A LASIK consultation is an eye exam that checks whether laser vision correction is an option for your eyes, and which kind. It is usually longer than a normal eye exam, because the clinic measures your eyes in detail.
What usually happens at the visit
- Questions about your vision, your glasses or contact lens history, and your general health.
- Measurements of your prescription, corneal thickness and shape, pupil size and tear film.
- Often, drops that widen your pupils. Plan for blurry vision for a few hours and bring someone to drive you.
- A talk with the surgeon or a counselor about whether LASIK, another procedure, or no procedure fits your eyes.
If you wear contact lenses, the clinic may ask you to stop wearing them for a while before the visit, because lenses change the shape of the cornea. Ask the clinic how long when you book.
Questions to ask the surgeon
- Am I a candidate, and if not, what are my other options?
- Which procedure do you recommend for my eyes (for example LASIK, PRK or SMILE), and why?
- Who does the surgery, and who does the follow-up visits?
- Which laser do you use, and is the treatment custom to my measurements?
- What side effects and risks apply to my eyes in particular, such as dry eye or night glare?
- What does the price include: follow-up visits, an enhancement if one is needed, medicines?
- Will I still need reading glasses as I get older?
What changes the cost
Clinics often quote per eye. The total depends on the procedure and technology, your prescription, what follow-up care and enhancements are included, and the clinic. A low advertised price may apply only to some prescriptions, so ask what your quote would be after your measurements.
Before you go
- Bring your current glasses and contact lens details.
- Arrange a ride in case your pupils are dilated.
- Ask whether the consultation itself has a fee.
What the FDA says to check before LASIK
The FDA says you are probably not a good candidate if your glasses or contact lens prescription changed in the past year, if you are under 18 (no lasers are approved for LASIK below that age), if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have conditions such as autoimmune disease or diabetes that can affect healing. Large pupils, thin corneas and dry eyes also need a careful look, because LASIK tends to make dry eye worse. Some jobs do not allow certain refractive procedures, and most medical insurance does not pay for it.
If you wear contacts, the FDA says to stop before the evaluation: 2 weeks for soft lenses, at least 3 weeks for toric soft or rigid gas permeable lenses, and at least 4 weeks for hard lenses. Lenses change the shape of the cornea, and the measurements need the natural shape.
Risks the FDA lists include glare, halos or double vision that can affect night vision, dry eye that may be permanent, under or over correction that may still need glasses, and in some patients a loss of vision that glasses cannot correct. The FDA advises not to choose on price alone, to compare more than one eye center, and to be wary of guarantees.
Frequently asked questions
How long before a LASIK consultation should I stop wearing contacts?
The FDA says 2 weeks for soft lenses, at least 3 weeks for toric soft or rigid gas permeable lenses, and at least 4 weeks for hard lenses. Ask the eye center for its own instructions.
Who is not a good candidate for LASIK?
According to the FDA, people under 18, people whose prescription changed in the past year, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and people with conditions that affect healing are usually not good candidates. Thin corneas, large pupils and dry eyes need extra evaluation.
Does insurance cover LASIK?
The FDA notes that most medical insurance does not pay for refractive surgery. Some people use an HSA or FSA; check your own plan.
Can I drive home after LASIK?
No. The FDA says to arrange a ride to and from surgery and to the first follow-up visit, because medicines and blurry vision make driving unsafe.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: When is LASIK not for me?
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: What are the risks and how can I find the right doctor for me?
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: What should I expect before, during, and after surgery?
Sources checked October 27, 2026.
How MediLeadGen helps
MediLeadGen is an advertising and referral service, not a healthcare provider. You choose a treatment and ZIP code, we show you one member practice, and your request goes only to that practice after you agree. If no member practice is near you yet, you can leave your request on our waitlist and we ask you again before sending it anywhere.
General information, not medical advice. Your provider decides what is right for you. Medical review pending: reviewer name and date will appear here.
More guides
- Dental implant consultation: what to expect and questions to ask
- Clear aligner and Invisalign consultation: what to expect and questions to ask
- Hair transplant consultation: what to expect and questions to ask
- Botox consultation: what to expect and questions to ask
- Veneers consultation: what to expect and questions to ask the dentist
- Dental implants cost: what changes the price and how to compare quotes
- LASIK cost: what changes the price per eye and how to compare quotes
- Hair transplant cost: what changes the price and how to compare quotes
- Invisalign vs braces: how clear aligners and braces compare