Over the last few weeks I have been discussing all the things that seem to put people off having laser eye surgery. The previous 3 blog posts have discussed how long laser eye surgery lasts, what laser eye surgery is actually like, the laser eye surgery recovery and finally the long term effects of laser eye surgery.
Along with those things mentioned above, one of the most likely reasons people decide not to have eye laser surgery is the costs involved. However, the majority of people who say laser eye surgery cost is the main reason for them not having the surgery, have not actually been for a consultation to find out the price!
You may have seen advertisements on the television quoting things like ‘laser eye surgery from £400’ etc. However, it is very unlikely that you will qualify for these prices. This starting price of £400 will normally only relate to very mild prescriptions and the vast majority of people will fall outside this range. For example this starting price may only be applicable to prescriptions up to -1.25 dioptres (this is what prescriptions are measured in) but the vast majority of people will be higher than this. If your prescription is for example -4.00 Dioptres then expect to pay double this price and remember prices are per eye.
Like many things in life you can’t simply quote the cost of laser eye surgery as there are various options that you can choose from. It would be like asking someone who works in a shoe shop ‘How much do your shoes cost’. Shoes made out of the best material and by the best designers will cost a lot more than a basic non branded pair. Laser eye surgery is similar in this regard, if you want the very best treatment with all the premium options then you will have to pay more. The 2 main add-ons to consider with laser eye treatment are as follows:
- Wavefront laser eye surgery: Wavefront can be added to either Lasik or Lasek eye surgery and increases your chances of achieving 20:20 vision following your surgery. It also greatly cuts down on any night vision problems that you may encounter following standard laser eye surgery.
- Intralase: Intralase a type of Lasik (Intralase Lasik) and describes the way in which the flap is created during the procedure. It is regarded as a safer and more accurate treatment that reduces the chances of needing a laser re-treatment.
In some instances you may be required to have the premium treatments regardless of whether you want them or not. This will be as a result of some of the measurements taken in your laser eye surgery consultation. Such factors are as follows:
- Your prescription: If you have a high prescription then your surgen is ilkely to recommended that you have wavefront as it is a more accurate procedure.
- Your pupil size: People who have large pupils are at a higher risk of developing night vision problems following laser eye surgery. It is because of this that your surgeon may insist that you have wavefront laser eye surgery which significantly reduces night vision problems.
- Corneal thickness: During your laser eye surgery consultation your corneal thickness will be assessed. It is important that you have enough corneal thickness to safely carry out the procedure. If you have a thin cornea then your surgeon may insist that you have Intralase lasik rather than standard Lasik as the flap (layer of cornea) created is thinner.
As you can see there are many things to consider when discussing the price of laser eye surgery. Different clinics will charge different amounts, but one thing is certain, the more expensive premium procedures will increase your chances of safely achieving 20:20 vision.
I hope this post has been helpful and please let me know if you have any further questions. Either comment on this blog post or ask a question in our laser eye surgery forum,
Thanks for reading
Tim