Are you considering LASIK but are worried about the cost? While there may be a larger upfront cost, LASIK can be affordable and save you money in the long run.
LASIK is the most popular vision correction procedure for good reason. It has a 96% satisfaction rate, with most patients significantly reducing or eliminating their need for glasses or contact lenses.
By cutting down or even completely eliminating the need for visual aids, LASIK can save you money over time. If you’re concerned about the upfront cost, financing options are available to make the procedure more manageable.
Keep reading to learn more about LASIK, its cost, and how it compares to the lifetime expenses of glasses and contacts.
What is LASIK?
LASIK is a vision correction procedure that uses a laser to reshape the cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye. It corrects refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
When you have irregularities in the shape of your eye, light doesn’t focus properly, causing blurry vision. LASIK reshapes the cornea to improve light refraction, helping you see more clearly.
How Does LASIK Work?
On the day of your procedure, your LASIK surgeon at Loden Vision Centers will begin by numbing your eyes to ensure you don’t feel any pain. They will then use a femtosecond laser to make a tiny flap on the surface of your cornea and fold it back to access the tissue underneath.
Your LASIK surgeon will use an excimer laser to reshape the underlying corneal tissue and put the flap back in place. You won’t need any stitches or sutures, as the corneal flap acts as a natural bandage to help your eye heal.
Recovery is typically quick and smooth, with most patients being cleared to resume normal activities at their follow-up appointment the next day. During this time, you will likely begin to notice visual improvements.
Your vision will continue to sharpen as you heal, reaching peak clarity several weeks or months later.
What Are the Benefits of LASIK?
The main advantage of LASIK is the reduction or elimination of the need for glasses or contacts. After healing, most patients no longer require visual aids.
LASIK can even provide sharper vision than glasses or contacts, as the procedure corrects your specific refractive error. LASIK is also minimally invasive and has a quick recovery period, making it ideal for active patients.
Most patients return to normal activities within a day or two. Even with a relatively short procedure and recovery time, LASIK offers long-lasting results.
The changes made to your vision during LASIK are permanent. However, age-related eye conditions like cataracts still have the potential to alter your vision in the future.
How Much Does LASIK Cost?
The cost of LASIK depends on several factors, including your prescription. Generally, the average price of the procedure is between $1,500 and $2,500 per eye, making the average total cost for both eyes $3,000 to $5,000.
While that might seem expensive, there are ways to make LASIK more affordable. Many practices, including Loden Vision Centers, offer financing options.
Loden Vision Centers accept most major credit cards and allow patients to apply for healthcare financing plans through Alphaeon or CareCredit. Both Alphaeon and CareCredit typically offer zero-interest plans, as long as you make timely payments.
This means you won’t pay more than the actual cost of the procedure. Additionally, if you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can use those funds to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
Even if you can’t cover the full cost with your FSA, it can still reduce the amount you’ll need to finance.
What Are the Long-Term Costs of Glasses and Contacts?
You may not realize just how much you spend on glasses and contacts each year. Over time, these expenses can add up to a significant amount.
Glasses can cost anywhere from $50 to $1,000, depending on your prescription and the type of frames, lenses, and coatings you choose. On average, people spend around $200 on a new pair of glasses.
Contacts, on the other hand, typically cost between $15 and $75 per month. The average annual cost of contacts is about $250, though it can be higher depending on the type of lenses you use.
If you buy a new pair of glasses every year and use one year’s worth of contacts, you’re spending around $450 annually on visual aids. Even if you don’t replace your glasses every year, the ongoing costs of contacts still add up quickly.
In contrast, LASIK can reduce or completely eliminate these recurring expenses. Over the years, this can lead to significant savings.
Is the Cost of LASIK Worth It?
LASIK provides a long-term solution for clearer vision. While the upfront cost can seem high, the long-term financial benefits make LASIK worth it for many.
Most LASIK patients no longer need glasses or contacts after the procedure, meaning they can save on these ongoing costs. The one-time cost of LASIK could help you avoid years of purchasing glasses and contact lenses.
With the money you save over time, the procedure ends up paying for itself and then some.
Are you ready to invest in clear, high-definition vision? Schedule an appointment with Loden Vision Centers in Nashville, TN, today!
