LASIK is a terrific technological advancement that enables people to stop wearing eyeglasses or putting contact lenses in their eyes to correct their vision. The procedure has been in use and improved over several decades. LASIK is fast, painless, and provides patients with immediate vision correction.

Undergoing LASIK eye surgery enables patients to free themselves from the daily burden of wearing eyeglasses or contacts and replacing them over time. That’s especially beneficial in sunny southern California, where you might want to go surfing, snorkeling, or participate in many other great activities that are made more difficult when wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses. You also won’t have to worry about buying special sports eyewear or losing or damaging your glasses or contacts.    

Where to Get LASIK Eye Surgery

Only a licensed ophthalmologist is qualified to do LASIK surgery on patients. An optometrist does not have the required medical training to do laser eye surgery to correct vision. You would need to see an ophthalmologist to have it done on your eyes if you are considering it.

It’s best to see an ophthalmologist who specializes in laser eye surgery because not all licensed ophthalmologists offer the service. If you are seeing an optometrist, you might ask for a referral for LASIK. Your eye doctor might know of some especially good LASIK service providers.     

How LASIK Surgery Works

LASIK eye surgery uses a cutting laser to reshape the eye’s corneal tissue to correct vision. The procedure works equally well for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. That’s because it generally does the same thing to correct the vision, which is to reshape the cornea to restore perfect vision.

All eyes have a correct focal point where vision is perfect, but not all eyes are shaped the same. Some are taller, shorter, or more oblong, which affects the focal point and vision. The same goes for the eye lens and cornea. Whenever the shape is less than ideal, it affects vision and makes things blurry. LASIK uses a computer-guided cutting laser that your ophthalmologist programs for each of your eyes to reshape the cornea and put the focal point where it belongs.

Average Cost for LASIK Surgery

The cost of LASIK eye surgery is much less than what people pay over the years for new glasses and contact lenses to correct their vision. The lifetime costs of wearing eyeglasses and contacts can be very high, especially for those who have especially bad vision. Continual eye doctor appointments add to lifetime costs as your vision changes over time. LASIK helps lower eye-care costs by eliminating the need to continually pay for new glasses or contacts.

LASIK generally costs between $1,000 and $4,000 per eye with an average cost of $2,632 per eye in 2020. Eye doctors who are located in high-cost areas, like New York City, charge more because they have higher overhead costs than their contemporaries in more rural areas. Some vision insurance providers help cover some of the costs or enable service discounts through approved service providers, which can make it much more affordable.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Readers should consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. The contents of this article should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Published by: Holy Minoza