LASIK FAQ

QualSight provides a managed Laser Vision Correction (i.e. Traditional and Custom LASIK, PRK, and IntraLase “Bladeless” technologies) Program through a national network of credentialed and experienced LASIK surgeons. Collectively, these physicians have performed more than 6.5 million procedures. QualSight has been providing LASIK savings since 2004 and now serves over 75 million health plan members nationwide.

LASIK (Laser-Assisted in-situ Keratomileusis) is an outpatient treatment that uses an excimer laser (a cool beam of light) to gently reshape the front surface of the eye (the cornea). Reshaping the cornea redirects the light angle as it enters the eye to refocus correctly on the retina. This allows images to be more sharply focused. Vision recovery is rapid, and there is little or no postoperative pain. With refractive surgery, your dependence on glasses and contact lenses should diminish.

Traditional and Custom LASIK treat moderate to severe refractive disorders, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. For both Traditional and Custom LASIK, your surgeon uses a surgical instrument called a microkeratome blade to create a thin flap to access your cornea. Custom LASIK, also known as Wavefront LASIK, uses an advanced technology (Wavefront Analyzer) to map the corneal surface 3-dimensionally, guiding the laser in re-shaping the front part of the eye (the cornea). The three dimensional data from the Wavefront Analyzer is then electronically transferred to the laser, enabling your surgeon to customize the LASIK procedure to your unique visual requirements. Depending on your prescription and eye shape, your doctor will be able to determine which type of treatment is best for your individual condition.

With IntraLase (Bladeless) LASIK, the surgeon uses a laser to create the corneal flap instead of the microkeratome blade technology. This enables the surgeon to customize the corneal flap for each individual patient. The remainder of the surgery is the same as Traditional LASIK or Custom LASIK. Recent studies conducted on IntraLase technology suggest it may be possible to treat those who were previously unable to have LASIK surgery due to thin corneas.

Yes, LASIK has been FDA approved to effectively treat astigmatism as well as myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). LASIK was approved in 2007 to correct presbyopia (when the small print begins to blur) with Monovision LASIK; this procedure corrects one eye for distance and the other eye for reading. Patients will want to discuss options with their physician to determine which procedure is best for their vision correction need.

Through the QualSight network, Traditional LASIK surgery is $945 per eye, and Custom LASIK $1,395 per eye. Intralase (Bladeless) LASIK is available from participating providers for $1795/eye.

This low price is usually only available to a very small segment of the population (typically less than 5%). this is because it is a starting point and is only available to people with very minor prescriptions. The price then increases substantially for those individuals with higher prescription levels. In addition, most offices will charge separately for the preoperative evaluation and follow up visits. The national average price for LASIK is over $2300 per eye. The QualSight LASIK program is all-inclusive with no hidden fees and represents a savings of 20% to 35% off the national average price of Traditional LASIK.

Schedule your initial appointment with QualSight by calling toll-free at 855-800-2020. A QualSight Care Manager will explain your LASIK benefit and perform a zip code search for providers in your area, and answer your questions. Once you have selected a provider in your area, the Care Manager will schedule your appointment at the doctor’s office with you on the phone.

At the time of scheduling, QualSight will collect a refundable deposit of $50 to hold your appointment, payable by credit card, debit card, or personal check. This deposit is then deducted from your surgery cost should you decide to have the procedure. In the event that you do not proceed with LASIK, for any reason, the $50 deposit will be refunded to you. The deposit holds your appointment and confirms your eligibility for QualSight pricing with your doctor’s office. The refundable deposit is not an additional charge and will be deducted from your total procedure price. If you don’t qualify for LASIK, or choose not to have the surgery for any reason, your deposit is fully refundable through QualSight.

Yes, we offer financing options through CareCredit, which enables you to finance your procedure at 0% interest for up to 12 months or choose an extended payment plan.

All of our doctors are experienced refractive surgeons who use FDA-approved technology. They have been credentialed according to national quality standards by an impartial third party called VerifPoint. QualSight has also collected their professional and educational history for you. When you call QualSight, you will be given a choice of approved doctors that participate in your area.

Yes. Contact lenses can change the shape of your cornea for up to several weeks after you have stopped using them. Not leaving your contact lenses out long enough for your cornea to return to its natural shape before surgery can lead to an inaccurate correction. Each physician has their own protocol for contact lens removal, but at a minimum, we recommend you remove your soft contacts one week prior to your initial appointment and your hard contacts for several weeks. Your Care Manager will give you the protocol required by the physician you choose.

Expect to be at the doctor’s office for one to two hours. Your physician will test your eyes for your prescription and uncover any medical problems. Your eyes may be dilated, and they will scan your eyes to get a 3-dimensional image of the shape of your eyes.

The procedure lasts only seconds; however, the entire surgical visit can take up to two hours. Your laser treatment is specifically designed by your surgeon based on measurements gathered at the preoperative exam. Make sure you schedule a one-day follow up appointment. Remember to ask your doctor or technician any additional questions you or your family may have. You will be required to have a person drive you home after your procedure.

Your total cost will include your preoperative exam, the procedure, all postoperative visits for one-year, as well as a One-Year Assurance Plan

Participating providers may offer eligible members the option to purchase a Lifetime Assurance Plan, where retreatments are performed at no cost when medically advisable. Provider participation may vary.