Understanding LASIK Costs

It is a normal occurrence, in the business world, for the price of a new product or service to drop as it becomes more widely available. But LASIK surgery has most definitely been an exception to this rule. The only logical explanation for this anomaly is that LASIK surgery has not remained the same, but has grown to include a wide variety of surgical procedures.

The predominating factors in LASIK cost are the type of procedure and the equipment needed to perform it. The difference in LASIK cost when a scalpel is used as opposed to a microkeratome can be significant; and the difference in LASIK cost when a laser is used instead of a microkeratome can be equally significant. Then we get into the type of laser used, because the LASIK costs will also vary depending on that.

The Newer The Pricier If you have visited an ophthalmologist to talk about a laser procedure, you may have heard about the different lasers available. The newly FDA-approved Allegro Wave laser, becaude it is so new, is at the high end; the excimer laser which is really a group of lasers with varying laser beams; and the IntraLase. With the addition of every new laser into LASIK procedures, the procedures themselves become more expensive, because the ophthalmologists are passing the cost of the technology on to their patients.

But the appearance of new lasers has another, often overlooked consequence; the new lasers mean that pre-existing lasers, even those which are in prime condition, are now worth less. They may still be highly sophisticated medical instruments, but they aren’t the newest highly sophisticated medical instruments. Those still available in the marketplace will cost less, and should mean lower LASIK costs for those patients whose doctors buy them. But that’s in a logical world.

Any laser which is not seen as state-of-the-art may soon fall from customer favor, simply because no matter how many features it has, it lacks at least some of the features of the latest lasers. The newer lasers may cause less post-operative discomfort, and everyone is willing to pay a little more for the opportunity to suffer a little less. And as the previous laser models fall from favor, they will disappear from the marketplace.

Do Some Comparison Shopping Regardless of the dynamics of the marketplace, a savvy consumer still has the opportunity to comparison shop for the lowest LASIK costs. The Internet, and industry periodicals are all great sources for finding the best prices available on various lasers, and knowing what they are will give you an idea of the LASIK costs you can expect for your individual procedure, depending on the laser involved.

No LASIK procedure, of course, will occur until you first have an eye exam from a qualified eye specialist. There is no generic LASIK procedure which works for everyone; each pair of eyes has its own defects to be corrected. A professionally done optical exam will pinpoint exactly which LASIK procedures, with which lasers, are appropriate for a patient.

LASIK costs, while they are certainly important, should never be the only criteria on which you base your decision regarding eye surgery. Far more important is the expertise of the medical personnel who are doing your eye exam and performing the procedures. If the doctor with whom you feel more comfortable charges more for his or her services, and you can afford the extra LASIK costs without straining your budget, treat yourself and go with your gut.

You can also find more info on Lasik Eye Surgery Price and Lasik Eye Surgery Risks. 2020lasikeyesurgery.com is a comprehensive resource to get information about LASIK eye surgery.