LASIK Alternatives: Compare Surgical and Nonsurgical Options
LASIK alternatives include glasses, daytime contact lenses, Ortho-K, PRK, SMILE, implantable lenses and refractive lens exchange. Some avoid surgery; others use a different procedure to reduce your need for glasses. The right choice depends on your prescription, eye health, daily routine and, if LASIK was ruled out, the reason why.
You may want another surgical option. Or you may want clearer vision without surgery at all. Both are reasonable places to start.
sleepSEE offers doctor-directed Ortho-K. This guide also explains options outside our program, so you can have a more useful talk with your eye doctor.
Compare your options
Start with two questions: Do you want to avoid surgery? And what do you want to change about your current vision care?
The table below compares the main choices. It cannot tell you which ones are safe for your eyes. The cornea is the clear front surface of your eye; several of these options change how it focuses light.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare all columns.
| Option | Surgery and treatment effect | Adjustment or recovery | Main limits and risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glasses | No surgery; correct vision while worn | Adjust to a new prescription or lens design | Frames may interfere with some activities; you still need to wear them |
| Daytime contacts | No surgery; correct vision while worn | Learn lens handling and follow the wear and replacement schedule | Dryness, irritation and infection; daily care or fresh single-use lenses |
| Overnight Ortho-K | No surgery; temporarily changes corneal shape. May reduce end-of-day dryness vs. daytime soft contacts; see the study below | Custom fitting, follow-up visits and continued prescribed wear | Lens care and infection risk remain |
| PRK | Laser surgery; permanently removes corneal tissue without a LASIK flap | Surface healing takes time; early discomfort and blurred vision | Dryness, corneal haze and infection are possible; glasses may still be needed |
| SMILE | Laser surgery; removes a small piece of corneal tissue through an opening | Healing, eye drops and follow-up checks | Dry eye, glare, halos and other surgical risks; not suitable for every prescription |
| EVO ICL / phakic lens | Surgery; adds a lens inside the eye while keeping the natural lens | Recovery and ongoing checks of the eye and implant | Pressure changes, cataract, infection and other risks; removal needs more surgery |
| Refractive lens exchange (RLE) | Surgery; replaces the natural lens with an artificial lens | Healing and adjustment to the lens selected | Natural lens removal is permanent; infection, retinal detachment and vision problems are possible |
Dry eye is the most common side effect of LASIK. It is an important part of comparing your choices. AAO EyeWiki: dry eye after LASIK See how dry eyes affect your options.
These are selected tradeoffs, not complete consent information or a ranking of safety. Read the sections below for sources and the cost comparison for price units and ongoing expenses.
Prefer no surgery?
- Glasses
- Daytime contacts
- Ortho-K
Open to another procedure?
- PRK
- SMILE
- Phakic lens
- RLE
An eye exam determines which options fit.
What are the options without surgery?
Glasses
Glasses remain a useful first choice if you want to avoid surgery and contact-lens care. You can update the prescription as your needs change. Different lenses can help with distance, reading or both.
Think about what bothers you now. A poor frame fit or an outdated prescription may call for new glasses rather than a procedure. Glasses can also serve as backup if you choose contact lenses. National Eye Institute: refractive errors
Daytime contact lenses
Daytime contacts offer vision correction without frames. Daily disposable lenses are used once; reusable lenses need cleaning and disinfection. Both need a prescription and a proper fit.
This option may fit if you want flexibility and are comfortable handling lenses. It still involves regular costs and care. Don't sleep in lenses prescribed for daytime wear. Keep contacts away from water, including while showering or swimming. National Eye Institute: contact lenses
Ortho-K: overnight lenses for daytime vision
Orthokeratology, usually called Ortho-K, uses specially fitted lenses to change the cornea's shape. The goal is clear vision throughout the day—your waking hours—without daytime glasses or contacts, mainly for nearsightedness. Overnight lenses are removed after sleep.
To maintain the correction, keep wearing the lenses on the schedule your doctor prescribes. The effect is temporary and reversible when lens wear stops. Your doctor checks your vision and lens fit to help you reach your daytime vision goal. FDA: types of contact lenses
Ortho-K also means lens cleaning, fitting visits and ongoing checks. Contact-lens infections can threaten sight. A reversible treatment effect does not mean every possible complication is reversible. If you have eye pain, unusual redness, light sensitivity or blurred vision, remove the lenses and contact your eye doctor right away. FDA: contact lens risks
See how night contacts work or read our focused Ortho-K vs. LASIK comparison.
What surgeries are alternatives to LASIK?
Each procedure needs its own exam. A surgeon may rule out several options for the same reason. Ask what makes a procedure suitable for your eyes, including the device and treatment plan being proposed.
