As we’ve discussed before, LASIK eye surgery costs typically require a savings plan, costing an estimated $1,000-$3,000 per eye. Many times, folks who are suitable to receive LASIK eye surgery use FSA/HSA dollars and/or tax refunds to pay for a portion of the LASIK procedural bill. Several factors play into the reason cost is still high, although it is much lower than in earlier days. One of the main factors is LASIK technology, incurring a lot of operational cost.

While not all LASIK facilities take advantage of the latest LASIK technologies, many deploy recently FDA-approved machinery. LASIK eye surgeons who want the best possible outcome for their patients invest in state-of-the-art lasers that carry a higher accuracy rate, improve patient safety and shorten surgical time. Described below are examples of LASIK technology that make LASIK eye surgery cost high but valuable in the long run. 
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Allegretto Wave Eye-Q Laser:

• A revolutionary piece of equipment, the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser delivers some of the best advancements in LASIK eye surgery. It is currently the fastest laser vision correction laser available in the USA, providing 400 laser bursts/second. Aside from its amazing speed, the Allegretto Eye-Q laser utilizes incredible eye tracking and Perfect Pulse technologies to check the eye’s positions 400 times per second and realign the lasers mirrors every 4-6 milliseconds. This ensures accurate laser placements and pulses on the cornea that do not create microscopic ridges or grooves, stopping and waiting for the eye to move back into position when necessary.  

Wavelight FS 200 (Femtosecond Laser)

• Another transformative piece of technology that explains the reason for high LASIK eye surgery cost is the Wavelight FS 200 femtosecond laser. A sister laser to the Allegretto Eye-Q, the all-laser Wavelight FS 200 lowers chances for post-op dry eye symptoms and minimizes general LASIK risks via blade elimination. This LASIK technology delivers a more custom procedure thanks to the machine’s ability to tailor its settings for each patient’s specific corneal thickness, shape and size.   

Pentacam Corneal Mapping System

• Before receiving LASIK eye surgery, a patient must first be examined by a reputable eye care specialist. While Pentacam technology does not typically influence LASIK eye surgery costs directly, it is a very impressive piece of technology that can map out the entire structure of someone’s cornea. In less than 5 seconds, the Pentacam is able to measure up to 25,000 corneal elevation points. This provides an eye care specialist with vital information on someone’s corneal integrity and structure, many times acting as a deciding factor in whether a patient is deemed suitable for LASIK eye surgery.

For more information on why LASIK eye surgery costs fluctuate, check out a related post: Why LASIK Eye Surgery Cost Fluctuates. Good luck during the remainder of your LASIK research and feel free to tweet me if you’d like me to write on a certain LASIK-related topic!

Many people often ask, “How much does LASIK cost?” LASIK eye surgery costs fluctuate heavily in America due to a few factors. The kind of LASIK someone receives, their prescription, the technology used and the state in which they receive LASIK lends to the absence of a universal price standard.   

Factor #1: Kind of LASIK
In general, the average cost for LASIK on one eye ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 (so $3,000 to $6,000 for both eyes). While there are LASIK procedures that fall below and above these prices, the majority of laser correction procedures land in this vicinity. The four kinds of LASIK someone can receive are All-laser, blade-free LASIK, PRK LASIK, Monovision and Presby-LASIK. Depending on how much corneal reshaping is necessary and which path best suits your vision issues can cause price fluctuation.

Factor #2: The Patient’s Prescription
In deciphering individual LASIK costs, patients should also consider their prescription. Once your prescription is considered stable and you are deemed a suitable candidate for LASIK eye surgery, keep in mind that because everyone’s eyes differ so much, vision correction procedures are more customized than standardized. For instance, a patient who is legally blind without glasses or contacts may require more reshaping than someone who had clear vision until after age 40.

Factor #3: Technology Used
Perhaps the most influential factor in determining how much LASIK costs is technology use. Eye surgery costs may be lower if the eye surgeon uses older, outdated technology. It is important to note that while some older technology still holds FDA approval and remains a functional piece of LASIK equipment, the latest, state-of-the-art technology offers maximized patient safety and increased accuracy. While hopeful LASIK patients likely consider lower cost as a large influence, it is important to remember safety and well being is the most important factor. One of the newest FDA-approved lasers for LASIK is the WaveLight Allegretto Eye-Q Laser machine. While this may increase LASIK cost, it also delivers faster, more accurate corneal reshaping. Additionally, improved effectiveness and better patient throughput offers LASIK eye surgeons more precision during every procedure.   

Factor #4: LASIK Eye Surgery Location
LASIK eye surgery cost can also be affected by where a patient undergoes their procedure. Due to fluctuating costs of living throughout the U.S. and the difference in LASIK fees in large cities versus smaller towns, folks can expect to see an unsteady trend in average LASIK costs. To keep your procedural bill down, consider searching for a LASIK surgeon in a sizable city where the cost of living is economical. 

Things to Remember 
While these (and other) factors constantly influence LASIK eye surgery cost, the key factor in searching for quality LASIK is to find a reputable, certified ophthalmologist that does not utilize a bait and switch tactic that promises LASIK at a low price. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

Ensure your LASIK eye surgeon is not only board certified, but also holds an active medical practitioner license. For help choosing an eye care specialist or LASIK eye surgeon, consider taking these steps during your research. To alleviate the strain of searching for certified ophthalmologists in your area, utilize this finder tool from the AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology). 

