Cost Of LASIK Eye Surgery In Singapore 2022 – What Is It, Who Is It For, Where You Can Do It

Cost Of LASIK Eye Surgery In Singapore 2022 – What Is It, Who Is It For, Where You Can Do It

Thinking of getting LASIK surgery but not sure if it’s worth the cost?

As LASIK surgery can easily set you back by a few thousand dollars, it is important to make an informed decision before you spend your hard earned money on laser eye surgery. This is why we have  put together this comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about the cost of LASIK eye surgery in Singapore.

You may be surprised to learn that the LASIK Singapore price is actually affordable at some clinics. Coupled with Singapore’s experienced surgeons, you can be sure that you’re getting the best possible care for your eyes.

Read this article now and learn everything you need about the cost of LASIK surgery in Singapore!

What Is LASIK?

LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a type of refractive surgery used to correct vision problems. The procedure involves using a laser to reshape your cornea, which is the transparent outer layer of your eye.

LASIK can improve vision by correcting so-called “refractive errors” caused by your cornea not bending light correctly. The result of your poorly-shaped cornea is blurry vision. These conditions include:

  • Nearsightedness
  • Farsightedness
  • Astigmatism

LASIK is one of the most commonly performed refractive surgeries and is considered safe and effective. In most cases, patients will experience significantly improved vision after the procedure.

Important note: LASIK is not suitable for everyone. Before the procedure, you should consult an ophthalmologist to determine if you are a good candidate.

How Long Does LASIK Last For?

In general, the effects of LASIK are long-lasting, but they may not be permanent. Most people with LASIK will never need to have their vision corrected again.

However, a small percentage of people may experience a gradual deterioration of their vision over time, which may require another procedure to maintain clear vision.

Why does this happen?

Well, age-related eye changes are a fact of life. So, while LASIK eye surgery is permanent, some of the benefits you’re noticing now may wane with time.

The good news is this only happens to about 10-12% of the patients undergoing LASIK surgery. And the follow-up operation is just an enhancement to the previous one.

The other good news is that, even if you are in this group, you may not need the surgery for at least a decade or more.

So, your LASIK surgery will last a lifetime in the best-case scenario. In the worst-case scenario, you will have to do a repeat enhancement procedure ten years after the first surgery.

Are There Any Side Effects With LASIK?

While LASIK eye surgery is generally safe, there are some potential side effects that you should be aware of.

The most common side effect is dry eye, which can cause symptoms like blurry vision, itching, and redness. Dry eye happens because the eye doesn’t produce enough tears, and it can be remedied with artificial tears or other treatments.

Other potential side effects include:

  • Glare
  • Halos
  • Double vision

These usually go away within a few weeks or months, but in rare cases, they may be permanent.

Some people also experience changes in their night vision after LASIK surgery.

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Risks Associated With LASIK

LASIK is a safe and effective way to improve vision, but like any surgery, (some degree of) risk is inherent. Before the procedure, you should talk to your ophthalmologist at length about the possible side effects.

Let’s review them below:

Thinning Cornea

Thinning cornea means just what it sounds like: your cornea becomes thinner after the LASIK surgery. In some cases, this can cause your vision to become impaired.

There’s good news:

Thinning cornea happens in just 0.04% to 0.06% of cases worldwide, so chances are you will be fine.

Difficult Future Cataract Surgeries

Standard LASIK eye surgery uses a laser to reshape your cornea after previously creating a flap. Afterwards, the original flap is returned to its original position.

This procedure sometimes confuses current medical measuring machines. Therefore, if you need cataract surgery in the future, your readings may be off.

What does that mean?

Luckily, nothing serious for your health or the risks of that potential cataract surgery.

However, your surgeon might not get the right results, so you might need to wear glasses again if you’re undergoing a cataract operation.

To avoid this, ask your doctor about the advantages of the no-flap LASIK surgery.

Inaccurate Eye Pressure Readings 

Let’s say you develop glaucoma at some point in the future. Glaucoma is an eye condition that increases pressure in your eyes.

If you have LASIK surgery, there is a chance that the machine measuring this pressure will give inaccurate readings. The reason for this is the same as we explained before (that extra flap).

The result is difficulty diagnosing or treating future potential glaucoma in its early stages.

Tell your doctor about your LASIK surgery before any glaucoma testing to avoid any issues.

Flap Damage Or Deformation

The flap is the part of your cornea that’s cut during LASIK surgery so that the surgeon can access your eyeball and treat it.

Sometimes, this flap can become damaged, deformed, or dislodged. When this happens, you might need surgery to repair the flap.

This complication is very rare, happening in only 0.3% to 5.7% of cases

However, if it does happen, it’s usually because of an error on the surgeon’s part. Choosing a reputable and experienced surgeon for your LASIK surgery is crucial.

Besides, this damage is not irreversible; even in the worst-case scenario, you can still correct it later.

Regression

Regression after your LASIK surgery means that your vision starts to become worse again. Reasons include:

  • The severity of your myopia
  • The way your eye heals after surgery
  • The type of laser used during surgery

Regression is usually mild and can be fixed with a second surgery, but in some cases, it can be severe enough to cause needing glasses or contact lenses again.

Don’t let all that scare you.

The pre-operation stages are extensive and comprehensive. Your doctor will conduct numerous tests, examinations, and simulations to give you a realistic ballpark of where your vision will be post-surgery.

For example, if you have severe myopia now, with -13/-14 diopters, your post-LASIK diopters may be just around -0.5/-1.

Who Can (Or Can’t) Benefit From LASIK?

Now that we know about LASIK’s risks and side effects let’s see if you’re a good candidate for this procedure.

