Lasik surgery isn't cheap, but it may end up saving you a fortune on mechanical vision correction, like eyeglasses and contact lenses. The cost varies widely according to the clinic and what you need done: $1,000-6,000 per eye are fair estimates.

The Federal Trace Commission offers an excellent free brochure titled "Basic Lasik: Tips on Lasik Eye Surgery." It's a good source of information on what you can aspect from laser surgery, and you can get it off the Internet at http://www.ftc.gov.

Before settling on a surgeon for your Lasik surgery, find out what the doctor charges. Is there an initial consultation fee? Does the fee include all visits, including pre- and post-op? Are there additional hidden fees? Can you pay across a set time frame, or is all the money due up front?