The primary reason why people hesitate for years sometimes, before finally going in for LASIK surgery is confusion about cost.
A subconscious belief that all `elective’ surgeries are super-expensive makes patients waste valuable years in procrastination, weighing pros and cons over and over again, even though they know full well that some day they will eventually free themselves from their servitude to eye glasses and contact lenses and get their eyes fixed.
Adding to the confusion are those unbelievably low promotion values published by some LASIK surgeries in their advertisements. By hiding the add-on costs and fees, they leave an erroneous impression that the whole procedure will actually cost the advertised amount only, which is very rarely the case. When patients make enquiries and realize there are a bunch of more dollars tacked on to the sum they were expecting to pay, they panic and back off.
And then they begin procrastinating again, fantasizing about perfect vision and worrying at the same time about high costs.
Now here’s the truth: a majority of people who want LASIK surgery, finally end up getting it. Perfect vision is a whole different ballgame than a perfect pair of collagen-boosted lips. The latter you can forget easily about, and do very well without, but the endless benefits in self-confidence and lifestyle that LASIK eye surgery guarantees is an impossible proposition to ignore. Not once you know about it.
So what’s a ballpark figure that you can make arrangements for if you want to get your eyes fixed? We’d say you’re looking at a price range of $1,500 to $3,000 per eye, depending on the procedure. The reported national average for LASIK pricing in 2015 was $2,259 per eye. Often, you will see some bizarrely low prices advertised – like $399 or $599 per eye – but these are usually `baits’ to reel prospective patients in. You will probably have to pay several hundred more in other fees and you’ll probably not be getting enhancement, post-operative visits, etc.
Some Factors That Change The Total Cost Of LASIK
• Your geographical location. Laser eye surgeons in very large metropolitan cities (i.e. New York City, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago) typically charge more.
• The type of laser technology chosen.
• The type of instrument used to create the corneal flap (microkeratome or laser). Royalties are charged by laser companies for use of laser software.
• Whether the pre-op exam and follow-up visits are covered in the original fee.
• The experience level of the surgeon.
• Whether complication correction is included in the regular fees.
The Financing Option
Fortunately, surgery costs can be defrayed by health savings accounts and financing. Most insurance plans don’t cover any kind of laser vision correction cost, but some employers make arrangements with a local LASIK center for a special price. You may even qualify for a tax deduction.
Financing is another option. For example, King LASIK offers choices, such as payment plans, flex spending accounts, corporate group plans, and CareCredit financing.
Reputable LASIK clinics are keenly aware of price concerns and their staff have a lot of experience in guiding and empowering patients with all the information they need to choose a payment plan that is most suitable for them.
So don’t hesitate anymore. Go make that phone call and get an appointment. Know for yourself what kind of surgery you will need. Trying to ballpark and guesswork an imaginary sum is a pointless exercise – especially if your particular eye condition is such that you’ll end up paying a lot less than what you initially feared!