How Much Does Laser Eye Surgery Cost?

Can you afford Laser eye surgery? Most insurance plans won’t cover the cost since it is an elective surgery and linked more closely with cosmetic surgery. There are exceptions, however, but in most cases insurance won’t pay.

Laser eye surgery cost analysis demonstrate a wide variety of prices and an even wider variety of what is included in the price of the surgery. For example, is the initial consultation and examination included in the price should you elect the surgery? Are post-operative visits included in the price? How many? What about the eye drops used during the surgery? Some laser surgery centers charge as much as $100 for those drops.

As far as the cost of the actual surgery itself, advertised prices are usually per eye. Since it’s really not a good idea to have surgery on both eyes at once, you will probably just be looking at the cost of one eye initially.

Beware of Laser surgery centers advertising this surgery for $299 or $399 per eye. As a matter of fact, in November of 2005 a Florida company settled a false advertising claim that was brought by the Illinois Attorney General’s office. The suit alleged that the company did not make a full disclosure of their prices. They were advertising laser eye surgery for $299 an eye but customers were paying much more.

Why does laser eye surgery cost so much? It’s not a cheap business to run. The equipment is expensive, training employees is expensive and even royalties have to be paid to manufacturers. Laser eye surgery can cost as much as $2500 an eye. Yet in the same city you can find a well qualified eye surgeon to do the same surgery for $1500. so it pays well to shop around. Don’t accept laser eye surgery cost estimates. Insist on a breakdown of every charge.

Don’t make the mistake of letting your decision be based totally on cost though. This is far too important a procedure to be based solely on money. Make sure too, that you are given a full evaluation before you agree to the surgery. This involves more than just an oral consultation. This is not something for which you can be screened online either. It’s important that the eye surgeon examine your eyes before he can make his recommendation.

There are many questions to ask yourself besides, “How much does laser eye surgery cost?” Once you investigate all the different aspects of laser eye surgery, money may be the least of your concerns!

Corrective Laser Eye Surgery

Corrective laser eye surgery has become very popular in the last couple of years and is being used on a large scale in ophthalmology to treat various eye conditions. It can be used to treat diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, presbyopia and diabetic retinopathy.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma consists of a higher intraocular pressure that causes harm to the optic nerve. There are several types of corrective laser surgery used to lower this pressure and treat glaucoma:

Trabeculoplasty – Tissue from the eye structure that determines the flow of fluid (trabecular meshwork) is ablated with the use of a laser. This procedure causes an increased outflow from the eye. It is used for patients suffering from open-angle glaucoma.
Iridotomy – The tissue from the iris is ablated using a laser. This type of corrective laser eye surgery is used to treat closed-angle glaucoma.
Cyclophotocoagulation – The ciliary tissue is ablated using a laser. Cyclophotocoagulation is used to treat patients who didn't respond to other surgical procedures.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a condition consisting of an abnormal growth of blood vessels that causes vision loss, generally associated with the old age. If discovered early, it can be treated using corrective laser eye surgery. The disease will not be cured, but this type of treatment can prevent future vision loss. There are two types of treatments used for this eye condition:

Laser surgery – involves using a laser to damage new blood vessels that appear in the eye.
Therapy (PDT) – A photoactive medicine is used together with the laser treatment to damage new blood vessels. The medicine is injected into the blood and then activated through corrective laser eye surgery, proving very effective in destroying blood vessels. However, you might need several sessions to get the desired effects.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition consisting of an abnormal growth of blood vessels, as well as damaged blood vessels. Generally, it can be prevented or at least delayed with a good diabetes treatment. However, if this disease develops, it can be treated with a certain type of corrective laser eye surgery: laser photocoagulation. This procedure works by sealing leaking blood vessels and slowing down the process of abnormal blood vessel growth.

Presbyopia

This is also an eye condition related to age in which the eye loses its flexibility and ability to focus on close objects. The type of corrective laser eye surgery used to treat this disease is called monovision. This surgical procedure corrects one eye for close vision and another from distance vision. This type of corrective laser eye surgery is not reversible, so patients are often advised to try it out with contact lenses first to see if the eyes adjust properly.

There are other eye conditions that can be treated with corrective laser eye surgery too. For more in-depth information on what these eye diseases are what procedures can be used and whether you are a good candidate, it is best to talk to a doctor.

Laser Eye Surgery History

Radial Keratotomy

The history of laser eye surgery goes back almost 100 years. Lans, a Dutch Ophthalmology professor, explained the basic principles of keratotomy in 1898. Sato, a doctor from Japan, did some pioneering trials with corneal incisions during the '30s. However, many of his patients suffered from late corneal decomposition after the treatment.

