Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery — Few Things You Should Consider

Undergoing laser eye surgery can be life-changing. No longer are you spending time cleaning your contact lenses and needing to remember to order more before you run out. No longer are your glasses steaming up from facemasks or getting knocked off your face during sport. LASIK surgery is a popular form of vision correction that has been demonstrated to be effective and safe. However, for some, the cost of LASIK eye surgery can be a cause for hesitation. Read this to find out more about laser eye surgery and, specifically, what you should know about the cost of LASIK eye surgery.

What is the Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery?

If you’ve already started looking into laser eye surgery, the precise cost of your LASIK eye surgery procedure is best discussed with your refractive surgeon. In Australia, each surgeon may set their own costs; there is no cap on the fees. However, from the most recent data, the average cost of LASIK surgery in Australia ranges between $2,200 and $3,600. The fee your particular surgeon quotes will be influenced by a number of factors.

• Surgeon experience. Naturally, the more successful laser eye surgery procedures your surgeon can boast, the more he or she will be justified in charging. So, when choosing a clinic to undergo your LASIK surgery, you may want to proceed with caution if a particular surgeon is charging extremely low rates. 
• What’s included in the fee? Having laser eye surgery isn’t just a matter of walking in, getting your eyes zapped with a laser, and walking out. There is a pre-operative consultation as well as a post-operative follow-up appointment. In addition to this, some surgeons may include a touch-up procedure in their initial quoted fee, while others may charge an additional cost if you end up needing a touch-up. Touch-ups, also known as enhancement procedures, are necessary if your prescription regresses (that is, returns) within a certain time period after your original LASIK surgery operation. In your quote, make sure you get clarification about whether the fee stated is just for the surgery itself, or if it also includes any consultations leading up to the procedure as well as any review appointments after your surgery.
• Is the number quoted per eye or for both eyes? Don’t get caught out on this. Many clinics may quote you a price per eye. Though this may sound odd since eyes typically come in pairs, not everyone has the same prescription between the eyes. This means someone may only need LASIK surgery correction on one eye and not the other. 
• Your private health insurance benefit. If you have private health insurance with “extras” cover, your health insurance provider may contribute towards your LASIK surgery. This amount can vary depending on your specific provider as well as your level of coverage. If you’re not sure exactly how much of your laser eye surgery your private health insurance will cover, the onus is on you to confirm this with your provider before proceeding with your operation. Medicare does not contribute anything towards laser eye surgery costs. However, your pre-op or post-op consultations may be eligible for a Medicare rebate, depending on how the clinic is set up.  

Should I Get LASIK Surgery?

LASIK surgery is a permanent vision-correcting procedure. It means you can see clearly without needing to rely on glasses or contact lenses. Although the upfront costs of LASIK surgery are not cheap, in the long run, it can, in fact, turn out to be cheaper than glasses or contacts. This is especially true if you wear contact lenses that need frequent replacement. 

All forms of laser eye surgery are effective at correcting sight. In addition to LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), there is also PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), and SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction). However, each technique has its own eligibility criteria. Your surgeon is the best one to recommend which procedure is most suitable for you after conducting a comprehensive eye exam.  

LASIK involves cutting a flap out of the top layer of corneal tissue. This flap remains attached to the eye but is temporarily flipped to the side to allow an excimer laser to reshape the deeper corneal layers. By modifying the curvature of the cornea through vaporising certain areas, the refraction of light through this surface changes. The final outcome is light that is focused sharply onto your retina, which is what provides you with clear sight. Once the cornea has been reshaped, the flap is replaced. You will be sent home with a protective eye shield, and instructions to optimise your post-operative recovery. 

LASIK surgery is able to correct a wide range of prescriptions, including high short-sightedness (myopia), moderate degrees of long-sightedness (hyperopia), and moderate degrees of astigmatism. LASIK is known to have a rapid visual recovery time; many people can see quite clearly within 24 hours of undergoing the procedure. It also tends to be associated with less discomfort compared to PRK.

If you’re interested in LASIK eye surgery, there are a number of eligibility criteria you need to meet. After undergoing a comprehensive eye exam, your ophthalmologist will be able to advise if you’re suitable for LASIK or not. At this point, you may wish to discuss costs before deciding whether to proceed or not.

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/

How much does laser eye surgery cost?
https://visioneyeinstitute.com.au/eyematters/laser-eye-surgery-cost/

Laser eye surgery costs.
https://www.lasik.com.au/eligibility/cost-comparison/