Wavefront Correction & Click Fees in Laser Eye Surgery
Ask your surgeon if you’re getting Wavefront-Guided Laser Vision Correction BEFORE your procedure.
If you’re considering laser vision correction – whether it’s LASIK, ASA, PRK, or SMILE – there’s one question every patient should ask their surgeon:
Pictured: The Star S4 IR Excimer Laser by Johnson & Johnson, the machine we use for ASA procedures
Will I be receiving wavefront-guided correction?
You might be surprised how often this detail is skipped, obscured, or buried beneath confusing pricing packages like “silver,” “gold,” and “platinum.” But it matters – a lot.
Wavefront-guided correction isn’t just a “premium” feature. It’s a technologically advanced, clinically superior method of correcting vision. It’s the difference between reshaping your eye based solely on your glasses prescription (conventional) versus tailoring the correction to your eye’s entire optical fingerprint, including subtle imperfections that affect clarity, contrast, and nighttime vision.
What the Research Shows
A large body of clinical evidence shows that wavefront-guided laser eye surgery reduces visual distortions like halos, glare, and starbursts more effectively than conventional laser vision correction.
Wavefront correction also enhances contrast sensitivity and low-light vision, leading to sharper and more comfortable outcomes overall.
Studies from respected institutions, including Stanford Medicine, have shown that wavefront technology can eliminate pre-existing higher-order aberrations and deliver superior visual outcomes compared to conventional LASIK.
Where “Click Fees” and Profit Motives Collide
Every surgeon performing a laser vision correction procedure (ASA, LASIK or otherwise) – no matter the laser platform, no matter whether they own the laser or not – pays a “click fee” to the manufacturer each time the laser is used.
That fee covers one treatment per eye, and it’s required for every single procedure.
Here’s what many patients don’t realize:
Wavefront-guided treatments come with additional costs. In addition to the base click fee (typically around $200 per eye), custom wavefront correction involves special licensing fees and advanced software, which can increase cost by several hundred dollars.
This creates an unfortunate financial incentive for some centers (especially LASIK Mills) to default to conventional treatments, even when more precise options are available – and sometimes without fully disclosing the difference to the patient.
What You’re Not Getting at the Bargain Price
To maximize profits, low-cost providers may avoid:
Wavefront-guided customization
Topography-based diagnostics
Modern, no-flap alternatives like ASA
Instead, you may be offered a one-size-fits-all correction based solely on your glasses prescription – no tailoring, no advanced mapping, and no effort to minimize side effects.
And when that’s bundled into a flashy “silver” or “gold” package, it’s even harder for patients to tell what they’re actually getting.
Why We Don’t Cut Corners
At Moskowitz Eye Care, we don’t upsell you or assign your care to a tiered marketing package. We use one of the most trusted lasers in the field – the VISX Star S4 IR – and we always prioritize safety, accuracy, and long-term quality.
Every treatment includes wavefront-guided correction whenever it is beneficial.
We pay the click fee – and any necessary software licensing fees – to ensure the most advanced correction is used.
We don’t see precision as optional. We see it as essential.
The Bottom Line
Wavefront-guided laser vision correction is proven to deliver better outcomes. If your provider isn’t offering it – or isn’t clearly explaining whether you’re getting it – you should ask why.
At Moskowitz Eye Care, we offer both conventional and custom (wavefront-guided) treatment options. We believe our conventional ASA treatment is still safer and more precise than any cutting-based procedure (i.e. LASIK or SMILE) – but we encourage most patients to take advantage of the additional accuracy and visual benefits that come with wavefront customization.
We’re transparent about those options – including how they affect your outcome and your cost. You can see our full pricing breakdown here.
Learn More
For deeper reading on safety-first vision correction and what makes our approach different, check out:
Want a second opinion or a more honest breakdown of your options? Schedule a consultation and find out exactly what your eyes need – no gimmicks, no sales pressure, just clarity.