Many of our patients often wonder about the cost of such a life-changing surgery. The average cost of LASIK surgery in the United States ranges between $1,500 and $2,500 per eye. It’s worth noting that some eye care centers promote LASIK for as low as $500 per eye, but these are often for minimal corrections. These offers generally have many hidden fees which can drastically increase the total price. To fully understand what goes into LASIK pricing, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive insight into associated costs, empowering you to make an informed decision.
Talk to your eye care provider about your medical history, including any medications you’re taking. Certain conditions and medications can affect your ability to get LASIK surgery.
Your vision is typically improved within a day or two after the surgery. Recovery can take a few weeks, but many patients see vision improvement very quickly. Both vision improvement and recovery time tend to be longer if you get PRK surgery instead of LASIK.
To learn more about the differences between LASIK, PRK and which may be a better fit for your eyes, read our helpful PRK vs LASIK guide.
LASIK uses pulses of laser light to reshape the cornea of your eye. During the procedure, the laser removes corneal abnormalities that cause refraction errors in your vision such as myopia or hyperopia. This allows you to achieve 20/20 vision or better.
After your surgery, you will have some restrictions on your activities. You will need someone to drive you home right after the procedure and will not be able to bathe for at least 12 hours. For the next 24 hours, limit yourself to light activities. Reading and watching TV is okay. Within two days, you should be able to resume work. You will need to avoid certain activities, such as strenuous exercise and swimming, for one to two weeks.
To learn more about what to expect from LASIK surgery, how to prepare, and what recovery looks like, consult our LASIK Service page.
LASIK eye surgery cost is dependent on several factors including geographic location and the type of equipment used during the surgery.
Many people think of LASIK as a single procedure, but there are many different laser types and auxiliary equipment. Different LASIK technologies and lasers each have their own advantages and costs. The latest and most advanced technologies will subsequently be more expensive.
Surgeons who opt to use the newest laser technology may charge more for their services. These advanced laser technologies greatly improve the surgery experience and help patients see better results. Surgeons may charge more to use them to offset their cost.
During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss your options and help you make an informed decision as to which LASIK or other vision correction procedure is best for you.
Just as there are different types of LASIK technology, there are also different add-ons and advanced services you can get to further improve your LASIK procedure. Customized LASIK surgery, such as Wavefront-guided or topography-guided LASIK involves using a scanning device to map the surface of your eye in minute detail. This allows LASIK surgeons to create a procedure that is unique to the surface of your eye to give you the best possible results.
The use of additional technologies and customization services may make LASIK more expensive due to the additional expertise and equipment required.
Aside from the surgical procedure itself, other fees may come with LASIK surgery. These include consultations, surgery aftercare, medications, and follow-up visits.
If you have questions about additional fees, you can discuss your concerns with the staff of your LASIK provider. The team at Bennett & Bloom Eye Centers will provide transparent pricing information to help you make the best-informed decision.
