Let’s find out how the cost of laser corrective surgery really compares to other options.

Laser Vision Correction vs. Glasses

The cost of glasses can vary widely, and while it’s possible to buy a pair of glasses for less than $100, it’s just as easy to spend ten times that amount if you want designer frames or need speciality lenses. Some of the things that can affect the cost of your glasses could include:

• The frames you choose - Budget frames can be as little as $20, but the latest designer styles could cost upwards of $1000. And if you want prescription sunglasses as well as regular glasses, you’ll be looking at spending out twice!
  
  

• The lenses you need - Lenses may all look the same at first glance, but different materials, thicknesses, technologies, and coatings can all affect the price that you will pay

Glasses are fairly fragile and may need to be repaired or replaced more often than you expect. Each time they do, you’ll need to pay out for a new pair, which could quickly add up to a reasonable sum over the course of your lifetime.

Laser Vision Correction vs. Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are well known for being a more costly prescription eyewear solution than glasses. However, just like glasses, there are lots of different types, from daily disposables to extended-wear, conventional to specialty. The exact costs you will incur will depend on the type of contact lenses you are looking for. Bear in mind that you’ll pay for convenience, so while you won’t have to buy cleaning solutions for daily disposables, they will almost certainly be more expensive in the first place. Again, over the course of your lifetime, this can quickly add up!

Laser Vision Correction

Although there is a substantial investment required when choosing laser vision correction, most patients find that when it is compared to the ongoing costs of glasses or contact lenses in the future, the difference is very small. The convenience of being able to see clearly without prescription lenses is also a huge benefit that can outweigh many of the costs associated with the procedure itself.

It is important to point out that there is no guarantee that you might not need to wear prescription lenses in the future. The natural aging process causes changes to our eyes and vision that have the potential to affect our future vision. Nevertheless, many patients go on to enjoy clear vision for decades before noticing any deterioration, and some never experience it at all.

PRK Laser Vision Correction vs LASIK

There are several different types of laser vision correction, including PRK and LASIK. Although LASIK is probably the most well-known, PRK was actually the very first laser vision correction technique and remains extremely popular today, not least for the benefits that it offers over LASIK. One of these is the lower risk of complications associated with PRK, which is a result of a key difference in the techniques used. PRK sees the entire outer layer of corneal tissue removed before the eye is reshaped, whereas in LASIK, a small flap into the tissue is created and opened instead. It’s then closed and left to heal. The majority of complications that occur in LASIK are a result of flap-related issues, affecting the quality of the procedure and the overall outcome for the patient.

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For more information about laser vision correction surgery, call Laser Vision Delaware at (302) 656 2020 to reach our office in Wilmington, Delaware.