Laser Eye Surgery Abroad – What You Need To know
Laser Eye Surgery Abroad – What You Need To Know
What is Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye surgery or LASIK is a type of refractive surgery which is designed to correct long and short sightedness and fix astigmatism, with the results lasting a lifetime for most patients. This may free such patients from a lifetime of wearing glasses or contact lenses. Most likely, this is why laser eye surgery is reportedly one of the most popular of all international medical procedures.
In the UK however, NHS rules dictate that laser eye surgery can only be performed free of charge in patients with degenerative eye disease that leaves them at risk of blindness. Typically, laser eye surgery is favoured by those wishing to correct visual impairments for which they currently wear glasses or contact lenses; either myopia (short sightedness) or hyperopia (long sightedness) and these patients would have to fund their required treatment privately.
In the UK the typical cost of the procedure is approximately £2,000 per eye, whereas the average in certain other locations in Europe might be 50 per cent less. Even with flights and accommodation, patients can make a considerable saving. The Czech Republic, in particular, is well respected for its capability in LASIK surgery, along with Lithuania and Poland, so there are a range of options across Europe where the cost can be a lot cheaper. Careful research is needed as in some countries such as Spain and Belgium, treatment costs can sometimes be higher than the UK. There are many options, but it is important that you have specialist medical travel insurance in place to cover you for all eventualities.
What’s involved in laser eye surgery?
During the surgery, a special cutting laser is typically used to precisely change the shape of the dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of your eye (cornea) to improve vision.
The first laser is used to create an ultra-thin protective flap on the surface of your eye, which the surgeon lifts to reveal the cornea. Then, a second laser is applied for just a few minutes, which sends tiny pulses of cool laser beams to reshape your cornea’s imperfections, correcting whatever visual impairment you have. Once this is completed, the surgeon is understood to gently fold back the protective flap of the cornea and the eye should heal naturally. For most patients, their vision improves within 24 hours.
After the procedure
Following the treatment the patient should receive comprehensive aftercare advice, which is usually comprised of rest, eye drops, care when washing and avoiding rubbing your eyes.
Depending on the procedures of the chosen clinic, you are likely to have to attend a follow up appointment a couple of days later and may be advised against flying home for around a week. Many patients enjoy a short holiday during this time, whilst being careful to follow their surgeon’s advice. You may also need to research in advance the later follow-up appointments required at your chosen clinic and factor these costs into the overall cost of your treatment.
What to consider
Most crucially, when you plan to travel abroad for laser eye surgery you should ensure your medical travel insurance covers the purpose of your specific trip.
A single trip policy for travel insurance for laser eye surgery abroad from Medical Travel Shield will cover you for everything that you would expect from standard travel insurance such as lost or stolen items, accidental illness or injury and cancellations or curtailments outside of your control. This is important because standard ‘travel insurance’ would not cover you even for any of these typical risks if the purpose of your travel was for elective surgery.
However, Medical Travel Shield is also designed to provide specific additional benefits tailored for you as a patient within the same policy. For example, your policy can cover economy return travel, accommodation and living expenses if it is medically necessary to return to the same hospital/clinic within 12 months for further treatment.
Also, if a patient’s recovery period is longer than expected, the Medical Travel Shield policy may cover a contribution towards accommodation and flights, plus a daily allowance. Most clinics may offer you a personal patient care coordinator, who is at your disposal for everything from managing your booking of your operation, to accommodation, recovery time and answer all your questions.
If you would like to speak to one of the Medical Travel Shield travel insurance team you can send us an email on info@medicaltravelshield.com, give us a call on 0203 409 1236 or contact us using our online form.
This content in this article is based on a variety of third-party sources and is for information purposes only and Medical Travel Shield is not making a recommendation for breast augmentation abroad.