:

The cost of LASIK can be increased by the purchase or lease of the laser used in the procedure as well as the upkeep of the blades or lasers.

There’s often a fee per eye that is paid to the manufacturer or developer of the machine in order to cover the cost of the laser.

Gloves, gowns, medications, masks, and surgical solutions used to maintain the safety and sterility of the operating room may be included in the cost.

Insurance and advertising expenses for the doctor’s office.

The cost of LASIK can be diminished if your surgeon is a member of the staff. In most cases this will eliminate his fee.

When contemplating the various LASIK surgery options available to you, don’t be afraid to ask your surgeon about what exactly is included in the cost of LASIK surgery under his care.

Here are some specific question you should ask:

What is and isn’t factored into the overall LASIK cost?

What will I have to pay for if enhancements are needed or complications arise?

How much should I expect to pay for temporary contact lenses if I need them after LASIK?

What’s the cost for LASIK medications such as painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines?

How much are the post-operative visits related to LASIK?

Lastly, you should contact your health insurance provider to determine if they will cover the cost of your LASIK surgery. Because they consider the procedure to be cosmetic in nature, some health care companies won’t cover your LASIK cost. If financing is no issue with you, then we strongly suggest you go with the LASIK surgeon who best fits your needs and addresses your concerns.

According to the FDA, the average cost of LASIK surgery was about $1,344 in 2005. This is a considerable decline from the initial figure of $1,600 that was listed in 2002. However, in 2006 this number rose sharply to $1,950 and even higher to $2,099 in 2007. In spite of these figures, several patients find this LASIK cost to be nominal in comparison to the comfort of improved vision.

The after effects of LASIK surgery are similar to being annoyed by a hyperactive little pet day after day. Unlike other surgical procedures that are accompanied by the healing of incisions or bruises, LASIK surgery is followed by much itching and burning in the eyes – an area that you aren’t always able to sufficiently cool or scratch. During the post-operative stage, touching your eyes could undo all the repairs made by the surgery.

After LASIK surgery, your vision will become blurred due to the excessive watering and tearing of your eyes. Unfortunately, you can’t touch your eye under any circumstances, so you just have to bear it. Your eyes may also appear dry or bloodshot for a number of days. IF this happens, then you may need to take some time off work until these symptoms pass. If at any time after LASIK surgery you begin to experience sever pain, then you should notify your surgeon.

Just to be sure the healing process is moving along well, you should go in for a post-operative exam within 24-48 hours after your surgery. After that you should continue seeing your doctor regularly for checkups up to six months after LASIK surgery.

During the first exam after LASIK surgery, your doctor will take off the protective shield to determine if your eye is responding accurately to the surgery. In order to prevent further irritation, you won’t be able to wear contact lenses for a while. Furthermore, you may have to keep your eyes lubricated with artificial tears or drops.

Your doctor will urge you to refrain from using perfumes and lotions that may irritate your eyes while also avoiding strenuous activities or contact sports. Your surgeon may also instruct you to wash your eyes regularly in the weeks after LASIK surgery in order to prevent infection.

Your vision may not become stable for several months after LASIK surgery. It’s also possible that you’ll experience a slight degree of vision impairment while in recovery. This could include everything from seeing halos to a small glare. No need to worry, though. This is a normal part of the healing process within the first few month following surgery. Contact your physician if they persist any longer.