LASIK surgery cost

LASIK surgery cost is established by your doctor or laser vision clinic. You can expect to pay $1,600–$2,000 per eye for traditional LASIK and $2,000–$2,500 per eye for customized LASIK*. However, prices vary according to geographic location, physician experience, and the technology used. Reasons for the variation in price are because:

• Some doctors charge more than others. Reputation and experience, as well as the location of the surgeon's practice, are all factored into the price charged for laser eye surgery.
• There are differences in equipment costs. Some surgeons and laser vision correction centers opt to pay more for most advanced, state-of-the-art technology, rather than using the same equipment year after year.
• Prices may be different for eyes that need more complex corrections.
• The amount of time a surgeon devotes to each patient varies. The cost may be higher if the surgeon is present at all consultations, procedures, and tests. Some quoted costs do not include consultations and follow-up visits.

Keep these issues in mind when choosing your doctor, and be sure to fully understand what your surgeon offers for his or her price.

LASIK Surgery Cost: Vision is Priceless

LASIK surgery cost should not be your primary consideration when choosing your doctor or deciding on a type of procedure. Beware of "discount" practices that treat a lot of patients for a low price. Your vision is too important to entrust to a "bargain" practice. A discount may be a signal that:

• substandard equipment is used
• some part of the process was omitted
• the physician isn't very experienced in the procedure
• some costs are "hidden"

CustomCornea® may cost more than traditional LASIK surgery. Top of the line services are always priced higher. Many centers will discount surgery on older technology platforms and cut corners to advertise a lower LASIK surgery cost. You should expect to pay more for a CustomCornea® treatment, because it's the most advanced technology on the market, with more capabilities than other laser vision correction technologies.

Paying for LASIK

LASIK surgery is an elective medical procedure. For that reason, most health insurance plans do not cover vision correction surgery. However, some do provide coverage, so be sure to check with your insurance provider when you are conducting your LASIK surgery cost evaluation.

Also, check with your doctor about financing your surgery. Most laser vision correction surgeons and centers accept credit cards, and many even offer financing so you can extend payments. There is usually no need to pay the entire LASIK surgery cost at once.

Find out your surgeon's specific financing alternatives when choosing your doctor.