Medical aids will not cover certain procedures, particularly cosmetic surgery and weight loss procedures. Other non-essential medical services like infertility procedures and LASIK may not be covered in full by medical aids, with many schemes now covering any part of the costs. A medical loan may be your only option should you not have the cash in hand to pay for these procedures.
LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomilieusis and is a popular form of refractive surgery where a laser is used to reshape the cornea. In a person who has vision problems, like short-sightedness (myopia), far-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism, the shape of the eye, cornea and even the lens play a part in incorrectly focusing images onto the retina – this is the area at the back of the eye, where the light is transferred into nerve signals and comprehended by the brain. LASIK works to correct this by reshaping the cornea.
This allows a person who undergoes LASIK to stop using eye glasses (spectacles) or contact lens. The cosmetic appeal of LASIK is obvious but it is not an essential procedure. You can do without LASIK and continue using your glasses or contact lens.
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Medical aids classify certain procedures as non-essential – meaning that it is not of a life-threatening nature should it not be conducted. LASIK eye surgery and cosmetic surgery are considered as non-essential service. While most medical aids in South Africa will partly cover the costs of the LASIK procedure, almost all medical aids do not pay for cosmetic surgery.
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a popular eye surgery conducted for the treatment of short-sightedness (myopia), far-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Often seen as a more convenient and permanent ‘fix’ for certain sight disorders than glasses or contact lenses, Lasik surgery is now available in all major city centres in South Africa.
Lasik surgery is an outpatient procedure and patients are fully conscious during the procedure. A mild sedative or anesthetic eye drops may be administered but overall, the procedure is quick and fairly painless. Unlike previous surgical attempts to correct mild sight disorders, Lasik is fairly safe and very effective in improving the eyesight for a few years if not permanently.The most common ‘side effect’ of lasik surgery is dryness of the eyes and night glare often experienced during night driving. These ‘side effects’ are minor and does not occur in every patient who undergoes lasik surgery.
Lasik should only be conducted by an opthamologist and the entire procedure usually lasts about 30 minutes. Lasik surgery may be covered by some medical aid plans in South Africa however this is often partial cover and a patient will have to pay the outstanding amount themselves. It is advisable that you consult with your medical aid about their policies regarding lasik surgery as it can be a fairly costly procedure.
Lasik surgery in South Africa is fairly cheap compared to first world countries and with some of the best medical professionals globally, conducting your lasik surgery within South Africa would be advisable. With the coming 2010 World Cup Soccer, many tourists may opt to utilize local medical services such as lasik surgery (medical tourism in South Africa) and can rest assured of a quality and cost effective procedure conducted by highly skilled medical professionals.
If you are considering Lasik surgery, it is advisable to discuss your condition with an opthamologist experienced in the procedure. Not every person with a sight disorder will qualify for lasik surgery and in severe cases of short-sightedness or far-sightedness, lasik surgery may not be able to offer a complete correction or restoration of your sight.
