Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is LASIK Surgery?Average CostFinancingInsuranceNext in LASIK Eye Surgery GuideLASIK Eye Surgery: Recovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is LASIK Surgery?
Average Cost
Financing
Insurance
Next in LASIK Eye Surgery Guide
The cost ofLASIK corrective eye surgerydepends on a variety of factors. Insurance may or may not cover it, but some practitioners offer financing. There also may be ways to reduce the cost of the procedure. Here’s what to keep in mind when seeking LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis).
A decade after LASIK’s invention, in 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the procedure for the correction of vision issues such as nearsightedness. LASIK quickly overtook the surface excimer laser procedurephotorefractive keratectomy (PRK), which was first performed in 1988 and involves using lasers on the surface of the cornea. PRK is still practiced.
While Dr. Peyman initially cut flaps with a device known as a microkeratome that had been developed 40 years earlier, it was the automation of this device that helped the procedure gain momentum. It made the flaps much more precise and reproducible.
LASIK Eye Surgery: Factors to Consider
These days, you can get customized LASIK in the United States for an average cost of around $2,246 per eye. Not all LASIK, however, is the same. The type of technology used for the procedure may influence the cost. Here’s what to know about the options.
Conventional LASIK
The most budget-friendly option is conventional LASIK at an average cost of $1,500 per eye. With this option, the surgeon uses a microkeratome to mechanically create the flap. A standard excimer laser is then used to reshape the cornea.
While risks are low, this procedure can have higher risks than some of the newer methods, including glare.Other factors increase the risk of glare from conventional LASIK, such as pupil size, patient sensitivity, and any history ofdry eyeor other eye diseases. You need to be a good candidate to get this surgery.
Keep in mind that the lower fee here strictly covers the procedure itself, without any follow-up visits. Higher costs may result if you have a complication and follow-up visits typically are not included in the price of the initial fees.
Wavefront All-Laser LASIK
This laser shines infrared light into the eye and measures for other irregularities, in addition to sphere and cylinder, that can impair vision.
If the surgeon does not use the laser to cut the flap but still uses wavefront technology to reshape the cornea, the cost will be somewhere between the price of conventional and wavefront techniques.
Contoura LASIK
This technology captures 22,000 separate images of your eye to guide in reshaping the surface. Typical technology relies on only 9,000 images. As a result, colors can be much more vibrant and textures much more nuanced after surgery. On average, this type of custom LASIK costs about $2,300 per eye.
Factors Affecting Cost:Degree of vision correction requiredSurgeon’s reputation, experience, and skillType of laser technology used
Factors Affecting Cost:
Degree of vision correction requiredSurgeon’s reputation, experience, and skillType of laser technology used
Paying for LASIK doesn’t necessarily have to be made in one lump sum. In some cases, you may be able to get funding through a finance company.
In addition to outside financing options, some surgeons themselves may offer financing directly through their office. It pays to check what’s available. This may allow you to make payments over several years without extra charges.
Even if installment payments are not available, do see if the surgeon’s office has a finance company it prefers to work with. Also, be prepared to make your payments on time. Missing payments may result in costly repercussions.
Buyer BewareWhile it may be tempting to consider the super discounted LASIK rates seen in some advertisements, keep in mind the following:Most people are not eligible for the rate offered due to the extent or type of correction needed.There may be additional charges for things usually bundled into the cost that are not included here, such as office visits, disposable surgical materials, or facility fees, which can bump up the cost to as much as, if not more than, the average amount.Older, less-accurate equipment may be used.LASIK re-treatments, which may be necessary if your result isn’t perfect, may not be covered in inexpensive LASIK procedures, resulting in additional expense.
Buyer Beware
While it may be tempting to consider the super discounted LASIK rates seen in some advertisements, keep in mind the following:Most people are not eligible for the rate offered due to the extent or type of correction needed.There may be additional charges for things usually bundled into the cost that are not included here, such as office visits, disposable surgical materials, or facility fees, which can bump up the cost to as much as, if not more than, the average amount.Older, less-accurate equipment may be used.LASIK re-treatments, which may be necessary if your result isn’t perfect, may not be covered in inexpensive LASIK procedures, resulting in additional expense.
