Cost of lasik eye surgery in Canada

LASIK eye surgery or laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis is a type of refractive surgery used to treat many common vision problems such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Refractive eye surgery is any kind of eye surgical treatment that is capable to improve the refractive state of the eye and therefore, decrease or completely eliminate dependency on glasses or contact lenses.

LASIK eye surgery is becoming more and more popular since it has a number of benefits over other eye surgery methods. It usually provides faster patient recovery and is associated with more benefits than some other widely used procedures. Lasik and Laser eye surgery is very safe nowadays, and it is very affordable and often a lot cheaper than in the United States.

According to the most recent studies, conducted this year, about 6.9% of conventional LASIK procedures cost less than $1,000 per eye in Canada. The price of the procedure depends on the exact method. For example, less expensive options include using microkeratome instead of the lease beams, while the most expensive option considers guidance by Wavefront analysis. Wavefront procedures that use laser-created flaps (IntraLase Lasik) cost from $1,000 to $2,500 per eye.

Who is a Right Candidate?

LASIK surgery can dramatically improve the quality of patient’s life. Advances in modern technology have allowed more people than ever to undergo this procedure, and most of the people interested in it are right candidates for vision correction. However, there are some simple general requirements that each candidate should fulfill. First and the most important rule is that a person has to be in good general health. A right candidate is also older than 18 and he or she has had a stable prescription for at least a year. Interested candidates should consult their ophthalmologist to determine their candidacy and the most suitable type of treatment.

How Does it Work?

Ophthalmologists using a laser perform LASIK eye surgery or a microkeratome, a precision surgical instrument with an oscillating blade designed for creating the corneal flap in the cornea. LASIK is focused on creating a thin flap on the eye, folding it and remodeling the corneal tissue. Cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber, responsible for about two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. Reshaping of the cornea, therefore, allows for focusing power, and removes dependency on glasses or contact lenses.

Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery Nowadays

In 2019, the market research firm Market Scope determined an average price of $2,246 per eye for laser refractive surgery, a slight bump from $2,199 in late 2018. At $2,133 per eye in 2020, we’re right in the same neighborhood. Some factors that cause LASIK costs to fluctuate:

Different eye measurement methods and how the laser is guided can affect your final cost. Technologies like wavefront can be used to precisely measure the eye before surgery and used to guide the laser during surgery.
Occasionally, other procedures are needed after the initial surgery. Offices often call these enhancements. Sometimes these are included in the price of LASIK (within a certain time frame), but other times you’ll pay an additional fee.
Different types of femtosecond laser can be used for bladeless LASIK. Newer, more modern lasers can bump up the price.
A surgeon’s experience, reputation and success rates usually affect fees in some way. Offices often provide this information on request.
Special pricing, such as limited-time offers can affect pricing. The 2019 Market Scope report found that about 29% of facilities offered some form of special pricing, while the remaining 71% stuck with standard pricing. Try to stay mindful of special pricing; it can save you money, but it can sometimes be misleading.
Not everyone is a candidate for LASIK eye surgery. Someone with a secondary condition or vision prescription that puts the outcome at risk may not qualify. In these cases, a different laser eye surgery, such as PRK or LASEK, could be a better option. Check with your eye doctor to find out if anything might stop you from getting LASIK.

To make your LASIK procedure as finance-friendly as possible, here are a few things to remember along the way:

In almost all cases, LASIK is classified as an elective procedure and insurance companies rarely provide any coverage. But check with your insurance provider anyway - some offer discounts for using an in-network surgeon or going to a preferred location.
If it’s available to you, a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) is a great way to save money with pre-tax dollars. Check the terms of your FSA or HSA before deciding how much to contribute.
Many facilities offer third-party financing, but terms and interest rates will vary. Don’t forget to read the fine print!
You’re probably very familiar with this by now, but remember that LASIK is almost always priced per eye, since LASIK can be performed on one eye in certain situations.

✓ Fact confirmed: How much does LASIK surgery cost in 2020? Adam Debrowski; August 2020