Is LASIK Worth It? (LASIK vs Contact Lenses)
Who Can Get LASIK and Who Should Not
LASIK can treat a wide range of vision problems, but it works best within certain prescription limits. Most modern lasers can correct nearsightedness up to about -10.00 to -12.00 diopters, farsightedness up to +6.00 diopters, and astigmatism up to about 6.00 diopters.
If your prescription falls outside these ranges, we may recommend alternative procedures such as PRK or implantable lenses. Your eye doctor will measure your exact prescription and corneal thickness to determine if LASIK is safe and effective for you.
Your eyes need to be healthy before you can have LASIK. We look for clear corneas without scars, infections, or irregularities that could interfere with healing or results.
- No active eye infections or inflammation
- Adequate corneal thickness for the laser to reshape safely
- No history of keratoconus or other corneal diseases
- Healthy tear production and no severe dry eye syndrome
- No history of active or recent herpetic eye disease; prior episodes require special planning
- No significant epithelial basement membrane dystrophy or recurrent erosions; PRK may be safer
- Treat meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis before surgery
- Large pupils are considered in planning the optical zone to reduce night symptoms
Certain health conditions can affect your healing after LASIK or increase your risk of complications. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or Sjogren syndrome can slow corneal healing and raise the risk of infection. Well-controlled autoimmune disease may be considered case by case.
Uncontrolled diabetes can also delay healing and increase infection risk. Postpone LASIK during pregnancy and while nursing; confirm stable refraction at least several months after nursing ends. Certain medications, such as isotretinoin or amiodarone, can affect healing and may require deferral. If you take medications that suppress your immune system, we may need to delay surgery until your condition is well managed.
LASIK permanently reshapes your cornea based on your current prescription. If your vision is still changing, the correction we perform today might not match what you need next year.
We require that your prescription has stayed the same for at least 12 months before surgery. This ensures that the results will last and that you will not need a second procedure soon after the first. Younger patients and those with certain health conditions may experience continued vision changes even after a year of stability.
The FDA approves LASIK for patients 18 and older, but we generally recommend waiting until age 21 or beyond. Vision often continues to change through the late teens and early twenties, so operating too early may lead to needing glasses again later.
As you approach your mid-forties, your eyes naturally lose the ability to focus up close, a condition called presbyopia. LASIK will not prevent or reverse presbyopia, so you may still need reading glasses even after surgery. Some patients choose monovision LASIK, where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near tasks, but this approach does not work for everyone. If considering monovision LASIK, a contact lens trial is recommended to confirm that you tolerate the distance–near balance.
Weighing the Costs: LASIK vs Contacts Long-Term
Contact lenses seem affordable month by month, but the costs add up significantly over time. If you spend about 50 dollars per month on lenses and solution, that totals 600 dollars per year. Include annual contact lens fitting exams, cases, solution, and backup glasses; daily disposables often raise annual costs compared with monthly lenses.
- Over 10 years: approximately 6,000 dollars
- Over 20 years: approximately 12,000 dollars
- Over 30 years: approximately 18,000 dollars
LASIK costs vary depending on the technology used, the surgeon's experience, and your location. In 2025, the average cost ranges from 2,000 to 3,500 dollars per eye, or 4,000 to 7,000 dollars for both eyes.
This price typically includes pre-operative exams, the surgery itself, and follow-up visits for the first year. Be cautious of advertised prices that seem too low, as they may not include important tests or may use older technology. Confirm whether the quote includes femtosecond flap creation, custom treatments, all pre- and post-op visits, and any enhancement policy. Our eye doctor will provide a transparent breakdown of all costs during your consultation.
Many LASIK providers offer financing plans that let you pay over time with low or zero interest. Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts can also be used to pay for LASIK with pre-tax dollars, which can save you hundreds of dollars depending on your tax bracket.
Check with your account administrator before your procedure to ensure you have enough funds available and understand any deadlines for using FSA money. Some vision insurance plans offer discounts on LASIK through preferred providers, though they rarely cover the full cost.
To find your break-even point, divide the total LASIK cost by your annual contact lens expense. For example, if LASIK costs 5,000 dollars and you spend 600 dollars per year on contacts, you break even in about eight years.
