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“Bargain” LASIK procedures advertised by The
Lasik Vision Institute (LVI) may be more than patients bargained
for. Not only have higher prices and “bait-and-switch” tactics left
them seeing red, but medical complications have left some seeing
worse than before undergoing surgery.
“Very few people actually get the price that is quoted, and I think
that’s what really gets people in the door,” said David Cano, MD,
public relations chairman of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology.
“In the end they end up paying as much, if not more, and may not
even be getting as good care as they would get from a regular
refractive surgeon.”
"There's no way in the world you can do laser vision correction at
$299 per eye and pay the physician and pay for a laser...It's just
fiscally impossible, but you see that ad all the time. It
hurts the entire industry; it cheapens the whole thing" said David
Cano, MD.
Orders issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Florida
Office of the Attorney General (OAG), prompted by consumer
complaints and media investigations of LVI, suggest deceptive
advertising practices with false or exaggerated claims.
LVI, formerly named the Laser Vision Institute,
has advertised $299-per-eye and $499-per eye rates for LASIK surgery
in its facilities in many states. Prospective patients were
enticed by the offer, but very few ultimately paid such a low price.
Instead, "consultations" by a sales representative offered much
higher prices, as well as sales of additional products.
LVI was a subsidiary of Musa Holdings, Inc. headquartered in
Lake Worth, and owned by three brothers: president Marco Musa, chief
executive Max Musa and vice president Marc Andrea Musa. This
company also operated Eyeglass World, a retail chain selling
eyeglasses and contact lenses and offering the services of allegedly
independent , licensed optometrists who leased space in Eyeglass
World's outlet stores. The Eyeglass World website lists outlet
locations in 24 states, including 17 in Florida, and more than 100
LVI centers. Of the 17 in Florida, eight have the same address
as an LVI location listed on the LVI website.
News releases from August 2004 indicate that LVI is now managed by
Vision Care Holdings, LLC, with corporate headquarters in Lake
Worth. It encompasses 31 centers in 22 states nationwide, and
performs more than 100,000 LASIK procedures each year.
According to Amy White, LVI national operations director, Vision
Care Holdings, LLC, appointed James Usdan on an interim basis in
November 2003 to facilitate the company's management transition from
ownership by the Musa family. Ben Cook, former chief financial
officer, now heads the company as chief operating officer.
"Mr. Cook is committed to carrying out the mission of both LVI and
Eyeglass World to provide affordable, quality health care to
patients across the U.S.," White said. "LVI and Eyeglass World
are both owned and operated by Vision Care Holdings, LLC.
* For the complete story, call Florida Medical Business circulation department
at
800-327-3736 ext. 133 |
