LASIK is a popular acronym that stands for a surgical procedure called ‘laser assisted in situ keratomileusis’. LASIK is a refractive surgery that improves vision by correcting wide ranges of vision issues such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. LASIK employs a specially designed laser instead of traditional surgical tools to perform corrective eye surgery.

 Common LASIK eye surgical procedures include:

• LASIK
• Epi-LASIK
• PRK
• Wavefront LASIK
• LASIK Monovision

The LASIK technique was created in 1990 by blending two different surgical techniques called photo refractive keratectomy and Keratomileusis. LASIK surgery is a laser surgical technique that reshapes the cornea without cutting into it.

In the United States, basic LASIK eye surgery can run anywhere between a minimum of $500-$1000 per eye.  In most cases, vision insurance does not cover the procedure in the United States.

Epi-LASIK prices can range anywhere from $2,000-$2,500 per eye in the United States, or more, depending on other charges. Costs in India such as the Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital in Kerala are one-fifth to one-tenth costs in the U.S., and in Thailand the Lasik procedure costs roughly $1,650 per eye, and approximately $500 per eye in Hungary.

In the United States, a PRK treatment for both eyes ranges around $1,800. Always check with your vision insurance policy, as many insurance plans do not cover the cost of this type of surgery, as it is considered to be elective. At facilities like TRSC International LASIK Center in Bangkok, Thailand, the same procedure costs about $1,500. In India, the treatment is priced around $700, a substantial savings for medical tourists.