After that point, every year without buying lenses or solution is money saved. If you are in your twenties or thirties and expect to wear contacts for decades, LASIK can be a smart financial investment. However, if you are closer to needing reading glasses or bifocals soon, the financial benefit may be smaller.
Comparing Safety and Risks
Before surgery, we perform a comprehensive eye exam that goes far beyond a basic vision test. We measure your corneal thickness and shape using computerized mapping to ensure your eye can safely handle the laser reshaping.
We also evaluate your tear production, check for irregularities in the cornea, and measure your pupil size in different lighting conditions. These tests help us predict your outcome and catch any issues that might require special planning. Thorough testing is the best way to avoid complications and achieve excellent results.
- Corneal tomography to detect subtle ectasia risk and measure corneal thickness across the entire cornea
- Calculate residual stromal bed and percent tissue altered to keep tissue removal within safe limits
- Contact lens holiday before testing to normalize corneal shape
- Comprehensive ocular surface evaluation; treat dry eye and blepharitis before surgery
- Dilated retinal exam when indicated
- Discuss alternatives such as PRK, SMILE, and phakic IOLs if risk is elevated
Most patients experience some side effects in the weeks and months after LASIK, but these usually improve over time. Dry eyes are the most common complaint, as the surgery temporarily reduces tear production.
- Dryness that improves with lubricating drops over three to six months
- Halos or starbursts around lights at night, especially in the first few weeks
- Mild glare or light sensitivity that fades as your eyes heal
- Fluctuating vision as your cornea settles into its new shape
- Temporary elevation in eye pressure from steroid drops in some patients; follow-up checks ensure safety
- Night driving may be limited early in recovery
Serious complications from LASIK are uncommon, but they can happen. These risks are not exhaustive, and individual risk varies by eye anatomy and health.
- Flap complications such as striae or dislocation, especially with trauma
- Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) and epithelial ingrowth under the flap
- Infectious keratitis
- Undercorrection, overcorrection, or regression requiring glasses, contacts, or enhancement
- Severe dry eye that does not improve
- Rare neuropathic corneal pain
- Ectasia, where the cornea bulges forward and causes distorted vision
Risk of ectasia is higher with thin corneas, abnormal tomography, high tissue removal, and habitual eye rubbing. Choosing an experienced surgeon and following all aftercare instructions can greatly reduce your risk of serious problems.
LASIK is not the only vision correction surgery available, and it may not be the best choice for everyone. Depending on your prescription, corneal thickness, and eye health, we may recommend a different procedure that offers better safety or results for your specific situation.
- PRK for thinner corneas, EBMD, or higher ectasia risk; longer recovery, no flap
- SMILE for certain myopic and astigmatic ranges; small incision and potentially less dry eye
- Phakic IOLs (implantable collamer lenses) for very high prescriptions or thinner corneas
- Lens-based options in older adults with early lens changes or presbyopia
Each alternative has its own benefits, risks, and recovery timeline. Your eye doctor will discuss which procedures are suitable for your eyes and help you understand how each option compares to LASIK in terms of safety, effectiveness, and what to expect during healing.
Contact lenses are generally safe, but they carry their own risks, especially if you do not follow proper hygiene. Sleeping in lenses, wearing them longer than recommended, or using contaminated solution can lead to serious infections.
- Never wear contacts while swimming or showering due to waterborne organisms such as Acanthamoeba
- Daily disposable lenses lower risk compared with reuse, but strict hygiene is still essential
Microbial keratitis, an infection of the cornea, can cause pain, redness, and vision loss if not treated quickly. Long-term contact wear can also reduce oxygen flow to the cornea, leading to blood vessel growth or chronic irritation. Contacts introduce an ongoing risk of infection; after LASIK heals, that contact lens-related risk is avoided, but LASIK has its own long-term considerations, including flap vulnerability with significant trauma and potential dryness.
In appropriately selected patients, more than 95 percent achieve 20/40 or better, and many reach 20/20 or better; individual results vary. However, a small percentage of patients may need an enhancement procedure to fine-tune their vision if the first surgery leaves some prescription remaining.
Enhancement is typically a simpler procedure than the original LASIK and can be performed a few months after your eyes fully heal. Enhancement is considered only after your refraction and ocular surface are stable, often 3 to 6 months or longer. We will monitor your vision at follow-up visits and discuss whether an enhancement might help if you are not completely satisfied with your results.
