Corneal surgery

Description:
General or local anesthesia is used. A series of delicate incisions is made around the cornea like the spokes of a wheel. This flattens the center of the cornea to change the focus of light rays on the retina .

Each eye is done separately, on different days.

Indications:
The guideline for radial keratotomy is the desire to cure nearsightedness so corrective lenses will no longer be necessary.

What to Expect After:
Long-range follow-up studies of people who have had the procedure indicate that slightly more than one-half reported that their vision was fully corrected. Approximately one-fourth reported partially corrected vision with a continuing need for glasses or contact lenses. About 15 percent reported over corrected vision, so that they became farsighted . One percent experienced serious complications.

Convalescence:
The procedure is done on an outpatient basis. It takes only 15 to 30 minutes, with the person under local anesthesia. An eye patch or dark glasses are worn for several days, although recovery can take several months.

Risks:
Risks for any anesthesia are:

Risks for any surgery are:

Additional risks include:

  • potential for fluctuating vision
  • under-correction or over-correction
  • infections of the cornea
  • difficulty seeing at night due to glare ( light sensitivity )
  • traumatic corneal rupture (rare)



Cost:
The costs of any surgery varies significantly between surgeons, medical facilities, and regions of the country. Patients who are younger, sicker, or need more extensive surgery will require more intensive and expensive treatment.

Surgery charges can be separated into five parts: 1) the surgeon's fee, 2) the anesthesiologist's fee, 3) the hospital charges, which includes nursing care and the operating room, 4) the medications, and 5) additional charges.

1. Surgeon's fee: variable
2. Anesthesiologist's fee: averages $350 to $400 per hour
3. Hospital charges: basic rate averages $1,500 to $1,800 per day (more for the intensive care unit (ICU) or private rooms)
4. Medication charges: $200 to $400
5. Additional charges: assisting surgeon, treatment of complications, diagnostic procedures (such as blood or X-ray exams), medical supplies, or equipment use.

Insurance coverage for surgery expenses depends on many factors and should be explored for each individual instance.