| Presbypopia literally means "old eyes," highlighting | | | | performed on American medical travelers over |
| the fact that as we age our eyes become less | | | | the period of a weekend (flights, procedure, and |
| flexible, making it more difficult to focus. This | | | | hotel inclusive), the savings are high for this type |
| normally occurs between the ages of 40 and 50 | | | | of medical travel package for Americans. The |
| and progresses through age 65. Initial symptoms | | | | innovative procedure implemented on the latest |
| typically include difficulty reading smaller print, | | | | VISX technology, costs less than $5,000 (both |
| leading to the use of reading glasses, bifocals, and | | | | eyes), while the procedure is expected to debut |
| trifocals. | | | | in the U.S. at $10,000-$15,000 or more. According |
| The high cost of vision care and optical surgery in | | | | to the Medical Tourism Association survey of |
| the United States has sent many people seeking | | | | medical travelers, patients engaging in medical |
| treatment for their vision problems to medical | | | | travel to Mexico frequently enjoy tourism time, |
| travel agencies representing the largest private | | | | including fine dining, relaxed shopping, and resort |
| hospital network in Mexico where the price for | | | | beaches; more than 8 in 10 said they would |
| high quality medical care is considerably more | | | | definitely choose medical travel, Mexico, as a |
| affordable for Americans. | | | | solution again in the future. |
| In addition to wearing eyeglasses, there are | | | | Mexico Meets And Exceeds Current Medical |
| several treatments for Presbypopia, including | | | | Standards |
| monovision LASIK (which leaves one eye suited | | | | While many people know Mexico offers gorgeous |
| for distance viewing and the other for close-up | | | | beaches, delicious food, lively music, stellar golf, |
| viewing); conductive Keratolasty (used to help one | | | | and excellent deep-sea fishing, in the past decade |
| eye see better up close while the other eye | | | | Mexico has rapidly become widely known for |
| remains untouched with a contact lens correcting | | | | quality, affordable medical care. Even the most |
| distance sight); Surgical Reversal of Presbypopia | | | | sophisticated medical and surgical care in Mexico is |
| (SRP) with Scleral Expansion Bands (SEBs); and | | | | typically one-third the cost of the same medical |
| refractive lens exchange (RLE), which entails | | | | care in the United States. After factoring in |
| replacing the natural lens with an artificial lens. | | | | travel-related expenses, U.S. medical travel |
| Innovative PresbyLASIK Procedure Approved In | | | | patients realize considerable savings by seeking |
| The U.S. In 2010, In Mexico NOW | | | | treatment in Mexico. |
| One of the newest and most promising | | | | But savings and quality are not the only |
| treatments for presbypopia is multifocal LASIK or | | | | attractions of medical travel, Mexico. In a 2009 |
| PresbyLASIK. PresbyLASIK is a procedure | | | | survey, most medical travelers report to the U.S. |
| currently in clinical trials in the U.S., but the | | | | nonprofit Medical Tourism Association that they |
| procedure has been approved in Mexico and | | | | found their hospital and surgical care in Mexico as |
| Europe. With multifocal or PresbyLASIK, different | | | | good or better than any U.S. healthcare |
| 'zones' are created on the surface of the cornea | | | | experience they've had, and would not hesitate to |
| to correct vision at near, intermediate, and far | | | | recommend the experience to other U.S. patients |
| ranges. With monovision LASIK correction for | | | | needing quality affordable medical care. |
| presbypopia, patients must use their eyes | | | | Mexico's low cost of living and lower costs for the |
| independently for seeing near or far; with | | | | same medical technologies found in the U.S. as |
| PresbyLASIK, patients are able to focus naturally | | | | well as lower doctor, hospital, and specialists' fees |
| with both eyes on any object of any distance. | | | | versus the U.S. can all work together to offer |
| Although the multifocal PresbyLASIK procedure is | | | | American medical travel patients exceptional care |
| not yet FDA-approved in the U.S., it is performed | | | | at a fraction of what they would pay for the |
| with state of the art VISX technology in Hospital | | | | same care in the United States. |
