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Laser Eye Surgery Cost - Why Does It Vary So Much?
By Dean Brooks
The cost of laser surgery depends on various factors related to your but also on the geographical location of the surgical center in which you are going to have the surgery done. Usually the laser surgery price is given for one eye. This is actually the global standard by which it is quoted.
LASIK Laser Surgery Cost
The price of the lasik surgery procedure that is advertised varies widely. You might not get it done for the advertised price since any complication you might enter into as well as after surgery treatments are normally not included in this price. So, just be prepared that you might fall into a category that is not eligible for that price. As a matter of fact, it has been shown that only about three percent of all LASIK providers have a laser surgery cost lower than $1000 per eye. Therefore, I recommend that you look for any hidden costs or the fine print if you come across any advertisement that promises laser surgery for bargain prices.
During the last few years the surgery cost has increased. The costs listed below give you an idea of such an increase in the price.
o In 2002, the average LASIK laser surgery cost ranged between $1,550 and $1,600.
o By October 2003, it had already increased to approximately $1,710.
o At the end of 2004, LASIK laser surgery cost raised above $1,800.
o In the first half of 2005, the average price was $1,965.
The figures above include several types of businesses, from individual surgeons use rented equipment to those who own it. It also includes every type of clinic from regional clinical centers to nationwide surgery provider networks.
You could see the increase in the price of laser surgery for example in the TLC Laser Centers, a leading LASIK provider. They had an average price of $1,800 in 2002 but at the end of 2004,
the average LASIK laser surgery cost rose to $1,957 and at the beginning of 2005 the price was $1,983.
The same is the case of a company called LasikPlus, another famous nationwide provider, which reports an average price of $1,344 per in 2005, which is slightly lower than $1,351 at the end of 2004, but much higher than $1,173 at the beginning of 2003.
Costs for Other Types of Surgery
The costs of the other types of surgery also vary depending on various factors. The surgeon who is performing the surgery as well as the place of surgery play a role in the price. Here are the average prices per for other common surgery procedures:
o Corneal inserts: $2,800 to $3,800
o CK: $1,200 to $2,500
o PRK: $1,000 to $1,800
o LASEK: approximately the same prices as for LASIK
Newest Technology Laser Surgery Cost
Laser surgery procedures that use the newest technologies are also more expensive. In LASIK with the IntraLase technology, the surgeon cuts a flap form the cornea with a laser, not a microkeratome. On average, an increase of $250 to $500 is there in these procedures. This increase is partly explained by the fact that the surgeon has to cover the cost for the system. Patients paying for this procedure are said to have less flap complications and require less treatments after surgery. It is found that they have a better chance to achieve a 20/20 or even higher acuity.
You can reduce your burden on the cost of laser surgery by going for a good financing option. There are many companies that finance you for such a procedure. Fixed rates and long term plans are available from many finance companies. Most of the laser surgery centers, and the surgeons co-operate with some finance companies so that the patients who come for surgery can get a good financing option.
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