Radial keratotomy was put in practice by Dr. Fyodorov in Russia in 1970s, to treat a case of eye trauma. He used this technique to treat a boy who suffered from corneal lacerations after breaking his glasses. After treatment, the patient's vision was better than before injury. This success determined Fyodorov to make some research on past efforts in this field. His findings caught the attention of American ophthalmologists in 1978.

Dr. Leo Bores was the one to bring the technology to the United States after visiting Dr. Fyodorov in Russia. Since then, over 2 million people received radial keratotomy only in the United States.
The discovery of certain limitations of radial keratotomy determined doctors to research alternative forms of eye surgery.

The Excimer Laser

The use of the Excimer laser was another important step in the history of laser eye surgery. Dr. Srinivasin was the first to discover its potential in interacting with biological tissue while working in the IBM research labs. Dr. Steven Trokel was the one to use it for the first time in reshaping corneal tissue. This laser device emits a cold beam that when interacting with corneal tissue, destroys carbon-carbon bonds between molecules, causing tissue ablation.

The excimer laser has been used in refractive surgery worldwide since 1987 and proved a high level of effectiveness and safety. Millions of patients suffering from various eye conditions have undergone this procedure.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

Photorefractive keratectomy was also an important progress in the history of laser eye surgery. The first PRK surgery was held in 1988 in Germany. Millions of surgeries have been performed since then all over the world.

Laser Assisted In-situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

LASIK is a more recent discovery in the history of laser eye surgery. The surgeon uses a blade to cut a flap of the cornea and then a laser to remove tissue underneath the flap. Compared to PRK, this procedure allows the cornea to remain mostly intact. Therefore, the patients who have LASIK feel more comfortable and recover better and faster after surgery.

Surgeons have been performing LASIK for about 15 years now. The first surgery was performed in United States trials in 1991. However, the main components of this procedure have a much longer history. Ophthalmologists have been using different methods to reshape the cornea for over 50 years, creating protective layers for over 40 years and using an excimer laser since late '80s.

In 1996, the FDA approved the laser treatment for myopia up to -6.00 diopters and in 1997; this procedure was approved for treating astigmatism up to -4.00 diopters.

Recent progress in the history of laser eye surgery includes advanced procedures to overcome the risks associated with laser treatment. Current technologies such as IntraLense use an extra laser instead of a blade and provide better safety and faster recovery. Other techniques allow an advanced level of accuracy and predictability, increasing the chance for a successful procedure.

Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Information

Computer technology has been used on a large scale in medical science during latest years. Laser eye surgery has increased in popularity, while non-laser procedures have also been improved. Many people have only heard about LASIK as a refractive surgery. However, there are many various types of eye surgery to correct vision.

Laser Eye Surgery

For these procedures, the surgeon uses a laser beam for reshaping the cornea and improving the eye's ability to focus. There are many different types of laser eye surgery, such as PRK, LASIK, Intralense or LASEK.

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

This laser eye surgery procedure is used for treating astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness. It involves cutting a flap from the outer and middle layers of the cornea and then the use of an excimer laser to reshape tissue under this flap. This procedure usually takes about one minute per eye.

Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK)

In LASEK eye surgery, the process is pretty much the same, except that the flap is cut only through the outer corneal layer (epithelium). It is used mostly for patients with thin corneas, for whom a LASIK procedure will be more risky. This type of eye surgery can have some side effects, such as a slightly longer healing period with more discomfort.

IntraLense

In this type of eye surgery, the surgeon cuts the flap using another laser instead of a microkeratome.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

This type of laser eye surgery is used to treat mild to moderate farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. The outer layer of the cornea is reshaped in order to correct vision. No flat needs to be cut in the cornea. The surgery generally lasts less than a minute.

Non-laser Eye Surgery

These types of eye surgery involve correcting vision reshaping the cornea by cutting into the outer layers of the eye or using low heat radio waves.

Astigmatic Keratotomy Incisions

This procedure is used for correcting mild astigmatism. Bulgy areas of the cornea are corrected with the use of a blade. This procedure is often performed in conjunction with other eye surgery procedures. However, it is now used less frequently than laser eye surgery.

Implantable Contact Lenses

These implantation lenses are used to treat serious farsightedness and nearsightedness. The lens is inserted behind the iris, in front of the eye's natural lens. Unlike normal contact lenses, you cannot feel them and they don't need maintenance. This type of eye surgery usually takes 6 to 20 minutes.

Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)

This procedure has been used for many decades now and the lenses are usually implanted in the eye during a cataract surgery for replacing the natural lens. Years ago, intraocular lenses could only distance vision and glasses were still required for close vision. However, the procedure has been improved and now corrects close and intermediate vision as well.

While many surgeons would always choose laser procedures and the most advanced technologies, some still advise a few patients with specific eye conditions to have a non-laser surgery instead. All eye surgeries have possible side effects and involve certain risks, so you should consult a physician to explain you the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure.