A lot of patients who intend to go for LASIK treatment are concerned with the question “how much is LASIK eye surgery.? This is because insurance companies do not cover the LASIK eye treatment and there are just a few member-based discount prices.
There is no government oversight of how doctors manage LASIK practices although the FDA (Food Drug Agency) is empowered to approve the sale of reasonably safe and effective lasers to be used in the LASIK procedure. There is no fixed or standard price for LASIK eye surgery.
On average the answer to the question “how much is LASIK eye surgery” is $1900/eye for non-customized LASIK treatment while it costs up to $2,500/eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures using the most sophisticated techniques.
What is LASIK?
LASIK, which stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis, commonly referred to as laser eye surgery or laser vision correction, is a type of refractive surgery to correct myopia, hyperopia, and an actual cure for astigmatism.
The doctor who performs this surgery is an ophthalmologist, who uses laser or microkeratome to reshape one’s cornea and improve visual activity. This operation provides a long-lasting alternative to contact lenses or eyeglasses for most people.
It is reported that annually, about 700,000 people go for LASIK eye surgery to reshape their cornea so that light coming through it is properly focused on the retina. 96% of patients who go for LASIK treatment report that they got their desired vision after the procedure.
Why Undergo LASIK Surgery?
Vision is blurry when light doesn’t focus on the retina the way it should. This problem is usually seen in;
Myopia
Nearsightedness (myopia) is a common vision condition in which you can see objects near to you clearly, but objects farther away seem blurry. It may develop steadily or rapidly often between childhood and adolescence.
Nearsightedness usually occurs when your eyeball is longer than normal or your cornea is curved too steeply. The blurry sight when looking at farther objects, Squinting of the eyes, or partial closing of the eyelids to enhance sight.
Headaches caused by eye strain Myopia can be corrected with contact lenses, eyeglasses, and LASIK.
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Hyperopia
This is a vision condition in which the patient sees distant objects clearly but nearby objects may be blurry. In severe conditions, patients may not be able to near objects even when brought closer. This vision defect is usually inherited among offspring.
Hyperopia occurs when your eyeball is shorter than normal or your cornea is curved too little.
The effect is the opposite of nearsightedness. Some symptoms of hyperopia include nearby objects that seem to appear blurry, squinting to see, eye strain, leading to burning eyes or itching around the eyes. Hyperopia can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, and LASIK
Astigmatism.
With astigmatism, the front surface of the lens inside the eye is curved differently in one direction than the other. Occurs in bother children and adults, it can be hereditary too.
Astigmatism gives the lens an irregular curve that affects the retina’s light refraction, bringing a fuzzy or distorted vision. It can be either corneal (distortion in the cornea) or lenticular (distortion to the lens).
Some symptoms of astigmatism include blurry vision, eye strain, eye irritation, and difficulty seeing at night. Mild cases of astigmatism may not require treatment, but corrective lenses, Orthokeratology, and refractive surgery can be used as a treatment
The LASIK procedure
Each eye is unique and as personal as your fingerprint or your DNA. This procedure is best known and most commonly performed as laser refractive surgery used to correct vision problems.
It is a corrective eye surgery in which a flap of the corneal surface is raised and a thin layer of the underlying tissue is removed using a laser. This is done so that light can focus on the retina in the back of your eye without obstruction.
Before proceeding the doctor must access for eye infection, inflammation, dry eyes, large pupils, and high eye pressure.
What are the Benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery?
- LASIK is associated with very little pain because of the numbing drops that are used.
- There aren’t any bandages or stitches needed.
- If your vision changes as you age, your doctor can adjust it.
- After having LASIK, most patients have a dramatic reduction in the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses, and many patients no longer need them at all.
How Much is LASIK Eye Surgery – LASIK Cost in MN?
The cost of LASIK is an important factor for patients when it comes to planning for LASIK eye surgery. Unfortunately, it is not covered by insurance.
As of 2017, the average cost of LASIK surgery in the United States was just over $2,000 per eye. Bladeless LASIK costs approximately $5,000 for both eyes.
Know that the price may vary on; The LASIK surgeon you choose, as well as their level of experience in the field, what kind of LASIK technology the practice uses, and the type and severity of refractive errors you have (mild or severe).
When it comes to cost, one should consider that lenses should be replaced often, eye-care accessories like contact lens solutions and cases! It adds up, and fast. It may cost a lot at first but it is a great investment in your eyes.
While you’re here, check out How Much Does LASIK Cost In Oklahoma| 2022
Factors Affecting the Price of LASIK Treatment
While the normal price of LASIK treatment seems to be around $1900/eye to $2500/eye, it is important for every patient who intends to go for LASIK eye surgery to know that some factors can affect the cost of LASIK treatment.
Some of the factors that can affect the price of LASIK treatment include the following:
- Required pre-operating testing
- Specialized equipment for eye-tracking, corneal measurement, and topography, size of patient’s pupil, and tear film analysis
- Surgical equipment such as traditional blade LASIK or laser and also
- Whether the laser used by the surgeon is leased from another health institution.
