There are a lot of reasons to consider getting laser eye surgery. For example, if you have a condition called keratoconus and glasses or contact lenses aren’t helping to correct your vision, then you may be a good candidate for this procedure.
But what is the cost of laser eye surgery in Chennai? How much does it cost to get LASIK surgery?
The answer depends on your specific needs and circumstances, but here’s a rough estimate: according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), fees for LASIK surgery range from $1,500 to $5,000 per eye. That includes all fees associated with the procedure itself—the actual surgery and its follow-up care—as well as things like exams, consultations, and tests before the procedure takes place.
The cost will also depend on where you live: both in terms of what other people pay for LASIK in your area (which can vary widely) as well as what health insurance coverage may cover for these types of procedures if applicable.”
What LASIK Surgery Does?
Visual impairment is one of the major problems among the people in India. According to a report published by the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB), around 12 million people in India are struggling with vision problems. And most of these problems can be taken care of if timely intervention is done.
LASIK surgery addresses vision problems, specifically refractive errors that impair the vision gradually. Many people don’t opt for this treatment believing that LASIK can be very expensive. However, in reality, LASIK eye surgery cost in Chennai starts from Rs. 35,000 and goes up to Rs. 80,000.
Vision problems that LASIK surgery can resolve are-
- Myopia or Nearsightedness- In this condition, the person can only see nearby objects. It happens when the eyeball axis is too long or the cornea is excessively curved. This refractive error arises when the optics are too powerful for the length of the eyeball. With LASIK surgery, the curve in the cornea is corrected so that the light will fall on the retina directly.
- Hyperopia or Farsightedness- It is a condition in which the person can see distant objects clearly but have difficulty in seeing nearby objects. In this type of refractive error, the cornea is not curved enough or too steep to refract the light at the right point or the eyeball is too short. LASIK can correct this by removing the corneal tissues bit by bit and reshaping the cornea.
- Astigmatism– This condition arises due to irregular curvature of the cornea or abnormalities in the eye lens. It causes rotational asymmetry in the eye’s resulting in distorted or blurred vision. LASIK surgery addresses this and corrects the irregularities in the cornea, thereby providing clear vision at all distances.
Depending on the refractive error that is being corrected, the LASIK surgery cost in Chennai may also vary.
What are the Factors that Affect the LASIK Eye Surgery Cost?
The price of LASIK surgery in Chennai varies from one surgery center to another based on the following factors-
1: Type of LASIK
There are various types of LASIK procedures available, such as all laser LASIK, wavefront-guided LASIK, topography-guided LASIK, and conventional LASIK. The types of LASIK are further divided into bladeless (femtosecond) LASIK, SMILE, SBK, Contoura Vision LASIK, etc.
Depending on the technique used for vision correction, the overall cost of LASIK operation will increase or decrease.
| Type of LASIK | Minimum Cost (INR) | Maximum Cost (INR) |
| Bladeless LASIK | Rs. 80,000 | Rs. 1,00,000 |
| SBK surgery | Rs. 30,000 | Rs. 40,000 |
| SMILE LASIK | Rs. 80,000 | Rs. 1,00,000 |
| Contoura Vision LASIK | Rs. 95,000 | Rs. 1,05,000 |
2: Infrastructure and Location of the LASIK Center
The advanced equipment and eye-care technology is slightly more expensive than standard services. Thus, when the infrastructure of the eye clinic or hospital is advanced, it will affect the price of surgical treatment at the center as well.
Along with infrastructure, the location of the LASIK center or the city you live in plays a major role in determining the cost of LASIK surgery. For instance, LASIK in metro cities costs more as compared to tertiary cities where advanced infrastructure is not available and the administrative costs are also low.
3: Diagnostic Tests and Evaluation
Before the ideal method of surgery is chosen, the eye specialist does a thorough assessment of the eye health. The assessment includes wavefront analysis, corneal topography, pachymetry test, dry eye test, cycloplegic refraction, pupil measurement, etc.
These tests are performed to inspect whether or not the eyes are fit to undergo LASIK surgery (eye laser treatment). If an individual is not an ideal candidate for LASIK, an alternative treatment method is suggested.
Combinedly, the evaluation and diagnostic tests cost may range from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 approx.
4: Post-Surgery Care & Follow-ups
Even after undergoing surgery, there are some additional expenses that a person has to deal with. It includes eye protection, eye drops, medications, etc. To reduce the risk of infection, dry eye, and other problems, these medications and eye drops are necessary.
Follow-ups are also needed after LASIK to ensure that the chances of infection are minimal and the eyes are recovering well. Usually, two or three follow-ups are done after 1st week, 2nd week, and then after a month. These follow-up consultations are also chargeable which adds up in the cost of surgery.
