What factors determine the cost of LASIK?

The very first question that pops up in the minds of many while considering a spectacle removal procedure is “how much does LASIK eye surgery cost?” You may or may not be knowing that multiple factors influence the final cost of LASIK. Nowadays, it is one of the most commonly performed elective surgeries in individuals above 18 years of age, who want to lead a specs-free life.

Let’s look at the LASIK eye surgery cost factors in detail

Doctor’s fee: This is the first and foremost factor that has a significant impact on the overall cost of LASIK surgery. From the first consultation to the post-surgery follow-up, you may have to visit your surgeon quite a few times. The doctors who are more experienced and come from premier institutes usually have higher fees than a doctor who holds less experience. 

Technique used: The surgery cost varies based on the type of procedure. The eye surgery cost is lesser for standard or traditional LASIK and is higher for advanced refractive procedures like SMILE and Contoura Vision. Your eye specialist decides the type of technology best suited for you after running a thorough pre-operative work-up.

The city where you undergo treatment: Whether you get the treatment done in a metro city or a tier 2, or tier 3 cities also affect LASIK cost. Usually, the healthcare amenities and infrastructure of metro cities may be more advanced. 

Pre-surgery workup: Before undergoing surgery, you need to go through a few diagnostic or pre-operative tests. These are performed to check the extent of refractive error, corneal thickness, etc. 

Post-surgery care: Depending upon your condition and the technique of laser vision used, the doctor will prescribe medication, eye drops, eye patches, etc. Not all patients require eye path and oral medication. However, all patients require to go for regular follow-ups to ensure a smooth recovery.

Before you panic, take a sigh of relief as cases of post-surgery complications are rare.

The overall surgery cost may increase in case the patient develops any complications. In some cases of LASIK, there are chances of post-operative risks if the patient does not follow instructions or if something happens accidentally.

• Inflamed eye flap: If the flap in the eye created during the procedure gets inflamed, it leads to blurred vision and if not attended to in time can get worse. Thus, it’s crucial to remove inflamed tissues to keep away the chances of serious damage. This treatment can add up to around INR 2,500 – 3,000 or even more.
• Dry eyes: A patient may experience prolonged dryness in the eyes if their tear duct is damaged. At first, the eye specialist may recommend lubricating eye drops. However, if the drops do not serve the purpose and the problem persists, the patient needs to get another surgery done. This can add up a significant amount to the overall LASIK treatment cost. 
•  Vision not corrected properly: In both cases, whether under-correction or overcorrection of the vision during the LASIK procedure, the doctor may recommend getting a second procedure done. The additional laser operation for eyes cost may also differ for every patient depending upon their panel and the policies of the healthcare provider.  

Take Away

Treatment cost is a big concern for many patients. Fortunately, LASIK surgery comes under affordable surgery. You must have gained the perspective that laser eye surgery cost varies based on several factors. You can save costs by choosing the right healthcare provider that offers comprehensive eye care. Also, there is nothing major to worry about, LASIK surgery success rate is very high, more than 95%. Thus, you can go ahead with your decision and get in touch with us eye care experts. At Centre for Sight, we offer all types of refractive procedures including LASIK, SMILE, and Contoura Vision under one roof. To know more about LASIK cost or any other query, get in touch with us.