Find Out if LASIK Can Be Deducted From Your Taxes

LASIK can feel like magic: one day you’re hunting for your glasses in the couch cushions, the next you’re reading street signs from what feels like three zip codes away. But then you see the billoften $4,000 or moreand the magic suddenly looks very, very expensive. It’s only natural to wonder: “Can I deduct LASIK from my taxes?”

The short answer: Yes, LASIK can be tax-deductible, but only in specific situations and only if you play by the IRS’s rules. Between medical expense deductions, FSAs, HSAs, and that giant standard deduction everyone keeps talking about, the details can get confusing fast.

In this guide, we’ll walk through when LASIK qualifies as a medical expense, how to tell if you actually get a deduction, and smart ways to use tax-advantaged accounts so the procedure hits your eyes harder than your wallet.

Quick Answer: When Is LASIK Tax-Deductible?

Here’s the elevator pitch version:

• LASIK is considered a qualified medical expense for federal taxes because it corrects defective vision, not just appearance.
• You may deduct LASIK only if you itemize deductions on Schedule A.
• Your total unreimbursed medical expenses (including LASIK) must be more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
• Money you pay with pre-tax FSA or HSA funds can’t be deducted again on Schedule Ano “double dipping.”

So LASIK isn’t a special separate “LASIK deduction.” It’s treated like any other medical procedure under the IRS medical expense rules.

Step 1: How the Medical Expense Deduction Actually Works

The 7.5% of AGI rule

The IRS lets you deduct qualified medical and dental expenses you paid for yourself, your spouse, or your dependentsbut only the amount that exceeds 7.5% of your AGI.

Here’s the basic formula:

1. Compute 7.5% of your AGI.
2. Add up all your eligible, unreimbursed medical expenses for the year (including LASIK).
3. Subtract the 7.5% number from your total medical expenses.
4. The remainder, if any, is what you can deduct on Schedule Aassuming you itemize.

Example: LASIK and the 7.5% threshold

Imagine your AGI is $80,000.

• 7.5% of $80,000 = $6,000.
• You pay for LASIK: $4,400.
• You also have other unreimbursed medical costs (hearing aids, prescriptions, etc.): $3,500.

Total unreimbursed medical expenses = $4,400 + $3,500 = $7,900.

Amount over the 7.5% threshold = $7,900 − $6,000 = $1,900.

That $1,900 is what you can potentially deduct on Schedule Aif you itemize and your total itemized deductions beat the standard deduction.

The standard deduction vs. itemizing

This is where many LASIK patients lose their deduction without realizing it. To deduct LASIK, you must itemize. But the standard deduction is now quite large. For the 2025 tax year, it’s about:

• $15,750 for single filers or married filing separately
• $23,625 for heads of household
• $31,500 for married filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouse

If your total itemized deductions (medical over 7.5% of AGI + mortgage interest + state/local taxes + charity, etc.) don’t exceed the standard deduction for your filing status, you’ll get a better tax result by taking the standard deductionand none of your LASIK costs will matter on Schedule A.

That doesn’t mean LASIK can’t ever help you. It just means you only “see” tax savings if:

• you already have enough itemizable deductions to get near or above the standard deduction, and
• LASIK pushes your medical expenses high enough to generate a meaningful amount over that 7.5% threshold.

Step 2: Why LASIK Qualifies as a Medical Expense

Under IRS rules, deductible medical expenses are costs for the “diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body.” LASIK falls neatly into that definition because the surgery corrects defective vision and improves the normal function of the eyesnot just appearance.

In IRS Publication 502 and related guidance, the IRS specifically calls out laser eye surgery (including LASIK) as an eligible medical expense when it is performed to correct vision.

In practice, that usually means you can include:

• The LASIK procedure itself
• Pre-op eye exams and consultations
• Prescribed medications (like anti-inflammatory or antibiotic eye drops)
• Follow-up appointments
• Reasonable transportation costs to and from the surgery and follow-up visits (mileage or public transit), when primarily for medical care

As long as the procedure is done to correct vision, it’s generally not considered “cosmetic surgery” in the IRS sense, so the usual “no deduction for cosmetic-only procedures” rule doesn’t shut this down.

Step 3: How LASIK Works With FSAs and HSAs

Even if LASIK doesn’t help you much on Schedule A, it can still deliver a big tax win through Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

FSAs and HSAs both treat LASIK as an eligible expense

The IRS allows LASIK and other refractive surgeries (like PRK) as eligible expenses for FSAs and HSAs, because they fall under the same medical expense rules discussed above.

