LASIK Eye Surgery Price – How Much Is Fair?

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) for $499? Too good to be true? Yes, according to Robert Maloney, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and also director at Maloney Vision Center in LA. When the LASIK eye surgery price falls as low as $499 to $999 an eye, Maloney says that the clinic is probably cutting corners just to cut the price.

In exchange for their bargain basement prices, Maloney says the patient may be getting inferior equipment, a neophyte surgeon, faulty eye measurements, and deficient sterilization techniques.

What You Are Paying For?

An extremely low LASIK eye surgery price can mean ineffective surgery that will end up with you spending more to have a better surgeon repeat the procedure.

At worst, an insufficient LASIK eye surgery price can mean damage to your eye due to complications, such as infection, scarring, and serious injury to your cornea.

When you pay an amount within the LASIK eye surgery price range of a reputable clinic or surgeon, $1,500 to $2,500 per eye, you pay, first of all, for the surgeon’s experience. A surgeon's LASIK eye surgery experience generally decreases complications.

Although complications have been observed in less than 1% of LASIK cases, one study reports that complications are likely to be less after a surgeon has performed 1,000 LASIK procedures.

Aside from your surgeon’s skill, the LASIK eye surgery price also includes:

1. Purchase/lease/maintenance of laser equipment


2. Purchase of microkeratome, corneal ring segments, and other gadgets


3. Royalties to laser manufacturer (to recoup high cost of developing cutting-edge technology)
   
   • $100 to $150 an eye, for regular excimer laser
   
   
   • $145 to $250 an eye, for custom procedures


4. Cost of keeping the LASIK eye surgery sterile
   
   • Gloves, gowns, masks
   
   
   • Surgical solutions, medications


5. Overhead costs of the center or clinic
   
   • Rent
   
   
   • Utilities
   
   
   • Office equipment, supplies
   
   
   • Office and staff salaries, benefits


6. Marketing costs
   
   • Website fees
   
   
   • Advertisements
   
   
   • Seminars


7. Insurance


8. Professional fees
   
   • Co-management fees for other practitioners
   
   
   • Surgeon’s fee (especially if not on staff)


9. Evaluation, follow-up exams


10. Comprehensive eye exams
    
    • Technician
    
    
    • Equipment
    
    
    • Medications

Financing

Rather than settling for a rock bottom LASIK eye surgery price and putting your vision in jeopardy, it is wiser to pick a reputable surgeon and find a way to help finance your surgery.

Many good LASIK eye surgery centers offer financing plans to their patients. And although insurance plans normally do not cover LASIK eye surgery since it is regarded as a cosmetic procedure, employers can make an arrangement with a LASIK center for a special price for employees.