5: Refractive Power
The refractive power of the patient also plays a major role in determining the cost of eye laser treatment. With higher power, the complexity of the procedure also increases slightly. Thus, more effort and time will be required to remove the corneal tissues and correct vision.
As mentioned above, the LASIK surgery cost consists of different elements with a different price ranges, such as-
- Pre-surgery screening cost is around Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000.
- Surgery cost is around Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 1,00,000.
- Medicine cost is around Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000.
- Follow up consultation cost is around Rs. 1,000 per session.
How to Choose the Best LASIK Surgeon in Chennai?
LASIK eye surgery cost is covered under insurance when the patient has refractive power higher than 7.5 diopters. If the refractive error is less than this, the procedure is not covered under insurance.
The success rate of LASIK surgery depends on the selection of a qualified, competent, and experienced LASIK surgeon. There are some important qualities that define the best LASIK surgeon. His/her licensure and credentials are the foundation place to start.
Some key aspects that should be considered while choosing a LASIK surgeon are-
- License– State licensing boards validate the credentials of a surgeon. It is important to make sure that the surgeon has a valid license to practice in Chennai.
- Board Certification– Most ophthalmologists have additional certifications along with the basic license to practice medicine. Check the doctor’s certifications to evaluate his/her expertise in the specific field.
- Experience– A surgeon with 8-15 years of experience is usually considered an expert. Ask the doctor how many years of experience he/she has and how many LASIK surgeries have been performed by him/her. A highly experienced surgeon will have ample knowledge to mitigate the risks associated with the procedure and ensure that the patient gets the best outcomes.
- Reputation and Patient Reviews– Check the reputation of the surgeon for the specific treatment and look at the patient testimonials. The reviews by previous patients will give you an idea of the satisfaction level of the patients.
Ask the Right Questions to Eye Doctor
Preparation is very important while planning for surgical treatments. Therefore, it is advised to prepare a list of relevant questions that an eye doctor must be able to answer.
Some common questions can be-
- How many surgeries have you performed in the last week/month/year?
- What is the post-surgery complication rate of your surgeries and how do you deal with them?
- What is the average success rate for LASIK surgeries that you perform?
- Will you charge extra if enhancements are required after LASIK?
- If the enhancement price is separated, can you give me a cost breakdown?
- Can you explain the different aspects that impact the cost of LASIK surgery in Chennai?
- Why is the treatment less/more expensive than other LASIK centers?
It is the doctor’s duty to answer all the queries and resolve the concerns of the patient. If a doctor doesn’t communicate well while these questions are being asked, it is better to consult with another eye specialist. If the doctor responds to all the questions and listens to the doubts patiently, he/she is most likely to be the right person.
After considering all of the above-mentioned points, it will be easier to make a decision regarding the surgeon.
How Can I Choose the Best Eye Clinic/Hospital for Cost-Effective LASIK Surgery in Chennai?
Two of the major elements that can affect the LASIK surgery cost are surgeon’s fee and hospital expense. The infrastructure, technology available, amenities offered, and quality of service at the eye center affects the overall expense of the treatment.
Therefore, while choosing the hospital or clinic for LASIK surgery, keep the following points in mind-
- The location of the LASIK center is very critical. If the surgery center is located nearby, it will be easily accessible and the patient won’t have to travel farther for the procedure.
- An ideal LASIK center should have the necessary diagnostic equipment and support staff. A well-equipped center is undoubtedly the best choice to undergo surgery.
- Accreditation of the hospital or clinic is also important. So, before making the decision, check whether or not the center is accredited by NABH. The accreditation ensures that the center follows the best practices for all treatments.
The hospital chosen for treatment will determine the quality of medical care and also affect the final cost of LASIK surgery.
Contact Pristyn Care for Cost-Effectively LASIK Eye Treatment in Chennai
As discussed here, there are various elements that a patient has to look out for while planning to get eye laser treatment, including hospital, surgeon, and cost.
Pristyn Care is a healthcare provider that addresses the primary concerns of a patient and provides optimal care at reputed hospitals by the hands of highly experienced surgeons. And all the medical services are available at a reasonable cost.
We have the best team of LASIK surgeons in Chennai who have 10+ years of experience. We are partnered with numerous hospitals and clinics with top-grade facilities. In addition, we also have a flexible payment system that allows a patient to cover the cost of treatment at his/her convenience.
At Pristyn Care, the average cost of LASIK eye surgery in Chennai is between Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 2,00,000. The exact cost may vary for each patient. Therefore, it is advised to book a consultation with the eye specialist in Chennai and get an estimate of the treatment from the experts. The doctor will explain all aspects of the treatment and help to make an informed decision.