Daily Life: Convenience vs Commitment
Wearing contact lenses means committing to a daily routine. You must wash your hands thoroughly, insert each lens carefully, and remove them every night unless you have extended-wear lenses approved for overnight use.
Reusable lenses need to be cleaned and stored in fresh solution every night, and lens cases should be replaced regularly to prevent contamination. Even daily disposable lenses require you to carry supplies when you travel and to reorder on time so you never run out. This routine takes time and attention every single day.
Contacts come with lifestyle limitations that can be frustrating. You should not sleep in most types of lenses, as doing so greatly increases infection risk and reduces oxygen to your cornea.
- Avoid swimming or showering while wearing lenses to prevent waterborne infections
- Remove lenses before naps to protect your eye health
- Keep backup glasses handy for times when you cannot wear contacts
- Plan ahead for early mornings or late nights when you need clear vision
LASIK recovery requires some temporary lifestyle adjustments, but they are short-term compared to years of contact lens care. Do not rub your eyes for at least 1 month. Do not swim or use hot tubs, lakes, or the ocean for at least 2 weeks. Avoid eye makeup for 1 week. Avoid getting water directly into your eyes in the shower for 24 to 48 hours.
Walk the same day. Resume non-contact exercise in 2 to 3 days. Avoid heavy lifting for about 1 week. Avoid contact sports for 2 to 4 weeks and use eye protection thereafter. Wear the provided eye shields while sleeping for 1 week to prevent accidentally bumping your eyes. Do not drive until your surgeon confirms that your vision meets legal driving standards.
Most patients return to work within a day or two and resume normal activities within a week. We will provide detailed instructions on what to avoid and for how long during your recovery.
Once your eyes fully heal from LASIK, you can enjoy activities without thinking about your vision correction. You can wake up and see the alarm clock, jump in the pool without worrying about losing a lens, and play sports without glasses fogging up or contacts drying out.
Traveling becomes easier without packing lens solution, spare contacts, and glasses. You also save time every day by skipping the insertion and removal routine. For many patients, this convenience and freedom are the biggest benefits of LASIK, beyond the financial savings.
Contacts remain a good choice for some people even when LASIK is an option. If you enjoy changing your eye color with tinted lenses, contacts give you that flexibility.
Patients who are not ready for permanent vision correction or who have prescriptions that change frequently may prefer the adjustability that contacts offer. Contact lenses also work well for people who need vision correction only occasionally, such as for driving or watching movies. We can help you weigh your personal priorities to decide which option fits your life best.
What Happens During and After LASIK
Your LASIK journey begins with a thorough eye exam that takes about one to two hours. Plan a contact lens holiday before your evaluation so measurements are accurate. We will measure your prescription, check your overall eye health, and use advanced imaging to create a detailed map of your cornea.
Corneal topography shows us the exact curves and thickness of your cornea, which guides the laser during surgery. We will also assess corneal biomechanics and tomography, ocular dominance, and tear film stability. If dry eye or eyelid inflammation is present, we will treat it first to optimize results. This visit is your chance to ask questions and make sure you feel confident moving forward.
On surgery day, the procedure itself takes only about 10 to 15 minutes per eye. We will numb your eyes with drops so you will not feel pain, though you may feel slight pressure when the surgeon creates the corneal flap. The flap is typically created with a femtosecond laser; a microkeratome may be used in some cases. A suction ring holds the eye still for several seconds, which can dim vision temporarily. An eyelid holder prevents blinking.
You will be asked to focus on a light while the laser reshapes your cornea, which takes less than a minute per eye. Mild oral sedation may be offered. Your vision will be blurry immediately after, but many patients notice improvement within hours. Someone will need to drive you home, and we recommend resting with your eyes closed for the remainder of the day.
The first two days after LASIK are the most important for healing. Your eyes may feel gritty, watery, or sensitive to light, and your vision may fluctuate as the corneal flap settles.
- Use prescribed eye drops to prevent infection and reduce inflammation
- Use antibiotic and steroid drops exactly as directed
- Wear protective shields while sleeping to avoid rubbing
- Wear sunglasses outdoors to reduce light sensitivity
- Avoid screens and reading for long periods to reduce eye strain
- Do not touch or rub your eyes, even if they itch
- If you accidentally rub or bump the eye, place the shield and call us
Most patients see well enough to drive and work within a few days, but your vision will continue to improve over the next few weeks. By the end of the first week, many side effects such as light halos and dryness begin to ease.
