Medical Tourism

(Monday) Just got back from unexpected laser eye surgery for moderate lattice degeneration on both my retinas. I have a major headache and feel a bit shaky, but otherwise O.K. That was only the first half of that particular process. I go back Wednesday to finish it. Strange enough, this all started back in SF about a year and a half ago. On my trip to Latin America I had continual problems with my eyes (mostly infections as a result of dust blowing in them through open bus windows and rubbing on my contacts) and upon return began to investigate the possibilities of laser eye surgery. To go back even FURTHER, I've been wearing contacts since I was 13 and after 21 years have decided enough is ENOUGH! This past year I visited three laser centers who all quoted around $6,000 for the advanced Wavefront technology. The benefits of this sound FANTASTIC - Not only will I be able to see without glasses or contacts, but this can also improve my poor night vision AND there's a chance I may even see better than I have in YEARS because it also corrects astigmatism which tweaks your depth of field. So, what's the problem?! Well, I don't know if you caught that price but it's 6K! Not alot, but nothing to sneeze at AND that's enough money to cover you for an entire YEAR travelling in the third world if you watch your budget.

At that point I already knew I wanted to leave again. So, I gave up the dream. At least for a little while, and then I began hearing about medical tourism to Asia. My ears perked up upon learning that India + Thailand are the forerunners of good, cheap service and that more and more people are opting to pay out-of-pocket instead of paying high deductibles or for services insurance doesn't cover. I began to do my homework and by the time we left SF I had found four doctors, all trained in the West and with encouraging websites.

Check out these links for an idea -
www.tourismofindia.com or www.mediescapes.com

Today was the first of my research appointments and it was another scorcher of a day, clocking in at a whopping 42C/110F! I was just happy to be sitting in an air conditioned office! The technician performed ALL the same tests on ALL the same Bausch & Lomb machines as at home. The doctor was professional and matter-of-fact and put me at ease, but... (You knew there was a BUT, didn't you?!) there was a small problem, or more accurately, MANY small problems... many small holes in my retina. Eight to be exact, caused by a combination of nearsightedness + heredity. Not a huge problem NOW, with the advent of lasers, but I can't proceed with the corrective surgery until getting the holes repaired first. This was all determined after the first doctor sent me downstairs for an immediate appt. with a retinal specialist who made the diagnosis. He asks if I want to proceed with the surgery. Of course! When? How about now? NOW?! Yes. Really?! Yes. Well, O.K. I immediately get more dialating drops put in my eyes and am escorted to the next room to lay down. By that point it was already 8:00PM and I was the last drop-in appt. for the day. This man, who was schooled in San Diego BTW, had a wonderful bedside manner, and because we are only in Delhi in transit, spent the next hour with me, WAY beyond the call of duty. He even gave me his mobile number and said "Don't hesitate to call, it's not like the U.S." Darin + I couldn't believe it! The cost for this? Only $160, and that's for two appts. per eye. The cost for the Wavefront surgery? Only $550, for BOTH EYES! Amazing, Huh?! I'm still planning to follow-up with at least one other research appt., well, to do my research, but I DEFINITELY feel comfortable with Dr. Chaudhary and doing it in India in general.

Can you believe this service? Direct Patient - Doctor - Specialist interface with NO insurance B.S. My U.S. insurance didn't cover vision anyway and corrective surgery is also considered cosmetic. I have to wait a few weeks now for my eyes to fully heal, so we'll travel around in the meantime. Stay tuned for the end of the story...