Does FSA cover glasses and contacts?
Prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, and lens supplies are qualified FSA expenses — non-prescription sunglasses and off-the-shelf reading glasses generally are not.
What flips the answer
- Covered when
The glasses or contacts are prescription and correct a diagnosed vision need.
- Not covered when
The eyewear is non-prescription — off-the-shelf reading glasses or fashion sunglasses.
IRS Publication 502 lists eyeglasses and contact lenses needed for a medical reason — meaning a vision prescription — as qualified medical expenses, along with related supplies like contact lens cleaning solution and lens cases.
Prescription sunglasses qualify the same way as regular prescription glasses. Non-prescription sunglasses and non-prescription "cheater" reading glasses bought at a drugstore generally don't, since there's no documented vision correction need behind them.
Vision exams themselves are also qualified expenses, so both the exam that produces the prescription and the corrective lenses that follow it are covered.
That's the general answer. Yours is written in your actual policy.
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