Due to the relatively high cost of LASIK treatment, some patients may opt-in for cheaper options around $499 at some health centers.
Although it may sound like a good deal, the patient might be at a disadvantage if his or her eye prescriptions are too strong as this will make him or her be considered a wrong candidate for low pricing.
Also, patients have reported that some of the low-price options use out-of-date technology for the procedure. In some cases too, it may turn out to be that the pre-op and follow-up visits were not included in the low-price offers.
What if I Can’t Afford LASIK at the Moment?
LASIK may seem like a lot up front, but it’s an investment in your eyes. LASIK pays for itself over time. Since insurance probably won’t cover LASIK, it’s best to be realistic and have a plan for financing it.
Most LASIK recipients pay for their procedure using financing. This is much more affordable than paying in full upfront! Breaking LASIK up into smaller, monthly payments makes it much more manageable. Some good options to finance LASIK treatment include:
- Financing your procedure directly through your LASIK surgeon or a major company.
- Charging LASIK on a zero-interest credit card (and paying it off as quickly as possible)
- Taking out a personal loan from your bank
Risks of the LASIK Treatment
When deciding to undergo this treatment, it is important to know that there are certain side effects associated with it, although some may be temporary like dry eyes, and glare, they clear up within weeks or months.
Some people still consider them to be a long-term problem. In very rare cases its complications lead to loss of vision.
- Dry eyes:LASIK affects the functional unit of tear production (lacrymal gland) which causes a temporary in its secretion. At this point, your eyes may feel unusually dry as they heal. Dry eyes can reduce the quality of your vision. Doctors may recommend eye drops, and special plugs, that prevent your tears from draining away from the surface of your eyes during this period.
- Glare, halos, and double system. You may have difficulty seeing at night after surgery, which usually lasts a few days to a few weeks. You might notice increased light sensitivity, glare, halos around bright lights, or double vision.
- Under correction. If the laser removes too little from the eye, you won’t get the clearer vision results you were hoping for. One may need to undergo the procedure again a year after the surgery.
- Over-correction. It’s also possible that the laser will remove too much tissue from your eye. It may cause light sensitivity and bruises to the eye.
- Regression. Regression is when your vision slowly changes back toward your original prescription. This is a less common complication.
- Infections. Folding back or removing the flap from the front of your eye during surgery can cause complications like flap problems which cause infections and excess tears.
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Results After LASIK Surgery
LASIK eye surgery is usually completed within 30 minutes or less, and after that people mostly experience these results.
Some of the results patients get after LASIK treatment include not wearing glasses or with better vision., their cornea being reshaped and modified to normal size to aid normal vision, and very mild effects like dry eye, burning, and itching, affecting about 20% to 40% of people who undergo the procedure.
FAQs How much Does LASIK Cost in MN?
On average, LASIK treatment costs between $1,900/eye to $3,000/eye and it is not covered by insurance because it is deemed to be a cosmetic or elective procedure.
LASIK treatment can last for 10 years, 20 years, or even a lifetime. The lasting effect LASIK procedure depends on several factors including the age of a patient.
Yes, LASIK treatment is worth it as most patients who undergo LASIK are satisfied with the results they get.
No. LASIK treatment is not covered by insurance because insurance companies deem it to be a cosmetic or elective procedure
Yes, it is safe. LASIK treatment has proven to be generally safe for even patients beyond 40 years.
Fortunately, LASIK treatment isn’t painful. Your surgeon will place eye drops that numb your eye just before the surgery, and while you may feel pressure on your eye during the surgery, you are guaranteed to feel no pain.
Yes. LASIK is a quick procedure that takes only minutes to complete and you stay awake during the whole process.
Conclusion
Most patients focus too much on the “how much is LASIK eye surgery” which makes it easy to find a provider who will promise LASIK for $1,000 or even less per eye, or even less. These advertised prices aren’t inaccurate.
Frequently, low-priced LASIK procedures only correct for mild nearsightedness, so you’ll likely be charged a higher price than advertised if you are farsighted or have astigmatism.
Similar to a budget airline, a low-price LASIK provider may charge additional fees for essentials like drops, pre-and postop appointments, and fine tunes.
References
- https://www.mneye.com – How much will LASIK cost me
- https://mneyeinstitute.com – LASIK eye surgery cost
- mayoclinic.org – LASIK eye surgery
- webmd.com – How Much Does LASIK Eye Surgery Usually Cost
- https://www.rochestereyecenter.com – how much does LASIK eye surgery cost
- diamondvision.com – the invention of LASIK eye surgery
- https://www.vsp.com – How much does LASIK eye surgery cost
- stpauleye.com – LASIK
- southdaleeyeclinic.com – LASIK eye procedure
- https://www.weiseyecenter.com – the cost of LASIK
- https://www.ovoeye.com – LASIK surgery Minneapolis and Minnesota
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