LASIK for both eyes costs $4,492 on average in the United States, which works out to about $2,250 per eye. That said, the actual price you’re quoted can range from under $2,000 to over $6,000 depending on the technology used, your prescription, and where you live. Here’s what drives those differences and how to bring the cost down.
What the National Average Includes
The $4,492 national average reported by the Refractive Surgery Council reflects what most people pay for a standard bilateral procedure. Most practices bundle the surgery itself, pre-operative screening, and a set number of post-operative visits into one quoted price. Many also include a free enhancement (touch-up procedure) if your vision regresses within the first year, though this policy varies by practice.
What’s typically not included: prescription eye drops you’ll need during recovery. Expect to pay somewhere between $20 and $240 out of pocket for antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops, depending on your health insurance. Some plans cover these medications partially or fully, while others don’t touch them. It’s a relatively small add-on, but worth asking about before surgery day so you’re not surprised at the pharmacy.
Why Prices Vary So Much
Several factors push your quote above or below that $4,492 average.
Technology type. The biggest single price driver is whether your surgeon uses a blade or a laser to create the corneal flap. All-laser (bladeless) LASIK carries a premium of roughly $500 to $900 more per eye compared to traditional blade-assisted LASIK. One commonly cited example: $2,700 total for blade LASIK versus $3,600 for bladeless at the same practice. Most high-volume centers now default to all-laser, and that’s reflected in the national average.
Your prescription. If you have significant astigmatism or a very strong prescription, your procedure may require more advanced mapping and custom treatment profiles. These cases take more surgical time and specialized equipment, which often means a higher fee. A straightforward case of mild nearsightedness will generally land at or below the average, while complex prescriptions can push well above it.
Location. Practices in major metro areas with higher overhead tend to charge more than those in smaller cities. The difference can be several hundred dollars per eye between, say, New York City and a mid-sized Southern city. Shopping across nearby regions can sometimes save you money, though travel and follow-up logistics add their own costs.
How LASIK Compares to Other Procedures
LASIK isn’t the only laser vision correction option. The two main alternatives are PRK and SMILE, and their pricing overlaps more than most people expect.
- LASIK: About $2,200 per eye ($4,400 for both). Fastest recovery, typically one to two days before you’re functional.
- PRK: About $2,300 per eye ($4,600 for both). Recovery takes longer (several days to a week of blurry vision) because the outer corneal layer is removed rather than flapped. Sometimes recommended for people with thinner corneas.
- SMILE: Between $2,000 and $3,000 per eye ($4,000 to $6,000 for both). A newer, minimally invasive approach with a smaller incision. The wider price range reflects the fact that fewer surgeons offer it.
Your surgeon will recommend one based on your corneal thickness, prescription, and eye anatomy, not price. But it’s useful to know that switching procedures doesn’t necessarily mean a dramatically different bill.
Insurance, Discounts, and Tax-Free Savings
Standard health insurance treats LASIK as elective and won’t cover it. But that doesn’t mean you’re paying full sticker price. Vision plans like VSP negotiate discounts at partner surgical centers, and those savings can be substantial. VSP members, for example, can save $1,100 off LASIK at several national chains including LasikPlus, TLC Laser Eye Centers, and NVISION Eye Centers. EyeMed and other plans offer similar arrangements. Check your vision plan’s website for a list of participating providers before you start getting quotes.
Tax-advantaged accounts are the other major tool. Both FSAs (Flexible Spending Accounts) and HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) classify LASIK, SMILE, and PRK as eligible medical expenses, meaning you can pay with pre-tax dollars. For 2026, you can contribute up to $3,400 to an FSA or up to $4,400 individually ($8,750 for families) to an HSA. Using pre-tax money effectively gives you a discount equal to your marginal tax rate, which for most people means saving 22% to 32% on the procedure.
The key difference between the two accounts: FSA funds generally must be used within the calendar year (with a possible 2.5-month grace period), and some plans allow up to $680 in unused funds to carry over. HSA funds have no expiration date, so you can let them accumulate across years until you’re ready for surgery. If you’re planning LASIK for next year, adjusting your FSA or HSA contributions during open enrollment is one of the simplest ways to reduce your effective cost.
Financing Plans
Most LASIK practices offer monthly payment plans through healthcare credit lines like CareCredit or Alphaeon. These typically advertise promotional periods of 12 to 24 months at 0% interest, after which rates jump to 25% or higher. If you can pay off the balance within the promotional window, this is essentially a free loan. If you can’t, the interest charges can add hundreds of dollars to your total cost. Ask the practice exactly what happens when the promotional period ends before you sign up.
Some practices also run their own in-house financing with fixed monthly payments. These can be more straightforward than third-party credit, but compare the total cost over the life of the plan, not just the monthly number.
Questions to Ask Before You Commit
When you get a quote, make sure you understand exactly what’s covered. A few specifics worth pinning down:
- Enhancement policy: Is a touch-up included if your vision drifts in the first year? What about after the first year?
- Post-op visits: How many follow-up appointments are included, and for how long?
- Prescription drops: Are medications included in the surgical fee, or will you fill them separately?
- Technology: Is the quoted price for all-laser or blade-assisted? Custom wavefront-guided or standard?
A practice quoting $999 per eye is almost certainly using older technology, excluding follow-up care, or both. Unusually low prices deserve extra scrutiny. The average exists for a reason, and paying near it at a reputable, high-volume center is generally a better bet than chasing the cheapest option for a procedure you only want to do once.