PRK
PRK stands for photorefractive keratectomy. The surgeon removes surface cells, then uses a laser to reshape the cornea. Those surface cells grow back. There is no LASIK flap.
A surgeon may consider PRK when flap concerns or certain corneal measurements make LASIK less suitable. That does not mean every thin or irregular cornea can have PRK. It still removes tissue.
Plan for discomfort and blurred vision during early healing. Duke Health notes that full visual improvement may take a month or longer. Duke Health: PRK Other risks include corneal haze and infection. American Academy of Ophthalmology EyeWiki: refractive surgery
SMILE
SMILE stands for small incision lenticule extraction. A laser forms a small piece of tissue inside the cornea. The surgeon removes it through a small opening to change the cornea's shape.
It avoids a LASIK flap, but it is still surgery and the tissue removal is permanent. U.S. treatment options include correction of nearsightedness with or without astigmatism, within the device's limits. Dry eye, glare, halos and infection are among the possible risks. FDA-hosted VisuMax SMILE patient booklet
EVO ICL and other phakic lenses
A phakic lens is an implant placed inside an eye that still has its natural lens. EVO ICL sits behind the iris, the colored part of the eye, and in front of the natural lens. It corrects nearsightedness; a toric version also treats astigmatism.
The surgeon checks the space inside your eye and the health of the cells lining the cornea, among other factors. A high prescription alone does not establish that you qualify. FDA: EVO ICL overview
An implant can be removed if needed, but that takes another operation. It does not make the treatment risk-free or promise a return to your starting vision. Risks include increased eye pressure, cataract, infection and vision loss. FDA: phakic lens risks
Refractive lens exchange
RLE, also called clear lens extraction, replaces your natural lens with an artificial one. It may be discussed when age, prescription and lens changes make a lens-based approach worth considering. Lens choice affects which distances you can see clearly and whether you still need glasses. Duke Health: clear lens extraction
RLE uses the same basic operation as cataract surgery, but its purpose is to reduce dependence on glasses before a cataract needs removal. Moorfields: refractive lens exchange Risks of lens surgery include infection, pressure changes, retinal detachment and vision loss. Your surgeon should explain your individual risks; removing the natural lens cannot be undone. National Eye Institute: cataract surgery
What if you're not a candidate for LASIK?
Ask for the exact reason before choosing an alternative. Being turned down for LASIK does not automatically mean another option listed above is right for you.
Use that reason to guide your next questions:
- Thin or irregular cornea: Ask whether the concern is thickness, shape or a corneal disease. Those are different findings. PRK still removes tissue; an irregular cornea needs careful assessment.
- Dry eyes: Ask whether the eye surface needs treatment before you compare vision-correction options.
- Changing prescription: Ask whether waiting and checking it again would give a clearer picture.
- Prescription outside the treatment range: Ask which options can address it and what eye measurements each requires.
- Previous eye surgery or another eye condition: Bring your records. Ask whether the condition changes the risks of further treatment.
The FDA identifies corneal thickness, dry eye, unstable prescriptions and prior surgery as factors that can affect LASIK suitability. These are reasons for an individual assessment, not a chart that automatically sends you to a different treatment. FDA: when LASIK may not be suitable
What if you have dry eyes?
LASIK can cause new dry eye or worsen symptoms you already have. Symptoms often improve as your eyes heal, but they can persist. The FDA warns that dry eye after LASIK can be severe and affect vision. AAO EyeWiki: dry eye after LASIK, FDA: LASIK risks
Start with the dryness itself. Burning, a gritty feeling or vision that comes and goes may need a separate evaluation. Your doctor can check tear quality, tear production and your eyelids. National Eye Institute: dry eye
For people bothered by daytime soft contacts, Ortho-K may offer more comfortable days without lenses on the eyes. In a small, three-month study of adults, the Ortho-K group reported less end-of-day dryness and discomfort than the group wearing silicone-hydrogel soft contacts during the day. Your doctor can help you decide whether that approach fits the cause of your symptoms. Study comparing Ortho-K and daytime soft contact lenses
SMILE is not a dry-eye treatment, and its patient labeling lists severe dry eye as a reason not to proceed. Contact lenses can also be a problem for dry eyes. Taking Ortho-K lenses out during the day does not prove they are suitable for your eye surface. Discuss glasses and treatment for the dryness while your doctor assesses the other options. FDA: LASIK suitability, SMILE patient booklet, NEI: dry eye
How much do LASIK alternatives cost?
