The cost of laser eye surgery

Cost of Laser Eye Surgery

The cost of laser eye surgery usually depends on the type of laser surgery, the clinic, and the surgeon carrying out the procedure. Administrative and maintenance costs may be built-in, together with consultation time and postoperative appointments and medication. But, some of these may be billed separately. It is important to investigate the following, when comparing the cost of laser eye surgery:

* Surgeon - The fee a surgeon charges usually depends on their training and experience. A skilled surgeon with advanced training and extensive experience will cost more than a surgeon with minimal training or/and less surgical experience.

* Equipment - Laser eye surgery, which uses the latest technology, will naturally cost more for example wavefront technology. It is important to ensure that the technology used is suited to correct your vision prescription and that it is properly maintained. A significant price difference between clinics may indicate that substandard equipment is being used or the equipment is not properly maintained.

* Time - The cost of laser eye surgery may depend on the level of preoperative testing and postoperative appointments required. Problems with laser eye surgery may be avoided with proper screening and testing, so it’s important to find a surgeon that will take the time to test and screen thoroughly, answer all questions and talk about expectations, explain procedures, risks and complications. Follows up appointments are essential and enhancements (a second laser eye surgery procedure on the same eye) should be considered if necessary. It is important to find out of if these are included in the cost of surgery, as some clinics will charge separately for enhancement procedures.

* Prescription - Some clinics will charge people with higher prescriptions more than people with lower prescriptions. This is sometimes because patients with higher prescriptions have a higher likelihood of needing an enhancement procedure and the cost of the enhancement is built into the overall cost of the surgery.

* Procedure - There are various types of laser eye surgery. Wavefront LASIK and IntraLase are the most expensive procedures because they involve more expensive equipment and modern technology. The laser eye industry is however, very competitive so it may be an idea to compare clinic prices.

Laser Eye Surgery Cost:

* Initial consultation £50 - £175
* LASIK from £850 - £1400 per eye
* IntraLase from £900 - £1900 per eye
* Wavefront LASIK from £1500 - £1900 per eye
* PRK from £700 - £1000 per eye
* LASEK from £850 - £1300 per eye
* Epi-LASEK from £500 - £900 per eye

Health Insurance for Laser Eye Surgery

Health insurance does not usually cover the cost of laser eye surgery but is worth investigating if you have cover either through employment or privately. The main reason why laser eye surgery is not usually funded by insurance companies, is because it is regarded as a cosmetic procedure. However, on rare occasions the surgery may be completed for other reasons, this is when health insurance should be investigated. Visit the Health Insurance Guide to find further information

Finance to help with the cost of Laser Eye Surgery

It may be possible to pay for treatment on finance. This can be the deciding factor if cost is of serious concern. Paying for treatment on a monthly basis is a much easier way of managing cash flow as apposed to large lump sum payments, which may require long periods of saving. To find out more about laser eye surgery on finance, click here.

Laser eye surgery is carried out on a private basis although under particular circumstances such as in the case of multiple sclerosis, it may be available on the NHS.

With something as important as your eyesight, it is important to consider more than cost of surgery. It is important to be in safe hands and in a clinic with well-maintained equipment, where time will be spent on properly evaluating your eyes and where the best recommendations for you, will be made. As well as a clinic, that will provide thorough follow-up care.