What is the average cost of LASIK?
When a patient decides that they are tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses one of the first questions asked is am I a candidate and what does the surgery cost? In our Washington, DC metropolitan area there are many
laser vision correction centers and laser vision correction surgeons who quote different prices. The prices range from $299 per eye to $3000 dollars per eye. It makes sense that you would be confused about the cost of LASIK! Often patients start their research on LASIK pricing online only to become more confused as they search to compare the price quotes.
When researching elective procedures such as LASIK and PRK it is difficult to get concrete price information. The cost of LASIK eye surgery can vary quite a bit from one provider to another. The are many reasons that the price varies amongst the centers. Here are the are the things to consider when you are doing your research on each surgeon, the laser center and the pricing. First, You want to know what your Surgeons experience is. How many procedures does he or she do a week? Then ask what technology does the surgeon use. Many centers only have one laser or do a bladed procedure verses a blade free procedure. Another component for some centers is how much vision correction you need and how difficult your procedure will be based on your preoperative examination. The higher your prescription the more the procedure will cost.
At Vision, Dr. Andrew Holzman and his team explain these components in detail and we cannot emphasize to you enough to be prudent and be an educated patient. This is your vision and you only have one set of eyes. While you may be tempted to choose a surgery center or a surgeon based on the fee charged, this can be unwise. It is better to choose your LASIK surgeon and surgical center based on the experience the surgeon, his team and the technology that is available. At we have multiple lasers to best fit your vision correction needs. The price does not change based on your prescription or the technology. Dr. Holzman will only do what is best suited for your individual visual needs. Our pricing is based on surgical experience and technology as well as our lifetime commitment to your vision. We offer the most affordable financing and have options to help you achieve your goal of being free of your dependance on glasses and contact lenses.
To aid you in your search for the cost of LASIK here is an article I found that is helpful in “How to Compare Laser Eye Surgery Costs.”
“Here are current average U.S. LASIK prices we have obtained from a leading industry analyst. The figures are based on a survey of refractive surgeons conducted for full-year 2013.
Average LASIK Eye Surgery Costs
Keep in mind that these prices are for one procedure, which means one eye only. If you’re having LASIK on both eyes, you’ll need to double the price quoted.
In 2013, the average cost overall for laser vision correction was $2,073 per eye (up from $1,941 the previous year). This breaks out to averages of:
- $2,223 per eye for laser vision correction procedures (LASIK, PRK, LASEK, etc.) at surgery centers where a single price is quoted regardless of technology or vision correction requirements.
- $1,543 per eye for non-customized LASIK using a bladed instrument (microkeratome) and excimer lasers that are not guided by wavefront analysis (at centers that charge multiple prices).
- $2,177 per eye for wavefront-guided LASIK using a femtosecond laser-created flap (at centers that charge multiple prices).
In the following table, you can see the cost ranges (highlighted in yellow) that are most typical right now.
Average LASIK Cost Per Eye, as Reported by Eye Surgeons
| Surgeons Charging One Price | Surgeons Charging
Multiple Prices |
|||
| Laser-Based Procedures | LASIK w/Bladed Microkeratome | Wavefront LASIK w/Femtosecond Laser Flap | Average Price of Laser-Based Procedures | |
| Average Price | $2,223 | $1,543 | $2,177 | $2,073 |
| Percentage of Surgeons Charging in the Following Ranges: | ||||
| $1,000 or less | 2% | 14% | 0% | 3% |
| $1,001 to $1,500 | 7% | 50% | 2% | 17% |
| $1,501 to $2,000 | 31% | 21% | 41% | 40% |
| $2,001 to $2,500 | 40% | 14% | 44% | 33% |
| $2,501 to $3,000 | 18% | 0% | 13% | 8% |
| More than $3,000 | 2% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
| Of the surgeons responding to the survey of 2013 prices:
– 51% charged a single price for all procedures. – 49% charged multiple prices based on technology/refractive error. |
||||
| This full-year 2013 LASIK cost information was provided to AllAboutVision.com through special arrangement with a leading industry analyst. Typical charges by the majority of refractive surgeons surveyed are highlighted in yellow. Figures are rounded to nearest whole number. | ||||
Prices have remained fairly flat in these four categories for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Pricing Methods
About half of the refractive surgeons in the 2013 survey said they quote a single price for laser-based procedures.
