How LASIK compares to contact lenses over time

Glasses fog up. Contacts dry out. LASIK promises a life free from both, but is it really better over the long term? Let’s compare LASIK and contact lenses in terms of cost, comfort, safety, and lifestyle.

1. Cost Over Time

Contact Lenses:
The cost of contacts adds up. Between the lenses themselves, cleaning solutions, and regular eye exams, you could be spending hundreds of dollars each year. Over 20 years, that could easily add up to $5,000–$8,000.

LASIK:
LASIK is a one-time cost. At Elite LASIK & Cataract, we offer flexible financing so patients can spread payments over time. After the procedure, you’ll save money year after year by not having to buy contacts or glasses.

2. Comfort and Convenience

Contact Lenses:
While convenient compared to glasses, contacts can be a hassle, especially for people with dry eyes, allergies, or sensitive eyes. They can tear, get lost, or cause irritation.

LASIK:
After a short recovery, LASIK provides clear vision 24/7—no inserting, removing, or cleaning lenses. You can swim, run, or wake up and see clearly without doing a thing.

3. Eye Health and safety

Contact Lenses:
Contacts increase your risk of eye infections, especially if you wear them overnight or skip proper cleaning. Long-term contact wear can also reduce oxygen supply to the cornea.

LASIK:
While LASIK is a surgical procedure with its own risks, it avoids the daily infection risks associated with contacts. Once your eyes heal, you won’t be dealing with the chronic irritation contacts can cause.

4. Vision Quality

Contact Lenses:
Contacts correct vision well but can sometimes cause slight distortion, especially if they dry out or shift in the eye.

LASIK:
LASIK reshapes the cornea to permanently correct vision, often providing sharper clarity than contacts. Many patients say they see better after LASIK than they ever did with lenses.

5. Lifestyle Freedom

LASIK can change your life in ways that go beyond vision:

• No packing lens cases or solution for trips
• No worrying about losing a contact mid-game or mid-swim
• No fogging or smudging like glasses
• Just clear vision from the moment you wake up.

6. Which Is Right for You?

If you’re not ready for LASIK or you’re not a candidate, contacts are a great short-term solution. But if you’re tired of the cost, hassle, and limitations, LASIK is worth considering.

Take the First Step

Start with our quick LASIK suitability self-test to find out if laser vision correction is right for you.