Dr Gregory Bertucci at the Tri-County Eye Clinic started performing refractive surgery in the mid 1980's. Initially refractive keratatomy (cutting the cornea) with diamond knives to flatten the corneas and reduce myopia gave way to PRK (photorefractive keratatomy) then to LASIK (laser assisted incisional keratatomy).
Today, LASIK and PRK are used to correct Myopia, Astigmatism, and Hyperopia and are performed at the TCEC for a flat fee of $1,500 per eye including any enhancements that might be necessary at no charge for the following year.
The reason the costs are so reasonable is because TCEC employs the Nidek Excimer 5000 and its 5th generation program to perform these procedures. The initial laser cost $500K to $750K, required $10K to $20K expenses for annual maintenance, and what was called a "pillar point"; resulting in an additional charge of $125 per eye!
The Nidek 5000, which is the most common excimer used worldwide for refractive surgery and requires no pillar point, is used at TCEC. This results in a saving of $125 per eye per patient; which is immediately passed onto said patient. So if you are being screened by any refractive surgeon, simply ask if there is a pillar point charged for laser use and if so you will be charged at least an additional $125 simply for the use of that particular laser. This also applies to any enhancements that may be necessary if the refractive correction needs a small modification. At TCEC this enhancement is free of any additional charge, while if the surgeon is using any other laser subjective to the pillar point charge there will be an additional charge of between $125 and $250.
The FDA has ruled that no one can claim that one excimer is superior to any other excimer laser since they are all essentially the same. Also, the FDA has ruled that creating the lasik flap with the femtosecond laser is not superior to the mechanical keratome because the femtosecond laser has a whole different set of complications that the mechanical keratome does not. Using the mechanical keratome saves the patient an additional $125 per eye.
Whenever, the TCEC can save the patient money without affecting the quality or results of the refractive procedure, TCEC is committed to that outcome.
Dr Gregory Bertucci is the only refracitve surgeon on the Gulf Coast and perhaps southern Mississippi, Louisiana, or Alabama who is using an excimer laser without the additional pillar point charge. This saves the patients money without diminishing the quality of the procedure.
TCEC has used the Nidek 5000 excimer laser since 2003 and saved our patients thousands of dollars without diminishing quality or satisfaction as to outcome.