Costs of refractive surgeries

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 1:48 pm Post in Vision Surgery

While calculated at per eye, the cost of LASIK can be quite different from one surgeon to another. If the patient wants to have two eyes corrected, the cost doubles. In addition, LASIK involving new technologies such as wavefront and bladeless also requires higher prices.

The time when a LASIK cost less than $1,000 has gone for ever. But under the influence of economic conditions, average LASIK prices have not risen considerably during the past several years, although LASIK prices before 2006 were much lower than now. Another factor that is worth consideration is the volume of surgical procedures, which actually determines the cost while maintaining profitability of surgical centers. So that average costs of LASIK in 2009 are slightly higher than that in 2008, because more people have backed off from generous expenses.

A survey of refractive surgeons conducted in the first quarter of 2009 provides overall figures of average LASIK prices. A single all laser-based vision correction procedure costs $2,140 and the average cost of non-customized bladed LASIK is about $1,748. Combined with laser-created flap, wavefront-guided LASIK charges $2,314. Customers should also pay attention to extra costs of LASIK. Visual conditions of patients are always different from one to one, and most patients are not eligible for LASIK at low prices. Furthermore, patients should also be quite aware of bargain prices from certain centers and surgeons. With much lower prices, patients may get fewer services. It is quite necessary to work out what detailed services are included in the advertised prices.

In fact, the decisive factor of the price increase in recent years is the application of new technologies in LASIK. As mentioned before, wavefront and laser-flap LASIKs are much more expensive than conventional ones. In accordance to many surgeons, these higher prices are quite reasonable since new technologies bring better visual effects and fewer complications. Most eye centers charge an extra between $350 and $500 for wavefront analysis during LASIK.

Besides LASIK, there are other refractive surgeries. The cost of CK varies from $1,500 to $2,900 and refractive lens exchange costs from $2,500 to $4,500 per eye. PRK, Epi-LASIK and LASEK charge prices at nearly the same level as LASIK.

There are various factors that play a role in varying prices of different refractive surgeries. Preoperative tests, equipments and technologies all affect the price of a procedure. The cost of a refractive surgery contains many items, including device purchase or lease and maintenance costs, the eye royalty fee to the excimer laser manufacturer, additional charge for a customized procedure, and the cost of sterile devices such as gowns, masks and gloves. Other expense of a LASIK includes staff salaries, office benefits, rent and office administration, as well as others.

Before receiving a refractive surgery, patients should ask the surgeon some questions, such as included services, complication treatments, costs of prescription medications and follow-up visit fees. Unfortunately, refractive surgeries are always excluded from most vision insurance plans. Besides potential benefits from their employers, patients may also get the most affordable financing. Most LASIK surgeons have cooperation with certain financing companies. It’s better to choose the best surgeon, rather than low prices. In addition, companies including Microsoft also offer subsidized health plans to cover part of LASIK costs.