The average price of LASIK in the U.S. is around $4,200 for both eyes.8 Even if your doctor recommends LASIK as a good treatment for your astigmatism, you may still want to consider the cost.
LASIK surgery is one of the most expensive procedures to treat astigmatism. However, it’s very effective in correcting various vision problems.
You should consider that LASIK may save you money in the long run. Especially if you’re buying contact lenses and glasses every year.
Does Insurance Cover LASIK for Astigmatism?
Most health insurance plans don’t cover laser eye surgery, including LASIK. This is because insurance companies like Cigna consider LASIK a cosmetic procedure.2 In other words, it is not medically necessary.
However, some insurance options may help lower the costs. Certain plans offer laser surgery benefits, which can help offset surgery costs. These benefits may differ based on the type of plan.
Always check your insurance coverage before committing to a surgery like LASIK. You can also ask your eye doctor about financing plans during your LASIK consultation.
Factors That Affect LASIK Costs
Your eye doctor will speak to you about the cost of LASIK before you commit to surgery. They’ll likely evaluate the cost per eye. This is because each of your eyes may require different amounts of testing, treatment, and follow-up care.
The price of LASIK can also vary based on:
- Treatment location
- Eye doctor’s expertise
- Type of LASIK technology your doctor uses
- Whether you require a second procedure or additional services
Other Ways to Save Money on LASIK
You will need to research your plan’s coverage before committing to surgery. You’ll most likely need to pay for LASIK out of pocket.
However, there are various ways to save money on LASIK, including:
No-Interest Financing
Many insurance companies offer plans for medical procedures like LASIK. Some plans even come with no interest.
This means if you pay back the cost of the surgery on time, you don’t have to pay any interest. You’ll typically need to cover the fees within 24 months. However, the fees can get high if you can’t pay on time.
FSA
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are sometimes used to pay for LASIK eye surgery. An FSA enables you to send pre-tax income from your paycheck into an account for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
In 2021, the maximum yearly employee contribution to an FSA was $2,750. As such, you’ll likely need more than your FSA to cover the procedure.
HSA
Another option is to add tax-free dollars to a health savings account (HSA) to help cover LASIK surgery. To qualify for an HSA, you must enroll in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). You can add to your HSA every pay period.
In 2021, the annual limit was $3,600 and $7,200 for family coverage. Unlike an FSA, any unspent dollars in your HSA roll over at the end of the year. You can use the money the following year or further in the future.
You can save enough money to cover the full cost of LASIK surgery by contributing to your HSA for 2 or more years. This will depend on your budget.
Military Benefits
Specific corrective vision surgery options may be free if you serve in the U.S. military. This includes LASIK. Your eligibility depends partly on the nature of your duties.
Limited Time Offers
LASIK discounts commonly pop up on radio, TV, and billboard advertisements. However, you should be careful because some discounts might be misleading.
Advertisements suggest you can have the surgery for hundreds of dollars rather than thousands. These prices typically do not reflect the total cost of care.
These advertised prices may include the standalone surgery but usually not the cost of certain fees that add up, including:
- Your preoperative screening exam
- Advanced technologies, including corneal mapping
- Astigmatism correction
- Aftercare
- Extra corrections if your vision doesn’t clear
It’s essential to have a screening exam before surgery to understand how much LASIK will cost. Inform your doctor of all vision and health problems so they can accurately assess your needs.
If you’re proactive, you can find a reputable limited-time offer or discount in your area. Make sure to do your research before booking with a discounted service.
Special Group Pricing
Some surgeries offer special prices for groups like:
- Companies
- Trade unions
- Professional associations
- Sports clubs
To access these prices, you must prove that you belong to the group. If your group hasn’t enrolled yet, your head of management or HR must arrange the agreement.
LASIK for Astigmatism Overview
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a laser-assisted eye surgery that changes the shape of your cornea, which is the clear front surface of your eye. It’s the best and most commonly performed laser refractive surgery to correct vision problems.
The cornea typically bends or refracts light into the retina. However, certain eye conditions prevent light from bending correctly, causing blurry vision.
Glasses or contacts can also correct your vision. But, the LASIK procedure can correct refraction problems by reshaping the cornea.
What Conditions Does LASIK Treat?
LASIK eye surgery typically treats the following conditions:
Nearsightedness causes light rays to meet in the middle of your eye. On the other hand, light meets behind your eye if you’re farsighted.
Astigmatism can occur when the shape of your cornea is steeper in one direction than the other. This is a slightly more complex eye condition because light rays fall in different areas of your eye. Some light rays may focus behind the eye, while some may focus in the middle of the eye.7
How Does LASIK Work?
Vision problems begin with improper focus. Light rays must move through the eye to see images clearly and meet at the back of the eye.
LASIK surgery involves removing a certain amount of tissue, so rays meet in the proper spot. The LASIK surgeon does this by reshaping parts of your cornea with a programmed laser.
With each laser pulse, tiny amounts of corneal tissue are removed. The surgery is usually finished in 30 minutes or less. If you need LASIK surgery for both eyes, the procedure should be done on the same day.
Risks of LASIK Eye Surgery
You may experience certain side effects from your laser eye surgery procedure.
These side effects include:
- Dry eyes
- Glare, haloes, and double vision
- Astigmatism
- Flap problems
- Overcorrections and under-corrections
- Corneal ectasia
- Regression
- Vision loss and changes
These symptoms typically fade after weeks or months.
Alternatives for Astigmatism Correction
There are various alternatives for astigmatism correction, including:
Glasses and Contact Lenses
Glasses and contact lenses can significantly improve your eyesight, even with astigmatism. Health insurance companies rely on this knowledge when determining vision correction benefits.1
If you haven’t tried glasses or contact lenses, it may be a good idea to do so before asking about LASIK. Most eyesight insurance plans cover new eyeglasses or contact lenses every 12 months.
PRK
PRK stands for photorefractive keratectomy. It’s a laser eye surgery that predates LASIK.
Because LASIK is more comfortable than PRK, it’s more common. However, PRK is more affordable. Costs range between $1,000 and $3,000 per eye. PRK is considered elective surgery like LASIK, so insurance usually doesn’t cover it.
Summary
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a vision correction surgery that reshapes your cornea. This allows light to properly refract into your retina, correcting eye conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
The average cost of LASIK is around $4,200. Unfortunately, because LASIK isn’t a medically necessary procedure, it isn’t covered by insurance.
However, there are other ways you can save on LASIK costs. Talk to your eye doctor about different financing options.
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