What is the best money you have ever spent on yourself? Was it a vacation? An outfit or pair of shoes? Maybe it was a gadget or “toy” such as a jet ski or an ATV. But if you ask someone who has had LASIK, they will likely tell you that having great vision — without needing to rely on glasses and contacts — is not only worth the cost of LASIK; but the best money they’ve ever spent.
Maybe you’ve investigated having LASIK, but the $4,000-$5,000 price tag has you wondering: Is it worth the money? Sure, there are discounts and deals to be had. But first, perhaps, you should put the cost of LASIK into perspective. For example, think about how much you are already spending on vision correction. LASIK starts to look like a pretty good deal once you add up a lifetime of buying glasses (over and over again) or contact lenses (plus solutions, drops, cases, etc.). How much have you spent on something that lasts a week or two, a month or two, a year? Even the best car you ever own likely won’t last you as long as your good vision with LASIK will. Depending on when you have LASIK, you can expect to enjoy its benefits for years – even decades.
Still, wondering if the cost of LASIK is worth it? Here are four questions to ask yourself to help put the investment into your vision correction options into perspective:
How old are you?
The younger you are, the longer you will need vision correcting glasses or contact lenses. The longer you need them, the more you will spend on them. However, if you choose to have LASIK sooner rather than later, you can expect to have great vision without glasses and contacts for years. However, LASIK doesn’t stop the aging process. It can improve your current vision, but you will likely still experience age-related vision issues down the road. This may mean you will need reading glasses at some point.
Do you have insurance?
If you do, count yourself lucky! Many vision plans help cover some of the costs of glasses and contacts but won’t take care of all your vision correction expenses. You also have to factor in whatever you are paying in insurance premiums into the overall cost of your vision correction. Did you know some vision policies offer discounts toward LASIK and other vision correcting procedures? Check your benefits because you just never know what might be covered.
Are you into fashionable frames and the latest lenses?
Even if your insurance covers the purchase of glasses, often the cost of the frame styles you want won’t be covered entirely. The same goes for certain protective and/or antiglare coatings or lens technologies. There is usually a limit on the number of pairs of glasses insurance covers each year. So, if you need prescription sunglasses, lose a pair of glasses, or also need reading glasses, you should expect to pay for those on your own.
What kind of contact lenses do you wear?
Popular daily disposable contacts, on average, cost about $600 a year. So over 20 years, you will spend $12,000 on contact lenses, which is more than twice the average cost of LASIK using the most advanced technologies available today. You should know that, as your eyes age, your prescription is likely to become more complicated, resulting in more expensive contact lenses. If you are using hard or soft lenses, the cost of solutions, drops, and the cases required to maintain them in a sanitary fashion can quickly add up as well.
Leading ophthalmologist, Dr. Neil B. Griffin, uses the latest and most advanced lasers. We are the only center who has an on-site LASIK Suite in the local region. Griffin Eye Center is the first in South Carolina to offer the latest advancements of both the Wavelight® EX500 excimer laser and the VisuMax® laser. The laser speed and accuracy allows Dr. Griffin the ability to expand treatment capabilities, enhancements of current treatments, broaden range of correction and provide the ultimate outcomes for our patients seeking LASIK surgery.
Dr. Griffin is committed to providing world class surgical technology and the most advanced vision diagnostics to the South and North Carolina Area. His patients come from all over for LASIK and Cataract surgery. Some areas like Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Georgetown, Little River, South Carolina, and Calabash, Shallotte, North Carolina.
Sign up for a Free LASIK Screening and see if you are a candidate. Visit our website or call 843-449-6414 ext.123