Kane Howard, MD in Baltimore: Refractive Surgery and Comprehensive Eye Care
Kane Howard, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist with a practice focused on refractive surgery, cataract management, and general eye care in the Baltimore area. His practice serves patients seeking LASIK and PRK procedures alongside routine vision correction, making it one of a small set of Baltimore ophthalmology practices that combines surgical and non-surgical options in-house.
What Kane Howard, MD Actually Is
Kane Howard, MD operates as an independent ophthalmology practice, not part of a larger health system. This distinction matters: independent practices often have shorter appointment queues and more direct access to the surgeon, though they typically carry narrower insurance networks than hospital-affiliated groups. Howard's practice has particular strength in refractive surgery, meaning LASIK and related procedures to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism without glasses or contacts. The practice also handles cataracts, dry eye disease, and general eye exams.
Refractive Surgery Services and Pricing
LASIK at Howard's practice runs approximately $2,000 to $2,500 per eye, consistent with mid-range Baltimore pricing. The exact figure depends on corneal mapping and the specific aberrometry technology used; patients should confirm current fees at consultation. PRK, a surface-based alternative to LASIK suited for thinner corneas, typically costs $1,800 to $2,400 per eye.
Howard's practice uses Alcon LenSx femtosecond laser technology for LASIK flap creation, a standard-grade platform common in Baltimore (not the newest generation, but clinically proven). This matters because some surgeons use older microkeratome blades instead; femtosecond flaps carry a lower risk of flap complications.
Cataract surgery pricing is not listed online; costs depend on lens implant choice (standard monofocal, premium multifocal, or toric for astigmatism) and are typically covered by Medicare and commercial insurance after deductible and copay.
How It Compares to Other Baltimore Ophthalmologists
Baltimore has several refractive surgery practices. The Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at Johns Hopkins, a academic center in East Baltimore, offers LASIK and operates one of the region's highest-volume practices, with shorter average wait times (often 2-3 weeks) but higher facility fees due to hospital overhead. Wilmer is the choice if you have complex corneal anatomy, prior refractive surgery, or severe dry eye; Hopkins' research infrastructure supports more edge-case candidates.
Towson Eye Care, a larger multi-location practice, offers LASIK through visiting surgeons and charges similar rates ($2,000-$2,500), but only one or two surgeons rotate through; continuity of care is lower. Towson is better if you prefer established group infrastructure with multiple locations and want non-surgical primary care at the same network.
Kane Howard's practice sits between: direct access to one surgeon (useful if you prefer continuity), independent practice (faster scheduling than hospital systems), and specialized focus on refractive surgery. The tradeoff is that if you need neuro-ophthalmology, retinal subspecialty care, or pediatric eye services, Howard will refer out; multi-specialty groups like Wilmer and Towson handle complex cases in-house.
Who This Practice Suits and Who It Does Not
Kane Howard's practice is well-matched for:
- Patients seeking LASIK or PRK with healthy corneas and no previous eye surgery
- Adults with stable myopia or hyperopia ready to eliminate glasses or contacts
- Patients with simple cataracts who want a surgeon with strong refractive expertise (useful if you wish to correct astigmatism during cataract surgery)
- Those who value direct surgeon access and shorter wait times over multispecialty breadth
The practice is not the best fit for:
- Patients with corneal disease, keratoconus, or severe dry eye (Wilmer's research strength is relevant here)
- Children under 18 (refractive surgery requires fully developed corneas; pediatric exams are handled by referral only)
- Patients needing retinal or neuro-ophthalmology care (single-specialty practice cannot provide this)
- Uninsured patients or those needing financial assistance programs (hospital systems typically offer charity care; independent practices rarely do)
First Visit: What to Expect
Refractive surgery candidates undergo topography mapping (detailed corneal shape measurement) and wavefront analysis to ensure candidacy. This first visit typically lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and includes dilation. Patients receive a written candidacy assessment and cost estimate before any decision.
Routine eye exams at the practice involve standard testing: visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement, dilated retinal exam. Expect 45 minutes to an hour for a new patient. The practice does perform visual field testing and optical coherence tomography (OCT) on-site.
Hours, Location, and Logistics
Kane Howard's practice is located in Towson, north of downtown Baltimore, reducing commute time for County and Northern Maryland residents. The office is situated near I-695 and offers standard parking (typically free). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with no Saturday availability.
New-patient appointments currently run 2 to 4 weeks out; confirm lead time when calling, as refractive surgery schedules shift seasonally.
Insurance acceptance includes most commercial plans (Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield Maryland, United) and Medicare for medical eye care (surgery, cataracts, disease management). Many commercial plans do not cover elective refractive surgery; out-of-pocket cost is standard. The practice does not participate in vision plans like VSP or EyeMed for routine exams.
Kane Howard's focus on refractive surgery paired with a single-surgeon, independent model makes it a pragmatic choice for Baltimore patients seeking LASIK or cataract surgery with direct surgeon involvement, though those needing multispecialty eye care or academic medical infrastructure belong elsewhere.
