Is LASIK Worth It? 4 Questions To Ask Yourself

When people reflect on their best purchases, they might mention an unforgettable vacation, a perfect pair of shoes, or perhaps a fun gadget like a motorcycle or boat. But ask anyone who’s had LASIK or another vision correction procedure like SMILE, PRK, or ICL, and they’ll tell you something different: achieving clear vision without the daily hassle of glasses and contacts isn’t just worth the investment—it’s the best money they’ve ever spent.

So, is LASIK worth it? Absolutely. Here’s what you need to know to make an informed decision.

Putting LASIK Costs in Perspective

Maybe you’ve looked into having vision correction surgery, but the price tag has you wondering: Is LASIK worth the money? Sure, there are discounts and deals to be had. But first, perhaps you should put the cost of LASIK into perspective.  Start by considering how much you are already spending on vision correction. Let’s start with glasses:

• Fashionable frames: Maybe that bold red frame is great for some situations, but likely you need another (or two) for when you need a more toned-down look. Trends change year to year, and frames can be a big investment.
• Lens treatments: Anti-Glare, scratch resistance, color transitions, polarized. It all adds up.
• Sunglasses: You need them. And, you need to be able to see in them. So spending on quality sun protection for your eyes, complete with prescription lenses, is something that is going to happen.

The fact is, glasses are fragile. Lenses get scratched. Frames break. Whether for fashion or failure, you will need to replace glasses on a pretty frequent basis. It can be an expensive proposition.

Then there is the alternative, contact lenses:

• No matter what type of contacts you choose, you will need the invest in the basics: solution, cases, and, most likely, eyedrops, all of which have a shelf-life and need to be regularly replaced or risk potential infection and damage to your eyes.
• Daily disposables are the most expensive, but also pretty popular.
• Gas-permeable and rigid contacts are less pricey, but also require more maintenance.

There are times and places where contact lenses can put your eyes in harm’s way. Sleeping and swimming in contact lenses pose a real danger to the health of your eyes. In reality, you will still need a pair of glasses. So, you aren’t saving any money going with contacts. You are actually spending more.

Add up a lifetime of buying glasses (over and over again) or contact lenses (plus solution, drops, cases, etc.) a vision correction procedure like LASIK starts to look like a pretty good deal. Think about how much you have spent on something you enjoyed for a week or two. A month? A year?  Even the best car you’ve ever owned likely won’t last you as long as your good vision with LASIK will. Depending on when you have a vision correction procedure, you can expect to enjoy its benefits for years, even decades.

Is LASIK worth it? 4 questions to ask

Still wondering if LASIK is worth it?  Here are four questions to ask yourself to help put the investment into your vision correction options into perspective:

1. How old are you?
2. Do you have insurance?
3. Are you into fashionable frames and the latest lenses?
4. What kind of contacts do you wear?

1. How old are you?

How old should you be when you get LASIK is a common question. The younger you are, the longer you will need vision-correcting glasses or contact lenses. The longer you need them, the more you will spend on them.  However, if you choose to have a vision correction procedure sooner rather than later, you can expect to have great vision without glasses and contacts for years.  LASIK surgery does last forever. However, LASIK doesn’t stop the aging process.  It can improve your current vision, but you will likely still experience age-related vision issues down the road.  This may mean you will need reading glasses at some point.

2. Do you have insurance?

If you do, count yourself lucky! Many vision plans help cover some of the costs of glasses and contacts, but they won’t take care of all of your vision correction expenses. You also have to factor in whatever you are paying in insurance premiums into the overall cost of your vision correction. Did you know some vision insurance policies offer discounts toward LASIK and other vision-correcting procedures? Check your benefits because you never know what might be covered. Understanding how to pay for LASIK is an important part of understanding if LASIK is worth it for you.

3. Are you into fashionable frames and the latest lenses?

Even if your insurance covers the purchase of glasses, often the cost of the frame styles you want won’t be covered entirely. The same goes for certain protective and/or antiglare coatings or lens technologies. There is usually a limit on the number of pairs of glasses insurance covers in a given year. So if you need prescription sunglasses, lose a pair of glasses, or need reading glasses, you should expect to pay for those on your own.

4. What kind of contact lenses do you wear?

Popular daily disposable contacts, on average, cost about $600 a year. So over 20 years, you will spend $12,000 on contact lenses, which is more than twice the average cost of LASIK  using the most advanced technologies available today.  You should know that as your eyes age, your prescription is likely to become more complicated, resulting in more expensive contact lenses.  If you are using hard or soft lenses, the cost of solutions, drops, and the cases required to maintain them in a sanitary fashion can quickly add up as well.

Today, there are many ways to pay for LASIK. In addition to helping you decide if vision correction surgery is right for your eyes, your LASIK surgeon may have access to financing services to help pay for your procedure. Some plans have extended periods with no interest that allow you to pay over time without incurring additional costs. 

LASIK is worth it. Understand if it’s the right option for you.

So do the math for your own vision correction choices to see if LASIK is a safe and smart investment for you and your vision goals.

The Refractive Surgery Council keeps you educated with the most accurate information on vision correction. All articles are reviewed by the Refractive Surgery Council Editorial Advisory Board and given the Refractive Surgery Council Verified Seal. This represents our promise that everything we share meets the highest standards in the field of refractive surgery.