Compare written quotes on the same basis: one eye or both eyes, initial treatment and later care. A surgery fee and a year of contact lenses cover different things.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare all columns.
| Option | Initial cost to request | Later costs to ask about |
|---|---|---|
| Glasses | Complete pair or prescription lenses only | Exams, repairs and future prescription changes |
| Daytime contacts | Fitting and a stated supply for both eyes | Replacement lenses, exams, care supplies and backup glasses |
| Ortho-K | Evaluation, fitting, lenses and included visits | Follow-up exams, care supplies, replacements and any extra visits |
| PRK | Procedure quote for each eye and both eyes | Drops, follow-ups, possible further treatment and eyewear |
| SMILE | Procedure quote for each eye and both eyes | Drops, follow-ups, possible further treatment and eyewear |
| EVO ICL / phakic lens | Implant, surgeon and facility fees for each eye | Monitoring, medicines, possible further surgery and eyewear |
| RLE | Lens choice, surgeon and facility fees for each eye | Follow-ups, medicines, possible further treatment and eyewear |
sleepSEE's adult Ortho-K fees
At our founding Fayetteville, North Carolina, location, the adult daytime vision-correction program starts at $2,400 for the first year, for both eyes. The $93 evaluation is credited toward enrollment, so it is not added twice.
After year one, the annual sleepSEE exam is $149. A full replacement set of lenses costs $490 ($245 per lens) and is purchased every two years. Care supplies and any services outside the program are additional. Ask for a written list of what your fee includes. These are founding-location fees, not prices for every provider. See sleepSEE costs and payment details.
Examples of published surgery fees
For context, UCLA Health's posted faculty fees list PRK and SMILE at $3,500 per eye. That is $7,000 if both eyes have the same procedure. Its ICL fees are $6,663 per eye for a standard lens and $7,013 for a toric lens. UCLA Health: cost of services
These U.S. dollar examples were checked September 25, 2026. They are UCLA's posted fees, not national averages, local quotes or endorsements. Packages differ. Confirm the full charge, included care and any financing costs before comparing them with your own quote.
What should you ask at an eye exam?
Bring your current prescription, older prescriptions if available, and records of any eye surgery. Tell the doctor about medicines, dry-eye symptoms, night driving and the work or hobbies that matter to you.
Ask:
- Which choices fit my eyes, and which do you advise against?
- What would this option change about my daytime vision and reading vision?
- What risks matter most for my eyes?
- How long should I plan for adjustment, time off work and limits on driving?
- What happens if the result falls short or my vision changes later?
- Who handles urgent problems and ongoing checks?
- What is included in the quote, and what might I pay later?
Tell the practice if you wear contacts, including Ortho-K. Ask whether and how long to stop wearing them before measurements; follow the examining doctor's instructions. FDA: preparing for refractive surgery
Common questions about LASIK alternatives
Already had LASIK? Read Can You Get LASIK Twice? for repeat-surgery assessment and other options.
Which LASIK alternative is safest?
There is no single best risk-benefit choice for every person. Glasses avoid the risks of contact-lens wear and surgery. Other options may offer benefits you value, but each needs a discussion of its risks and your eye health. An ad or a comparison table cannot make that decision for you.
Can I have clearer daytime vision without surgery?
Glasses and daytime contacts correct vision while you wear them. Ortho-K aims to provide clear vision throughout waking hours without daytime glasses or contacts. It works by temporarily changing corneal shape and requires continued prescribed wear. Your eye doctor can assess whether it fits your eyes and vision goals. FDA: contact lens types
What if I've already had LASIK?
Have the cause of the vision change checked first. Prior LASIK alone does not establish that more surgery or Ortho-K is suitable. Bring your surgical records and ask what options fit your current corneal health and prescription. FDA: prior surgery considerations
Can any option guarantee I'll never need glasses again?
No. Most people need some form of vision correction at some point in life. No surgical or nonsurgical option guarantees unchanged vision or freedom from further correction for life. Your eyes and vision needs change as you age. FDA: LASIK expectations and risks, National Eye Institute: presbyopia
What about “LASIK without lasers” in the news?
Headlines about reshaping the eye with electricity refer to early research: the ACS's August 2025 report described tests on rabbit eyes outside the body. That report does not establish a treatment for use in people; this guide focuses on established care options. American Chemical Society: early corneal-reshaping research
Could Ortho-K fit your life?
If you want to explore an option without surgery, a sleepSEE provider can evaluate whether Ortho-K fits your eyes and daily routine. The visit is a chance to discuss likely benefits, lens care, limits and costs.
Find a sleepSEE provider for an adult Ortho-K evaluation
Still comparing? Read about Ortho-K for adults before you arrange a visit. If you want to compare surgical choices, arrange a consultation with a refractive surgeon.
Is Ortho-K Right for Me?
Considering Ortho-K as an alternative to surgery? Get the free adult guide.
- What the Ortho-K evaluation checks
- Work, reading, night driving, travel, and shift-work planning
- Non-surgical and post-surgical pricing, a five-year example, and a cost worksheet
- A first-month timeline, lens care, and six questions for the doctor
Is Ortho-K Right for Me?
8-page PDF · Fill in or print