At some level, you stick your head in a machine and it goes bzzzzzzt for 15 minutes. So you might ultimately get down to the cost of 15 minutes of machine time in an office, which is probably under $200.

I think the laser machine procedure should be cheaper than the equivalent physical product!

What’s the marginal cost on the machine’s procedure anyway?

Just like how I have to pay for paper maps, but electronic ones are free and better. Making them electronic cost a lot, but once that cost is paid for, the ongoing costs are less than any paper map to provide.

Currently, LASIK can be cost-competitive with soft contacts, but not when your benefits cover soft contacts and not LASIK.