Laser Eye Surgery - Laser eye surgery costs

You should never select a surgeon based on the price alone as you will live with the results of your refractive surgery, good or bad, for the rest of your life. Always make a surgery decision, not a financial one and investigate the quality of the surgeon who will be performing your surgery.

The costs for LASIK in the USA can range from $5,500 to $500 for both eyes. In the UK Private treatment usually costs £1000-1500 per eye and is available at some NHS hospitals.

As with LASIK the price of other laser eye surgery techniques depends on many factors including your individual prescription, where you live and which surgeon you choose. Below are typical prices, per eye, for other types of refractive eye surgery.

* CK: $1,200 to $2,500
* Corneal rings (Intacs): $1,700 to $2,600
* LASEK: about the same as LASIK
* PRK: $1,000 to $1,800

What Contributes to Cost
One reason fees vary widely is that different providers perform varying levels of preoperative testing. Since proper screening can avoid problems, it's important to determine if appropriate testing is included in a quoted price.

There's also a wide variation in the cost of equipment used for testing and surgery. Technologies for eye tracking, tear film analysis, and measurements of corneal thickness, corneal topography and pupil size, as well as the laser itself, are available at various price points; and can be reflected in the procedure fee.

When discussing fees with your surgeon, ask:

* What is included?

* What is not included?

* What will I have to pay for if complications occur or enhancement surgery becomes necessary?

* How much do prescription medications (such as anti-inflammatories or painkillers) cost?

* If I require temporary contact lenses or glasses after the procedure, how much will they cost?

* How many follow-up visits will I need to make, and at what cost?

Resources:
www.allaboutvision.com
www.fda.gov
www.prk.com