Vision Correction FAQ

For most candidates, yes — but "worth it" depends on what you’re measuring.

The financial math: The average American spends $150–$500/year on glasses and contacts. At a $5,000 LASIK cost, the financial break-even is 10–33 years. Over a 40-year horizon, LASIK typically saves money vs. a lifetime of contacts.

The quality-of-life math: This is harder to quantify. 96% of LASIK patients report satisfaction with their outcomes (AAO 2023 patient survey). PRK, SMILE, and ICL patients report similarly high satisfaction rates. Freedom from corrective lenses is genuinely life-changing for many patients — particularly for athletes, travelers, parents of young children, and people with high prescriptions.

The risk side: LASIK complications are rare. The most common persistent side effect is dry eye (occurs in 20–30% short-term, typically resolves in 3–6 months). Vision-threatening complications affect fewer than 1% of patients when performed by qualified surgeons.

Use our cost calculator to see your specific estimate before deciding.

A good all-inclusive quote should cover:

• Pre-operative evaluation at the surgery center
• The procedure itself — both eyes, same session
• All standard follow-up visits through 12 months (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months)
• Standard post-op eye drops (antibiotic + steroid, first 30 days)

Common items that may or may not be included — always ask:

• Wavefront/custom mapping: $200–$600/eye
• Lifetime enhancement coverage: $300–$500 total
• Extended dry eye treatment: LipiFlow, punctal plugs, Restasis
• Your current eye exam: Typically done by your regular optometrist at extra cost

Always ask for a written, all-inclusive quote before comparing prices between practices.

Yes. LASIK, PRK, SMILE, and ICL are all qualified medical expenses under IRS Publication 502. You can use Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) pre-tax dollars to pay for any of these procedures.

Using pre-tax funds saves you money equal to your marginal tax rate:

• 22% federal bracket: $1,100 saved on a $5,000 procedure
• 24% federal bracket: $1,200 saved on a $5,000 procedure
• 32% federal bracket: $1,600 saved on a $5,000 procedure

Add your state income tax rate and the savings can reach $1,500–$2,500 on a typical LASIK cost.

See our insurance and FSA/HSA guide for full details on HSA strategy, FSA deadlines, and what to ask HR.

PRK is typically $300–$600 less than LASIK at the same practice, for the same market and surgeon. Nationally:

• LASIK: $4,000–$6,000 (both eyes)
• PRK: $3,500–$5,500 (both eyes)

SMILE commands a premium over both ($4,500–$7,000) due to the proprietary ZEISS technology platform. ICL is significantly more expensive ($8,000–$14,000) because of the implant cost and surgical complexity.

Long-term outcomes are equivalent between LASIK and PRK for most patients. The main trade-off with PRK is longer recovery (5–7 days of impaired vision vs. 1 day for LASIK). For some patients, PRK is the better medical choice (thin corneas, dry eye, military service) regardless of cost.

Retreatment rates for LASIK are approximately 5–10% over 10 years. The risk is higher for patients with higher prescriptions, over age 40, or with a family history of progressive myopia.

With a lifetime enhancement plan: Retreatment is covered at no additional cost, as long as you meet eligibility criteria (adequate corneal thickness, no other disqualifying factors). These plans typically cost $300–$500 at the time of initial surgery.

Without a plan: Enhancement typically costs $500–$1,500 per eye, depending on the surgeon and market. Some practices offer a flat fee for retreatment to prior patients even without a formal plan.

Whether a lifetime plan is worth it depends on your age and prescription complexity. Younger patients with high prescriptions benefit most from the coverage.

$2,000/eye ($4,000 for both) is within the national range for standard LASIK — it’s not inherently a red flag. Prices in this range exist at legitimate practices, particularly in lower-cost markets.

The actual red flags to watch for:

• Prices below $1,000/eye: These almost always exclude wavefront mapping, follow-up visits, and enhancement coverage. The all-in cost after upgrades often exceeds $2,000/eye.
• "Today only" discounts: No legitimate surgical practice needs to push you to book same-day. This is a high-pressure sales tactic.
• No itemized quote: If a practice won’t tell you what’s included in writing before you sit in the exam chair, that’s a concern.
• Inability to review surgeons’ credentials or volume: You should be able to ask how many procedures the specific surgeon performing your LASIK has done.

For most patients, LASIK results are effectively permanent. The cornea does not "unlearn" the reshaping performed by the laser.

What can cause vision changes after LASIK:

• Myopic regression: Some patients (5–10%) experience gradual regression, particularly those with high prescriptions or in their 20s when vision may still be changing. This usually stabilizes and can be corrected with enhancement.
• Presbyopia: After age 40–45, nearly everyone develops difficulty with near vision as the natural lens loses flexibility. LASIK does not prevent presbyopia — you may need reading glasses even with perfect distance vision after LASIK.
• Cataracts: LASIK does not affect cataract risk. If you develop cataracts later in life, cataract surgery will replace the natural lens and can correct for any residual refractive error.

Studies show 95%+ of LASIK patients maintain their corrected vision at 10-year follow-up (AAO). The procedure has been in widespread use since 1999 and the long-term data is well-established.

A comprehensive pre-op evaluation at a surgery center is the only way to confirm candidacy. However, general screening criteria include:

• Age: 18+ (most surgeons prefer 21+ for stable prescriptions)
• Stable prescription: No significant changes in the past 1–2 years
• Prescription range: LASIK corrects −1.00 to −8.00 (myopia), up to +4.00 (hyperopia), and up to −6.00 astigmatism
• Corneal thickness: Sufficient tissue must be present for safe reshaping
• No active eye disease: Keratoconus, severe dry eye, or active autoimmune conditions may disqualify
• Not currently pregnant or nursing: Hormonal changes affect prescription stability

If LASIK doesn’t fit, PRK, SMILE, or ICL may still be options. Our procedure comparison page outlines candidacy for each.