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The table below lists some of the types of laser eye surgery that you can get in Australia, and a range of prices we've found quoted by clinics. The price range is pretty big for most of them - this is because the final price will depend a lot on what your specific situation requires.
Procedure | Typical price (per eye) | Details |
---|---|---|
LASIK | $1,500 - $4,000 | In LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), a surgeon uses lasers to create a flap in the cornea and reshape the underlying tissue before replacing the flap. |
PRK | $1,500-$4,000 | For PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), a surgeon uses a topical solution to remove the top layer of corneal cells, and a laser to reshape the exposed corneal tissue below. |
SMILE | $3,300 - $5,000 | In SMILE (small incision lenticular extraction), a surgeon makes a small incision in the cornea with a laser and then removes a small disc of underlying corneal tissue. |
LASEK | $2,500 - $4,000 | LASEK (laser-assisted sub-epithelial keratomileusis) has a laser create an ultra-thin layer of the barrier that protects the cornea, which is moved to the side so the surgeon can reshape the corneal tissue below. The barrier is then re-positioned back on the cornea. |
ICL | $5,000 - $7,000 | An ICL (implantable contact lens) is a custom lens, similar to a contact lens, that is created by a surgeon and implanted directly into the eye. |
If you’re a candidate for laser eye surgery, you might be having a difficult time figuring out exactly how much the procedure will cost. This is because there’s no set price for laser eye surgery.
Prices for laser eye surgery can vary based on procedure, clinic, surgeon experience and individual circumstances. You cannot expect to pay the same prices as someone else, because everyone’s eyes are unique. However, you can expect transparency from laser eye clinics in terms of all costs and fees.
We’ve dissected the overall cost of laser eye surgery to help you decide if laser eye surgery is affordable for you.
No, Medicare does not cover the cost of laser eye surgery. It is considered elective surgery, so does not attract any benefit. Additionally, the cost of either glasses or contact lenses are not covered by Medicare. The only exception to this could be if there was a specific treatment that necessitated laser eye surgery in its treatment plan. However this would be a really specific case, and is not likely for most folk.
Some health insurers include a benefit for laser eye surgery in their extras coverage. However, it's a pretty rare benefit to see, so you'll need to seek out a specific provider if it's important to you.
You'll also need to likely be on one of the most comprehensive extras products, which is going to cost $1,000+ each year in premiums. With laser eye surgery attracting a waiting period of 2 or 3 years before you can claim, it's possible you could be paying more in premiums than you would save.
That said, if you already have extras cover that offers a benefit - you could be in luck.
Laser eye surgery can seem expensive and unaffordable, but for many people the procedure is cheaper than the long term costs of other methods of vision care.
There are pros and cons to each of these as an alternative to laser eye surgery. For example, you might pay more for contact lenses over the course of 10 or more years than you would for a single round of surgery. On the other hand, if you don't mind wearing glasses, they're probably going to be cheaper, even after many decades. They also look cool.
It's going to depend on your particular case though, as the price of laser eye surgery varies so much. Speak to your optometrist for more details on your situation.
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