| Angeles Tijuana, just 15 minutes across the | | | | Mexico hospitals undergo a rigorous credentialing |
| border from San Diego. Hospital Angeles is one of | | | | process that guarantees the highest international |
| 20 technologically modern hospitals comprising the | | | | standards of education, training, equipment, and |
| largest private hospital network in Mexico, and | | | | patient centric care. Mexico hospital patients do |
| frequently hosts American medical travelers | | | | not experience the restrictions on and rationing of |
| searching for affordable, high quality medical and | | | | healthcare through insurance premiums, policies |
| surgical care. | | | | penalizing for pre-existing conditions, claims denials, |
| Low Cost Of Medical Travel To Mexico Attracts | | | | and out of pocket expenses. This results in high |
| Patients From Around The World | | | | levels of service and patient satisfaction with their |
| Surgical procedures and hospital stays in the most | | | | overall experience. |
| modern hospitals are available in Mexico for as | | | | Americans can save thousands of dollars by |
| little as one-third of the price paid in America. The | | | | seeking medical care in Mexico receiving the same |
| U.S. nonprofit Medical Tourism Association reports | | | | high quality medical care they would expect in the |
| in its survey of American medical travelers | | | | U.S. at a fraction of the cost, and in a hospital |
| (estimated at more than 500,000 per year) that | | | | that is modern, beautiful, and convenient to fly to |
| the great majority are enthusiastic repeat | | | | from most major U.S. city airports. |
| customers and referrals of the state-of-the-art | | | | In particular, the merging of medical care and |
| private hospitals and medical centers of Mexico | | | | tourism is a winning combination for patients |
| where they received their surgerical procedures. | | | | seeking Wavefront Presbypopia LASIK surgery. |
| While private Mexican hospitals are every bit as | | | | Affordable And Convenient Care |
| modern as famous U.S. hospitals, they typically | | | | Medical travel, Mexico, includes 20 hospitals in |
| cost less than half as much as their American | | | | major metropolitan areas throughout Mexico, |
| counterparts do. Although Angeles Hospitals | | | | including Tijuana, Juarez, Mexico City, Puebla, and |
| feature identically sophisticated equipment and | | | | Guadalajara. For most Americans, a Mexico |
| resources, the U.S. healthcare system has higher | | | | hospital is just a quick direct flight into Mexico, San |
| costs associated with medical education, training, | | | | Diego, or El Paso where they enjoy airport to |
| insurance, and facility construction. Costs are | | | | hospital pick-up service as part of their medical |
| driven up even further by the U.S. healthcare | | | | travel package. In addition, almost half of the |
| insurance industry. The net savings to the Mexico | | | | United States population lives within driving |
| medical travel patient working with a medical | | | | distance of Mexico, making it a convenient |
| travel, Mexico, agency is often quite substantial, | | | | alternative to American healthcare. |
| from 50-75% less than U.S. medical and hospital | | | | Medical travel, Mexico, agencies work with hotels |
| costs. | | | | and airlines to offer patients specially discounted |
| Convenience And Savings | | | | rates. Instead of waiting months for a |
| With the help of a medical travel, Mexico, agency, | | | | three-minute appointment with a Wavefront |
| getting to the right hospital is easy. There are 20 | | | | LASIK doctor in the United States, American |
| hospitals in major metro areas throughout Mexico | | | | medical travel patients choosing Presbypopia |
| with direct flights from most major American | | | | LASIK surgery in Mexico can save thousands by |
| cities. Most medical travelers have easy access to | | | | driving or flying to Mexico for the same care and |
| inexpensive flights in and out of Mexico on a daily | | | | prescription medications at a fraction what it |
| basis, which makes affordability an appealing | | | | would cost in the United States and enjoy a more |
| option when long wait times are added to the | | | | innovative, effective treatment for presbypopia |
| sky-high prices of medical and surgical care in the | | | | that may not receive FDA approval in the U.S. for |
| U.S. | | | | years to come. |
| Because Presbypopia LASIK surgery can be | | | | |