This calculator gives estimates for education and planning. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; for decisions about your own situation, talk to a qualified financial professional.
Laser eye surgery costs thousands up front, while glasses and contacts cost a little every year for decades. Whether surgery saves money depends on how much you spend on vision correction now and how long you compare over. This calculator works out the net cost, the years to break even and the savings.
How the calculation works
- Net cost = surgery price − insurance or vision plan contribution
- Years to break even = net cost ÷ yearly spending on glasses and contacts
- Cost per year over the period = net cost ÷ years
- Savings = yearly spending × years − net cost
LASIK at $4,500 for both eyes, with $500 from a vision plan, costs $4,000 net. If you spend $450 a year on glasses, contacts and solutions, the surgery pays for itself after about 8.9 years. Over 20 years, it works out to $200 a year and saves about $5,000.
Typical yearly spending
| Correction | Per year |
|---|---|
| Glasses only, every 2 years | $150 to $300 |
| Daily contacts | $500 to $800 |
| Monthly contacts and solution | $250 to $400 |
| Contacts plus backup glasses | $400 to $900 |
Daily contact lens wearers usually reach break-even fastest; people who wear one inexpensive pair of glasses for years may never save money.
What the comparison leaves out
- Reading glasses: around age 45, almost everyone needs them for close work, surgery or not.
- Enhancements: a small share of patients need a touch-up; ask whether it is included.
- Risks: dry eyes, glare and halos at night are common at first and occasionally last.
- Convenience: for many people, sports, travel and waking up seeing clearly matter more than the money.
Before you decide
- Get a full exam: corneal thickness, a stable prescription for a year or two, and healthy eyes are required.
- Compare LASIK, PRK and SMILE; a surgeon may recommend one over another for your eyes.
- Ask what the price includes: both eyes, follow-up visits, enhancements and medication.
- Use FSA or HSA funds, which can lower the real cost.