What is the range of cost for cataract surgery on a single eye that
does not have complications?

Dear rickardo-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting question.

Depending on the type of surgery, the problem you have, who performs
it, and where it is performed, this figure may differ somewhat:

?The study estimates the average cost of cataract surgery to be around
$3,000, but the net economic benefit of the procedure to be $39,750
per procedure.?

[?net economic benefit? means how profitable in terms of dollar value
the corrective surgery can be to the patient over time, relative to
lost time at work, disability, alternative non-surgical corrective
measures like eyeglasses, etc had the surgery not been performed]

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
?New Study Documents Health, Economic Benefits of Medical Technology as
Congress Explores How Innovation Affects Health Care Costs?
http://www.himanet.com/newsroom/mti-vol4-9.html


?The national average cost for LASIK surgery is currently $3000-4800
for both eyes.?
MID ATLANTIC EYECARE
http://www.maeye.com/ophthalmic/refractivefaqs.html


According to Storm Eye Institute at the Medical University of South
Carolina, the average cost for a LASIK procedure, now a common method
of cataract surgery nationally is between $1,900 and $2400 per eye.

?What is the average cost, and is financing available??
http://magill.musc.edu/Question.htm#What%20is%20the%20average%20cost,%20and%20is%20financing%20available?

Based on these statements from reputable sources I think it is safe to
say that you could reasonably expect to pay somewhere in the
$1500-$2500 range (per eye) for a routine procedure provided there are
no remarkable problems or complications.

Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy
for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By
following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to
enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find
that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any questions
about my research please post a clarification request prior to rating
the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final comments
and I look forward to working with you again in the near future. Thank
you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad ? Google Answers Researcher


INFORMATION SOURCES

STORM EYE INSTITUTE ? THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
http://www.stormeye.musc.edu/


?What is the average cost, and is financing available??
http://magill.musc.edu/Question.htm#What%20is%20the%20average%20cost,%20and%20is%20financing%20available?


SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINES USED:

Google ://www.google.com




SEARCH TERMS USED:

Cataract surgery

Average cost

National average

---

Request for Answer Clarification by rickardo-ga on 18 Jul 2004 19:31 PDT

Thank you for your response to my question. I do have one question
regarding the response: My limited reading about LASIK does not
indicate its use in cataract surgery, is there a convenient reference
that shows this use?

Thanks

---

Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 19 Jul 2004 06:47 PDT

Your are right and I apologize. I derived some of my erroneous
information from the "American Society of Cataract and Refractive
Surgery" - which is ONE organization dealing with TWO seperate medical
issues. I misinterpreted their information about one issue as being
pertinent to the other.

Initially however, I was indeed on the right track before being
distracted by my own clumsy big feet.

?The study estimates the average cost of cataract surgery to be around
$3,000, but the net economic benefit of the procedure to be $39,750
per procedure.?

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
?New Study Documents Health, Economic Benefits of Medical Technology as
Congress Explores How Innovation Affects Health Care Costs?
http://www.himanet.com/newsroom/mti-vol4-9.html


Thank you for pointing this out.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

The researcher provided the information I was seeking and was quick to
correct a minor missinterpretation in response to my request for
clarification.

Eye care, including cataract surgery and other procedures, are
available at no cost to qualifying senior citizens.  Here's good
information to pass along to people you may know of that can use it. 
If you wish, you could print and post this information in places like
your local library, a community bulletin board, or place of worship,
for instance.  It is a joint effort by the Amarican Academy of
Opthamologists and the Knights Templar.
 
http://www.allaboutvision.com/viewpoints/0300seniors.htm