Lasik Eye Surgery Cost Per Eye

Planning on getting a LASIK eye surgery done and don't know what the cost of the surgery is? Read the following article to get the required details.
A LASIK eye surgery involves correcting the defect in the eye so that one's vision can be normalized. Many people go in for a LASIK surgery because it completely eliminates the usage of lens and spectacles. So in the course of things, if people have decided to go in for a laser eye surgery, then the next question that follows is what is the cost of a LASIK eye surgery, right? The following article will tell you all that there is to know about the same.

Factors that Determine the Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery

The first thing that you need to understand is that it is impossible to give an exact figure of the LASIK eye surgery cost per eye because it will change according to the location and the centers that are carrying forth the surgery. Other factors that matter are the experience that a surgeon possesses, the technology that is employed and the condition of the eye i.e. to what degree does the eye hold a defect.

Average Costs
The average cost of the eye surgery is about $2,000 - $2,500 per eye. But this figure could change according to certain factors. These are:
  • $2,150. This is the single price that is quoted for all laser-based vision corrections.
  • $1,580. This is the price quoted for all non-customized LASIK, which uses instruments and lasers that are not guided by wavefront analysis.
  • $2,170 for wavefront guided LASIK which uses a laser-created flap.
This is the normal range and you should expect it to be as high if it is done by a reputed ophthalmologist. There are some other centers that promise to have the surgery done in under $300 but that is rather impossible considering the gravity of the LASIK procedure. Do not choose centers solely based on the cost that is quoted because they might not have reputed doctors handling the operations.

Cost Per Eye
Another important point is that when these centers speak of the cost of the surgery, they are talking about each eye, therefore, make sure that you have it completely confirmed whether the cost they speak of is inclusive of both eyes or one eye. If it's one eye then you'll need to double the figures.

Cost Breakdown
These are some of the pointers on which the LASIK surgery cost is based.
  • The royalties that have to be paid for the manufacturers of the laser.
  • Medications that are needed for the surgery and after it.
  • The salaries of the staff.
  • Purchasing and maintaining the surgical and technical equipment.
  • Materials like gloves, masks and gowns that are required in the surgery.
  • Renting of facilities for surgery or office.
  • Follow-up appointments that fall under the post operative care.
  • The type of laser technology that is being used.
  • The instruments that are being used for the surgery.
  • Whether re-treatments, if any, are covered in the fees.
  • The expertise of the surgeon and the price he quotes for it.
  • The country and area that you will get the operation done from.
LASIK Eye Surgery Complications

The technology that is used in this surgery has developed to such an extent that the LASIK complications have also drastically gone down. LASIK eye surgery reviews state that there are millions of cases in the United States alone that are being successfully treated for eye numbers every year. Yet we mention the complications because one needs to know what might happen if they do not choose a proper surgeon and try to get the surgery done at a lesser cost. The cost of the LASIK surgery hardly matters if one's vision is at stake. Here are some LASIK facts about the complications that might arise in this procedure.
  • Infection
  • Epithelial Ingrowths
  • Flap wrinkles
  • Central corneal islands
  • Over/Under correction
  • Astigmatism
  • Corneal ecstasia
  • Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK)
Speak at length to your surgeon about these risks - ask to speak to patients who have already gone in for this procedure and ask about the LASIK recovery time as well. Only after you have convinced yourself of the surgery should you go in for it.

Having gone through a LASIK operation myself, I can assure you that if you choose a reputed surgeon and a center that has a good reputation, then the cost of the surgery is a completely secondary factor. Yes, you need to get your finances right, but I believe it is a small price to pay for the gift of vision.
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Published: 8/11/2010
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