Laser Eye Surgery Cost
The cost of laser surgery on eyes varies widely. This difference in pricing depends on the country where the surgery is performed, the technology used, the experience of the surgeon and the degree of your refractive error which needs to be corrected.
How Much Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
The average cost of LASIK eye surgery ranges from $500 to $2500 per eye but you should not base your choice of eye surgeon on price alone. A more expensive surgeon might have superior equipment, more training and more experience than a cheaper surgeon. Remember also that the quoted prices in advertisements are for each eye so if you need vision correction in both eyes you will have to double the quoted price.
One of the reasons why the price of laser surgery on eyes is relatively high for a fifteen minute operation is the type of technology and laser used. LASIK IntraLase, for example, uses a laser instead of a blade to cut the corneal flap. Custom LASIK is another type vision correction technique which uses Wavefront technology to map the whole eye. These operations can cost another $200 to $500 for each eye.
The average laser eye treatment prices are about $2000 for laser-based vision correction, $1,700 for non-customized LASIK using a blade and excimer lasers and $2,200 for Wavefront-enhanced LASIK with IntraLase.
Discount Eye Surgery
It is inadvisable to opt for any company promoting laser eye surgery with an aggressive advertising campaign. These companies often list the price for very basic surgery without adding on the fees for the extras you will need. Also, the advertised price might only apply to people requiring very minimal eye corrections. Some discount laser eye surgeries only charge less than their competitors because their technology is outdated or because their surgeons are lacking in experience.
Insurance for Vision Correction
Refractive surgery is not covered with a lot of vision insurance plans because it is considered a cosmetic procedure. Some employers have agreements with eye surgery centers for special prices for their employees. You might qualify for a tax deduction on vision correction so it is worth asking your accountant about tax deduction and worth asking your insurance company about insurance for vision correction.
Financing for Vision Correction
Financing is available for laser eye surgery and some financing companies offer plans for long term and fixed rate payments. A lot of eye surgery centers work with these financing companies to offer an affordable financing plan.
Laser surgery on eyes might sound very expensive but if you think about it, spending $40 a month on disposable contact lenses means you are spending the same on contact lenses every four years than you would spend on laser eye surgery for both eyes, the results of which should be permanent.
Paying the highest price you can find does not guarantee that you will find the best laser eye surgeon in the same way as paying a low price does not guarantee a botched job. It is important to research various eye surgeries before making your final decision. Laser eye surgery is not something to rush into and you should consult your doctor or ophthalmologist and check what is available to you before making your final decision.
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