- Eye pressure testing, corneal topography, pachymetry, dilated and non-dilated refractions, and assessment of laser vision correction candidacy are all part of a comprehensive clinical consultation.
Refractive Lens Exchange with Intraocular Lens Fee Includes:
- Comprehensive clinical consultation that includes corneal topography, pachymetry, dilated eye exam, ocular pressure measurement, candidacy assessment, and maybe other preoperative tests.
- Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops for peri-operative use if indicated
- The amount does not include copays for basic cataract surgery, which are covered by your health insurance.
What insurance is best for LASIK?
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, having a separate vision insurance policy makes sense. Given the high cost of corrective lenses, the coverage frequently pays for itself. Even if you don’t require vision correction right now, frequent vision care is critical for your general health.
There are many different types of vision insurance, and this collection includes options for all budgets. For example, we chose Vision Service Plan as our overall vision insurance provider because, as an industry leader, they offer plans with low copays and high allowances that are affordable for most people.
If you prefer laser surgery to glasses or contacts, UnitedHealthcare, our top pick for LASIK, offers a discount of up to 35 percent.
Consider Direct Vision if money is an issue. They have policies starting at $9 per month, making them the best option for those on a tight budget.
Finally, for individuals who wear contact lenses, EyeMed came out on top with its hefty $200 contact lens allowance and broad provider network.
How can I get my insurance to pay for LASIK?
Working with a surgeon in your preferred provider network might help you get the most out of your procedure. Add-on vision insurance coverage can be purchased to further reduce the cost. If you plan ahead and set aside pre-taxed cash, health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) can help you pay for LASIK.
Does insurance cover LASIK at all?
Unfortunately, because laser eye surgery is almost typically considered an elective procedure, most insurance companies do not cover it. Elective procedures are those that are optional, good to have, but are not medically necessary.
Although LASIK is rarely covered by insurance, certain people may be able to get their laser eye surgery covered due to exceptional circumstances.
LASIK may be covered by insurance for people who have certain safety needs (police or firefighters) or medical issues (contact lens intolerance, very dry eyes, or severe allergies). Wearing glasses and contacts can be harmful or impossible in either of these cases, necessitating LASIK. The conditions must be documented, and a good-faith effort must be made to wear contacts and glasses. Even then, an insurance company may not consider LASIK surgery to be medically essential.
Contact your benefits coordinator if you have any form of health insurance policy to find out exactly what is and is not covered. You can inquire about the amount of coverage provided, which procedures may be covered, and how much you will be responsible for whether you choose an in-network or out-of-network healthcare provider.
How much does LASIK normally cost?
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a popular vision correction procedure for those who are farsighted, nearsighted, or astigmatic.
This laser operation, which reshapes the cornea so that light traveling through it is appropriately focused on the retina, is performed on about 700,000 people each year. After the treatment, which was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, roughly 96 percent of patients will attain their desired vision.
If you or someone you know is considering LASIK, it’s critical to understand not only the procedure’s benefits and risks, but also the financial costs.
Can you negotiate LASIK cost?
You might be able to reduce the cost of LASIK surgery. For LASIK and other vision operations, several eye care practices provide unique prices and incentives.
According to a 2019 poll of refractive surgeons in the United States, about 29% of them provided some type of special price. Among the surgeons:
For elective operations like LASIK, there are financial businesses that offer set rates and long-term payment plans. These companies offer financing plans to many LASIK surgical centers and private medical practices.
The majority of medical and vision insurance companies do not cover LASIK because it is an elective operation. Some businesses, on the other hand, negotiate for special discounts for their employees at specific surgery sites.
Some large employers also provide subsidized health plans that cover the cost of LASIK surgery in part. Inquire with your employer about any benefits that may be available to support these corrective eye surgery procedures.
Why you should not get LASIK?
If you have dry eyes, you should be aware that LASIK surgery may aggravate your condition. Pupils that are large. LASIK may not be recommended if your pupils are big, especially in dim light. Glare, halos, starbursts, and ghost images are all possible side effects after surgery.
How long does LASIK last for?
LASIK is a procedure that can last a lifetime, 20 years, or ten years. The operation’s long-term consequences are determined by a number of factors, including the patient’s age at the time of the procedure and any medical issues that may emerge as one grows older and damage vision. Continue reading to learn more about the factors that influence the LASIK procedure’s duration. We wish to properly answer your query, “How long does LASIK last?”
Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is an abbreviation for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. An excimer laser is used to remodel the cornea in this refractive surgery. LASIK is a corrective operation, not a preventative one. It is, instead, corrective surgery. While LASIK can restore eyesight, it cannot prevent vision degeneration in the future, which is frequent in younger patients as the eyes change with age. While LASIK can cure nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, it cannot prevent cataracts, eye example. Cataract surgery, on the other hand, is a different alternative for patients who suffer from this condition.
How long is recovery for LASIK?
The immediate recovery time after LASIK surgery is usually six to twelve hours, but it varies from patient to patient and depends on a variety of factors. After vision correction surgery, most patients can see perfectly within 24 hours, but others may take two to five days to recover. For several weeks after LASIK, some patients may experience cloudy vision and visual irregularities.
All Austin patients will experience hazy vision just after LASIK eye surgery. This can last anywhere from three to four hours. As a result, you will be unable to drive yourself home after your surgery. It is suggested that you take a nap and then relax for the remainder of the day. Avoid straining your eyes by watching television or reading.
You will return to our office the day after your operation to see your LASIK surgeon so that they may check your vision and assess how you are healing. After this follow-up visit, most patients are cleared to return to work or school, but each patient is different. After surgery, we advise all patients to utilize antibiotic and steroid eye drops for roughly a week.
Although you will notice a considerable improvement in your eyesight right away, LASIK recovery is a long-term procedure. The time it takes for your vision to totally settle varies from patient to patient, but it might take anywhere from three to six months. During this time, your LASIK surgeon will check on your vision on a frequent basis.
Is LASIK painful?
LASIK eye surgery is not painful, fortunately. Your surgeon will put numbing eye drops in both of your eyes right before the procedure. While there may be some pressure during the treatment, you should not experience any pain.
Why is LASIK not covered by insurance?
Do you ever wonder why insurance plans still don’t cover LASIK vision correction surgery? Those who have spent their life reliant on glasses or contact lenses may be able to regain their vision with this easy outpatient treatment. Most health insurance companies consider laser eye surgery to be cosmetic rather than medically required because it is an elective procedure. However, there are some scenarios in which medical insurers may cover refractive or laser eye surgery in exceptional circumstances:
- There is no standard level of impairment at which insurance will fund correction for severe refractive defects; nevertheless, there is no standard level of impairment at which insurance will cover treatment. Individuals should check with their insurance carrier to see if they are covered under these conditions.
- When a patient is unable to use glasses owing to a physical constraint (such as an allergy or deformity), but also unable to wear contacts due to a physical limitation (such as an allergy or deformity) (lens intolerance)
It’s possible that vision insurance will come in handy. Vision benefits, on the other hand, differ slightly from those provided by normal medical or health insurance. Vision insurance policies are intended to lower a patient’s out-of-pocket expenses for routine preventative eye treatment. While the majority of the advantages are related to eye exams and prescription eyeglasses, some plans provide extra discounts. Some of the larger vision insurance companies provide laser vision correction coverage, such as:
- After vision correction surgery, non-prescription sunglasses have certain benefits.
LASIK vision correction procedure is now covered by several insurance policies, according to Trish Whiteside, Practice Administrator. It’s critical to continually checking with your insurance company to see if you’re enrolled in a plan that covers you. It’s possible that you’ll have to pay the charges out of pocket and then file a claim after the procedure.
Some patients prefer to pay for their LASIK surgery with tax-free funds from their flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA). To learn more about an FSA or HAS plan, contact your human resources department. Many people are unaware that LASIK eye surgery qualifies for FSA and HSA benefits because they consider it a luxury rather than a necessity. LASIK, on the other hand, corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and even astigmatism in patients, potentially removing the need for glasses or contacts. In other words, technology has the potential to significantly improve their lives while also lowering their eye care costs.
Over 40,000 LASIK/PRK operations have been performed on middle Tennessee residents by Dr. Stewart Shofner. Shofner Eye Center provides low-cost vision care using cutting-edge technology, as well as special savings for military, law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders. Schedule a free LASIK consultation online at Shofner Vision Center or call (615) 340-4733 to get rid of the bother of wearing glasses or the daily routine and expense of contact lenses.