Contacts vs LASIK Break-Even Calculator

Methodology

How we calculate break-even

The break-even calculation is straightforward: divide your total LASIK cost by your annual vision spending. The result is the number of years before LASIK becomes the cheaper option. After that point, every year without contacts or glasses is money back in your pocket.

• Annual vision spend: your contacts + glasses + exams inputs, summed.
• Total LASIK cost: the figure you enter — or the financed total (principal + interest) if you toggle financing on.
• Break-even year: total cost divided by annual spend, rounded to one decimal.
• 10-year and 20-year savings: annual spend multiplied by the time horizon, minus total LASIK cost. Shown as zero if LASIK has not yet paid off within that window.
• Monthly comparison: your annual vision spend divided by 12 versus LASIK cost amortized over 240 months (20 years).

What the model does not capture: financing interest is fully accounted for when you toggle financing on. What is not modeled is future inflation in eyewear costs (which would improve the LASIK case), potential need for reading glasses after age 45, or the cost of post-LASIK dry eye treatment. These factors can move the real-world result in either direction by a year or two.

Market data

Average contacts vs LASIK costs

Understanding where your own spending lands relative to national averages helps you interpret the break-even result.

Decision framework

When LASIK is worth it financially

The financial case for LASIK is strongest when several conditions align:

• High ongoing vision costs: if you spend $800 or more per year on contacts, solution, glasses, and exams, a $4,200 procedure pays for itself in about 5 years. Every year after that is savings.
• Long planning horizon: LASIK makes more financial sense if you expect to wear contacts for another 15–20 years. The longer your horizon, the larger the cumulative savings.
• Access to pre-tax funds: using an HSA or FSA reduces your effective cost by 22–37% depending on your tax bracket. A $4,200 procedure drops to roughly $2,800–$3,300 in real dollars after the tax benefit.
• 0% promotional financing: many LASIK providers offer 12–24 month 0% APR through CareCredit. If you pay off the balance within the promotional window, you pay no interest and the break-even math is unchanged.
• Lifetime enhancement plan included: if your clinic includes free touch-ups in the original price, you do not need to budget for future enhancements.

Honest assessment

When LASIK might not be the right financial move

LASIK is not the right financial call for everyone. Consider these scenarios carefully before committing:

• Low current vision spend: if you already wear glasses only and spend under $200 per year, the break-even can stretch to 20+ years. The financial case weakens significantly.
• High-interest financing: financing LASIK at 20%+ APR substantially increases your total cost. At 24% APR over 60 months, a $4,200 procedure costs over $6,400 total — pushing break-even past 10 years for most patients.
• Approaching presbyopia: patients in their mid-40s or older may find that LASIK corrects distance vision but does not eliminate the need for reading glasses. Monovision LASIK is one option, but it trades one tradeoff for another.
• Unstable prescription: candidates whose prescription changes frequently may benefit from waiting until their vision stabilizes. Early surgery followed by prescription drift can lead to reduced results and the need for a paid enhancement.
• Short planning horizon: if you expect to need prescription changes within 5 years due to age or health, the break-even window may not fully close.

Even when the strict financial case is "maybe," many patients still choose LASIK for convenience, sports, travel, and quality of life. The calculator above captures the financial dimension; the rest is a personal decision best made with a qualified eye surgeon who can confirm candidacy.