LASIK Cost Calculator

Across 2025-2026 US national reporting, standard LASIK typically runs $1,850 to $3,500 per eye, settling around $2,250 per eye on average. High-volume centers advertise near the bottom of that range; experienced surgeons in major metros charge near the top. Both-eyes totals therefore land around $4,000-$7,000 for most patients before add-ons. The calculator above uses $2,250 per eye as its planning midpoint and shows the full range.

Four things move the number: the surgeon's experience and reputation, the technology tier (blade vs bladeless vs wavefront/Contoura mapping), your region's cost of living, and what the quote includes. A $1,999-per-eye ad and a $3,500-per-eye quote can describe the same laser but different inclusions - pre-op testing, follow-up visits, medications, and enhancement policies are frequently excluded from headline prices. Always compare itemized written estimates, not ads.

Usually slightly. PRK averages $1,500-$3,000 per eye in the US (planning midpoint $2,375) because it skips the femtosecond flap step - no flap, no second laser platform. The trade-off is recovery: LASIK patients often see clearly within 24 hours, while PRK healing takes days to weeks with more discomfort. PRK is also the standard choice for thin corneas and for military, law-enforcement, and contact-sport patients who want to avoid any flap risk.

SMILE typically costs $2,000-$4,000 per eye, roughly the same as all-laser LASIK and often a few hundred dollars more. The premium reflects the specialized femtosecond lenticule platform and the smaller number of surgeons trained in it. SMILE is flap-free, may mean less dry eye for some patients, and corrects nearsightedness and astigmatism - but not farsightedness. If you need an enhancement after SMILE, surgeons usually perform PRK for the touch-up.

Custom LASIK (wavefront-guided or topography-guided, e.g. Contoura Vision) maps your cornea with far more data points than standard LASIK - Contoura captures about 22,000 elevation points - and tailors the ablation to your eye's unique irregularities. It prices at the top of the LASIK range ($2,200-$4,000 per eye; midpoint $2,750 in this calculator). Whether the premium is worth it depends on your eyes: patients with significant higher-order aberrations or night-vision concerns are the likeliest beneficiaries. Ask your surgeon what the mapping shows for your corneas specifically.

Almost never. About 95% of US health insurance plans classify laser vision correction as elective and exclude it. Exceptions are rare and usually tied to medical necessity, such as intolerance to glasses and contacts after injury. What many people do get: employer vision-plan discounts (often 10-20% off at partner centers), HSA/FSA eligibility, and 0%-APR clinic financing. Check your vision benefits before assuming you pay full sticker price.

Yes - LASIK, PRK, and SMILE are all eligible HSA and FSA expenses under IRS rules. For 2026, employees can contribute up to $3,400 to an FSA and up to $4,400 (individual) or $8,750 (family) to an HSA. Because HSA/FSA dollars are pre-tax, a $5,000 procedure paid from an HSA at a 22% marginal tax rate effectively costs about $3,900. Note the FSA 'use it or lose it' rule: schedule surgery within your plan year or pair it with a grace period.

The most common: 0%-APR promotional plans through the clinic or a medical credit card (typically 6-24 months, retroactive interest if you miss the payoff deadline), standard medical credit cards at 10-27% APR, personal loans, and HSA/FSA pre-tax dollars. A $5,000 balance at 14.99% APR over 36 months costs about $173 per month and roughly $1,240 in interest - the calculator's financing row shows your exact monthly figure. Never finance at interest without first pricing the HSA/FSA route.

Budget for three extras: the pre-operative workup ($350-$750 if not included), post-operative drops and medications ($150-$250), and a possible enhancement. About 10-15% of patients need a touch-up, priced $500-$1,500 per eye. Together these can add $800-$2,400 to an advertised price. The calculator's checkboxes add the pre-op and medication figures and a probability-weighted enhancement contingency so the total you see is closer to reality.

Financially, often yes within a decade. A $4,500 both-eyes procedure versus $450/year in contacts breaks even around year 13 at a 3% discount rate - and sooner if you also replace glasses regularly or factor in solutions and eye exams. Glasses wearers at $300/year break even later, around year 20+. The calculator's lifetime section computes your exact break-even year. Non-financial value - convenience, sports, career requirements - is personal and not in the math.

Common candidacy requirements: age 18 or older (22+ for SMILE under FDA labeling), a stable glasses prescription for at least 12 months, sufficient corneal thickness, healthy eyes with no active disease, and not being pregnant or nursing (hormonal shifts change refraction). Conditions like keratoconus, severe dry eye, uncontrolled diabetes, or autoimmune disease often rule it out. Only a dilated comprehensive exam with corneal mapping can confirm - no online tool can screen you.

Honest summary: dry eye is the most common side effect and is usually temporary but can persist; temporary glare, halos, and night-driving difficulty are common in the first weeks to months; under- or over-correction happens in a minority and may need an enhancement; flap complications, infection, and inflammation are uncommon; corneal ectasia (progressive thinning and distortion) is rare but serious. Serious vision loss is very rare. Your surgeon must walk you through your personal risk profile - including your corneal thickness and prescription - before you consent.

The corneal reshaping itself is permanent, but your eyes keep aging: presbyopia (need for reading glasses after ~40) still arrives, and some prescriptions regress slightly over the years. Roughly 10-15% of patients have an enhancement within the first years. Enhancements cost $500-$1,500 per eye when not covered by the clinic's policy - ask whether your quote includes a free or discounted enhancement window, and get it in writing.

Treat them as bait pricing until proven otherwise. Sub-$1,000-per-eye offers typically apply only to the mildest prescriptions, use older blade technology, and exclude the consultation, follow-ups, and enhancements - the final bill lands much closer to the national average. Reputable guidance is consistent on this: choose the surgeon on qualifications and screening thoroughness, not on the ad price, and insist on an itemized written quote before deciding.