Average cost

The most common type of Laser eye surgery performed today is Lasik. With this method, the eye surgeon reshapes the cornea using a special laser. Performed on an outpatient basis, it generally takes less than 15 minutes per eye.

When it first began, Lasik was thousands per eye. Now, costs have gone down considerably. The same goes for other types of eye surgery, including PRK and wavefront. Wavefront technology is used to reduce aberrations such as glare and night vision problems. However, costs will rise for surgeries that use newer technology. The average cost for eye surgery now is approximately:

• $2,100 for all laser-based surgeries.
• $1,600 for Lasik or PRK using lasers that are not guided by wavefront
• $2,300 for lasers that use wavefront

As a general rule, this is what you can expect to pay. However, if you have eyes that require more extensive correction, or if you need a lot of follow up visits that are not covered in the fee, you can expect to pay more than these average prices. The same holds true for customized corrections that utilize different options.

What to look out for

Price is often a reflection on the type of service you will get. As a general rule, consider the following red flags when it comes to eye surgery and pricing:

• Coupons. You may come across coupons in the mail advertising Lasik or other eye surgery for $499 an eye, or $100 off each eye, and so forth. Avoid places that require coupons-those are for grocery stores, not serious surgical procedures. Reputable surgeons will not need coupons to draw customers in.
• Prices much lower than averages. If you come across a doctor that is significantly less expensive than the other doctors in your area, there is probably a reason. Avoid these surgeons, or do a lot of research and find out what the actual costs of the procedure will be. Often, when prices are advertised that low, it doesn't include hidden fees like "paperwork" or "nonrefundable deposits" or "facility fees" that are not applied to the cost of the surgery.

Never get a bargain priced surgeon, because the old saying "you get what you pay for" applies. If you want Lasik but don't think you can afford it, many doctors will do payment plans that allow you to pay off the surgery in a year or two by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable payments.

When looking for an eye surgeon, make sure you get an estimate in writing that states what the exact cost of the procedure will be. You should also make sure to find out if post-operative corrections are included in the price of the surgery. Many surgeons will include any post-op corrections in their initial price, where others will charge you more if you need any follow-up corrections or reshaping.