Laser eye surgery costs

Cost of laser eye surgery in Australia

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.

Cost breakdown for laser eye surgery

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.

Upfront costs

• Consultation fees. The cost of consultation fees range from free, or included in the total cost of surgery, to $250. Your clinic will inform you of its consultation fees when you book your first appointment. Make sure to ask if you will have to pay the consultation fee if you end up not being eligible for any laser eye surgery procedure.
• Surgery cost. The actual cost of laser eye surgery ranges from $3,000 to $14,000 for both eyes, depending on the clinic and the type of procedure. The cost can also be based on surgeon experience, as the most accomplished surgeons often charge higher rates.
• All inclusive cost vs individual costs. Some clinics charge 1 flat rate that includes the full cost of the initial consultation, surgery and follow-up appointments. Other clinics charge for each individual cost, such as follow-up appointments, medications and diagnostic tests. Be sure to ask any potential clinic for details on all costs and fees associated with your procedure.
• Medicare coverage. Laser eye surgery is not covered under Medicare, except in the rare case when it’s used to treat certain eye diseases.
• Healthcare coverage. Some Australian health funds cover all or part of your laser eye surgery procedure if you have top or premium coverage. Keep in mind, there is usually a waiting period of 1 to 3 years after signing up for healthcare before you are eligible for laser eye coverage.
• Payment plans. Many clinics offer payment plans to reduce the stress caused by a large upfront payment. Ask your clinic if it offers any payment plan options.

Ongoing costs

• Follow-up appointments. Some follow-up appointments may be covered in the overall surgery cost. If the cost is not all-inclusive, follow-up appointments may cost between $70 and $150. Keep in mind, the number of follow-up appointments you’ll need depends on the type of procedure you have and the rate at which your eyes heal.
• Post-op medication or treatments. Many clinics include the cost of medicines such as eye-drops in their procedure cost, while others do not. Generally, eye-drops will cost around $50 if they are priced separately. Other medications will vary.
• Emergencies. Your clinic may or may not offer after-hours care. In the case of an emergency, you may need to seek treatment at a hospital or emergency room. The price of treatment will depend on the hospital, necessary interventions and your healthcare cover.
• Additional procedures. Though rare, there is the possibility 1 or both of your eyes could over or under correct its refractive error during the healing process. In this case, additional procedures could be required to correct the error. This could range from $2,000 to $12,600 depending on the type of procedure and whether 1 eye or both require treatment.

Does Medicare cover laser eye surgery?

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.

Does Health insurance cover laser eye surgery?

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 vs other alternatives

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.

• Prescription glasses: Medicare doesn't cover the cost of prescription lenses, even if your eyesight is bad enough to not drive without them. Thankfully, they're not cripplingly expensive - you can get a decent pair for under $200. If you've got basic extras cover, it will probably pay for a new pair each year.
• Contact lenses: If you wear them year-round, contact lenses will cost between $400 and $1,000 a year. It varies a lot depending on your prescription, how often you wear them, and whether you wear daily lenses vs longer lasting options.
• Specialised lenses: Specialised lenses, like rigid orthokeratology lenses, can cost upwards of $2,000 a year. Ditto for other types of specialised care - once you factor in specialist visits, the cost can get up there.

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.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Tim Bennett as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Sarah Brandon

Editor

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Sarah Brandon was an editor at Finder specialising in technology and reviews. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from New York University and loves learning about why people do what they do. Sarah has researched and written about a wide range of topics, from air purifiers to AirPods. But no matter the subject, her number one priority is figuring out what information our readers need to make the best decisions. See full bio