Laser Eye Surgery Costs

The cost of laser eye surgery is not always transparent, especially if you are trying to compare different clinics. You have to trust the clinic with your laser eye surgery treatment, but there's no reason why it shouldn't be at an affordable price.

What is the cost of laser eye surgery?

The answer to this question depends on which clinic you ask. The cost of laser eye surgery is very difficult to predict for any patient who is seeking laser vision correction.

One key reason is that different clinics operate different ‘business and marketing’ models.

All clinics have to offer a minimum standard of care and treatment as laid out by the Care Quality Commission. But this only really covers the direct aspects of running a clinic and protection for the patient. The other areas concern marketing and advertising, overheads, technology, diagnostic equipment and staffing.

Some high street clinics employ the ‘bait and switch’ tactic, offering treatment from Ј395 per eye but charging nearly every customer over Ј1,000 per eye and much more! If you have made any enquiry into laser eye surgery with one of the high street clinics you will have experienced a significant level of ‘marketing activity’ to persuade you to come in for a consultation and or surgery. This can continue for years after treatment.

Having become a ‘prospect’ marketing money will be spent to convert you into a patient. The cost for everybody targeted in this way has to be borne by those patients who actually agree to have surgery.

This is one reason why high street clinics charge in excess of Ј4,000 for treatment.

Running a larger number of clinics provides convenience but it also adds to costs and these ‘overheads’ also have to be paid for by the patients who have treatment.

Staffing is also a big expense. Some high street clinics employ the sales staff to undertake some of the diagnostic tests rather than employ a fully qualified optometrist probably to reduce costs and give the opportunity for a well rehearsed ‘sales pitch’.

So, paying more for laser eye surgery does not necessarily mean getting better treatment.

Other clinics operate in a far more patient focussed and caring way. A clinic like Accuvision for instance invests heavily in the latest technology and diagnostics to ensure the most accurate and appropriate treatment is offered. Accuvision introduced Wavefront diagnostics into the UK when they opened and have continued to research new ways of delivering better visual outcomes through improved technology and treatments.

A small dedicated team of highly experienced clinical staff, coupled with the latest technology enable Accuvision to tackle even the most complex and high prescriptions that are untreatable at other clinics. They are also the only clinic in the UK to offer specialized treatments for keratoconus sufferers using laser technology.

The consultation is totally professional and focused on finding out what is possible for your future vision with a full explanation of the treatment options. At no time will you be pressured into making a decision for treatment.

This unique way of providing laser eye surgery means that the costs to the patient are always realistic and reasonable, making them the most competitive for laser eye surgery treatments at any level of prescription.

So, if you are offered laser eye surgery that costs around Ј3,500 - Ј4,000 or more just think about what you are actually paying for. There is most certainly a less costly but very safe and proven alternative.