Monthly payment options, lender comparisons, and the difference between medical credit cards and personal loans.
$4,000–$6,000
Typical LASIK cost (both eyes)
~$170/mo
At 36 months on $5,000 (12.9% APR)
~$89/mo
At 84 months on $5,000 (12.9% APR)
Monthly payment reference
These estimates use 12.9% APR (CareCredit standard deferred rate). Actual rates vary by lender and creditworthiness.
| Loan Amount | 24 months | 36 months | 60 months | 84 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,500 | $167/mo | $118/mo | $79/mo | $62/mo |
| $4,000 | $191/mo | $135/mo | $91/mo | $71/mo |
| $5,000 | $238/mo | $168/mo | $114/mo | $89/mo |
| $6,000 | $286/mo | $202/mo | $137/mo | $107/mo |
| $8,000 | $381/mo | $269/mo | $183/mo | $143/mo |
| $11,000 | $524/mo | $370/mo | $251/mo | $196/mo |
| $14,000 | $667/mo | $471/mo | $319/mo | $249/mo |
Based on 12.9% APR. Use our calculator to get a personalized estimate with your specific procedure and state.
Your options
Medical credit cards are the most commonly offered financing at LASIK centers. They work like regular credit cards but are restricted to healthcare purchases.
How they work: You apply at the practice or online. If approved, you get a credit line you can use for the procedure immediately. Promotional periods (6, 12, 18, or 24 months) offer deferred interest — no interest IF paid in full by the end of the promotional period.
Important: deferred interest vs. true 0% APR
Medical credit cards offer deferred interest, not true 0% APR. If you have a $5,000 balance on a 24-month promotional plan and carry $1 past the promotional period, you’ll be charged interest on the full original balance retroactively at 26.99% APR. Always pay the full balance before the promotional period ends, or treat these like a standard APR loan from day one.
Personal loans from banks, credit unions, and online lenders offer true installment financing — your rate is fixed at origination, and you pay the same amount every month until paid off. No promotional period traps.
APRs for well-qualified borrowers typically run 7–15%. For average credit, expect 15–25%. Better credit = meaningfully lower total interest cost.
Some LASIK centers offer their own in-house financing. These are worth asking about, but read the terms carefully. In-house plans sometimes carry higher rates than outside lenders, and the application is tied to the practice (harder to comparison-shop).
If you have HSA or FSA funds, use them first — they provide a 22–37% effective discount depending on your tax bracket, with no interest charges. See our insurance and FSA/HSA guide for the full breakdown.
Compare lenders
These are the most commonly used financing options for vision correction. We don’t rank them — compare terms carefully.
Our recommendation: always compare at least 2–3 options
The difference between 9% and 18% APR on a $5,000 loan over 36 months is ~$760 in total interest. A soft-pull comparison on Credible takes 2 minutes and doesn’t affect your credit score.
Use our calculator to get a personalized estimate based on your state, procedure, and prescription — then see monthly payments at 24, 36, 60, and 84 months.
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