The number that matters is per eye, and in 2026 it averages about $2,250 nationally ($2,632 in NVision's pricing research) — roughly $4,500–$5,300 for both eyes. Where you buy it moves the number more than anything else: national chains average $1,500–$2,500 per eye, independent surgeons $2,000–$3,200, and premium or academic centers $2,500–$4,000+ for custom and topography-guided treatment.
LASIK pricing has less to do with the laser (most centers run similar platforms) and more to do with the business model attached to it:
| Provider type | Conventional | Custom wavefront | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|
| National chain (LasikPlus, LVI, TLC) | ~$1,700 | ~$2,040 | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Independent surgeon | ~$2,000 | ~$2,400 | $2,000–$3,200 |
| Premium / academic center | ~$2,400 | ~$2,880 | $2,500–$4,000+ |
Chains run high patient volume with tiered pricing and heavy upsell paths, which pushes base prices down. Independent and premium-center pricing typically bundles custom wavefront or topography-guided technology, more surgeon time, and a longer post-op care window. Whether that's worth $500–$1,500 more per eye depends on your prescription and how much you value surgeon continuity.
Advertised chain specials from $490–$990 per eye are real but restricted: they apply to the lowest correction tier on select prescriptions, usually conventional (not custom) treatment, and often assume financing. Quotes for average prescriptions at the same chains run $1,500–$2,500 per eye, so treat the ad as a foot-in-the-door price. The honest comparison is between written, itemized quotes for your actual prescription.
Technology × provider type × both eyes, with the FSA discount and post-op meds built in.
Open the LASIK Cost Calculator →Custom wavefront LASIK at an independent surgeon: base $2,400 per eye, so both eyes run $4,800 plus $75 in post-op drops, or $4,875 all-in. Paid through an FSA at a 24% bracket, the effective cost drops to about $3,705 — a $1,170 tax benefit most people forget to claim. The same procedure class at a national chain prices near $1,700 per eye, both eyes $3,400 plus drops, about $3,475. That $1,400 gap on both eyes is the real chain-versus-independent story — not the $490 ad versus $4,000 horror stories.
At the top end, SMILE at a premium center prices around $3,360 per eye — $6,820 for both eyes with meds.
PRK usually prices slightly below comparable LASIK, around $1,500–$2,800 per eye, because it skips the flap-cutting laser step. SMILE typically runs $2,200–$3,500 per eye, at or above LASIK, since it uses a dedicated platform fewer centers own. Cost shouldn't drive that choice, though — corneal thickness and prescription shape usually decide which procedure you're a candidate for in the first place.
LASIK is a qualified medical expense, which makes it one of the best uses of FSA or HSA dollars that exist — an elective procedure you can schedule deliberately in a year you choose. The effective discount is your marginal tax rate, commonly 22–32%. Two planning notes: FSA dollars are use-it-or-lose-it within the plan year (schedule the procedure before the deadline, not after), and some vision plans negotiate 10–15% off at networked providers, which stacks with neither the teaser pricing nor each other — get the written quote first, then decide which lever to pull. A few employers also offer voluntary LASIK benefits worth an HR question.
While you're budgeting pre-tax medical dollars, the FSA deadline calculator keeps the use-it-or-lose-it date honest, and the Invisalign cost calculator prices the other elective vision-adjacent line people fund the same way.
Most-quoted national averages run about $2,250 to $2,632 per eye, roughly $4,500 to $5,300 for both eyes. National chains typically land at $1,500 to $2,500 per eye, independent surgeons at $2,000 to $3,200, and premium or academic centers at $2,500 to $4,000 or more for custom and topography-guided treatment.
The teaser price is real but almost nobody qualifies. It applies to the lowest correction tier on select prescriptions, usually conventional rather than custom treatment, and sometimes one eye on a financing contract. Quotes for average prescriptions at the same chains run $1,500 to $2,500 per eye, so treat the ad as a foot-in-the-door price, not a menu price.
Almost never, because it is elective refractive surgery. Two real discounts exist: LASIK is FSA and HSA eligible, so you can pay with pre-tax dollars (a 22-35% effective discount at typical tax rates), and some vision plans negotiate 10-15% off at networked providers.
Pay with FSA or HSA funds (saves your marginal tax rate on up to the annual limit), get consultations at both a chain and an independent to compare the actual written quote, and ask each to match the other. Ask what the quote excludes: post-op meds run $50 to $150, and enhancement policies differ, with some centers charging full price for touch-ups after a year.
PRK usually prices slightly below comparable LASIK, around $1,500 to $2,800 per eye, because it skips the flap-cutting laser step. SMILE typically runs $2,200 to $3,500 per eye, at or above LASIK, since it uses a dedicated platform fewer centers own. Cost should not drive that choice; corneal thickness and prescription shape usually decide which procedure you are a candidate for.