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LASIK Costs In Singapore: An Eye Doctor Tells All (2021)

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Dr Tony Ho

October 6th, 2020· 5 min read

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Though spectacles and contact lenses can aid in correcting your vision temporarily, nothing beats vision-correcting surgeries such as LASIK. However, the high costs of LASIK procedures may be a huge deterrence to you.

Fret not, in this article, I will walk you through the dense jungle of information required for you to make an informed decision regarding your next LASIK procedure-

  • How much does LASIK cost
  • The different types of procedures
  • The various payment options,
  • Useful advice to achieve your desired sight!

What are the different types of LASIK procedures and how much do they cost in Singapore?

Across the board, the table below shows the main vision correction procedures, how they work, and lastly, their respective cost.

Vision correction procedures

How it works

Cost range

(For 2 eyes)

LASIK (Laser-Assisted Stromal In-situ Keratomileusis)

  1. Using the first laser, a flap is made on the surface of your cornea.
  2. A second laser is then used to correct the refractive error
  3. The flap is then folded back

$3,500 to $4,500

Advanced surface ablation, (ASA):

EpiLASIK
(Epithelial LASIK)

TransPRK (Transepithelial PRK)

ASA is a no-flap, no-incision, surface-based procedure. It involves:

  1. Removing the thin layer of cells on the surface of the cornea
  2. A laser is used to sculpt the cornea tissue and correct the refractive errors
  3. A protective contact lens is placed over the eye until the surface cells grow back within a few days

$3,600 to $4,000

ReLEx SMILE

(Refractive Lenticule Extraction, Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)

ReLEx SMILE is a minimally-invasive procedure. It involves:

  1. Using a laser, a small incision is made (instead of a flap) on the surface of the eye.
  2. The refractive lenticular is removed from the micro-incision

The resulting cornea curvature is altered as the cornea collapses into the empty space.

$5,000 to $6,000

Do note that for LASIK procedures performed on just one eye, the cost will not be proportionately halved.

This is because the number of consumables used during surgery is the same regardless of whether you perform surgery on one or both eyes.

Find out more about the different LASIK procedures in this complete guide here: https://www.human.com.sg/complete-guide-lasik-singapore

Comparing LASIK Cost in Private vs Public Eye Health Institutions in Singapore

Public clinics that offer vision correction services include Singapore National Eye Centre and National University Hospital.

Between private and public institutions, LASIK procedures have similar costs.

Eye doctor treating patient for LASIK

What factors contribute to the difference in cost of the various LASIK procedures in Singapore?

The high costs of LASIK operations can be jarring to many. However, most of my patients who have gone through it do find it worth it.

There are several factors that can influence the pricing of the procedures. Mostly, the price variation of LASIK procedures is due to the different ways clinics package their services to make it more attractive.

Below are 4 other factors that affect the prices of LASIK surgery:

  • pre-operative eye evaluation services
  • post-operative consultation services
  • cost of post-operative LASIK medication
  • type of technology used for LASIK

Pre-operative Eye Evaluation

Before your LASIK surgery or any other vision correction procedure, there is a standardised process for you to go through.

This process includes a range of pre-surgery evaluation tests to determine if your eyes are suitable for LASIK. These tests are crucial in determining the recommended LASIK procedure that is best suited for you.

Such tests include:

  • measuring your corneal dimensions
  • measuring your visual acuity.

In total, it usually takes around 2 to 3 hours to complete all the tests and it makes up the bulk of the time you spend at the clinic.

With the results from the evaluation tests, the doctor can then decide if you are a suitable candidate for LASIK.

In general, the cost of the pre-operative eye evaluation can range widely between $5 to $300. However, it is very important to note that although some pre-operative services seem outstandingly cheap, it may be because they have not included the doctor’s consultation fee. This consultation usually happens before the various eye evaluation tests are done.

In a similar vein, some clinics may price the cost of the actual surgery at a very attractive price, but charge a huge amount for the pre-operative evaluation test.

Always clarify the prices before committing to any clinic!

Post-operative consultation

The main LASIK operation takes less than half an hour for both eyes. With a quick check after your surgery, your doctor will prescribe you with the relevant medication and you are ready to head home!

However, for the next 3 to 6 months you will need to come back in for follow-up appointments with your doctor. The number of appointments differs for every patient.

Some clinics include these follow-up appointments into the surgery cost and advertise it as one single package.

Across the board, these post-operative reviews can cost between $50 to $200 per visit.

Cost of post-operative LASIK medication

The medication prescribed to you will mostly be different types of eye drops, such as antibiotics and steroid.

As most patients need to wear eye protection while they sleep, some may find it difficult to fall asleep. Hence, depending on the patient, some doctors may prescribe oral medication such as sleeping pills to help.

Generally, the fees for these prescriptions would be included in the surgery package.

Despite that, some clinics may not include the cost of medication you bring home. For instance, the eye drops may cost from between $10 to $30.

Type of technology used for LASIK

Depending on the technology that the clinic is using to perform the LASIK treatment, prices may vary. Some clinics may use less advanced machines which may cost less for patients.

