Laser eye treatment is quickly becoming a popular vision correction method. Laser treatments can be used for those that are near sighted, far sighted, or have astigmatism. Before deciding what type of laser surgery is needed, consult with an eye doctor. The eye surgeon will be able to tell you what type of laser treatment will be most effective. Lasers are also used as part of cataract surgery.

There are many types of laser surgery. The most popular are PRK and LASIK. PRK involves manually scraping away the outer layer of the cornea before the laser reshapes tissue on the lower layer. Afterwards, the epithelium layer must grow back. This means longer recovery time for the patient. LASIK involves cutting a cornea flap and then using the laser to reshape the eye. LASIK is generally painless and vision is corrected immediately.

There are both risks and benefits to laser eye surgery. Risks include haziness of vision, regression, or under correction. All of these side effects can be corrected with additional treatments. The first major benefit of laser eye surgery is, of course, better eyesight. There are other benefits that people who have had laser surgery experience. Many people report that they enjoy not having to deal with contacts or keep track of glasses. There are even some cases where the laser treatment results in the patient having better than 20/20 vision.

Like any procedure, the price of laser surgery depends on the laser eye surgeon as well as the type of surgery. In the first quarter of 2010, the average price for laser eye surgery was around $2,000. Many laser eye surgeons have payment plans available for those who can not unable to pay all at once. Many contact wearers feel that this is a reasonable price since the cost of buying contacts over the years can add up to that amount if not more. Most vision insurance will not cover laser eye surgery because they consider it to be a cosmetic procedure.

Before undergoing any laser surgery, research is important. Beware of "bargain" priced laser treatments. Ask thorough questions about the price, as many "bargain" deals have unadvertised hidden fees. Also be sure to choose a laser eye surgeon with experience. Laser eye surgery is becoming more common, however, if mistakes are made, permanent damage can be done. Benefits will outweigh any risks of laser eye correction if done correctly.