Key points:

• FSAs are employer-sponsored accounts that let you set aside pre-tax dollars (use-it-or-lose-it, with limited carryover).
• HSAs are tied to high-deductible health plans; contributions and qualified withdrawals are triple tax-advantaged (pre-tax contributions, tax-free growth, tax-free qualified withdrawals).
• For 2025, common guidance from eye clinics and benefit providers shows FSA contribution limits around the low-to-mid $3,000 range and HSA limits in the low $4,000s for individuals and higher for families, with exact limits set by the IRS and adjusted yearly.

Using these accounts doesn’t give you a “deduction” on Schedule A, but it effectively makes part of the LASIK cost tax-free by reducing taxable income before it ever hits your paycheck.

The no double-dipping rule

Here’s a very important IRS rule: you can’t deduct expenses that were paid with pre-tax dollars. If your LASIK bill was paid from:

• an FSA,
• an HSA, or
• another account that gave you tax-free treatment,

then those amounts cannot also be included in your Schedule A medical expense total.

So the general rule of thumb is:

• Paid with HSA/FSA? No Schedule A deduction.
• Paid out of pocket with after-tax dollars? Potentially deductible, subject to the 7.5% and itemizing rules.

Step 4: When LASIK Doesn’t Help Your Taxes Much

LASIK might not reduce your tax bill if:

• You take the standard deduction and don’t itemize.
• Your medical expenses for the year never exceed 7.5% of AGI.
• Insurance, employer benefits, HSA, or FSA reimbursement covered most of the cost.
• You’re in a relatively low tax bracket, so the actual tax savings from a modest deduction are small.

That doesn’t mean planning around LASIK is pointless. It just means the biggest savings may come from pre-tax accounts (FSA/HSA) and timing, rather than Schedule A alone.

Tax Planning Tips If You’re Considering LASIK

1. Bunch medical expenses into one year

If you’re close to the 7.5% threshold, you might benefit by “bunching” medical expenses into the same calendar year:

• Schedule LASIK in a year when you already expect high medical costs.
• Consider doing other needed procedures or dental work in the same year.
• Time elective care so it falls before December 31 instead of just after New Year’s.

This can push your medical total high enough above 7.5% of AGI that you actually get a meaningful deduction.

2. Coordinate LASIK with your FSA election

FSAs are often “use-it-or-lose-it,” but they’re fantastic when you know a big medical expense is coming:

• Estimate your LASIK cost the year before you’ll have surgery.
• Elect that amount (or most of it) in your FSA during open enrollment.
• Use those pre-tax funds to pay your surgeon.

Even if it doesn’t produce a Schedule A deduction, paying with pre-tax FSA money could save you 20–35% or more, depending on your combined federal and state rates.

3. Use HSAs strategically

HSAs offer highly flexible timing:

• You can pay for LASIK directly from the HSA now, tax-free.
• Or you can pay out of pocket now, save your receipts, and reimburse yourself from the HSA latereven years down the lineas long as the expenses were qualified and incurred after the HSA was established.

This gives you options: invest HSA funds for long-term growth while still having the safety valve of tax-free reimbursements.

4. Don’t forget state tax rules

This article focuses on U.S. federal tax rules. Your state may:

• have different standard deduction amounts,
• treat HSAs or FSAs differently, or
• offer additional credits or deductions for medical expenses.

Always confirm how your state treats medical and vision expenses before finalizing your plan.

Frequently Asked Questions About LASIK and Taxes

Is LASIK always deductible?

LASIK is generally a qualified medical expense for federal tax purposes, but you only see a deduction if you:

• itemize, and
• have enough medical expenses to exceed 7.5% of AGI.

So it’s “deductible” in theory, but not guaranteed to help your actual tax bill.

Can I deduct LASIK I paid with a credit card?

Yes, how you pay doesn’t matter for the deduction. What matters is:

• the expense is qualified,
• you weren’t reimbursed, and
• the payment was made during the tax year you’re filing for.

If you swipe a credit card for LASIK in November 2025 but don’t pay the card off until 2026, your medical expense is still considered paid in 2025 for deduction purposes.

Can I deduct LASIK if my insurer paid part of it?

You can only claim the unreimbursed portion. If your vision plan or insurance pays $1,000 and you pay $3,000, only the $3,000 counts toward your medical expense total.

Does LASIK count for dependents?

Yes. If you pay LASIK costs for a spouse or a qualifying dependent, those unreimbursed expenses can be included in your medical total, just like your own eligible expenses.

Is this tax advice?

