Does the health insurance company pay for laser eye surgery? Tips from Doctor-medic Bányai

The assumption of costs for laser eye treatment by the statutory health insurance, such as the AOK, is usually excluded. Doctor-medic Liliana Bányai explains that private health insurance companies, on the other hand, often cover the costs of laser eye surgery – depending on the tariff and individual contractual situation.

Whether and when health insurance or insurance covers the costs of laser eye surgery depends on various factors. In the case of serious eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma or retinal holes, the treatment costs are partially or completely borne – depending on the respective method.

In the case of refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness, on the other hand, the assumption of costs is rare, since these visual defects are usually not considered to require treatment within the meaning of the statutory health insurance funds.

Why do statutory health insurance companies usually not pay? When do private insurers take over laser eye surgery? And under what circumstances can the health insurance company also pay? In this article, Doctor-medic Bányai answers your most important questions about eye lasers and health insurance.

When does the health insurance company or AOK pay for laser eye treatment?

When laser eye treatment is covered by the statutory health insurance companies or the health insurance AOK and when there is a subsidy is not always clearly defined.

In short, the costs of a severe form of an eye disease are fully or partially covered. These include eye diseases such as cataracts or cataracts.

In the case of refractive errors, the statutory health insurance unfortunately does not pay the treatment costs. These include eye lasers for nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia. Costs will only be covered in the event of medical necessity or severe refractive errors. However, there are interest-free installment payment models that still allow you to have laser eye treatment.

How much does laser eye surgery cost in general?

Before it comes to laser treatment, many interested parties ask themselves the question of how much eye lasers cost and when the health insurance company will financially support you during an eye operation. In principle, the cost of the procedure varies depending on the treatment and diagnosis of the ophthalmologist.

Roughly speaking, you should expect at least €990.00 per eye. You will receive an individual cost estimate during an initial consultation using an eye laser method.

The following prices apply at Doctor-medic Bányai’s laser eye centers in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe (as of 24.03.2025):

• SMILE® Pro from 2,900 EUR per eye
• Femto LASIK from EUR 2,200 per eye
• PRK & LASEK from EUR 990 per eye (up to 1dpt) and EUR 1400 per eye (from 1dpt)
• PRESBYOND® from 3150,- EUR per eye

The costs for laser eye treatments can also be paid interest-free by installment and with a small down payment. This allows you to spread your costs over two years. For example, a SMILE® Pro treatment starts with an installment payment of 121 euros per month and per eye (as of 24.03.2025).

In the following paragraphs, you will learn in which refractive error and eye disease the health insurance covers the costs and when not.

Wondering if you are suitable for laser eye surgery?

With the free online laser eye aptitude test, you will find out in just a few months whether you are eligible for laser eye treatment. Start the test now:

Cataract surgery costs – When does the health insurance company or AOK pay?

The costs for a cataract surgery or green cataract surgery (glaucoma lasers) may be (partially) borne by your statutory health insurance or the AOK. In the case of cataract surgery, for example, conventional surgery is performed by hand and a standard intraocular lens is used.

In the event that you opt for an operation with the femtosecond laser and/or for a premium intraocular lens, however, a co-payment is usually due from the statutory health insurance and AOK. Here, too, you can find out about the costs of cataract surgery at your health insurance company / AOK, as well as at Grüner Star.

The situation is different if you have private health insurance: this usually covers all or part of the costs. Do you suffer from cataract symptoms? Find out in advance from your health insurance company and then make an appointment with ophthalmologist Doctor-medic Bányai.

When does the health insurance company or AOK pay for the laser treatment of a corneal curvature?

In the case of a corneal curvature, it usually depends on your health insurance. If you want to have the corneal curvature lasered, the statutory health insurance or AOK usually does not cover the costs. If, on the other hand, you have private health insurance, it can contribute to the surgical costs.

When in doubt, it is best to ask your health insurance company, the AOK and private health insurance whether you will receive support, and how much it will be. In addition, you will also find out in a personal conversation with Ms Doctor-medic Bányai whether you are suitable for funding or not.

From how many dioptres does the cash register pay for laser eye surgery?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to say flat-rate how manydioptres the statutory health insurance companies pay for laser eye surgery. The impairment in vision is always dependent, although this is related to the diopter value, but is not clearly defined.

