LASIK Costs

LASIK has improved the lives and vision of millions.  I couldn’t do my own LASIK so I had to follow the same pathway as you to choose a good surgeon, a good laser center, with the right price.  How do you decide what is a fair cost of LASIK?

How Much Does LASIK Cost?

Your LASIK eye surgery cost will be determined by the type of LASIK center you choose. There are two basic types of LASIK laser eye surgery centers: 1. Discount centers and 2. Quality LASIK centers.

LASIK Costs Based on Quality

The discount LASIK centers charge some amount less than the quality centers. In describing them this way I am not implying that the discounters don’t have quality or the quality centers don’t have fair prices.

I have used these terms because the discounters have a specific focus on minimizing LASIK costs while the quality oriented centers have a specific focus on providing the best quality available for your vision, even if it costs a bit more. You will need to decide which approach makes the most sense for you and your eyes.

LASIK Eye Surgery Price

There are basically two prices for LASIK, the discount center price and the quality center price. Most of the discounters charge about the same price for LASIK and most of the quality centers charge about the same price for LASIK.

This is because it costs the discounters a certain amount to provide LASIK the way they do it and the quality centers have a different cost structure for the way they provide LASIK eye surgery.

Laser Eye Surgery Costs—The Quality of the Laser

The discount centers tend to use the Nidek laser because it costs less to use. The more quality oriented LASIK eye centers have tended to use the Alcon Alegretto laser. These lasers have some specific advantages and cost more to use than the Nidek.

The Cost of LASIK–Bladeless Laser vs. Razor Flaps

In the past all LASIK flaps were made with the mechanical microkeratome (razor).  Researchers then invented the femtosecond laser to make the flap. The bladeless LASIK has safety and quality advantages.

The majority of LASIK flaps in the U.S. are now done with the laser and most of the femtosecond lasers are found at quality oriented laser centers. The majority of the flaps still made with the razor in the U.S. are done at discount LASIK centers.

LASIK Eye Surgery Costs—Commodity vs. Craft

If you believe that LASIK is a commodity where all laser eye surgery and eye surgeons are the same and the only difference is price then you will probably choose a discounter.  They are there for those that feel that way.

If you feel like me, that LASIK is a craft where individual attention and skill matter, where technology is evolving and LASIK is improving over time, then you will want to choose the LASIK eye center in your area which demonstrates the highest commitment to quality.

The Bottom Line on LASIK Cost