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Cost of eye muscles repair surgery

The average cash price for eye muscles repair surgery care is $3,383 at a surgery center versus $5,597 at an outpatient hospital. While a surgery center may offer fewer complimentary services, and may not have the full range of support services that outpatient hospital provides, it may still be worth the (40%) you'd save when comparing the cost of eye muscles repair surgery performed at an outpatient hospital. Read More

Average cash price in U.S.

A common eye muscles repair surgery at surgery center facility in U.S. includes

  Units Avg Cash price

Provider

Ophthalmologist visit provider fee

First-time visit Standard
1 $116

Provider fee to realign eye with repair of eye muscles

Two muscles Standard
1 $972

Facility

Surgery center fee to realign eye with repair of eye muscles

Standard Standard
1 $1,695

Prescriptions

HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN

Standard Standard
30 $16

Anesthesia

Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure

Level 3 Standard
1 $202

Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure

Per minute Standard
191 $382
Total average cash price   $3,382.50

A common eye muscles repair surgery at outpatient hospital facility in U.S. includes

  Units Avg Cash price

Provider

Ophthalmologist visit provider fee

First-time visit Standard
1 $116

Provider fee to realign eye with repair of eye muscles

Two muscles Standard
1 $972

Facility

Outpatient Hospital fee to realign eye with repair of eye muscles

level 4 Standard
1 $3,909

Prescriptions

HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN

Standard Standard
30 $16

Anesthesia

Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure

Level 3 Standard
1 $202

Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure

Per minute Standard
191 $382
Total average cash price   $5,596.50

Eye muscle surgery is done to correct a condition that causes misalignment of the eyes. You may have heard this called a “lazy eye” or “crossed eyes.” When eyes don’t line up properly, whichever direction it is, it is called strabismus. Surgically repairing the eye muscles can fix this condition before lifelong vision problems appear. For this reason, strabismus repair is most often performed on pediatric patients, although some adult procedures do happen.

Some patients with strabismus can achieve good results from more conservative treatments, such as eye exercises or wearing eyeglasses. Eye muscle repair surgery is the next option if these methods do not produce results or if the condition is severe.

Most eye muscle repair surgeries are done on an outpatient basis as same-day surgery. This is true for both pediatrics and adults. Children usually undergo general anesthesia to ensure little movement during surgery. Some adults may have a numbing agent and mild sedation for the procedure.

Just as with any type of surgery, risks include excessive bleeding and infection. Because of these risks, it is essential to closely follow the doctor’s instructions before and after surgery. Keeping incisions dry, clean, and medicating as indicated will minimize these risks. 

Although very rare, eye muscle repair surgery can result in double vision or eye damage in some cases.

In the days after surgery, it is usual to experience some scratchy and painful sensations. It is also advised to avoid bright sunlight and excessive eye strain, such as with a lot of reading or computer work. Rest your eyes and resist the urge to rub or touch the areas. After 10 to 14 days, you will see your surgeon again, and should be feeling much better as healing progresses. Redness and swelling should be at a minimum by this time, and your doctor may release you to resume normal activities.

It is important to avoid touching or rubbing the eyes. This can introduce irritants and increase the risk of infection. You may have antibiotic eye drops or ointments to use daily as a precautionary measure against infections.

Most patients with strabismus who receive eye muscle surgery can expect an 80% success rate. This means that 80% of patients achieve complete resolution of the condition, while another 20% may need another procedure later, or a different intervention.

For children, the surgery results are often very successful, with no residual vision impairment. Their eyes usually continue to develop normally into adulthood, with no further alignment problems. In adults who have been dealing with strabismus for an extended period of time, there is a cosmetic benefit to the procedure, plus varying degrees of visual benefit. Adults can experience more visual acuity, an expansion of peripheral vision, and overall improvement in function. Cosmetic benefits often carry over into psychosocial benefits, which affect the patient’s self-esteem, relationships, and careers.

In a successful initial surgery, the risk of strabismus coming back is almost none.

About the eye muscles repair surgery Average Cash Prices

This procedure is most commonly performed at either a surgery center or an outpatient hospital.

Surgery centers, also known as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), are independent, licensed medical facilities that are governed by distinct regulatory requirements compared with a hospital. Procedures performed at an ASCs are often less expensive than when they are performed at an outpatient hospital, but they typically offer fewer complimentary services, and may not have the full-range of support services that a hospital provides.

Outpatient facilities are outpatient departments or clinics that may be within or next to a hospital, but is owned and run by the affiliated hospital. These facilities can perform surgical treatments and procedures that do not require an overnight stay. Procedures performed at an outpatient hospital are often more expensive than when they are performed in an ambulatory surgery center, but outpatient hospitals may offer more complimentary and support services for patients because they are connected to the hospital system.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.