I know some of you have provided some feedback on this subject already, but please hear me out.
I recently visited an eye center for an exam and Lasik scheduling. The Technician presented me with two options: 1) VISX S2 for price x, which includes no enhancements if necessary and option 2) B&L Technolas for twice the price of the VISX S2, but includes a lifetime of enhancements if necessary.
The technician also told me that the Technolas is superior to the VISX in that it facilites a customized and smoother procedure resulting in a quicker healing process and less halos. Your response is greatly appreciated to these points.

That makes absolutely no sense. The lasers cost the same, and the cost per procedure is the same. As well, the cost for enhancements that the doctor has to pay to the laser companies are identical.
The chance of needing an enhancement can be low - my enhancement rate is under 5%. Of course, the enhancement rates are related to the level of myopia, with higher levels of myopia and astigmatism having a higher rate of enhancement.
The technolas is a nice laser, but its results in clinical trials are similar to that of the VISX laser when controlling for level of myopia. As well, the technolas must remove alot more corneal tissue for the same level of myopia - so this poses a problem for people with higher levels of myopia and/or thinner corneas.
In my opinion, the most important determinant of a good result if the surgeon. The lasers all provide excellent results - but the surgeons can make or break the procedure. Plus, the pre- and post-operative examinations are critical for ensuring good results.

I hope this helps

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

>I know some of you have provided
>some feedback on this subject already,
>but please hear me out.I recently
>visited an eye center for an
>exam and Lasik scheduling. The
>Technician presented me with two options:
>1) VISX S2 for price
>x, which includes no enhancements if
>necessary and option 2) B&L Technolas
>for twice the price of the
>VISX S2, but includes a lifetime
>of enhancements if necessary.The technician also
>told me that the Technolas is
>superior to the VISX in that
>it facilites a customized and smoother
>procedure resulting in a quicker healing
>process and less halos. Your
>response is greatly appreciated to these
>points.

Dr. Tattler,
Thank you very much for the response.
I believe my degrees of Myopia (OD: -3.25, OS: -3.5) and Astigmatism (OD: -0.5, OS: -0.5) are not that severe and therefore it makes sense to me to opt for the VISX S2 at the more "reasonable" price.
Thanks again for your respons.
PS I notice that you answer questions far more often than any other of the "AskLasikDocs" doctors. Why do you suppose that is?

I use the VISX Star S2 in my King of Prussia laser center and feel it offers superior results. I have performed over 3000 LASIK procedures and many PRK procedures using a VISX laser. I feel our LASIK for Life commitment or another similar written commitment is necessary in case you ever need any additional correction down the road. Fees for enhancements, if not included in your original fee, can be very costly. It is also important that fees include one year of post-operative care as some doctors in this area are charging more after your initial fee for this option.

Please feel free to contact my office directly at or if there is any additional information we can provide.

I answer lots of questions because besides being a LASIK surgeon, I run this web site. As well, it is difficult for doctors who are seeing patients all day and come home to their families at night to also spend lots of time on the computer. I think that we are all very lucky to have so many excellent doctors contributing. There are many doctors who had no interest at all in participating.
I hope things go well for you. Please feel free to contact myself or Dr. Siepser (or this web site in general) if you have any further questions

Best of luck

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

Hi David - some of the nifty things about this site are:
A) Dr Trattler - for his excellence in quality, skill, devotion, demeanor, genuine concern and caring.
B) The site is set up to notify us of patients in our areas, so that we may more specifically assist those we can. We are not notified via email notification of other regional queries, unless we do so manually by checking each section and each question.

I remain amazed at the sheer number of postings and even more so by the meticulous care, time and energy Dr Trattler and others provide here.

If I may, let me tell you, that on a personal issue for a spinal sarcoma, I have had to go outside my health plan to seek counsel of one of our regions top neurosurgeons - a fellowship-trained spinal specialist - as my orthopedic surgeon and internist keep sending me back to one another for further referrals to specialists and nothing is getting resolved. This one consultation will cost me $250 CASH to begin with.

Although I, personally, have no need for LASIK, I remain deeply thankful there are wonderful physicians out there, like Dr Trattler, et al, who are doing this for FREE.

Bravo, keep up the grand work!

Suzette
(PA and Director of Mktg at a San Diego Cornea Specialist's practice).

Dr. Trattler,

Do you have a life?

Somehow, I thought you were in teaching or Post-grad study, and that's why you could answer all this.

WOW!

I really admire your dedication and tremendous efforts. Just WOW!

This "for a lifetime" guarantee always brings to mind the question "whose lifetime?" When you say lifetime enhancements, is that the lifetime of the surgeon who performed it, the lifetime of the clinic where is was performed, the lifetime of the parent corporation of the clinic (if applicable), or the lifetime of the laser manufacturer on which the procedure was performed? I tend to have more faith in doctor offering 5 years of enhancements over the mutable "lifetime" guarantee. Can you provide any insight? How is it worded in your contracts?