LASIK Financing: Compare Personal Loans for Eye Surgery
An unsecured personal loan is one way to finance LASIK eye surgery. Compare your funding options.
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Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis eye surgery, more commonly referred to as LASIK, can be a pricey procedure but worth the cost to correct vision issues. Because the procedure — which averages about $2,200 per eye — is often not covered by insurance, many people turn to LASIK financing.
A LASIK eye surgery loan, which is an unsecured personal loan that you use to pay for the procedure, can be a viable option, depending on the rate you qualify for and how comfortably the monthly payments fit in your budget.
But it can also be expensive, especially if your credit isn’t strong. It’s critical, therefore, to compare personal loans from multiple lenders as well as consider alternative financing options to find what works best for you.
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis eye surgery, more commonly referred to as LASIK, can be a pricey procedure but worth the cost to correct vision issues. Because the procedure — which averages about $2,200 per eye — is often not covered by insurance, many people turn to LASIK financing.
A LASIK eye surgery loan, which is an unsecured personal loan that you use to pay for the procedure, can be a viable option, depending on the rate you qualify for and how comfortably the monthly payments fit in your budget.
But it can also be expensive, especially if your credit isn’t strong. It’s critical, therefore, to compare personal loans from multiple lenders as well as consider alternative financing options to find what works best for you.
LASIK Financing: Compare Personal Loans for Eye Surgery From Our Partners
Lender | NerdWallet rating | Est. APR | Loan amount | Min. credit score | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 LendingClub Get rate on LendingClub's website | Best for LASIK eye surgery loans | 8.05- | $1,000- | 600 | Get rate on LendingClub's website |
 Upstart Get rate on Upstart's website | Best for LASIK eye surgery loans | 6.50- | $1,000- | None | Get rate on Upstart's website |
 Universal Credit Get rate on Universal Credit's website | Best for LASIK eye surgery loans | 11.69- | $1,000- | 560 | Get rate on Universal Credit's website |
 Discover® Personal Loans Get rate on Discover's website | Best for LASIK eye surgery loans | 6.99- | $2,500- | 660 | Get rate on Discover's website |
Our pick for
LASIK eye surgery loans
What is a personal loan for LASIK financing?
Unsecured personal loans are flexible financing because you can use them for almost any purpose, including LASIK. They don’t require collateral, and borrowers repay their loans in fixed, monthly installments that make budgeting more predictable.
And while personal loans can be expensive, starting interest rates for excellent-credit borrowers are typically lower than credit card rates.
You can get a personal loan from a credit union, bank or online lender. Factors like time to fund, rate ranges and loan amounts vary for each. To find a loan with monthly payments and rates that fit your budget, it’s best to compare offers from multiple lenders.
How to compare LASIK eye surgery loans
APR. Annual percentage rates on personal loans typically range from 6% to 36%, depending on your credit. The lowest rates go to borrowers with good to excellent credit (690 or higher).
Fees. Some lenders charge a one-time origination fee, which covers the cost to process the loan. The fee is usually 1% to 10% of the loan amount, and most lenders subtract it from the total loan amount.
Loan amount. Personal loan amounts typically range from $1,000 to $100,000. Determine the amount you need to borrow for LASIK eye surgery before applying for a loan. Taking out too much funding means higher interest costs.
Loan term. This is the amount of time you have to repay the loan, usually two to seven years. A shorter repayment term means a lower interest cost but a larger monthly payment. Use NerdWallet’s personal loan calculator to see estimated payments with various repayment terms.
Time to fund. Once a loan application is approved, some lenders can disburse loan funds as fast as 24 hours, but some may take up to a week. Depending on when you need LASIK financing, time to fund could be a key factor to consider.
Pre-qualify for a LASIK eye surgery loan
Most online lenders offer a pre-qualification process that let's you see a loan’s terms, interest rate and monthly payments before you commit. This typically involves a soft credit check, which doesn’t hurt your credit and allows you to shop around and compare loan offers from multiple lenders.
Pre-qualify with NerdWallet to compare lenders and receive personalized rates.
Alternative LASIK financing options
Consider these other financing options and ways to save before taking a loan.
Finance through the provider. LASIK surgeons may offer in-house financing, sometimes with no interest. Ask the provider for details, including repayment terms and fees.
Check for discounts with your health insurance provider. Even if they don’t cover the cost of the procedure, some health insurance companies will negotiate with LASIK providers to offer discounts to members that lower the procedure’s cost.
Medical credit cards. Some LASIK providers may accept CareCredit, a specialty medical credit card. The standard APR for CareCredit is 26.99%, but it also offers short-term financing options at 0% interest if paid in full by the end of the term (6, 12, 18 or 24 months). Check with your LASIK provider, as not all health care offices participate in the interest-free promotional period.
0% interest card. If you have good or excellent credit (a score of 690 and above), you may qualify for a 0% interest credit card. These cards have an introductory period — typically 15 to 18 months — when you won’t incur interest on purchases. However, you must pay off the balance before the period ends or you’ll be on the hook for the interest charges.
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Last updated on December 22, 2022
Methodology
NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates personal loan products from more than 35 financial institutions. We collect over 45 data points from each lender, interview company representatives and compare the lender with others that seek the same customer or offer a similar personal loan product. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including: soft credit checks to pre-qualify, competitive interest rates and no fees, transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. We also consider regulatory actions filed by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to consumers and how meaningfully they impact consumers’ experiences.
This methodology applies only to lenders that cap interest rates at 36%, the maximum rate most financial experts and consumer advocates agree is the acceptable limit for a loan to be affordable. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for personal loans and our editorial guidelines.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's LASIK Financing: Compare Personal Loans for Eye Surgery
- LendingClub: Best for LASIK eye surgery loans
- Upstart: Best for LASIK eye surgery loans
- Universal Credit: Best for LASIK eye surgery loans
- Discover® Personal Loans: Best for LASIK eye surgery loans
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You can apply for LASIK financing through a personal loan lender or sometimes directly through the LASIK provider, which allows you to pay the cost in monthly installments. Before committing to a loan, pre-qualify to compare lenders and find an affordable rate.