While it may be tempting to consider the super discounted LASIK rates seen in some advertisements, keep in mind the following:
In most cases, avision planwill not cover LASIK since this is considered a cosmetic, elective procedure. But if there is a medical reason for undergoing LASIK, such as an inability to wear glasses or contacts or it is needed due to a prior ineffective surgery or injury, the procedure may be covered.
Ways to Reduce LASIK CostsTo make LASIK more affordable:Check to see what your insurance policy might provide, especially with in-network doctors.See if you can use pretax funds in a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending arrangement (FSA) for the procedure.Look into financing options that would allow you to pay for LASIK over time.
Ways to Reduce LASIK Costs
To make LASIK more affordable:Check to see what your insurance policy might provide, especially with in-network doctors.See if you can use pretax funds in a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending arrangement (FSA) for the procedure.Look into financing options that would allow you to pay for LASIK over time.
To make LASIK more affordable:
Use Your FSA or HSA
Some people rely on funds from their flexible spending arrangement (FSA, also called a flexible spending account) to help pay for LASIK. This type of account is an arrangement made with your employer to deduct a certain portion of your paycheck to be used for out-of-pocket healthcare costs. The good news is this is pretax income.
However, keep in mind you can only contribute up to $2,750 to the account annually, which may be less than what’s needed to get LASIK surgery in both eyes.
For those who have a high-deductible health insurance plan through an employer, it may be possible to build up the funds needed for LASIK in a health savings account (HSA). This allows you to contribute tax-free funds to the account, with an annual cap in 2021 of $3,600 per individual.
The good news is you can keep the money in the account and add to it the next year, making it possible to fund an average LASIK procedure this way.
Whichever financing arrangement you choose, it’s most important to research and select a reputable eye doctor skilled in determining if you are a good candidate for LASIK. This can reduce expenses related to complications.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.A look at LASIK past, present, and future.Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today.Retail pricing in refractive surgery, part II.American Refractive Surgery Council.LASIK night vision: Symptoms and side effects.Better Vision Guide.How much does LASIK surgery cost?All About Vision.LASIK financing: how to afford LASIK surgery.Trusted LASIK Surgeons.Cost of LASIK eye surgery.Medicare.org.Does Medicaid help pay for LASIK eye surgery?American Refractive Surgery Council.Does insurance cover LASIK? The update for 2024.Internal Revenue Service.Publication 969 (2020), Health savings accounts and other tax-favored health plans.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.A look at LASIK past, present, and future.Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today.Retail pricing in refractive surgery, part II.American Refractive Surgery Council.LASIK night vision: Symptoms and side effects.Better Vision Guide.How much does LASIK surgery cost?All About Vision.LASIK financing: how to afford LASIK surgery.Trusted LASIK Surgeons.Cost of LASIK eye surgery.Medicare.org.Does Medicaid help pay for LASIK eye surgery?American Refractive Surgery Council.Does insurance cover LASIK? The update for 2024.Internal Revenue Service.Publication 969 (2020), Health savings accounts and other tax-favored health plans.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.A look at LASIK past, present, and future.Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today.Retail pricing in refractive surgery, part II.American Refractive Surgery Council.LASIK night vision: Symptoms and side effects.Better Vision Guide.How much does LASIK surgery cost?All About Vision.LASIK financing: how to afford LASIK surgery.Trusted LASIK Surgeons.Cost of LASIK eye surgery.Medicare.org.Does Medicaid help pay for LASIK eye surgery?American Refractive Surgery Council.Does insurance cover LASIK? The update for 2024.Internal Revenue Service.Publication 969 (2020), Health savings accounts and other tax-favored health plans.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.A look at LASIK past, present, and future.
Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today.Retail pricing in refractive surgery, part II.
American Refractive Surgery Council.LASIK night vision: Symptoms and side effects.
Better Vision Guide.How much does LASIK surgery cost?
All About Vision.LASIK financing: how to afford LASIK surgery.
Trusted LASIK Surgeons.Cost of LASIK eye surgery.
Medicare.org.Does Medicaid help pay for LASIK eye surgery?
American Refractive Surgery Council.Does insurance cover LASIK? The update for 2024.
Internal Revenue Service.Publication 969 (2020), Health savings accounts and other tax-favored health plans.
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