Full healing typically takes three to six months, as your cornea gradually stabilizes and any remaining dryness resolves. During this time, you may notice slight changes in your vision from day to day, which is normal. We will monitor your progress at follow-up visits to ensure everything is healing as expected.
After LASIK, we will schedule several follow-up appointments to track your recovery and catch any issues early. Your first visit is usually the day after surgery to check that the corneal flap is in place and your eyes are responding well.
Additional visits are typically scheduled at one week, one month, three months, and six months post-surgery. Some surgeons also schedule a 12-month visit; your exact schedule may vary. These appointments let us measure your vision, assess your healing, and adjust your eye drop regimen if needed. Keeping all your follow-up appointments is essential for the best outcome and long-term eye health.
While LASIK recovery is usually smooth, certain symptoms should prompt you to call our office right away. Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment if you experience any of these issues, as prompt treatment can prevent serious damage and protect your vision.
- Severe pain that does not improve with over-the-counter pain relievers
- Sudden vision loss or a significant decrease in vision
- A significant increase in redness
- Discharge from the eye
- Flashes of light or floaters that appear suddenly
- Sudden shift in vision after rubbing or trauma
- Severe light sensitivity with decreased vision
- If any foreign body strikes the eye, shield it and call immediately
These symptoms are rare, but they may indicate infection, inflammation, or a complication with the corneal flap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, LASIK can correct astigmatism along with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Modern laser technology can reshape the cornea to address the irregular curve that causes astigmatism, and most patients with astigmatism achieve excellent results as long as the degree of astigmatism is within treatable limits.
You will need to stop wearing contact lenses before your pre-operative testing and again before surgery so your cornea can return to its natural shape. Soft contact lenses should be discontinued for at least 1 week before measurements. Toric or extended-wear soft lenses often require about 2 weeks. Rigid gas permeable lenses and orthokeratology lenses may require 2 to 4 weeks or longer, depending on how long you have worn them. Your eye doctor will give you specific instructions based on your lens type and wearing history.
SMILE and PRK are alternatives to LASIK that may be better choices in certain situations. PRK does not require creating a corneal flap, so it is often preferred if you have thinner corneas, higher ectasia risk, or certain corneal conditions. SMILE uses a small incision and may cause less dry eye in some patients, though it treats a narrower range of prescriptions. Your eye doctor will evaluate your corneal thickness, prescription, lifestyle, and eye health to recommend the procedure that offers you the best balance of safety, effectiveness, and recovery time.
If you are over 40, LASIK will not prevent presbyopia, the age-related loss of near focusing ability. You may still need reading glasses for close-up tasks even if LASIK corrects your distance vision perfectly. Some patients choose a monovision approach where one eye is set for distance and the other for near, but this trade-off does not work for everyone.
LASIK results are permanent in that the corneal reshaping does not reverse itself. However, your eyes can still change over time due to aging or other factors. Many patients enjoy clear vision for decades, but some may develop new prescriptions later in life and need glasses for certain tasks or consider an enhancement procedure.
If your prescription changes significantly years after LASIK, you have several options. You can wear glasses or contacts for the new prescription, or you may be a candidate for an enhancement procedure if your corneas are still thick enough and otherwise healthy. Our eye doctor will evaluate your eyes and discuss the best solution based on your current vision needs.
Yes, you can wear contact lenses after LASIK if you choose to, such as for cosmetic color change or if your vision changes later and you prefer contacts over glasses. However, your corneal shape will be different after surgery, so contact lens fittings may be more challenging and require specialty lenses.
LASIK itself is not painful because we use numbing drops to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. You may feel mild pressure or awareness during the surgery, but most patients report no pain. After the numbing wears off, your eyes may feel scratchy or irritated for a few hours, but this discomfort is usually mild and improves quickly with rest and lubricating drops.
Getting Help
Deciding between LASIK and contact lenses depends on your unique vision needs, lifestyle goals, and overall health. Our eye doctor can perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK and help you understand the benefits and trade-offs of each option. We are here to answer your questions and guide you toward the choice that best supports your long-term eye health and quality of life.