Why does the Cost of LASIK Vary so Much?

LASIK surgery can dramatically change your life, providing you with clear vision and eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. For this reason, it has become one of the most popular elective surgery procedures available.

However, LASIK is generally very expensive, and very few insurance carriers will cover the procedure. For this reason, many patients often prioritize cost high on their criteria of choosing a LASIK surgeon.

When shopping for a laser eye surgeon, you may find a significant disparity in the cost of procedures from one doctor to the next. It is important to remember that you often get what you pay for.

The following four factors contribute to the cost of your LASIK procedure:

• Pre-surgical evaluation – This is one of the most important aspects of your procedure. During your pre-surgical evaluation, your LASIK surgeon will examine the condition of your eyes to determine the best procedure to correct your refractive errors. Fortunately, many LASIK surgeons perform this service for free to attract patients. Therefore, you may want to get evaluated by several surgeons to more fully understand your options.
  
• LASIK technology – The equipment used in your LASIK procedure will greatly impact your results. Advances in LASIK technology enable eye surgeons to create your corneal flap with a laser in order to eliminate the risks associated with a microkeratome blade. Wavefront technology can be used to create a 3D digital map of your cornea which will be used to provide more precise results. This technology costs more money, but the difference in your results will justify the added cost.
  
• After-surgical eye care – Good eye surgery centers will offer extensive after-surgery eye care to ensure that you do not experience any complications. Sometimes these services cover the cost of enhancement procedures, sometimes they do not. It is important to ask your surgeon what after-surgical care measures are covered by the cost of your procedure.
  
• Surgeon skill – The skill of your surgeon will greatly impact your results, and experienced surgeons often charge a premium for their services.
  

It is important to evaluate all of these factors when choosing between surgeons who charge a premium for their services and surgeons who offer discount services.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find an experienced LASIK surgeon in your area.