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.
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Here’s what to keep in mind when seeking LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis).
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What Is LASIK Surgery?
Eyeglasses and contact lenses work by bending, or refracting, light.
LASIK surgery instead reshapes the dome-shaped cornea by correcting for refraction and vision.
PRK is still practiced.
It made the flaps much more precise and reproducible.
Not all LASIK, however, is the same.
The punch in of technology used for the procedure may influence the cost.
Here’s what to know about the options.
With this option, the surgeon uses a microkeratome to mechanically create the flap.
A standard excimer laser is then used to reshape the cornea.
you better 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.
Wavefront All-Laser LASIK
For this all-laser approach, the average cost is about $2,000 per eye.
The flap cut in this procedure is made by a femtosecond laser.
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 punch in of custom LASIK costs about $2,300 per eye.
In some cases, you may be able to get funding through a finance company.
The amount of time you have to pay back this financing will vary by the jot down of loan.
Some plans may require you to make your payments over a short three-month period.
While others may allow you to stretch these payments out as long as five years.
It may even be possible to secure such financing online with extremely rapid approval, sometimes even within minutes.
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.
Also, be prepared to make your payments on time.
Missing payments may result in costly repercussions.
Also, in select cases, it may sometimes be covered, at least in part.
Some larger insurance carriers may offer discounts of around 50% when LASIK is performed by an in-connection provider.
If it is performed out of connection, a smaller discount may be available.
The good news is this is pretax income.
This can reduce expenses related to complications.
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.
