Costs of Blade-Free LASIK

Because surgeons must cover the cost of the Intralase equipment, they typically charge $250 to $500 more per eye for blade-free LASIK than for the standard surgery. When given a choice, many patients say they prefer to pay this cost in return for the decreased chance of complications.

Some vision correction surgeons are switching entirely to Intralase and bundling the extra cost into their price structure. Others go on a case-by-case basis, saying that for some patients -- particularly those with mild to moderate nearsightedness and no complicating problems with their corneas -- the extra cost is not worth it.