Been contemplating LASIK and I have a question:
How much is quality related to price? Is a low-cost LASIK guy really a bad idea vs a high priced doc? If so, in what way? The results? Follow-up procedures, or other ways?
Thanks
You may find that the cheaper places are somewhat a la carte in the pricing. They boldly advertise some low price per eye, but in the fine print, you find that there’s a charge for something or another needed for the procedure itself, and the follow-up exams are extra, and so on.
From what I found while checking options for my own surgery, the “low-cost” guy often wasn’t, really. All of the heavily advertised “$299 per eye!” (or whatever) offers were basically bait-and-switch routines. The advertised price was for the very simplest operation possible, which is almost never what you actually need, and they tack on additional charges for every variation. Got a little astigmatism, too? That’s an extra $1000. I’m not saying they wouldn’t still work out to be cheaper, just not by the huge amounts they’d like to make it seem. At least one guy I checked out charged extra for each follow-up, whereas all follow-ups were included in the price with the doctor I eventually chose.
I gather they’re also somewhat less rigorous about the repeated checks before the procedure and the follow-ups after, but that’s just hearsay.
What it finally came down to for me was: “We’re talking about my eyes. Bargain shopping takes a poor second to quality.”
Had mine done while in Hermosillo, Mexico, using modern equipment by an American-schooled doctor. Price was as advertised, about US$600 for both eyes.
Airfare would probably eat up any potential savings.
My surgeon was quite expensive- I paid $6200 for all-laser, both eyes. That included the secondary exam, the wavefront scan, the surgery itself and a number of follow-ups (IIRC they were 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post-surgery).
I think he was a great surgeon and I have had no problems at all. So yeah, expensive but worth every penny. I think he gives discounts to all active-duty military personnel- that’s how I found him. He did my brother’s surgery, after Little Bro decided there was no way in hell he was going to spend another tour in the desert with glasses or contacts.
I figure “you get what you pay for” and I would not screw around with my eyesight just to save a few bucks. Best $6200 I ever spent.
ETA- the fee also included any adjustments I might need for up to one year after the surgery- additional surgery to correct problems like blurring, haloing, etc.
My wife paid $5,500 for both eyes at a TLC Laser Eye Center. That price included the surgery and all follow-up care. They have a nearly 100% success rate (success being defined as no permanent complications and vision at least as good as they are aiming for). They achieve this success rate by turning away people who aren’t good candidates. We liked the peace of mind of knowing that they wouldn’t risk their success rate on her if they weren’t confident that her surgery would be a success. Her vision is now 20/15 and she didn’t have any complications worse than a few days of dryness.
She could have had it done more cheaply, but it was worth the extra $1,000 or so to be comfortable lying there knowing that she trusts the people who are pointing a laser at her eye.
Simple logic & math is don’t mess with your eyes.
I shopped for the Surgeons with the best records in the state. This took some work. I used the Internet and asking Doctors and Nurses.
I then went to the most reputable Surgeon near my house. The exams were all free and the procedure for both eyes was $4800. To save money, I set up a medical savings plan for $4800 which means the money was pulled pre-tax and paid out bi-weekly over 12 months. I had the procedure in January and so I effectively got a 30% discount and free 12 month loan.
Jim
I had a similar provider to EJsGirl, though it was $3100 for both eyes with the same number of features and follow-ups.
It’s been about 3 months since the surgery, I have 20/15 vision, and have had no complications. I was near-sighted.
My wife had the surgery a month ago, but had the procedure for far-sightedness. It’s a longer laser procedure, and it has taken longer for her eyes to stabilize since the surgery. Still having occasional blurriness and troubles with halos at night. She may need a second procedure, which they will probably decide on this week.
My wife’s Mom had the far-sightedness procedure at a somewhat cheaper provider, and had little to no problems with her eyes afterwards.
All glory to the Hypno-Toad.
Well, I was there anyway. And it’s only 5 hours in car from Phoenix, you know, should you live in Phoenix.
I have a friend who got laser surgery done. He went to a highly reputable doc to get evaluated, figure out what procedure was needed, and all that.
Then he went to a cheaper doc to get the actual procedure done.
Not sure how much he saved, but he now has a permanent blind spot in the center of his vision.
You’ve only got one set of eyes. Don’t screw around. Maybe it’ll be fine, going to the cheapest place - but do you really want to risk it for a few bucks?
I just wanted to add, that for anyone you decide to go to, you MUST follow all of the post surgery procedures. My wife went in today for her checkup, and she has the beginnings of “dry flap”, which is where the lid they cut in the cornea drys out. It’s from not using the eye drops enough! Now she has extra gel and drops to use.
You know, the OP is asking a slightly different question than I answered. Does the high-priced guy do better work, with less complications? I guess it depends partly on the surgeon’s expertise during the actual operation, but a lot also depends on the patient’s aftercare on his/her own.
Hard question to answer, unless we cherry-pick a couple of docs and see if they have records of malpractice or something. I know that Kathy Griffin has a huge hatred of my surgeon and blogged about it quite a bit, but I disagree with her.
I read her blog, she was a blithering idiot anyway. “This Doctor that I went back to 3 times sux, duh”. Thanks, but no thanks, with critical thought like she showed, her opinion was worthless. Ironic that that was your Doc.
Don’t go cheap, as it is a once in a lifetime purchase. I paid quite a bit, in the early days and even though it’s hwaaaay cheaper now, I don’t regret it.
However, for some specialists, there is a reduction in price due to their volume, so that’s OK.
Your user name leaves me feeling a little ambiguous about your advice.
Does anyone know of any online resources to determine which docs in S Florida are the quality practitioners?
Two antecdotes for you.
I paid $3500 for both eyes. The full wave thingie with nearsightedness (-4.25) and astigmastim fully corrected. I now have 20/20 in my right eye and 20/15 in my left - 20/15 with both. I had about a week of dry eyes and a month of halos around lights at night. Both have since gone away. The cost also covered all post op visits and any corrections that were needed. I did two visits for checkups and no adjustments were needed.
A buddy of mine with similarly bad eyes got them done for about $1200. He just got the surgery with no post op care or adjustments included. He now has perfect 20/20 vision and the halos have gone away for him as well.
So, maybe I wasted my money - maybe he got lucky. But, like others have said, I was taking no chances with my eyes.
Yeah. He has done a ton of celebrities and show business-types.