Because of the now competitive nature of the laser eye surgery industry, costs vary widely from one clinical center to another. Costs also depend on your particular circumstances and geographic location. The only stable standard is that all providers quote a laser eye surgery price per eye.

The advertised price is also subject to wide variation. Although there are advertisements that claim they offer LASIK eye surgery from $500 per eye, most people are either not eligible for that cost or needs extensive correction and treatment after surgery. Actually, it has been shown that only about three percent of all LASIK providers have a laser eye surgery cost lower than $1000 per eye.

When you hear about a clinical center that offers laser eye surgery at bargain prices, you'd better check the fine print thoroughly for hidden costs.

LASIK Laser Eye Surgery Cost

LASIK laser eye surgery cost has been constantly increasing during latest years. Just to get an idea, here is what a refractive industry reported on the average price of this type of procedure:
l In 2002, the average LASIK laser eye surgery cost ranged between $1,550 and $1,600.
l By October 2003, it had already increased to approximately $1,710.
l At the end of 2004, LASIK laser eye surgery cost raised above $1,800.
l In the first half of 2005, the average price was $1,965.

These figures include several types of businesses, from individual surgeons use rented equipment to those who own it and from regional clinical centers to nationwide eye surgery provider networks.

TLC Laser Eye Centers, a leading LASIK provider, had an average price of $1,800 in 2002. At the end of 2004, the average LASIK laser eye surgery cost rose to $1,957 and at the beginning of 2005 the price was $1,983.

LasikPlus, another famous nationwide provider, reported an average price of $1,344 per eye in 2005, which is slightly lower than $1,351 at the end of 2004, but much higher than $1,173 at the beginning of 2003.

Prices for Other Types of Eye Surgery

Other types of eye surgery have different prices, also varying upon many factors, such as individual prescription, the surgeon you choose and the place where you live. Here are the average prices per eye for other common eye surgery procedures:
l Corneal inserts: $2,800 to $3,800
l CK: $1,200 to $2,500
l PRK: $1,000 to $1,800
l LASEK: approximately the same prices as for LASIK

New Technology Laser Eye Surgery Cost

Laser eye surgery procedures that use new technologies are also more expensive. In LASIK with IntraLase, the surgeon cuts a flap form the cornea with a laser, not a microkeratome. The price is generally higher than for regular LASIK procedure, increasing with $250 - $500 per eye. The increase is partly explained by the fact that the surgeon has to cover the cost for the system. Patients paying for this procedure are said to have less flap complications, require less treatments after surgery and have as better chance to achieve a 20/20 or even higher acuity.

Financing is available to help you reduce laser eye surgery cost. There are many financing companies specialized in elective procedures which offer plans with long-term payments and fixed rates. Many laser eye surgery centers and private surgeons work with one of such companies to be able to offer more affordable financing plans to their patients.