Presbyopia literally means “old eyes,” highlighting the fact that as we age, our eyes become less flexible, making it difficult to focus. This normally occurs between the ages of 40 and 50 and progresses up to age 65. Initial symptoms usually include difficulty reading smaller print, leading to the use of reading glasses, bifocals, and trifocals.
The high cost of vision care and optical surgery in the United States has sent many people seeking treatment for their vision problems to medical travel agencies that represent the largest network of private hospitals in Mexico, where the price of high-quality health care is considerably more affordable for Americans.
In addition to wearing glasses, there are several treatments for presbyopia, including monovision LASIK (which leaves one eye able to see far away and the other to see near); Conductive keratolasty (used to help one eye see better up close while the other eye remains intact with a distance-correcting contact lens); Surgical reversal of presbyopia (SRP) with scleral expansion bands (SEB); and refractive lens exchange (RLE), which consists of replacing the natural lens with an artificial lens.
Innovative PresbyLASIK procedure approved in the US in 2010, in Mexico NOW
One of the newest and most promising treatments for presbyopia is multifocal LASIK, or PresbyLASIK. PresbyLASIK is a procedure currently undergoing clinical trials in the US, but the procedure has been approved in Mexico and Europe. With multifocal or PresbyLASIK, different ‘zones’ are created on the surface of the cornea to correct vision at near, intermediate and far distances. With LASIK monovision correction for presbyopia, patients must use their eyes independently to see near or far; With PresbyLASIK, patients can naturally focus with both eyes on any object at any distance.
Although the PresbyLASIK multifocal procedure does not yet have FDA approval in the US, it is performed using state-of-the-art VISX technology at Hospital Angeles Tijuana, just 15 minutes across the border from San Diego. Hospital Ángeles is one of 20 technologically modern hospitals that make up the largest private hospital network in Mexico and is often home to American medical travelers seeking high-quality, affordable medical and surgical care.
The low cost of medical travel to Mexico attracts patients from all over the world
Surgical procedures and hospitalizations in the most modern hospitals are available in Mexico for as little as a third of the price paid in the United States. The non-profit US Medical Tourism Association reports in its survey of US medical travelers (estimated at more than 500,000 per year) that the vast majority are enthusiastic regulars and referrals from state-of-the-art private hospitals and medical centers. generation from Mexico where they received their surgical procedures. Although Mexican private hospitals are just as modern as famous American hospitals, they are typically less than half the cost of their American counterparts. Although Angeles hospitals have equally sophisticated equipment and resources, the US health care system has higher costs associated with medical education, training, insurance, and facility construction. Costs are further increased by the US health insurance industry. The net savings for the Mexico medical travel patient working with a Mexico medical travel agency are typically quite substantial, anywhere from 50 to 75 % less than US hospital and medical costs
Convenience and savings
With the help of a medical travel agency, Mexico, getting to the right hospital is easy. There are 20 hospitals in the main metropolitan areas of Mexico with direct flights from most major US cities. Most medical travelers have easy access to cheap flights in and out of Mexico every day, making affordability an attractive option when long wait times are coupled with sky-high prices for medical and surgical care in Mexico. The USA.
Because LASIK surgery for presbyopia can be performed on American medical travelers over the period of a weekend (flights, procedure, and hotel included), the savings are high for this type of medical travel package for Americans. The innovative procedure implemented on the latest VISX technology costs less than $5,000 (both eyes), while the procedure is expected to debut in the US at $10,000-$15,000 or more. According to the Medical Tourism Association’s survey of medical travelers, patients taking medical trips to Mexico frequently enjoy time spent on tourism, which includes fine dining, leisurely shopping, and resort beaches; more than 8 out of 10 said they would definitely choose medical travel, Mexico, as a solution again in the future.
Mexico meets and exceeds current medical standards
While many people know that Mexico offers beautiful beaches, delicious food, lively music, stellar golf, and great deep-sea fishing, in the last decade, Mexico has quickly become known for quality, affordable healthcare. Even the most sophisticated medical and surgical care in Mexico typically costs a third of the cost of the same medical care in the United States. After factoring in travel-related expenses, US medical travel patients realize considerable savings when seeking treatment in Mexico.
But savings and quality are not the only attractions of medical trips to Mexico. In a 2009 survey, the majority of medical travelers told the non-profit US Medical Tourism Association that they rated their hospital and surgical care in Mexico as good or better than any healthcare experience in Mexico. USA that they have had, and would not hesitate to recommend the experience to others. American patients in need of quality, affordable healthcare.
Mexico’s low cost of living and lower costs for the same medical technologies found in the US, as well as lower doctor, hospital and specialist fees compared to the US would pay for the same care in the U.S.
Hospitals in Mexico undergo a rigorous accreditation process that guarantees the highest international standards of education, training, equipment, and patient-centered care. Patients at Mexico’s hospitals do not experience the restrictions and rationing of medical care through insurance premiums, policies that penalize for pre-existing conditions, claim denials and out-of-pocket expenses. This results in high levels of service and patient satisfaction with their overall experience.
Americans can save thousands of dollars by seeking medical care in Mexico and receiving the same high-quality medical care they would expect in the US at a fraction of the cost, and in a modern, beautiful hospital convenient to fly from most of the main airports of American cities.
In particular, the merger of medical care and tourism is a winning combination for patients seeking LASIK surgery for wavefront presbyopia.
Affordable and convenient care
Medical Travel, Mexico, includes 20 hospitals in the main metropolitan areas of Mexico City, including Tijuana, Juárez, Mexico City, Puebla and Guadalajara. For most Americans, a hospital in Mexico is just a quick, direct flight to Mexico City, San Diego, or El Paso, where they enjoy airport-hospital pickup as part of their medical travel package. Additionally, nearly half the population of the United States lives within a short drive of Mexico, making it a convenient alternative to American healthcare.
Medical travel agencies, Mexico, work with hotels and airlines to offer patients special discounted rates. Instead of waiting months for a three-minute appointment with a Wavefront LASIK doctor in the United States, medically traveling American patients who choose LASIK surgery for presbyopia in Mexico can save thousands by driving or flying to Mexico to receive the same care and prescription drugs for a fraction of what it would cost in the United States and enjoy a more innovative and effective treatment for presbyopia that may not receive FDA approval in the United States for years to come.