If you know your diopter number, just ask your statutory health insurance company or private health insurance company. They can give you exact details. If you need an accurate diagnosis, you are welcome to book an appointment at ourlaser eye centre in Stuttgart, in Karlsruhe or at one of our ophthalmologist locations.

When does the statutory health insurance company not pay for laser eye treatment?

Health insurance companies refuse to cover the cost of laser eye treatment if there is no medical need for surgery. If there are no special medical emergencies, statutory health insurance (GKV) normally does not grant reimbursement or a subsidy for laser eye surgery.

So it depends on the type and degree of visual impairment. If there is no medical indication, the procedure would be comparable to plastic surgery and “not medically necessary”.

When does a private health insurance company pay for laser eye surgery?

More and more German private health insurance companies are integrating the cost or part of the cost of laser eye surgery into their policies. Even if the policies are not yet explicitly mentioned in your insurance, as a private patient you can ask your private supplementary insurance and hope for goodwill.

For some private health insurances, LASIK treatment is included in the conditions. Please always ask your private health insurance provider for exact details in advance.

In order for the costs to be covered by private health insurance (PKV), there must be a case in which glasses or contact lenses become superfluous as a result of the treatment, or that there is a medical need . If you can prove an intolerance to contact lenses or glasses, the treatment becomes medically necessary.

Are there alternatives to financing?

The different costs of treatment can be calculated depending on the surgical method. In addition, you can choose whether to have one eye or both lasers.

Depending on the treatment method, laser eye surgery (such as Lasik surgery) is worthwhile after only a few years compared to the ongoing costs for glasses or contact lenses. We also offer comfortable and fair installment payments via Medipay.

The costs already include:

• the necessary preliminary examinations
• Biometry, pupillometry, pachymetry, wavefront measurement, refraction determination, IOL master
• the laser treatment itself
• the follow-up checks (up to one year after treatment)
• free driving licence appraisal

What is the best financing?

If you need time to finance the relatively high costs of an eye laser treatment at first, then it is possible to repay the costs via a 24-month installment.

Since Ms. Doctor-medic Bányai works with the Private Medical Clearing House (PVS), it is even possible for us to offer further payments for a period of 24 months.

Why even have your eyes lasered?

Who doesn’t know it: Due to defective vision, you always have to think about a visual aid, i.e. the glasses or the contact lenses, before you leave the house. Many sufferers wish for a life without contact lenses and still full vision.

It is not uncommon to sweat while exercising. If you sweat, who suffers with you? Clearly – the item you need most for clear vision, especially when running or hiking: the glasses. Fogged-up lenses are annoying and in certain cases even dangerous if vision is suddenly impaired during sports activities.

For some spectacle wearers, getting rid of it in everyday life or leisure can be a huge relief. Did you know that these celebrities had their eyes lasered?

Laser surgery is generally possible up to a deviation of 12 diopters; regardless of whether farsightedness (hyperopia) or nearsightedness (myopia) is present.

In the case of a corneal curvature (astigmatism), up to -5 dioptres can be corrected. In the case of an eye disease such as cataract or cataract, eye surgery may be indispensable. Read more about the ideal age for laser eye surgery.

In addition, Ms. Doctor-medic Bányai is one of the high-volume operators in Germany. Because she performs over 3,000 personal laser eye treatments per year in Karlsruhe or Stuttgart, she is a recognized specialist in the field of refractive surgery. For almost two decades, she has been intensively involved with modern surgical treatment procedures, techniques and materials.

In ophthalmology Bányai, she is supported by a team of trained specialists. Bányai Neue Augen is not an eye clinic, all patients can leave the laser centres on the same day. The following treatments to correct a visual defect are carried out: ReLEx Smile, Presbyond, Femto Lasik method, Advanced PRK & Lasek, Monovision.

During a detailed consultation at the Bányai Laser Eye Center, you will be informed about all medical questions, a basic suitability for laser treatment (Lasik procedure, SMILE Pro,…), contraindications such as too thin cornea and of course also personally informed about the treatment costs. Test whether you are suitable for laser eye treatment in our free laser eye aptitude test.

FAQs – Does the health insurance cover the cost of laser eye surgery?