Our clinic uses high-quality apparatus such as the Schwind Amaris machine for the TransPRK procedure which provides excellent vision correction results.

It is important to note that the most expensive procedures may not be the best. It all boils down to finding the most suitable procedure for your eyes and what your desired lifestyle is.

It is crucial to find a doctor that you trust and feel comfortable with.

Girl with beautiful smile from LASIK

How long will my LASIK results last?

It is a permanent correction. For most people, it lasts a lifetime.

In uncommon cases, it may only last about 10 years.

This is because although the cornea has been reshaped to provide better vision. the eye however continues to age just like the rest of the body. As you grow older, your eyes may decrease in visual acuity and develop other problems like cataracts.

What if I need to go for LASIK enhancement or follow-up treatments?

Many clinics cover the costs of additional LASIK treatments. On the other hand, some clinics may even charge it in full as a separate LASIK treatment.

At Clearvision, it costs $600 per eye for returning patients in the rare event that it is required.

Be sure to check with your clinic before you get treated!

Financing your LASIK treatment in Singapore

Across the board, most clinics offer similar payment methods. However, it would be prudent to ask questions and clarify what you are paying for.

Insurance and Medisave

Unfortunately, since LASIK and other vision correction treatments are considered elective surgery procedures (non-essesntial), insurance and Medisave cannot be used to pay for these treatments.

Installment plans to pay for your LASIK treatment

Your LASIK procedure can be paid in full or you can choose to go for the installment plans.

For most clinics, they do offer a monthly installment payment option with 0% interest over 6 - 12 months. This tends to be a popular option. A LASIK procedure of about $3,800 can be split into more manageable monthly installments of about $300+.

You can pay for your LASIK procedure via cash, NETS, debit, or credit card. However, it is important to note that NETS only has a $2000 withdrawal limit per day.

Are there any subsidies or discounts for LASIK treatments in Singapore?

Everyone loves discounts. However, according to MOH (Ministry of Health) guidelines, doctors are not allowed to give discounts for medical procedures. This is to prevent patients from taking up unnecessary treatments.

LASIK surgery

LASIK vs. Contact lenses vs. Spectacles

Are you still in a dilemma? Think about your current lifestyle and then decide whether LASIK can allow you to do the things you love better.

Here is a simple table that assesses the benefits of LASIK in comparison with other ways of vision-correcting methods.

Price (over a decade)

Sustainability

Comfort and Quality of Life

Risk

LASIK

Medium

A high upfront cost of $3,500 to $6,000.

High

Lasts indefinitely.

High

No more fogging of your glasses and maneuvering with your contact lenses.

Even the LASIK process poses only slight discomfort.

Medium

Due to the availability of highly sophisticated technology and treatments, LASIK procedures today are extremely safe.

Contact lenses

High

For the cheapest option, a monthly box of 3 pairs can cost about $30.
Contact lens solution costs about $12 to $100 that lasts a month. [1]

Over a decade of continual use, it can reach up to

$5,040

Low

Lasts for a month.

Low

Requires the most care.
At times you would have to take them out or wear them in. With that, you may have to apply eye drops or prepare the solution.

High

Without proper care, complications may arise. It may pose a risk of eye infections and corneal ulcers. [2]

Spectacles

Low

For a pair of spectacles, it can cost between $70 to $300.

Over a decade, it can cost only $1,200

Medium

Lasts for about 3 years

Medium

Low maintenance. However, it could get uncomfortable at times and so you may adjust your glasses occasionally.

Low

Generally safe.

How do I choose my LASIK doctor?

The goal is to find a doctor you can fully trust. If you are looking to undergo a vision correction procedure like LASIK, you would want to find an ophthalmologist who is more experienced or a leader in that field.

A number of eye doctors have had more years in training to sub-specialise in refractive surgery. For example, they can sub-specialising in LASIK or Advanced Surface Ablation techniques.

On the other hand, some ophthalmologists may not have an official sub-specialisation but may have undergone fellowship training for refractive surgery. These doctors are equipped with the necessary training and experience to administer the procedure safely.

Some general advice:

  • Ensure that you find out how the clinic you are considering is charging their procedures and if there are any hidden costs that you should know about.
  • Do not fall prey to “bait and switch” sales tactics that advertise an attractive price that is perhaps only relevant to patients with lower refractive errors and may not apply to you.

Getting LASIK or any other refractive surgery can be a life-altering experience. The way you live your life may no longer be the same. Spare no effort to do your due research and find a doctor you can absolutely trust.

To sum up…

Now that you have better insights into the prices and factors affecting the cost of LASIK procedures in Singapore, why not get a free quote from doctors in Singapore to get a more specific price for your situation?

Head over to Dr Ho’s Complete Guide to LASIK in Singapore if you are interested to learn more!

I hope that you've found this guide useful, and perhaps gained more insight into the application process. Most of the admissions-related information (admin and logistics wise) can be found on the official NUS Faculty of Dentistry website.

To help yourself out, you should take note of what people look for when they look for a dentist.

This article was written by Dr Tony Ho and published on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. Human medically reviewed the article on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. The last update was made on Friday, 18 September 2020.

Disclaimer: Opinions belong to the author and not to the platform.

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