Can You Use an FSA or HSA for Contact Lenses?

Yes! You can use the money in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) to buy prescription contact lenses. In addition, you can pay for eyeglasses, eye exams, and many other eye-related expenses.

Let’s explore the nuts and bolts of HSAs and FSAs, including how they work, their differences, and what they can (and can’t) pay for.

HSAs and FSAs: What’s the Difference?

Both HSAs and FSAs are savings accounts that let you accumulate pre-tax funds and withdraw them (also tax-free) to pay for medical expenses like contact lenses. 

Despite their similarities, HSAs and FSAs aren’t the same. They operate differently and have different rules for (among other things) how much money you’re allowed to contribute to the account and whether it’s still yours if you leave your job. 

Here’s a brief look at what each account entails.

HSA Basics

As an employee benefit, your workplace might offer a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with an HSA as part of the package. If so, your workplace usually funds the HSA with pre-tax money deducted from your paycheck (with your permission). 

Annual HSA contribution limits for 2025 are $4,300 for a person with individual coverage from an HDHP. The limit is $8,550 for those with family coverage. People 55 and older can make an additional annual “catch-up” contribution of $1,000.

Any unused money in your HSA rolls over year after year and gets added to any new contributions. Your HSA and the funds in it belong to you, even if you leave your employer or stop working altogether.

FSA Basics

Like an HSA, an FSA is an employee benefit, and the account is usually funded with pre-tax contributions deducted from each paycheck. The annual FSA contribution limit for 2025 is $3,300. 

Unlike an HSA, an FSA doesn’t have to be tied to a health insurance plan. Most FSAs don’t roll over—that is, you need to spend the money in the account within the year. Otherwise, the funds “expire.” And if you leave your employer, you can’t take the funds with you.

To find out the exact rules of your HSA or FSA, access your account or contact your employer’s health plan administrator.

Use Your FSA or HSA for Contacts—and More

So what can you pay for with your HSA or FSA? In general, if an item or service is meant to correct your vision or treat a health issue, it’s an “eligible expense.” That means you’re allowed to use your HSA or FSA to pay for it. 

If you have vision insurance, your FSA or HSA can come in handy to pay expenses that your policy doesn’t cover. For example, let’s say your vision insurance gives you a yearly allowance of $100 to use toward contacts but the contacts your eye doctor prescribed cost $200. You could pay that $100 difference with funds from your FSA or HSA. (Now seems like a good time to mention: If you order an annual supply of contact lenses from us, you get a $50 credit to use toward glasses or sunglasses.) 

For more information about vision insurance, read our guide: “Is Vision Insurance Worth It?”

Let’s take a look at what usually qualifies as an eligible expense and what doesn’t.

What’s Probably Covered

Eligible expenses related to vision and eye health usually include:

• Any type of contact lenses prescribed to correct your vision
• Contact lens solution and cases
• Eye exams, including copays
• Eye drops
• Corrective eye surgery like LASIK
• Prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses
• Prescription blue-light or anti-fatigue glasses 
• Other eyewear—like goggles, masks, or safety glasses—fitted with prescription lenses
• Upgrades to prescription lenses, like light-responsive and anti-reflective treatments (All of our eyeglasses come with scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, and hydrophobic lenses included at no extra cost.) 
• Reading glasses (aka “readers”)

What’s Probably Not Covered

If the item or service isn’t medically necessary, chances are it isn’t an eligible expense. Purchases not usually covered include:

• Health or vision insurance premiums you’re claiming as a deduction on your tax return
• Colored contacts (aka “plano” contacts) that don’t correct your vision
• Non-prescription glasses and sunglasses other than readers
• Other non-prescription eyewear like swim goggles, sports masks, and safety glasses
• Cosmetic procedures like eyelid surgery 
• Eyelash extensions

How To Use Your FSA or HSA for Contact Lenses

Many times, an FSA or HSA will provide you with a debit card to make purchases much as you would with a credit card. But instead of being billed for what you buy, then paying later, the money is deducted directly from your account. 

FSA and HSA plans without a debit card often require you to pay medical expenses out of pocket and request reimbursement. In this case, you may need to give your plan provider receipts or another proof of purchase. Contact your provider if you’re not sure about their payment and reimbursement rules.

Keep an Eye on Your FSA or HSA

An FSA or HSA is a valuable benefit, so don’t forget about it! Use your FSA or HSA for contacts, contact solution, and cases—and maybe those glasses you want, too. And to safeguard your eyesight and overall health, book an eye exam while you’re at it.