Costs of High-Profile Treatment for Higher Prescriptions
It is not uncommon at London Vision Clinic for us to see patients who have been told their high prescription makes them unsuitable for Laser Eye Surgery. However, in our experience, this is often not the case. With access to state-of-the-art Laser Eye Surgery technology and world-class expertise, we are able to treat very high prescriptions at our Harley Street clinic. But, you may wonder, is high-profile treatment more expensive than standard treatment?
Well, before we get into the cost of high-profile treatments, let’s take a closer look at why some clinics are unable to treat higher prescriptions.
Is there a prescription limit for Laser Eye Surgery?
Unfortunately, many patients rule out Laser Eye Surgery based on the capabilities of a single provider who deems their prescription too high. But the fact of the matter is that not all providers have the technology or expertise to tackle higher prescriptions.
Of course, this isn’t always the case and there are some limits to Laser Eye Surgery – even at the best clinics. But generally, private clinics like London Vision Clinic are able to treat higher prescriptions than high street providers.
For example, a typical Laser Eye Surgery clinic will qualify patients for LASIK treatment if they have short-sightedness (myopia) prescriptions from -0.5 D to -8.0 D, although patients at the high end of this range will also need to have thick and healthy corneas. However, at London Vision Clinic, we are typically able to treat patients with prescriptions above -10.0 D and with thinner corneas, thanks to the most up-to-date technology and the innovation of ReLEx SMILE treatment.
When it comes to long-sightedness (hyperopia), most clinics have a limit of somewhere between +3.0 D and 4.0D. Clinics with access to leading technology and expertise (like London Vision Clinic), however, can treat hyperopic prescriptions up to +7.0 D.
In the video below, Mr. Glenn Carp explains why London Vision Clinic can treat higher prescriptions than the norm.
For more information on prescription limits, take a look at our article, ‘Is there a Prescription Limit for Laser Eye Surgery?‘.
High-Profile Treatments at London Vision Clinic
Laser Eye Surgery involves removing a pre-determined area and amount of tissue to subtly reshape the cornea. This changes the way light enters the eye and is focused on the retina, effectively correcting refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. In cases of very high prescriptions, more tissue needs to be removed.
This means that treating higher prescriptions requires more planning and more precise mapping of the cornea prior to surgery. Such measurements require extra time and the most recent technology which, unfortunately, many providers are unable or unwilling to invest in. Furthermore, many Laser Eye Surgeons simply do not have the required skill or expertise to perform this level of surgery.
In the video above, Isabella describes her High-Profile treatment at the London Vision Clinic.
Very High Prescriptions as Standard
At the London Vision Clinic, we believe in giving every patient the best possible treatment — regardless of how long it takes or the technology required. That’s why we offer one of the most comprehensive screening processes in the country. This allows us to gather all the necessary information and measurements to determine long-sightedness or short-sightedness shouldn’t exclude you from Laser Eye Surgery. We therefore continue to pioneer safe, effective treatments for very high prescriptions, which we call High-Profile treatments.
Our founder, Professor Reinstein, helped develop the world’s most accurate corneal scanner, the Artemis Insight 100™ — the only scanner able to map individual layers of corneal tissue to within one micron (1/1000mm).
Using the Artemis Insight 100™, along with an array of other technologies, our optometrists and surgeons build up a three-dimensional picture of the surface of your eye in microscopic detail.
This map is then used to program the laser for your surgery, ensuring that we are always working within the threshold of safety. Every case is also reviewed again before surgery by your surgeon, as a final safety check.
Are High-Profile Treatments More Expensive?
Treatment of higher prescriptions typically requires more testing and time than standard prescriptions. For example, we often repeat many of the usual screening tests under extreme conditions (such as full darkness pupillometry, reduced light contrast sensitivity testing, and dilated refractions).
As Mr. Glenn Carp explains in the video below, much of this additional work takes place prior to the surgery itself.
This additional testing usually means that high-profile treatments cost more than standard Laser Eye Surgery corrections. For more information on our pricing, click here.
If you’d like to find out more about Laser Eye Surgery for very high prescriptions, get in touch with our team of friendly eye experts or Book a Consultation today.