LASIK in Los Angeles: Candidacy, Cost, Recovery and How to Choose a Surgeon

Who is a good candidate for LASIK

Only an eye surgeon who has examined you can say whether LASIK suits your eyes. What you can do beforehand is learn the criteria, so the consultation becomes a conversation rather than a sales pitch. The American Academy of Ophthalmology lists these basics:

• Age 18 or older, and ideally over 21
• A prescription that hasn't changed much in the past year
• A refractive error LASIK can treat: nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism
• Healthy corneas that are thick enough
• Generally good eye health
• Realistic expectations

That last point matters more than it sounds. The AAO says people who expect perfect vision without glasses or contacts “run the risk of being disappointed.”

When the FDA says LASIK may not be for you

The FDA's page When is LASIK not for me? says you are probably not a good candidate if:

• You are not a risk taker.
• It could jeopardize your career.
• Cost is a problem, since most medical insurance won't pay for refractive surgery.
• Your contact lens or glasses prescription changed in the past year.
• You are under 18; no lasers are approved for LASIK in people under 18.
• You've had previous refractive surgery such as RK, PRK or LASIK.

The FDA adds that LASIK tends to make dry eye worse, and that blepharitis (inflamed eyelids) may raise the risk of infection or inflammation of the cornea afterward. Its LASIK Surgery Checklist also names autoimmune or chronic disease, steroid use, large pupils in dim light, thin corneas and dry eyes as possible reasons someone may be a poor candidate.

If a surgeon says you're not a good LASIK candidate, ask exactly why. You may be offered an alternative; our guide to SMILE, PRK and ICL explains the main options.

What LASIK costs in Los Angeles

We looked for a reliable Los Angeles price and didn't find one, so we won't publish a guess. These are the national benchmarks we could verify:

Because these are per-eye figures, a quote for both eyes would be roughly double. Practices from Beverly Hills to Pasadena set their own prices, and the FDA does not regulate LASIK fees or marketing. An advertised price tells you little until you know what it includes.

Questions that make quotes comparable

• Is the price per eye or for both eyes?
• Which technique and laser will be used, and who performs the surgery?
• Are the evaluation, dry eye testing and other pre-surgery tests included?
• How many follow-up visits are included? The FDA says to expect regular visits for at least six months.
• If I'm over- or under-treated and need another procedure, what does that cost?
• What happens to any deposit if the evaluation shows I'm not a candidate?

Planning to use an HSA, an FSA or a financing plan? Confirm eligibility with your plan administrator and read any financing agreement before signing. We haven't yet reviewed the IRS rules in detail, so we don't summarize them here.

Before, during and after surgery

Every practice has its own instructions, but the FDA and the FTC describe a typical sequence. Use it to plan time off work and rides.

1. Stop wearing contactsThe FDA says to stop soft contact lenses 2 weeks before your first evaluation and hard lenses at least 4 weeks before. Ask the practice what it requires for your lenses.
2. Go through the evaluationThe labeling for one FDA-approved laser says your doctor should test you for dry eye before LASIK. Expect questions about your health, medicines and prescription history.
3. Skip eye makeupThe FDA says no eye makeup from 1 day before surgery until 2 weeks after.
4. Surgery dayThe procedure takes less than 30 minutes. The FTC says vision is usually blurry that day, so arrange for someone else to get you home.
5. The next day or twoSee your doctor within 24 to 48 hours. The FTC says vision should be much better by the day after surgery.
6. The following weeks and monthsThe FTC advises no sports for 3 days, no impact sports for 4 weeks, and no swimming, hot tubs or whirlpools for 2 weeks. The FDA says vision may fluctuate for the first few months, and one laser's labeling notes some patients see haze for up to 6 months.

Risks the FDA asks you to weigh

The FDA's page on risks and finding the right doctor and its checklist describe these possibilities:

• Glare, halos or double vision that can seriously affect night vision
• Dry eye that causes discomfort and reduces visual quality, even in people who didn't have dry eye before
• Over- or under-treatment that may require more than one surgery
• Still needing glasses or contacts, including reading glasses
• Results that may not be lasting
• Additional risks when both eyes are treated at the same time

Even the best screened patients under the care of most skilled surgeons can experience serious complications.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

If monovision comes up, the FDA suggests trying it with contact lenses first and checking that you'd still pass the state's driver's license vision requirements.

Where LASIK is offered in Los Angeles

Many independent practices across the county offer LASIK, and we don't rank them. Among the academic centers we verified, UCLA's Stein Eye Center Calabasas lists LASIK and laser vision correction. USC Roski Eye Institute's Glendale clinic lists refractive consultations at (818) 583-9500, and its Arcadia clinic lists cataract and refractive surgery. USC's general appointment line is (323) 442-6335.

An academic name isn't a guarantee, and a private practice isn't a red flag. Whichever route you take, verify the individual surgeon with our step-by-step checklist.

A checklist for comparing LASIK practices

1. Confirm the surgeon's California license and board certification.
2. Ask who handles your evaluation, your surgery and your follow-up visits.
3. Make sure you're tested for dry eye and that your prescription history is reviewed.
4. Ask how often the practice tells people they aren't candidates.
5. Get a written, itemized quote that says per eye or both eyes.
6. Ask how complications and retreatments are handled, and who you call after hours.
7. Don't choose on cost alone, and see more than one practice, as the FDA advises.