What LASIK eye surgery costs if you have no insurance

How much LASIK costs without insurance

There is no single national price for LASIK eye surgery. Each eye center sets its own price, and that price can depend on who the surgeon is and which laser is used. It can also depend on what the quote includes. For that reason, this page does not print a dollar amount. A number that is right for one office can be far off at another.

LASIK is eye surgery that reshapes the cornea, which is the clear covering at the front of the eye. The FDA says doctors use it to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Astigmatism is an eye shape that blurs vision at all distances. The FDA also says that glasses and contact lenses fix these same problems without surgery.

The FDA warns that most medical insurance will not pay for refractive surgery, which is surgery to fix how the eye focuses. It adds that although the cost is coming down, it is still high. Many people with insurance pay for it themselves too, so you are not alone in asking about the price.

If you are not sure you need surgery at all, start with an eye exam. Our guide on the cost of an eye exam without insurance explains how to ask for a self-pay price. The choices that do not involve surgery are covered in a separate guide on glasses and contacts without insurance.

What to ask when you request a price

A low price in an advertisement does not tell you what you will pay in the end. Ask for one written total, and ask what each part covers. The FDA's LASIK checklist is a good place to find questions for the surgeon.

• Ask whether the quote covers the first exam and the testing before surgery.
• Find out whether the price is for both eyes or for just one eye.
• Check whether follow-up visits after surgery are included, and for how long.
• Ask what happens if the first treatment does not give the result you wanted, and whether a second treatment is included or costs extra.
• Learn whether the surgeon who does the operation will also take care of you afterward.

The question about a repeat treatment matters because the FDA says that over-treatment or under-treatment can happen. It asks patients whether they are willing and able to have more than one surgery to reach the result they want. A phone script for this call is in our guide on asking for the cash price.

When you book surgery ahead of time, you have a right to a written estimate. The federal government says providers must give a good faith estimate when you schedule care 3 or more business days ahead. They must also give one when you ask. This applies to people who do not have insurance or who choose to pay themselves. Our guide on the good faith estimate explains your rights.

Who may not be a good candidate for LASIK?

This section repeats what the FDA says, and it is general information. Only an eye doctor who examines you can say whether LASIK is a fit for you. The FDA lists several reasons a person is probably not a good candidate for refractive surgery.

• Your glasses or contact lens prescription has changed in the past year. The FDA calls this refractive instability, which means your eyes are still changing.
• You are in your early 20s or younger, or you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The same goes if you take medicines that can make your vision change.
• You have a disease or take a medicine that may affect healing. The FDA lists autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, HIV and diabetes as examples, along with some medicines such as steroids.
• You take part in boxing, wrestling, martial arts or other activities where blows to the face and eyes are normal.
• You are under 18, because the FDA says no lasers are approved for LASIK in people under 18.
• The FDA says some jobs, including military service, prohibit certain refractive procedures. Check with your employer before you plan surgery.

The FDA also lists conditions to talk over with your doctor first. They include a past eye infection from the herpes virus, glaucoma, eye injuries or earlier eye surgery, and keratoconus. Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea bulges outward. The FDA says doctors should also check for dry eyes, thin corneas and large pupils, and it says LASIK tends to make dry eyes worse.

Risks the FDA mentions

The FDA says some problems cannot be avoided in a share of patients. After surgery, some people have glare, halos or starbursts around lights, which can make night driving hard. Some people still need reading glasses, and some develop long-lasting dry eyes. The FDA says some patients may lose some vision.

This is also why we suggest reading the FDA's LASIK pages and talking with your own eye doctor about these points before you decide. The FDA says the first laser for LASIK was approved in 1998, so the long-term effects are not fully known.

Can I use HSA or FSA money for LASIK?

In many cases you can pay for LASIK with this money. The IRS, which is the federal tax agency, publishes a list of medical expenses in Publication 502. The 2025 edition includes eye surgery to treat poor vision, such as laser eye surgery. Publication 969 from the IRS says a health savings account, or HSA, can pay for medical care as the tax code defines it. It also says money from a health flexible spending account, or FSA, may be tax free when it pays for qualified medical expenses.

An HSA is a savings account that goes with certain high-deductible health plans. An FSA is an account that some employers offer. Neither one is open to everyone, so this applies only if you already have one. Ask the company that runs your account to confirm the rules before you pay.

If you itemize, the IRS lets you deduct the part of your medical costs that is above 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. A tax adviser can tell you whether this applies to your situation. For a large bill, you can also ask the eye center about a payment plan before you book.

Be careful with deals that sound too good

The FDA warns patients to be careful with slick advertising. It says deals that sound too good to be true usually are. It tells patients to base their choice on more than cost and to avoid settling for the first eye center they visit. Promises such as 20/20 vision or your money back deserve extra caution. The FDA says there are never any guarantees in medicine.

Compare at least two or three eye centers, and ask each one for the same written details so you can compare them fairly. A primary care doctor may also know eye doctors in your area. You can search for a cash-pay doctor near you and ask for advice at your first visit.

When an eye problem cannot wait

Sudden loss of vision, a serious eye injury or a chemical splash in the eye is an emergency. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, and do not wait to compare prices. Our guide on the ER without insurance explains what to expect. This page gives general information and is not medical advice.