About Sightlume

What Sightlume does

Sightlume helps people learn about options like LASIK, PRK, SMILE, ICL, and cataract or lens-based surgery, then get matched with licensed ophthalmologists for a consultation.

That is our role. We are not a surgeon, clinic, optometrist, or medical provider. We do not do eye exams, diagnose conditions, recommend a procedure, or tell you what surgery is right for you.

We know this topic can feel confusing, especially if English is not your first language or you are new to the US healthcare system. Our goal is to make the first steps simpler:

• explain common procedures in clear words
• show realistic cost ranges and what can affect price
• help you understand what usually happens at a consultation
• connect you, at no cost, with licensed eye surgeons near you

If you want to start there, you can get matched or read about the candidacy exam process.

Just as important, we try to be honest about the part ads often skip: not everyone is a candidate, and every surgery has real risks. An honest surgeon may tell you to wait, choose a different procedure, or keep glasses or contacts. That is normal.

Who this is for

Sightlume is for adults in the US who are curious about reducing their need for glasses or contacts and want a clearer way to compare their options.

People use us when they are:

• early in research and trying to understand the difference between LASIK, PRK, SMILE, or ICL
• worried about cost and want realistic ranges, not vague marketing
• unsure how to choose a surgeon or what questions to ask
• more comfortable reading or speaking in a language other than English
• busy and want help finding consultation options near them

This service can be useful if you are excited, nervous, skeptical, or all three. You do not need to know which procedure you want before using Sightlume.

You also do not need to be sure you want surgery. In fact, one reasonable outcome of doing your homework is deciding not to move forward. That is okay.

If you are comparing procedures, these pages may help:

• LASIK
• PRK
• SMILE
• ICL

And if you are still wondering whether surgery may fit your eyes at all, see Are you a candidate for LASIK?.

How matching works

We keep the process simple.

1. You share basic contact details only: your name, phone, ZIP code, email, preferred language, and which procedure you are curious about.
2. We use that information to help connect you with licensed eye surgeons near you for a consultation.
3. You compare your options, ask questions, and decide whether you want to book an exam.
4. No surgery happens without an in-person exam first. Only the surgeon, after examining your eyes, can say whether you may be a candidate and what the risks and options are for you.

We do not ask you to send us medical history, prescriptions, or health records. We are a matching service, not your doctor.

You stay in control the whole time:

• you choose whether to respond
• you choose which consultation to take
• you choose who to trust
• you can pause, wait, or decide not to pursue surgery at all

If you want help thinking through what to ask at a consultation, how to choose an eye surgeon is a good place to start.

How Sightlume is paid

Sightlume is free to the reader.

Participating surgeons pay Sightlume a flat fee to be part of the matching service. That means you do not pay us to use the site or to get connected.

A few things matter here:

• We do not charge you for matching.
• We do not collect a percentage of any surgery price.
• We do not set the surgeon's medical recommendations.
• We do not decide whether you are a candidate.

Cost is one part of the decision, but it should not be the only part. Vision-correction surgery is medical care, and the lowest advertised number is not the full story.

Typical US price ranges are often around $2,000-$3,000 per eye for LASIK, $1,800-$2,800 per eye for PRK, $2,200-$3,200 per eye for SMILE, and $3,000-$5,000 per eye for ICL. Both eyes are roughly double. These are estimates, not quotes. The real price depends on the procedure, your eyes, the technology used, and where you live. Insurance often does not cover refractive surgery.

For a fuller breakdown, see costs.

What we want you to know before you decide

We want people to go into consultations informed, not pressured.

Here is the short version:

• Results vary from person to person. No honest service can promise 20/20 vision or a perfect outcome.
• Every procedure has risks. These can include dry eye, glare or halos, under-correction or over-correction, infection, flap-related problems in LASIK, and in rare cases, loss of vision.
• Candidacy varies. Some people are not good candidates because of their prescription, cornea, eye surface, age-related lens changes, or other factors.
• A good surgeon may say no. That is not a sales failure. It is a sign they are taking your eyes seriously.

If you want a fuller overview of common concerns, read LASIK risks and side effects.

Sightlume's job is to help you ask better questions and compare consultation options. This site is general information, not medical advice. Only a licensed eye surgeon, after an in-person exam, can tell you what is appropriate for your eyes.