Everyone knows LASIK eye surgery isn’t cheap. Many patients utilize FSA (Flexible Savings Accounts) to pay for a large portion of their procedure while others save over time to pay for the entire surgery at once. Unfortunately, some facilities prey on those who are affected by LASIK’s costly price tag by offering “deals” on laser vision correction. These so-called deals put participating patients at risk for negative results and many times include fine print details.

#1:  Hidden Fees & Price Gouging

Many times, hidden surgical and post procedural fees are billed to the patient after having LASIK. While some coupons may include this information in the small print, shadier facilities will try to gouge you without disclosing their full intentions. Opting for discount LASIK puts you at risk of spending just as much money as a legitimate laser correction procedure, if not more.   

#2: Substandard Technology

When it comes to eye surgery, you get what you pay for; less is not more in this case. Should hidden fees and price gouging occur, patients are also at risk of having surgery with outdated or substandard equipment. Check to see if the technology your eye surgeon uses carries the latest, safest FDA approvals.

One such piece of equipment is the Allegretto WaveLight EyeQ Laser. Approved by the FDA in September 2013, this machine supplies eye surgeons with the utmost

#3: Increased Risk of Botched Results

In general, LASIK is a safe procedure with short-lived side effects that go away as your vision stabilizes. However, no procedure is perfect. Discount procedures increase risk for botched LASIK results due to factors such as substandard technology use, lack of eye surgeon experience, possible lack of certification or license and absence of facility credibility.

#4: Restrictive Criteria Barriers

Sometimes, LASIK eye surgery facilities are able to offer discount opportunities at such low prices because only a very small group of LASIK-suitable patients meet the restrictive criterion. In most applicable cases, the medical office only allows folks with a very low prescription to receive the LASIK discount. However, folks who actually have a prescription that low are very unlikely to consider LASIK in the first place.    

#5: Sub par Post-Op Care

After receiving discount LASIK eye surgery, chances for quality post-op and follow-up care may suffer. Typically, your eye surgeon will schedule interval appointments after your procedure for a usual timeline of six months to track your visual progress. This is imperative, in case your eyes require additional treatment. However, with discount LASIK, your eyes may not receive the attention they need after you have paid your surgical dues.    

At the end of the day, remember thorough LASIK research is the most essential step for success. Educate yourself on who can receive LASIK, the different kinds of LASIK and post-op steps for maximized eye protection. Also, be sure you find an eye surgeon who is board certified, has an active medical practitioner license, carries a positive reputation, uses the safest technologies and communicates openly with you about all surgical factors, including costs.

LASIK eye surgery is available for ideal candidates who are in need of vision correction surgery. While many folks think there is only one kind of LASIK, there are actually three:

1. OptiLASIK - All Laser Blade Free LASIK
   
2. PRK - Blade-Free LASIK
   
3. Monovision 

OptiLASIK utilizes the latest laser technology to make a corneal flap. The entire procedure is completed without a blade. After the flap is made, the laser reshapes the cornea until the necessary shape is reached. Short and sweet, the procedure itself only takes 10-15 minutes for both eyes. PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) LASIK eye surgery removes the corneal cover in roughly 10 seconds. Also termed Epi-LASIK, LASEK and Advanced Surface Ablation, the cornea is then reshaped using state-of-the-art technology like the Allegretto Eye-Q Laser.

The third form of LASIK eye surgery is Monovision. This procedure differs from the previous two a bit. While advanced laser technology is used to fix the vision problem, monovision sets a patient’s non-dominant eye to be focused for near vision while the dominant eye is set for distance. After LASIK eye surgery is complete, the patient’s brain will adapt to the vision changes, allowing for improved and balanced  vision for both eyes. The dominant eye will now be useful for distance while the non-dominant is helpful for closer tasks such as reading. “Test driving” this procedure for a temporary time is essential in ensuring it is the best LASIK option for the patient.

If you’re interested in LASIK eye surgery, consult a reputable eye care doctor who specializes in LASIK procedures and offers straightforward pricing options.

It is quite uncommon for health insurance plans to pay for LASIK eye surgery due to its classification as a cosmetic procedure. However, for those with an FSA (Flexible Spending Account), LASIK is a lot cheaper. Just be sure to educate yourself on the 2013 IRS cap mandate.

Beginning in 2013, your FSA (or HSA, Health Spending Account) contribution is capped at $2,500.00. A part of an IRS notice, folks are no longer able to contribute more than this amount. However, even including this cap, FSA/HSA contributions can save LASIK patients a large chunk of money when procedure day arrives. LASIK eye surgery cost can be less of a financial shock with FSA dollars. Eye care specialists throughout the country accept FSA dollars for LASIK procedures. Because Flexible Spending dollars are pre-tax dollars, patients receiving LASIK eye surgery can save anywhere from 20-30% on their bill. Minimizing LASIK eye surgery costs can be imperative for many individuals, as the procedure is not generally considered economical.

To find out if your FSA/HSA account allows you to spend contribution finds on procedures including LASIK, it is in your best interest to find out two things:

1.  Find out if your account allows you to use the entire allotment within one month of your renewed enrollment year.

2.  Figure out if you are given a brief "grace period" after your company's current enrollment year ends. If the answer is yes, leftover FSA funds may "roll over" into the new enrollment year. 

In addition, be sure to communicate openly with your eye care doctor throughout a LASIK consultation. Find a reputable eye care specialist who willingly answers questions regarding technology and pricing, so you can eliminate hidden fees that boost your bill's charges post surgery. Find out more about LASIK eye surgery payment tips today, so you can apply FSA dollars tomorrow for improved vision.