How Much Does Eye Laser Surgery Cost? All You Need To Know

With the rising costs of living around Australia, many of us are counting our dollars a little more closely. However, if you’ve been living behind glasses or contact lenses for a long time, the idea of laser eye surgery can be pretty appealing. When assessing how much does eye laser surgery cost and the comparison to the continual upkeep of your glasses or contacts, you may be surprised at how it compares. Here are some factors to consider when thinking about laser eye surgery cost.

How Much Does Eye Laser Surgery Cost?

Every refractive surgery clinic and, in fact, every laser eye surgery specialist may set their own fees; they are not governed by any imposed cap. The answer to how much does eye laser surgery cost can change from year to year as practices update their fees to keep up with inflation and wage increases, etc. 

At this point in time, you may find your laser eye surgery cost sitting somewhere between the following ranges:

• $2200-3600 for LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis)
• $2400-3400 for PRK (photorefractive keratectomy)
• $3300-3700 for SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction)
• $4700-6200 for ICL (implantable collamer lenses)

As you can see, the fees can vary considerably even for the same type of laser eye surgery procedure. Why the difference? 

Factors Affecting Laser Eye Surgery Cost

As mentioned earlier, each laser eye surgery specialist may establish his or her own fees. There can be several factors when considering the laser eye surgery cost presented to you. 

Is the specialist particularly established or experienced?

If your chosen surgeon has decades of experience in laser eye surgery, it makes more sense to charge a higher fee for his or her experience. Conversely, be wary of clinics that quote an unusually low laser eye surgery cost, as there is probably a reason for this. 

Does your laser eye surgery cost include pre- and post-operative consultations?

Undergoing laser eye surgery isn’t just a matter of walking in and out of an operating theatre. Prior to your procedure, you’ll need at least one consultation with the eye specialist. This is to assess a number of things, including:

• Your prescription
• Your overall ocular health
• Your visual needs
• Your general health
• Your biometric measurements
• Your eligibility for refractive surgery

And after your laser eye surgery procedure, you’ll be required to attend a few reviews to ensure your sight is stabilising and your eye is healing appropriately. 

Some clinics will offer the initial consultation free of charge, while others may charge an out-of-pocket fee. Similarly, while your review appointments may be included in your original laser surgery quote, it may be worthwhile confirming these won’t be charged separately, especially if you find you need additional review appointments to manage any complications. 

Is a touch-up or enhancement procedure included in the laser surgery cost? 

An unfortunate reality of laser surgery is that some people experience a phenomenon called regression. This is when your prescription begins to return after an initially successful operation. It’s not fully understood why regression occurs, but there are some known risk factors, such as high short-sightedness. While not everyone experiences regression all the way back to their original script, your eyesight may deteriorate enough to require glasses or contact lenses again. Regression can occur even years after the first operation. 

Depending on your eyes and the degree of regression, it can be possible to have a retreatment. This may be with a different technique from your original surgery, such as being eligible only for PRK after originally having LASIK. Some clinics may offer a free or discounted enhancement procedure within a certain timeframe, while others charge the full price. 

Does your private health insurance cover include refractive surgery?

If you’re uncertain, it’s best to contact your health insurance provider before proceeding with your laser surgery procedure. Not all levels of coverage will include a rebate for refractive surgery, and different health funds will contribute varying amounts. If you’ve recently joined a new health fund, there may also be a waiting period you need to serve before being able to make any claims. 

Should I Get Laser Surgery?

The value of being able to reduce your dependency on glasses or contacts is a personal question that only you can really answer. If you’re an analytical numbers person, it may help you to do a cost comparison of how much you spend on glasses or contact lenses over a year, and then calculate how many years it will take you to break even with the cost of laser vision correction. Consider all costs associated with the maintenance of your glasses and contacts, including updating your spectacle lenses, replacing scratched or broken lenses and frames, the cost of reordering your contacts, the price of contact lens solutions, and any fees for contact lens consultations with your optometrist. 

When thinking about whether laser vision correction is worthwhile, also remember that it does have some limitations. If you have any restriction to your sight from other conditions, such as a lazy eye (amblyopia), retinal damage, or scarring, having refractive surgery won’t improve your sight beyond what can be achieved with glasses or contacts. It’s also important to understand that most laser operations are aimed at correcting only your distance vision. Around 45 years of age, humans begin to experience a decline in their near focus, known as presbyopia. This means that even after successful laser vision correction, you will still eventually need glasses or contacts for reading. 

Ultimately, the value of laser eye surgery should be decided by you based on your lifestyle factors. Your specialist will be able to provide you with precise quotes after your initial consultation. Call us now on (03) 9070 5788.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. 

References

What is laser eye surgery and how much does it cost?
https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/health-insurance/laser-eye-surgery-cost/