The other half quote different prices depending on the technology used and/or the amount of vision correction required by the patient.
Charging a single price means newer technologies such as customized wavefront procedures and laser-created flaps are not priced separately as “extras” that are charged in addition to a basic fee for a laser vision correction procedure.
Are Bargain Prices Available for LASIK?
Sometimes you may see offers for $499 per eye or $699 per eye — or maybe a coupon for 50 percent off. So yes, some surgery centers do offer bargain prices.
But it’s likely that:
- You might not be eligible for that price, because it is for people with lower vision correction requirements — typically, low nearsightedness only. Farsighted people and those with astigmatism are typically not eligible.Surgery centers advertise “starting at $499” offers in order to attract patients for a consultation. While some people may pay only $499, most will end up paying more.
U.S. refractive surgeons are evenly divided between those who charge a single price for all their laser procedures and those who charge various prices according to the technology used or the severity/type of vision correction required by the patient.
- The offer price doesn’t cover all fees. For instance, you may have only a limited number of follow-up visits, and if there’s a problem, additional post-op care could cost extra.Potential enhancement/retreatment surgeries are probably not included. And in some centers, you may even be charged for your initial consultation.
- Your procedure may be performed with older technology. This isn’t necessarily bad, but newer technologies do offer the possibility of a more precise LASIK procedure, with less risk of complications.For example, for $499 you won’t receive custom LASIK, which includes wavefront analysis for extra-precise corrections. Nor will you receive bladeless (all-laser) LASIK.
If you’re considering LASIK for an unusually low cost, make sure you get a written quote that itemizes everything in the offer. Read the fine print, and ask about all potential extra fees before going ahead with the procedure.
Although some surgery centers offer unusually low LASIK prices, in reality few patients are eligible for them. This graph shows a more realistic snapshot of average U.S. price ranges in 2013. (Pricing provided to AllAboutVision.com by a leading industry analyst.)
Costs for Other Types of Eye Surgery
Below are typical prices, per eye, for other types of refractive eye surgery. As with LASIK, the costs vary based on many factors, including your individual prescription, where you live and which surgeon you choose.
- CK: $1,500 to $2,900
- PRK, Epi-LASIK and LASEK: about the same as LASIK
- Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE): $2,500 to $4,500 per eye or more, depending on extra costs such as facility fees
Covering the Cost of LASIK with Financing or Insurance
Financing is available for LASIK and other vision surgeries. Several financing companies specialize in elective procedures and offer plans with fixed rates and long-term payments. Most LASIK surgery centers and private medical practices work with one of these companies to offer a financing plan to their patients.
Most vision insurance plans don’t cover refractive surgery because they consider it cosmetic and therefore medically unnecessary. However, some employers make arrangements with a given LASIK center (or refractive surgery center) for a special price.
Note that some large employers offer subsidized health plans that cover at least part of LASIK costs. If you work for a major company, ask about possible benefits that might cover elective corrective eye surgery procedures.
Also, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are often used to pay for laser eye surgery. This is where you can divert pre-tax salary into an account for out-of-pocket health care, if your employer offers it.
The good news is, an FSA helps you save on taxes. The bad news is, in 2013 the maximum contribution to an FSA was set at $2,500 (before, there was no official maximum, though most employers had set it at $5,500). So your FSA may not cover the entire cost of LASIK for both eyes. If you’re in the U.S. military, LASIK and other corrective vision surgery options may be available to you free of charge. Your eligibility would depend at least partly on the nature of your duties. If you’re in the U.S. military, LASIK and other corrective vision surgery options may be available to you free of charge. Your eligibility would depend at least partly on the nature of your duties.”
Source Article: Allaboutvision.com
