Laser eye surgery is an appealing option to those of us who are tired of the hassle of contacts and eyeglasses and who dream of being able to wake up in the morning and read the numbers on the alarm clock without corrective lenses.Unfortunately, the cost of laser eye surgery is a deterrent for many people who would benefit from refractive surgeries such as LASIK, PRK, or LASEK.
Refractive surgeries are used to correct vision problems such as hyperopia (farsightedness) and myopia (nearsightedness), with or without astigmatism.Laser eye surgery has only been available to the public for less than fifteen years, therefore many changes and advancements are still being made.This has caused a fluctuation in the cost of laser eye surgeries available.
When referring to the cost, prices are always quoted “per eye.”Currently the cost of laser eye surgery ranges from $299 to $3000 per eye depending on a variety of factors.In spite of the claims of many LASIK surgery centers, less than three percent of all laser eye surgeries performed cost less than $1000; the average nationwide price is around $2000.Some of the factors that influence the cost of laser eye surgery are:
The type of laser eye surgery performed:Whether the best option for your particular eyes is custom or wavefront LASIK, basic PRK, Epi-LASIK, CK, or even Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), you will end up paying more or less than a patient who required a different type of surgery.CK surgeries are generally the least expensive; PRK, LASEK, and LASIK are fairly comparable in price; RLE can be as costly as $4000 per eye.
The region of the nation the surgery is performed in:Areas of the nation with lower cost of living levels can sometimes offer lower prices for laser eye surgery.Some people have found the cost difference to be worth the travel to an area where it is cheaper.When shopping around for the best quality for your money, don’t be afraid to look further from home.
The experience level of the surgeon.Some surgeons will offer lower prices up front in order to build experience.The cost for laser eye surgery will usually increase as the skill level of the surgeon increases, but consider the risks involved if you select a cheaper, less experienced surgeon.Vision problems can result from surgical complications that contacts or eyeglasses or even further surgery cannot correct.You have to decide for yourself how much your eyes are worth to you and how much risk you are willing to take with them.
Where the surgery takes place:Chances are you will be able to secure a cheaper surgery by choosing a laser eye surgery center that deals exclusively in refractive surgeries.Beware though that these surgeons are usually focusing on the quantity of patients they are able to serve rather than paying as much detail to quality.You may pay more for choosing to go through a skilled, trained ophthalmologist with a private practice, but that surgeon might be able to spend the time necessary to pay extra attention to detail and follow-up than the surgeons at a laser eye center.
What lasers and instruments are involved:People will always end up paying more for the very latest technology.Laser eye surgery is still advancing at a fairly rapid rate, so there is technology available now that is more costly to use than when refractive eye surgeries were first available to the general public.Surgeons and laser eye surgery centers have to pay additional fees to the companies that create and market new lasers and other equipment used in surgery, and this in turn increases the fees for the patient.
Which pre-operative tests are included:There are a number of tests that are standard and are usually included in the price quoted, such as the pre-operative evaluation meeting and a comprehensive eye examination.There are also other tests that are optional or that might be necessary depending on the severity of the vision problem that needs correction, or if there are any other complicating factors to account for.
The amount of follow-up care required:Be aware that with any type of refractive surgery, follow-up care might be needed for up to six months after surgery to track any visual changes.The cost of laser eye surgery often includes basic follow-up care, and some companies or surgeons even include enhancement surgery if necessary.Be sure to check with your surgeon to see what is included and what services might require extra fees before you sign anything.
Since most insurance plans do not cover refractive surgery and many people cannot pay the entire fee at once, there are financing options available for laser eye surgery.Most surgeons will accept credit cards or be willing to make monthly payment arrangements at a low interest rate in order to make laser eye surgery affordable to the average person.Remember, you only get one set of eyes, so don’t jeopardize them by sacrificing quality for a cheaper price.