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4 Financial Secrets That Candidates for Laser Eye Surgery Should Know

senior woman paying for laser eye surgery

Before You Claim Laser Surgery Isn’t Affordable, Read This.

When you look up estimates of laser eye surgery’s cost, you’ll likely find that the numbers online range from $1,000 to $4,000 per eye. However, you don’t have to pay full price, up front, for this surgery.

Many patients who enjoy improved vision without glasses or contact lenses have figured out four simple hacks that make laser eye surgery affordable, especially when you choose a leading provider.

Keep reading to find out what we’ve learned from satisfied patients who shared these four strategies — and one bonus tip — to pay for vision correction without experiencing the stress of a hefty medical bill.

Find Seasonal Promotions for Laser Eye Surgery

Searching a vision correction provider’s website is the first place to look for savings on the cost of laser eye surgery. Look for promotions, such as a percentage or dollar amount off the total price. These promotions are incentives to make your procedure more affordable.

If you can find a promotion of around $1,000 off from a provider whose surgery price is near the middle range ($2,500), you start your journey with a discount of about 20%.

Consider Other Special Discounts

Laser eye surgery providers often offer percentage discounts for a range of patients, including:

  • Immediate family members of previous patients.
  • First responders (active fire, police, and EMT professionals).
  • Active military members.
  • Research study participants.

If you aren’t interested in in-house or clinical studies and your profession doesn’t warrant a discount, you may have an immediate family member who is also considering laser eye surgery. If the cost of laser eye surgery isn’t as steep for another family member, you can wait until their surgery is complete and get a family discount.

Choose a Laser Eye Surgery Provider With Special Financing Options

Financing makes laser eye surgery for your eyes’ biggest vision challenges even more affordable. Today’s financing options include 0% interest for a certain period (e.g., 18 to 24 months). During that time, make manageable payments to cover the cost of your procedure.

After potential discounts or promotions, you may be looking at reasonable payments over a short period. If we continue our hypothetical costs (near the average price for eye surgery with a promotional discount), your monthly interest-free payment could start around $199.

What does $199 per month look like in comparison to other expenses?

  • A daily matcha latte
  • A weekly dinner for two
  • A handful of monthly subscriptions, including streaming services, a gym membership, or meal delivery

When you’re considering laser eye surgery, you can find ways to cut your budget — subscriptions you forgot to cancel, anyone? Apply these cuts to your monthly payment for vision correction.

Strategically Use Your FSA or HSA Funds

Although basic cataract surgery is the only laser eye surgery covered by insurance, consider using your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to pay for your procedure. You can even use an HSA to make your monthly payment or reimburse yourself with your FSA after paying.

The benefit of using your FSA or HSA is that your contributions to your accounts are tax-free. Your money goes into your account from your paycheck before you pay state and federal taxes.

In 2025, you can contribute $3,300 to your FSA as an individual. You can contribute $4,300 to your HSA as an individual.

If you contribute to your FSA or HSA pre-tax and use this money to pay for laser eye surgery, you can reach your savings goal with less impact on your paycheck than if you wait to save the money until after you’ve paid taxes.

Now that you’ve figured out financing, potential discounts, and using your pre-tax dollars, you’re doing almost everything possible to save on your surgery.

Bonus Savings Tip: Compare Your Lifetime Cost of Glasses and Contacts

Your fifth savings hack asks you to do some math: how much do you spend on glasses or contacts each year?

Consider your eye exams, lens wipes, contact solution, frames, and prescription sunglasses. Choose a reasonable number of years for which you could potentially pay this yearly cost.

Don’t want to do it in your head? Try the calculator found here.

You’ll soon discover that your total is far above the cost of vision correction surgery. Imagine not having to pay for those expenses and being able to see clearly, participate in activities, and enjoy life more without glasses or contact lenses.

The limited cost of a one-time procedure, paired with a lifetime of freedom from frames and contacts, makes the price of laser eye surgery seem far less significant. Your eyes will thank you.

Choose a Laser Eye Surgery Team That Goes the Extra Mile

Even without discounts, promotions, FSA or HSA contributions, or financing, the cost of laser eye surgery may initially seem steeper than other purchases, especially if this is your first elective medical procedure.

However, the cost of vision correction doesn’t tell you the additional benefits you receive when you select a provider that takes exceptionally good care of you and your eyesight. The best providers today offer a free diagnostic and evaluative consultation to determine your specific vision needs and candidacy for laser eye surgery.

When you work with a highly specialized, experienced team for your procedure, you’ll understand that laser eye surgery doesn’t just help you stop having to wear glasses you hate or contacts that irritate your eyes.

A laser eye surgery provider considers your unique vision challenges, studies them closely with state-of-the-art technology and medical expertise, and finds a solution with a lifetime of benefits. This care alone makes the cost of laser eye surgery something to celebrate.