If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you’ve likely considered having LASIK surgery at some point.
LASIK surgery offers people a number of benefits, most notably clearer vision and not needing to rely on glasses or contacts.
One of the biggest deterrents to getting the surgery, however, is its cost.
With the average cost of LASIK in the U.S. being over $2,000 per eye, many people choose to use prescription eyewear instead.
But the reality is, having LASIK surgery can provide significant savings in vision-related expenses over the long term, especially if you regularly wear contacts.
The associates at Metrolina Eye share how below.
How Much Prescription Eyewear Really Costs
The cost of prescription eyewear varies depending on a number of factors, including your lens and frame choice for glasses and the brand and type of contacts you use. Having astigmatism also affects the price.
On average, people get a new pair of glasses every other year, spending between $200 and $600. And people who wear contacts typically go through 10 boxes a year, amounting to between $220 and $260.
If you use daily disposable contacts, your total is likely higher — between $480 and $720 a year.
So if you consider a 30-year period of prescription eyewear, the cost of glasses amounts to between $3,000 and $9,000, and the cost of contacts runs between $6,600 and $7,800 (or $14,400 and $21,600 if you use dailies).
Plus, you need to factor in the cost of cleaning supplies and contact lens solution, not to mention the potential cost of prescription sunglasses.
Your LASIK Investment
While, on average, the cost of LASIK is a little over $2,000 per eye, the price does vary, starting at $1,000 per eye.
Pricing depends on factors such as the technology used by your surgeon and the amount of vision correction you need.
So while LASIK has a larger upfront cost, if you consider the lifetime expense of prescription eyewear, particularly if you wear contacts, LASIK surgery can be well worth the investment.
Plus, there are ways to make LASIK surgery more affordable, such as a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), a Health Savings Account (HSA), or working with a financing company that specializes in elective procedures like LASIK.
Contact Us
To learn more about whether LASIK surgery makes sense for you, call or email the associates at Metrolina Eye today.
