Posted by: Ophthalmology Associates in LASIK

Are you tired of glasses and contacts? LASIK eye surgery is a tried-and-true vision correction procedure that has been publicly available in the US since 1999.Using a specialized laser to reshape your cornea (the clear front part of your eye), Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, or LASIK, can provide long-lasting clear vision to patients. In fact, many patients who undergo LASIK report achieving 20/20 vision or better.

Many of our patients also wonder how much such a monumental surgery like this cost. The short answer is the average cost of LASIK surgery in the United States ranges between $1,500 and $2,500 per eye. It’s worth noting that some eye care centers promote LASIK for as low as $500 per eye. But these are often for minimal corrections, but these offers generally have many hidden fees which increase the total price drastically.

The cost of LASIK is a bit more nuanced than that. To fully understand what goes into LASIK pricing, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive insight into associated costs, empowering you to make an informed decision.

Determining If You Need LASIK Surgery

While LASIK can provide fantastic vision correction results, not everyone qualifies for the procedure. Luckily, Ophthalmology Associates offers other vision correction options as well, to provide you with the best vision care possible. 

The first step in the LASIK journey is to schedule a consultation with your experienced Ophthalmology Associates ophthalmologist. They will help determine if you are a suitable candidate for LASIK. If your prescription has changed frequently, it might be best to wait until it stabilizes before considering LASIK. Your age may also determine if LASIK is right for you. The ideal age for LASIK is typically between 20 and 40 years.

Talk to your eye care provider about your medical history, including any medications you’re taking. Certain conditions and medications can affect your ability to get LASIK surgery.

LASIK can help eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses, but it might not guarantee perfect vision. In order to understand the potential outcomes, you should discuss and set your expectations with your eye doctor.

Benefits of LASIK Surgery

Improved Vision

Many people experience significantly clearer vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses after surgery. Most even report developing 20/20 vision or better.

Everyday Convenience

LASIK can be especially helpful for people who wear glasses or contact lenses, but also have active lifestyles or play sports. It can also make everyday tasks like turning off your alarm or showering much more convenient.

Quick Results

Your vision is typically improved within a day or two after the surgery. Recovery can take a few weeks, but many patients see vision improvement very quickly. Both vision improvement and recovery time tend to be longer if you get PRK surgery instead of LASIK.

Minimal Discomfort

LASIK surgery is usually quick and painless. You might have some slight discomfort and irritation, but these symptoms lessen in the days following your LASIK procedure.

Minimal Recovery Time

LASIK surgery is a safe and minimally invasive procedure. Most patients return to work, driving, and many day-to-day activities one day after surgery.

High Success Rate

LASIK is a well-established procedure and has a high success rate when performed on suitable candidates. The technology and techniques used in LASIK surgeries have contributed to increased successful outcomes.

What Can I Expect for my LASIK Surgery?

LASIK uses pulses of laser light to reshape the cornea of your eye. During the procedure, the laser removes corneal abnormalities that cause refraction errors in your vision such as myopia or hyperopia. This allows you to achieve 20/20 vision or better.

After your surgery, you will have some restrictions on your activities.  You will need someone to drive you home right after the procedure and will not be able to bathe for at least 12 hours. For the next 24 hours, limit yourself to light activities. Reading and watching TV is okay. Within two days, you should be able to resume work. You will need to avoid certain activities, such as strenuous exercise and swimming, for one to two weeks.

To learn more about what to expect from LASIK surgery, how to prepare, and what recovery looks like, consult our LASIK Service page.

What Impacts the Cost of LASIK Surgery?

LASIK eye surgery cost is dependent on several factors including geographic location and the type of equipment used during the surgery.

Geographical Location

Like most businesses, the physical location has an impact on pricing. The median income, cost of living, and general state of the local economy are factored into the cost of LASIK.

Technology and Equipment

Many people think of LASIK as a single procedure, but there are many different laser types and auxiliary equipment. Different LASIK technologies and lasers each have their own advantages and costs. The latest and most advanced technologies will subsequently be more expensive.

Surgeons who opt to use the newest laser technology may charge more for their services. These advanced laser technologies greatly improve the surgery experience and help patients see better results. Surgeons may charge more to use them to offset their cost.

During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss your options and help you make an informed decision as to which LASIK or other vision correction procedure is best for you.

Preoperative Evaluations

Some LASIK clinics include comprehensive preoperative evaluations as part of the costs. These evaluations assess your eye health and suitability for LASIK. They can impact the overall cost, but they’re also essential for a successful surgery.

Customized and Additional Services

Just as there are different types of LASIK technology, there are also different add-ons and advanced services you can get to further improve your LASIK procedure. Customized LASIK surgery, such as Wavefront-guided or topography-guided LASIK involves using a scanning device to map the surface of your eye in minute detail. This allows LASIK surgeons to create a procedure that is unique to the surface of your eye to give you the best possible results.

The use of additional technologies and customization services may make LASIK more expensive due to the additional expertise and equipment required.

Additional Fees

Aside from the surgical procedure itself, other fees may come with LASIK surgery. These include consultations, surgery aftercare, medications, and follow-up visits.

If you have questions about additional fees, you can discuss your concerns with the staff of your LASIK provider. The team at Ophthalmology Associates will provide transparent pricing information to help you make the best-informed decision.

LASIK Cost FAQ

Let’s start with the most important question most of our patients ask: Can I pay for LASIK with insurance or Medicare? While it is fully contingent on your individual or employer’s vision plan, LASIK eye surgery is typically not covered by insurance. The same goes for Medicare. This is because LASIK is considered an elective surgery.

However, this doesn’t mean all your health benefits won’t cover LASIK. Some employers offer flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or health savings accounts (HSAs) that might allow you to use pre-tax dollars to cover LASIK expenses. Additionally, some vision insurance plans might offer discounts or partial coverage for LASIK surgery.

Your best course of action is to check with your insurance provider to see if any benefits are available. If they don’t, you may still have options. Talk to your Ophthalmology Associates eye care provider to discuss other financing options.

While LASIK isn’t typically covered by insurance, patients can use tax-advantaged funds from a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to pay for LASIK. If you have questions about how this works, contact your insurance policy administrator for more information.

To help make sure our patients receive the high-quality care they need and deserve, we’ve partnered with CareCredit® to offer flexible payment options.

CareCredit® offers convenient monthly payment options, no upfront costs, no prepayment penalties, and no annual fees.

Talk To Ophthalmology Associates About LASIK Surgery

We want our patients to be as educated as possible before having LASIK surgery. Our experienced LASIK surgeons use the latest technology for the best possible results. 

Please contact us with any additional questions you may have about LASIK surgery costs.

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