Laser Eye Surgery Costs Explained

    Initial procedure costs

It is important to note that individual practises have different pricing levels for laser eye surgery as they are allowed to set these prices themselves.

A second key factor that will affect pricing will be the specific condition of the patient. It is therefore important that when you are comparing prices for Lasik that you get a like for like comparison.

There are many considerations that are necessary when deciding the level of treatment that you require and these are specific to each patient.

Patients can choose increased levels of pre and post operative care however this is likely to be a more expensive option.

Those looking for cheaper laser eye procedure can limit their service levels of pre and post operative treatment however this can be a risk if further post operative is required and this can lead to further cost later on.

One important area that many patients feel strongly about is selection of the surgeon. Selecting a surgeon in advance and being able to ask him any relevant questions may be preferable to some people rather than being given a surgeon on the day of the operation.

    Enhancement Procedure Costs

It is important when deciding upon which laser eye treatment you wish to pursue that you find out exactly what is included. Make sure you find out answers to the following questions

Post Operative care – Who is responsible for this?

If there are complications and you need further treatment will there be a further cost?

Are all post operative visits included in the initial cost?

Some enhancement procedures will be included in the initial procedure cost of laser eye surgery. It is important that you are aware if this is covered.

If the cost of the enhancement procedure is not covered in the initial cost then it will have to be met by the patient, it is important you find out the likely cost of this before your initial treatment. In terms of prices the cost of the enhancement is likely to be significantly less than the initial procedure.

It is important that you read the small print regarding Lasik enhancements as it may be necessary to see the surgeon in a certain time period to qualify for a free or reduced cost enhancement procedure.

    Health Insurance, Am I covered for treatment

In short no you are not covered for Lasik treatment on your standard health insurance plan or Medicare.

From country to country the allowances for Laser eye surgery are different but generally in US and Canada they will not be covered.

However there is a growing trend for some companies to offer Lasik treatment as part of their company health insurance program, some companies may even offer partial cover for the procedure. It is advised that you your employer whether Lasik is covered on your work health insurance policy prior to seeking treatment.

If your Lasik treatment is not covered by a work on private medical insurance policy you should discuss with your accountant or financial adviser on whether your Lasik treatment may be tax deductible