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What decides the cost of LASIK?

"How much does LASIK cost in Goa?" is one of the first questions people ask. There is no single honest figure, because quotes include different things: some cover one eye and some both, some include the tests and follow-up and some do not. This page gives no figures. It explains what the cost depends on and who charges for what, so that you can compare quotes fairly and ask the right questions.

Who charges for what?

When you start with a check-up at ReNew Vision, there are two separate parts:

• ReNew Vision: the LASIK suitability check-up and counselling, which includes your spectacle power, eye pressure, an examination of the cornea and the retina, and an explanation of your options. The fee for this is explained when you book, before your visit.
• The laser centre: its own tests (such as corneal mapping and thickness), the laser treatment, and the follow-up visits after it. The laser centre sets these fees and should explain them before you agree to anything.

The check-up at ReNew Vision is not a down payment on the laser. You can have the check-up, take the findings home, think it over and decide later, or decide not to have LASIK at all. The full process is on LASIK in Goa: check-up and referral.

What changes the cost of LASIK?

The laser method

There are several kinds of laser vision correction. They use different machines, and the equipment and its running costs differ, so the fee differs too. The method should be chosen for your eyes, not for the price. Ask the laser centre why it recommends a method for you.

The tests before treatment

Before any laser treatment, the cornea is mapped and measured. Some centres include these tests in the treatment fee; others charge for them separately, which means you pay for them even if you are found not suitable.

One eye or both

Most people have both eyes treated, but some quotes are per eye. When you compare, check whether the figure covers one eye or two.

Your eyes

Your spectacle power, astigmatism and the shape and thickness of your corneas decide which methods are possible. If your eyes need a different method, the cost changes.

Follow-up and medicines

After treatment there are follow-up visits, eye drops for some weeks, and sometimes protective shields or sunglasses. Ask how many visits and for how long the fee covers them, and whether the drops are included.

A second treatment

Some people are left with a small amount of power and need a further treatment, sometimes called an enhancement. Some centres include it within a set period; others charge for it. Ask in writing.

What should I ask the laser centre before I decide?

• Is the quote for one eye or both eyes?
• Which tests are included, and what happens to the test fee if I am found not suitable?
• Which method do you recommend for my eyes, and why?
• How many follow-up visits are included, and for how long?
• Are the eye drops and shields included?
• If I need a second treatment, is it included, and for how long after the first?
• Who will do the treatment, and who do I contact if I have a problem at night?

Ask for the answers in writing, with each item listed. A written, itemised estimate is the only fair way to compare two centres.

Should I choose a laser centre on price alone?

Price matters, but it should not be the only thing you compare. A lower quote may leave out the tests, the follow-up or a second treatment; a higher one may include them. What matters more is whether the method suits your eyes, whether the centre does a full set of tests before agreeing to treat you, and whether it explains the risks clearly. A centre that agrees to treat you without proper tests is not saving you anything.

Does health insurance cover LASIK?

Many health insurance policies do not cover laser treatment done to reduce dependence on spectacles, and some cover it only in particular situations. Policies change, so ask your insurer in writing before you plan the treatment, and keep the reply.

What other costs should I plan for?

• a day or two away from work or college, and someone to take you home on the day of treatment
• travel for the follow-up visits
• eye drops, including lubricating drops for dry eye, which some people use for months
• good sunglasses for Goa's glare while the eyes settle
• reading glasses later in life, which LASIK does not prevent

Some people compare the one-time cost of LASIK with years of spectacles or contact lenses. That comparison is reasonable, but it is not the whole picture: most people still need reading glasses from their 40s, and some need spectacles for some tasks after LASIK. Read why reading glasses are needed after 40.

Is it worth having the check-up before I compare prices?

Yes. Until your eyes have been examined, no one can tell you which methods are possible for you, so no quote is meaningful. The check-up tells you whether your power is stable, whether your eyes are healthy and whether there is any reason to avoid laser treatment altogether. See am I suitable for LASIK? If the answer is that spectacles or contact lenses are the better choice for now, that is useful to know too; see LASIK, glasses or contact lenses.

How do I book?

ReNew Vision Eye Hospital, 2nd floor, Pai Hospital building, Vaddem Merces Road, Vaddem, Vasco da Gama. Eye OPD Monday to Saturday, 4 pm to 7 pm. Call or WhatsApp 072489 88039, and ask about the check-up fee when you call. Bring your spectacles, old prescriptions and contact lens details.

Questions patients ask

How much does LASIK cost in Goa?

There is no single figure, because the cost depends on the laser method, the tests, one or both eyes, the follow-up and whether a second treatment is included. The laser fee is set by the laser centre. The fee for the check-up at ReNew Vision is explained when you book.

Is the LASIK check-up fee part of the laser fee?

No. The check-up and counselling at ReNew Vision are separate from the laser centre's tests and treatment. Having the check-up does not commit you to laser treatment.

Is the LASIK price per eye or for both eyes?

It varies. Some quotes are per eye and some are for both eyes. Always ask, and get an itemised estimate in writing before you compare centres.

Does health insurance cover LASIK?

Often not, when the treatment is done to reduce dependence on spectacles, and some policies cover it only in particular situations. Ask your insurer in writing before you plan the treatment.

Why do LASIK prices differ so much between centres?

Centres use different laser methods and equipment, and their quotes include different things: tests, follow-up visits, eye drops and second treatments. Compare written, itemised estimates rather than headline figures.

This page is general eye-health information, not personal medical advice. Your eye doctor advises you after examining your eyes.