This article is for general educational purposes only. Tax rules change, and your specific situation may have details that swing the answer one way or the other. For personalized guidance about deducting LASIK, it’s wise to talk with a CPA, enrolled agent, or qualified tax professional.

Real-World Experiences: How People Use Taxes to Afford LASIK (Approx. )

Reading IRS publications is great. Talking to real people who’ve actually navigated LASIK and taxes? That’s where the “aha” moments usually happen. Here are some common real-world patterns that pop up when folks share their LASIK stories with financial planners or online communities.

The “big medical year” strategy

One common experience: patients intentionally plan LASIK in a year when they’re already dealing with high medical bills. Think pregnancy and childbirth, orthopedic surgery, or a round of expensive diagnostics. Instead of having “medium” medical bills spread across two years, they stack everything into one year.

For example, a married couple knows they’ll have a baby in 2025 and will hit their health plan maximum out-of-pocket anyway. They decide to:

• schedule LASIK for one spouse in the same year,
• add in long-postponed dental work, and
• save every receipt for copays, prescriptions, and travel to specialists.

By the time they file their tax return, their unreimbursed medical expenses comfortably exceed 7.5% of their AGI. When they run the numbers, they discover that itemizing that yearand claiming the medical deductionbeats the standard deduction. LASIK didn’t just make life easier without glasses; it also helped tip the scales toward a tax benefit that otherwise wouldn’t have existed.

The FSA “planned strike” approach

Another frequent success story involves FSAs. During open enrollment, someone commits to LASIK and sets their FSA contribution close to the full cost of the procedure. Because FSA contributions are taken pre-tax, they save federal income tax, Social Security tax, and often state income tax, all at once.

People who do this often describe the experience like this: “It felt like I got a 25–30% discount just for using the FSA correctly.” They may still take the standard deduction on their return, but they’re thrilled with the upfront savings. The catch, of course, is making sure the timing worksif the surgery gets delayed beyond the FSA year, the “use-it-or-lose-it” rule can sting. That’s why clinics routinely urge patients to coordinate scheduling with the FSA calendar.

The long-game HSA storyteller

HSAs show up in LASIK stories in two very different ways:

1. Some people pay directly from the HSA at the time of surgery. They love that it feels painlessno big hit to the checking accountand they know they’ve used their HSA exactly as intended: to make healthcare more affordable now.
2. Others take the “nerd strategy”: they pay for LASIK out of pocket, keep immaculate records, and let their HSA grow invested for years or decades. They know they can reimburse themselves later for today’s LASIK bill, but meanwhile those HSA funds get to compound tax-free.

Both approaches are valid. The deciding factors are usually cash flow (do you have the savings to pay now?), risk tolerance, and long-term financial goals. But across the board, people who understand HSA rules often walk away saying LASIK felt much more affordable once they realized how powerful that triple tax advantage really is.

The “I thought it was deductible, but…” crowd

Finally, there’s the group that learns something the hard way. They assumed LASIK automatically meant a big tax refundthen discovered:

• their income was high enough that 7.5% of AGI was a big number,
• their other itemized deductions weren’t large, and
• the standard deduction was still more valuable.

The good news? Even in those cases, most patients report that the non-financial payoffwaking up able to see the alarm clock, swimming without contacts, fewer dry-eye issuesis worth it. The tax break is just the cherry on top. But their stories are a great reminder to run the numbers before you count on a LASIK deduction. If you go into the procedure with realistic expectations and a smart FSA/HSA strategy, the financial side tends to feel much better.

Bottom Line

LASIK can absolutely qualify as a tax-deductible medical expense under IRS rules. But whether it actually lowers your tax bill depends on:

• how high your medical expenses are relative to your AGI,
• whether you itemize instead of taking the standard deduction, and
• how you payout of pocket, FSA, HSA, or a mix.

If you’re planning LASIK, the winning combo is usually:

• maximizing FSA or HSA tax savings,
• timing your procedure with other medical costs when possible, and
• checking with a tax pro to confirm how the rules apply to your exact situation.

Clear vision is amazing. Clear expectations about the tax side? Almost as satisfying.

Sources / citations:
LASIK as a tax-deductible medical expense, average costs, and 7.5% AGI threshold
IRS Publication 502 rules for medical and dental expenses, including 7.5% AGI and treatment of reimbursements and FSAs/HSAs
IRS and clinic guidance recognizing laser eye surgery/LASIK as deductible or qualified medical expenses
Articles on using FSAs and HSAs for LASIK and contribution limits/strategies for 2025
2025 standard deduction amounts under recent tax rules (including OBBB-related adjustments)
HSA tax treatment, long-term strategies, and triple tax advantage