Cost of LASIK eye surgery

LASIK eye surgery is the new thing to do if you need your vision corrected or restored. It is a very popular procedure, and one of the top questions asked when people are considering it is what is it going to cost them. This is understandable, and yet there is no clear answer. In fact, the cost of laser eye surgery can vary widely depending on several different factors.

The following factors contribute most to the cost of LASIK:

• Where you live. The area of the country in which LASIK is performed makes a difference in the cost
• Who your surgeon is. The level of experience a surgeon possesses is going to make your cost higher or lower.
• The technology. While all LASIK surgery uses the same basics, the specific technology used during the surgery will affect the price.
• Your eyes. The degree of your refractive error is going to contribute to your cost of fixing it.

With those factors in mind, it is safe to say that your LASIK eye surgery price can range anywhere from $499 per eye to $2,500 per eye. There is a significant difference in price here, and it is important to recognize that like many other things, you often get what you pay for.

It is a good idea to not base your choice of a LASIK surgeon solely on the cost of LASIK eye surgery; a less skilled ophthalmologist may charge a lower LASIK eye surgery price, but he or she may not have the same experience, training, or precise equipment as a more expensive doctor, and thus you may be putting your eyesight at risk, or not getting as good of care as possible. You have to make sure you have your priorities straight.

Let's look at how costs differ, why, and what you can do to get the best surgery for the lowest price:

How come the cost of LASIK varies by region?

This is a question a lot of people have, it does not seem to make sense that where you live is going to make a difference in how much you pay, but the fact is that to some extent it just does. If you live in larger areas you will likely pay more for LASIK eye surgery, but this is because there are more doctors competing there, and their cost of advertising, staying ahead of the competition, and getting the latest equipment is going to be higher. Of course, unless you can travel relatively inexpensively, or plan to be somewhere else anyway, changing the region where you get your LASIK done is not going to provide you with very significant savings.

So, when you pay for LASIK eye surgery, what are you paying for?

The following is a cost breakdown of some of the additional things you may be paying for when you pay for LASIK eye surgery:

• Royalties owed to laser manufacturers.
• Purchase and maintenance of surgical and technical equipment.
• Surgical gowns, gloves, masks, and other sterile and disposable materials.
• Medications used before, during, and after surgery, including anesthesia, eye drops, and oral pain medications.
• Rent for surgical and office facilities.
• Surgical and office staff salaries.
• Advertising fees.
• Pre- and post-operative evaluations for up to one year after surgery.
• Post-surgical enhancement, if needed.

As you can see, there are some costs that you may not really consider when paying for LASIK that can vary from surgeon to surgeon. For example, a well established clinic that has already paid for all of their technical equipment may be able to offer lower rates then one that is newly started and trying to find a way to cover overhead.

Most LASIK eye surgery price quotes are variable according to office location, the technology employed, and other factors specific to each surgeon. Thus if you want to get a good deal on your eye surgery it is a good idea to research what you are paying for, and make sure you have a detailed outline of the cost before you agree to any sort of payment plan for the surgery.

One of the biggest factors that affects the cost of the LASIK eye surgery is the type of laser and technology used. Most people are unaware of a difference, but there is one and it does influence your overall cost. LASIK with IntraLaser, which uses a laser rather than a microkeratome blade to create the corneal flap, costs between $250 and $500 more per eye. If you get a custom LASIK eye surgery where wavefront technology is used to map the patient's cornea, you can expect to pay another $200 and $500 more per eye. These techniques can be worth every cent you spend, but you should research the various techniques and determine what sort of LASIK is right for you, both for your eyesight and for your wallet.

So, how can you get a discount on LASIK eye surgery? The following is a look at what the advice is on getting a discount for LASIK:

First and foremost, most experts recommend avoiding discount laser eye surgery centers with aggressive advertising campaigns, as you can often get sucked into an inferior procedure or surgeon with the promise of a low cost surgery, only to end up paying the same amount as you would have elsewhere. Why? Well, while not always the case, such centers often employ bait-and-switch tactics by bringing customers in with low LASIK eye surgery prices advertised, then adding numerous additional fees onto the final cost of the surgery. Or, another tactic is to advertise the very lowest price for the most basic surgery with minimal corrections, but most people need more extensive corrections, and thus end up paying more.

So, what can you learn? Do not be fooled by advertising, do your research, and pay for the best quality you can find. However, recognize that paying a higher price does not necessarily guarantee that you will get the best LASIK surgeon, or the best technology. Educating yourself as to the best technical procedures, and most renowned surgeons is how you get the right surgery at the right price. You will need to spend time researching the credentials of the eye surgeons in your area, and what they charge for your specific needs, and decide from there where you will go.

The following is a look at how you can ensure you get the best surgery for the best price. Here are some considerations when reviewing LASIK costs:

Tip one: Make sure that if you are comparing advertised prices, that you are looking at the cost for your prescription and individual procedure needs. Most advertised prices are for minimal corrections, if you are not comparing the right prices, you aren't doing your job right.

Tip two: Ensure that the prices you are comparing include the cost of follow up visits. You will need to have a couple of those to ensure things went accordingly, and you don't want to have to pay extra for visits occurring after your procedure, especially if you were not planning on it. Check any documentation you are given to ensure there is a clear stipulation for after procedure visits.

Tip three: You want to ask if the price quoted to you includes providing enhancements within the first year of surgery. Many enhancements are performed within this time frame, and if you are wise you will negotiated this fee upfront and save later.

How can you pay for the cost of LASIK eye surgery?

How you pay depends on several variable, most LASIK centers have installment or payment plans so that anyone with a need can afford the surgery, however, not all plans of payment are created equally, so take the cost of payment plans into consideration when comparing prices to ensure you are really getting a better deal. For example, a higher overall cost with a no interest payment plan may actually cost less than a lower cost with a higher interest rate when you pay in installments.

Many LASIK centers offer alternative payment methods including interest free payments or no money down payments. You want to find a center that offers you a reasonable payment plan that fits your budget.

If your center will not finance it, and you do not have enough upfront cash to pay for it, you may want to consider getting a credit card with a no interest promotion, or with low interest.

There are other types of eye surgeries, and believe it or not, the typical prices for refractive surgeries are often similar to, or comparable with LASIK. LASEK and PRK Procedures for example, generally average between $1000 and $2500 usually. CK procedures tend to cost between $1000 and $2000 total as well. So, do not opt for one of these if LASIK would be better because of cost.

Remember, every clinic is different, and so is every eye. Your prescription and the severity of visual disturbance will impact the cost of surgery as much as the surgeon and equipment used, so just be sure to do your research so you do not put your eyesight in jeopardy to save a few bucks.