Clear Vision and Clear Costs: Exploring Lasik Surgery Costs in Singapore

LASIK may be a life-changing procedure for people with poor vision, but there’s no doubt that it can be expensive. It’s a surgery that can easily set you back thousands of dollars, excluding the cost of post-operative consultation and medication.

There are lots of factors that go into the cost of LASIK surgery – and that’s what we’re here to talk about today!

Below, we’ve put together a quick guide to everything you need to know about LASIK surgery costs in Singapore to help you make a wiser and more informed decision.

How does LASIK surgery work?

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In situ Keratomileusis) is a refractive laser surgery that helps to correct poor vision, whether it’s myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. It involves reshaping the cornea to help light refract and enter the retina better, resulting in clearer vision.

There’s a common misconception that there’s an eyeball dissection involving knives and needles, but in reality, only a very thin layer of the cornea is sliced. The entire treatment is virtually painless and quick, taking only around five to 10 minutes per eye.

What’s the cost of LASIK surgery in Singapore?

Expect to spend around $1,500 to $6,000 in Singapore for LASIK, depending on your chosen clinic and the type of LASIK procedure, not including initial and follow-up consultations and medications.

When it comes to initial consultations, public and private clinics tend to charge the same, usually ranging from $100 to $150.

The starting rate of LASIK for public clinics usually ranges from $1,500 to $2,000, while private clinics could charge as high as $6,000.

Once you’ve added every LASIK-incurred expense, you’ll notice there isn’t much of a difference between the cost of LASIK at public and private clinics.

Obviously, private clinics will still be a bit more expensive, but the downside of going with public clinics is that you may need to prepare for a longer waitlist.

LASIK promos are also virtually non-existent because clinics are actually discouraged from handing out discounted rates out of concern that many people will sign up for the procedure unnecessarily.

What affects the cost of LASIK surgery in Singapore?

There are several factors that influence LASIK surgery costs in Singapore, such as surgeon’s fee, technique, equipment, and location, among others.

A huge part of the overall costs goes to the surgeon’s professional fee. Obviously, LASIK surgeons with more experience will be more expensive than younger surgeons with less experience.

The equipment and technique also affect the pricing. Traditional LASIK is less expensive than  advanced refractive surgeries such as SMILE and bladeless LASIK because less medical equipment is involved.

The more complicated the technique is, the more equipment will be used and the more expensive it will be.

Another factor that affects the cost is the clinic’s location. Eye clinics located in prime, high-traffic areas will likely have higher rates because they pay higher monthly operating and rental fees.

Can I use Medisave for my LASIK eye surgery?

Since Medisave is reserved primarily for surgical and medical procedures, most patients won’t be able to use it to pay or defray the cost of their LASIK surgery.

Although, technically and by medical standards, LASIK is a surgical procedure, many insurance companies consider it as much a cosmetic procedure.

Here are some instances where Medisave could be use to help pay for LASIK:

Ophthalmologist argues that a patient isn’t suitable for glasses and contact lensesThe difference between the patient’s two eyes is about 300 degreesPatient requires LASIK to correct errors from previous procedures

If you want to know if LASIK is the appropriate procedure for you, get in touch with Shinagawa Eye Centre and its team of specialists for a comprehensive consultation. Call to enquire or book an appointment today!