How LASIK Can Save You Money in the Long-term

Before you make any financial decision, you need to do a cost-benefit analysis. The same applies to healthcare investments. Are you considering undergoing LASIK eye surgery? If you are, you should calculate the return on your investment. 

When you think about LASIK surgery, one of the first things you will consider is cost. Like any medical procedure, LASIK surgery may seem like a significant investment. However, you may not realize that it can save you substantial money in the long run.

What Is LASIK Surgery?

LASIK surgery is one of the most commonly performed and best-known laser refractive procedures. It aims to correct refractive errors to improve vision. In most cases, it is a better alternative to corrective lenses.

During the procedure, an eye surgeon uses a special cutting laser to reshape the patient's cornea to improve vision. The cornea is the clear dome-shaped tissue at the front of the eye. 

The eye's cornea should bend or refract light precisely onto the retina. But with farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism, the eye's cornea bends light incorrectly. That often results in blurred vision. Corrective lenses can help address the problem. However, correcting the eye's cornea is better to provide the necessary refraction.

Typical Eye Care Expenses

About 75 percent of adults in the U.S. use some form of corrective lenses. Most of them wear prescription eyeglasses, and about 22 percent wear contact lenses. So at the very least, most adults with refractive errors need to undergo a comprehensive eye exam after every two years or so. They also need to renew their prescriptions and probably purchase new corrective eyewear. 

Many people in the U.S. lack eye insurance. If you are among this group, you will pay hundreds of dollars for your eye care needs every year or so. These include paying for regular eye exams, new eyeglasses, contact lens exams, and new contact lenses.

Factors Affecting the Cost of LASIK Surgery

Aside from the cost of undergoing LASIK surgery, below are some of the expenses you need to consider before you undergo the procedure:
 

• Post-op consultations and care.
   

• Supplies and equipment costs.
   

• Diagnostic exams and testing.

How LASIK Can Save You Money in the Long Run

One of the significant benefits of undergoing LASIK surgery is that it can eventually save you money. This is mainly because it can help eliminate many costs associated with wearing corrective lenses. 

When you undergo LASIK surgery, you will not need to regularly buy new eyeglasses, eyeglass frames, contact lens refills, prescription sunglasses, or contact lens solutions. These may seem relatively minor expenses, but they can add up over time, so you will always need to have money. 

Throughout your adulthood, you may spend more than $10,000 on your eye care expenses. In contrast, the average cost of undergoing LASIK surgery on both eyes is significantly less. Also, it would help if you considered that about 97 percent of patients who undergo this procedure get their vision corrected to 20/20 or even better.     

Bottom Line

If you have myopia, presbyopia, or astigmatism, you should consider the pros and cons of LASIK compared to corrective lenses. That includes the cost of LASIK surgery compared to repeatedly buying eyeglasses or contact lenses.

For more on LASIK, visit Shepard Eye Center at our offices in Santa Maria, Lompoc, Solvang, or Orcutt, California. You can call (805) 667-0100, (805) 793-1800, (805) 410-9998, or (805) 937-9532 to schedule an appointment today.