The best candidates for LASIK are:

  • Adults over 18 years old with no history of changing vision (although some sources claim that being at least 21 is better)
  • People with a stable vision prescription for at least one year
  • Those who have no other health conditions that could affect the healing process

LASIK may not be the right option for you if you have:

  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Collagen vascular diseases
  • Dry eyes
  • Glaucoma
  • Keratoconus
  • Large pupils
  • Previous eye surgeries (for example, cataract surgery)
  • Thin corneas
  • Presbyopia
  • Severe refractive error:
    • Myopia: over 1000 degrees
    • Hyperopia and astigmatism: over 400 degrees

Also, keep in mind that LASIK is not recommended if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Where Can I Do LASIK In Singapore?

You can choose to have your LASIK eye surgery in Singapore’s public and private clinics. As you can imagine, public hospitals and clinics are usually more affordable.

Here are some public institutions that would make a good choice:

  • Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)
  • National University Hospital
  • Tan Tock Seng Hospital
LASIK clinicPrice
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH)$1,359 to $1,959
Surgery: $1,200 to $1,795 (depending on LASIK technology and surgeon’s expertise)
Consult: $159 to $164
National University Hospital (NUH)$2,202 to $3,275
Surgery: $2,050 to $3,073 (depending on LASIK technology and surgeon’s expertise)
Consult: $102
Medication: $50-$100
Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)$1,701.3 to $1,984.28
Surgery: $1,498 to $1,766 (depending on LASIK technology and surgeon’s expertise)
Assessment: $85.60
Pre-op consult: $117.70 to $132.68

And since most people usually follow the middle ground option, it’s no wonder they choose the National Eye Centre for LASIK. As you can see, this clinic has intermediate price options for LASIK in Singapore.

Private Clinics / Hospitals

LASIK Singapore prices are higher in the private sector. Here’s what you can expect at the top private clinics on the island (for both eyes):

LASIK ClinicPrice
Atlas Eye Specialist CentreFrom $4,872

Consult: From $172
Follow-up: $97
Extended consultation: From $225
Medical report: $282
Surgery: $3900
Post-op review: $97 each
Medication: $99-$125 (first set)
Asia Pacific Eye CentreFrom $3,197.34

Pre-LASIK Eye Screening: $210.97
Standard LASIK: From $2,986.37
iLASIK (Wavefront Customised): From $3,709.69
LSE Eye ClinicFrom: $3,462

Eye assessment: $27 (for same-day surgery); $214 for adults, including consult
Basic eye test: $33-$54/ visit
Surgery: $3,198 Standard; $4,375 customised/ topography-guided; $4,375 PRESBYOND for presbyopia
Medication: $97
Additional review within a year: $86
Medical report: From $107
Eye tests and medication for enhancement surgery (within two years) plus three post-op reviews: $295
Eagle Eye CentreFrom $3,250
No data about consults, medications, and report fees included
Surgery cost: $3,250 for Epi-LASIK (thin corneas and active people); $3,450 (thick corneas)
Clearvision Eye ClinicFrom $4,025.5
Suitability Evaluation: $37.50
ReLEx SMILE: $5,188
EpiLASIK: $3,988
Femto-LASIK: $3,988
Enhancement Surgery (one eye): $1,188

How Do I Pay For LASIK, And Are There Any Subsidies For This? 

You can pay for LASIK eye surgery using your savings or by getting a convenient instalment plan. Some private clinics work with specific banks to offer 0% interest instalment plans with 6-12 month tenures.

Participating credit cards usually include:

  • UOB
  • OCBC
  • DBS
  • POSB
  • Standard Chartered Bank
  • AMEX

However, check with your clinic for more personalised information.

Pro tip: It’s also wise to check if your Medisave can cover the cost of your LASIK eye surgery. Although you can’t always use Medisave, some circumstances include:

  • A difference of over 300 degrees (three diopters) between your eyes
  • Using LASIK to correct a previous eye surgery
  • Having a written assessment from your ophthalmologist that you cannot tolerate eyeglasses or contact lenses

And all that will get you a maximum of $300/day for hospital charges. Medisave will only pay a maximum of $30/day for your doctor’s fees out of that $300/day amount.

Unfortunately, your other medical insurances won’t cover the LASIK Singapore price because:

  • The procedure is considered elective.
  • Your eye problems can be dubbed as “pre-existing conditions,” especially if you’ve had them from a very young age (which is usually the case with Singaporean kids and myopia).

What Is The Total Cost Of LASIK And Are There Alternative Funding Options?

The cost of LASIK eye surgery in Singapore starts at $1,359 in public hospitals, climbing up to around $5,000 in private clinics.

The LASIK Singapore price is lower in public clinics, but private ones have cheaper initial assessments. Besides, they offer more precise price plans from the get-go.

That means you can gauge your necessary expenses better.

On the downside, public clinics are more expensive and include other fees (sometimes hidden). For example, the cost of medication and medical reports isn’t always disclosed.

You should also pick the right option for your future needs.

For example, your initial assessment might signal a significant probability for your eye problems to return. In this case, you should also enquire about the enhancement surgery cost and take that into account before choosing a clinic.

Remember to check your payment options and see what the clinic agrees to.

Warning: LASIK is a delicate procedure. Although the cost of LASIK eye surgery is important, it shouldn’t be the determining factor.

There are more risks associated with an inexperienced surgeon or dated procedures. If you want to minimise those risks as much as possible, looking at other financing options is best.

At Money Kinetics, we believe that loans should be made accessible to everyone. Looking for a personal loan to cover the cost of your LASIK surgery? Retrieve a slew of quotes in just a few minutes. All you have to do is use your SingPass and apply here.

You will be well on your way to 20/20 vision!

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