Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge

Updated status: My PRK eye is not doing well. The bandage lens was drying out but I didn’t know it. I never wore contact lenses so I had no idea I was supposed to be soaking the lens as much as possible during the first 48 hours. So I have SPK, which mainfests itself as cloudiness, but continued use of my steroid and anti-inflammatory meds cleared it up. As of last week, I see 20/25 out of my PRK eye.

Since I tend to write in a rambly and undiscplined fashion just to get something out daily, I thought I should make a little chart of costs for you.

What Does Laser Vision Correction Surgery Cost?
Medications:
17.99 - Generic Tobramycin substitute for Zymar at ~$75. Also called Tobramax.
38.97 - Tylenol 3 for pain, Gabapentin pain reliever (Also called Neurontin), and 50 Refresh Plus single-use, preservative-free eye drops

Surgery:
$4790.00 including all pre- and post-operative exams. With PRK, I am going to have at least 5 follow up exams, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 week, 2 months and 3 months after surgery.

Total:
$4846.96+~$40-80 for more single-use eye drops for a full month

I am going to have use the single-use eye drops for at least one month. The bulk package of 50 vials is going to last me a week due to the SPK problem in my right eye. I find that I used them almost hourly the first few days after surgery and that still wasn’t enough for the PRK eye. The doctor’s pre-printed treatment plan says to chill them for PRK, which I thought I would hate, but honestly, I kind of like the cold eye drop. It does make my eyes feel better.

As far as eye drops go, I’ll be honest here and tell you that the other brand available in single-use, preservative-free vials is Systane. I personally like the Systane vials better. The plastic they use is not as stiff as the Refresh Plus drops and easier to squeeze. That sounds dumb, but while you are trying to line it up with your eye, look downwards/to the side, AND put the drop in, having squeeze extra hard is annoying. Plus with the PRK eye, I feel like I can really flush stuff out with a prolonged squeeze of the softer plastic.

Shop around for the single-use vials. Rite-Aid had them for $18 a box. Giant grocery store for $16. I think I saw them at CVS even cheaper, but I also got a coupon in the box I did buy, so it is worth it to buy it one box at a time and see if there is a coupon inside to save money on the next box or two.

This is stating the obvious, but opt for Lasik if you can. Someone asked me if I could have delayed my left eye surgery and had a smaller suction ring ordered to use for me eye so I could do Lasik on it instead of PRK. I didn’t even think to ask that question. I could have sworn they said they didn’t have a smaller one available. I am kicking myself because with PRK you have many more follow up exams and it will cost me a pretty penny to haul my butt out to my regular eye doctor because she is located near my old job location in the burbs and not near my new job. It sucks because she hardly has weekend hours, but I think the other doctor in her practice does. As it was, on Tuesday, she was late to my appointment and had locked my chart in her office so the other doctor in the practice couldn’t see me without any info.

As far as your goggles go, I got a free pair of them, but let me tell you, they are what military people politely call glasses from the PX, “BCG’s”, e.g. Birth Control Glasses/Goggles. If you want something slightly more stylish to wear so you don’t accidentally rub your eyes or touch them in any way while healing, try MSA’s instead. MSA is the chic term my boyfriend and I developed for his tight-fitting, bug-eye shop glasses. His came from Mine Safety Appliances and were free from a plant visit he did for work. I am quite mad at him for letting me wear the BCG’s to a hockey game and bar before remembering that he had these at the house. The funny thing is that I actually did get a compliment on them the next night at the chic 18th Street Lounge in DC. (Sam “The Man” Burns was spinning.) Mind you, these are close fitting goggles and will fog up, but they did keep some jerk from elbowing me in the eyeball while walking through a crowd.

A lot of people have asked me about the surgery and their number one fear is having stuff touch their eye and getting freaked out during surgery. All I can say to them is take the valium when it’s offered and afterwards, you will think nothing of what has happened. It’s not a big deal. I have worse and more prolonged pain from monthly cramping. If you can eat your pain for 10 minutes, you can do this. A blinding migraine is far worse than laser eye surgery. All you have to do is lie still and focus on a blinking dot. And no, I didn’t have a burning smell, and yes, the laser room was very cold, but as there was a snow storm in DC that day, I was already dressed very warmly. FWIW, I’ve seen industrial lasers cooled with 10,000 gallons of water, so I guess I’m not surprised that it was chilly in there. Temperature does effect chemistry and physics, and people, that is exactly what lasers are about, chemistry and physics.

Lastly, please note that your bathing habits are going to have to change here. Lulugal has already mentioned her doctors have told her she can’t wash her face. I showered less frequently that I would have liked because when I do shower, I had a stinging sensation on my eyes even though no water has actually entered them. I kept them shut, but it still hurt like crazy. I had to wash my hair in the tub instead. So please note that you may encounter some dermal issues after surgery.

ps - While looking for a reference to SPK, I found this list of questions to ask your doctor when you have vision correction surgery. Even though it says ‘Post-op’, I would definitely consult this list pre- and post-operation and use it to educate yourself on the risks if I could do it over again.