LasikPlus deceptive advertising fine to be distributed to victims

New Yorkers who believe they fell victim to LasikPlus’ deceptive advertising around Lasik surgery may be eligible to get compensation for their lost time.

Last year, the Federal Trade Commission ordered Ohio-based LCA-Vision, which does business as LasikPlus and Joffe MediCenter, to pay $1.25 million for using deceptive advertising to trick consumers into believing they could have their vision corrected through Lasik eye surgery for less than $300. Now, the FTC is using the recovered money to compensate those who were affected by company’s bad business practices.

According to the LasikPlus website, there are currently five LasikPlus locations in New York — in Garden City, Brooklyn, Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo — and over 100 locations nationwide.

There do not appear to be any Joffe MediCenters in New York.

Between 2015 and 2020, LCA’s LasikPlus Centers ran ads offering a Lasik procedure for a promotional price of as low as $250. Joffe MediCenters ran similar ads, offering the procedure for $295.

Neither center adequately disclosed the specific requirements consumers needed to meet to get the discounted promotional price, the FTC said. According to the FTC, only 6.5% of patients who received consultations qualified for the discounted price in both eyes and only 1.3% actually received the surgery for the promotional price.

Anyone with vision worse than 20/40 — good enough to drive without glasses — did not qualify for the discount, but weren’t made aware of that until after undergoing a 90-minute full-dilation eye exam and sales pitch. Only then were customers told the true surgery price — $1,800 to $2,295 per eye.

To see if you’re eligible and to file a claim, follow these steps:

● Make sure you have a claim ID, which can be found in a letter or email you received from the FTC. If you don’t have one, email info@LasikPlusSettlement.com or call 877-871-0504 to get one.

● File a claim online at ftc.gov/lasik.

The deadline to file a claim is May 20. Payments should be sent before the end of the year and payment amounts will depend on several factors, including how many people file claims.

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Barnes at ebarnes@gannett.com or on Twitter @byemilybarnes.