a serious question

[issa]

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in the past lasik surgery was expensive but the price of the surgery keeps getting lesser and lesser. in the future, do you think the cost of the surgery will go below $500 for both eyes? if that happens then will it eliminate the optometry profession?

 

[hoosier1]

it's definitely something to think about, but I don't think optometry will ever be ousted by opthalmology. first thing i think of is not everyone wants the lasik surgery. second of all, the lasik isn't the answer to all the problems of the eye. 👍

 

[myopia0017]

not everyone is an eligible candidate for lasik. Also some ppl after having lasik, depending on their age, find that their perscriptions change until they reach a certain age where their vision would be more likely stable.

 

[Nocturnal]

not everyone is an eligible candidate for lasik. Also some ppl after having lasik, depending on their age, find that their perscriptions change until they reach a certain age where their vision would be more likely stable.

Very true. And who knows ... lasik might likely cause other eye problems as the eyes age.

 

[luckyfool]

Some opthalmic practices that specialize in LASIK already charge below $500. I will not say which, but that info can be found out easily through a couple of phone calls from your yellow pages.

Secondly, optometrists don't do LASIK surgeries except in Oklahoma. Even so, the scope is limited for optometrists anyway. I don't see how the low price of LASIK is relevant to the outlook of optometry profession, since 99% of optometrists don't and are not allowed to do LASIK.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

Some opthalmic practices that specialize in LASIK already charge below $500. I will not say which, but that info can be found out easily through a couple of phone calls from your yellow pages.

Secondly, optometrists don't do LASIK surgeries except in Oklahoma. Even so, the scope is limited for optometrists anyway. I don't see how the low price of LASIK is relevant to the outlook of optometry profession, since 99% of optometrists don't and are not allowed to do LASIK.

Optometrists in Oklahoma can't perform LASIK, so bump that 99% up to 100%.

OP... There are many patients who don't want LASIK, and many more who can't have it. Optometry will be around, regardless of cheaper LASIK or not.