Contact Lenses: FSA and HSA Eligibility
Contact lenses are a qualified medical expense. Get reimbursed for lenses, solution, and care products from your FSA, HSA or HRA without a letter.
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Short answer
Contact lenses are a qualified medical expense under IRS Publication 502 and can be reimbursed outright from your FSA, HSA or HRA, with no letter required. As long as they correct your vision, your prescription contact lenses are fully eligible.
The same goes for contact lens solution, enzyme cleaner, rewetting drops, and other materials and supplies you need to properly use and maintain them. Your administrator pays the reimbursement straight to you from your account by direct deposit or check.
Contact Lenses Are Reimbursable Outright
Contact lenses are a qualified medical expense. The IRS specifically states that "you can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for contact lenses needed for medical reasons." No diagnosis letter is required for this claim. You can be reimbursed directly for the full cost of your contact lenses when you submit a claim to your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator.
What's Covered: Lenses, Solution, and Care Products
Contact lens supplies count as eligible expenses too. The IRS allows reimbursement for "the cost of equipment and materials required for using contact lenses", which includes saline solution, enzyme cleaners, and rewetting drops. Any supply you need to care for your contact lenses is eligible.
This means you can get reimbursed for:
Contact lenses (daily, weekly, or monthly wear)
Saline solution and rewetting drops
Enzyme cleaners and protein removers
Storage cases and lens care solutions
Prescription vs. Non-Prescription Contact Lenses
The key word in the IRS rule is "needed for medical reasons." Prescription contact lenses that correct your vision (for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia) are always reimbursable outright from your FSA, HSA or HRA. Non-prescription colored or decorative contact lenses that don't correct vision are not reimbursable, because they serve no medical purpose and don't correct a vision defect.
How to Get Your Reimbursement
Contact lens purchases are straightforward. You can buy them from any retailer (optical stores, online vendors, pharmacies, or your eye doctor) using any card you have. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator on your behalf, using your receipt or invoice showing the purchase date and amount paid.
Unlike some medical expenses, contact lenses don't need a letter of medical necessity, because the IRS explicitly lists them as a covered expense in Publication 502. Your receipt is all Burst needs to file a successful claim. Your administrator reviews it against the IRS Publication 502 rules and pays you the reimbursement out of your account by direct deposit or check. Keep your purchase receipts for at least three years in case your administrator asks for documentation later.
Related Vision Expenses
Contact lenses are one of many eligible medical expenses you can file claims for. Explore the vision, dental and hearing hub to see what other vision, dental and hearing-related items qualify for reimbursement from your FSA, HSA or HRA.
Getting contact lenses reimbursed with Burst
Here's the practical route. Request a letter of medical necessity from Burst ($35 once, about two minutes). A licensed clinician reviews it and it's typically in your inbox within 24 hours. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator, who pays you out of your account by deposit or check. If there's no letter there's no charge, and a denied claim means your money back. The letter has to be dated on or before the purchase it covers, so do this step first.
Get reimbursed for my contact lenses
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a letter of medical necessity for contact lenses?
No. Contact lenses are explicitly covered by the IRS as a medical expense. You need only a receipt showing the purchase to file your reimbursement claim.
Are colored contact lenses reimbursable?
Only if they correct your vision. Prescription colored contacts are reimbursable. Decorative or costume contacts with no prescription are not.
What about contact lens solution?
Yes. The IRS allows reimbursement for saline solution, enzyme cleaners, and other materials required to use your contacts.
Does this work with every FSA, HSA and HRA?
Contact lenses are a federal medical expense under IRS Publication 502. Your administrator processes reimbursement claims under that same rule, regardless of which plan you're in.
Can I use my FSA debit card at the optical store?
It depends on your FSA's setup. Some FSA debit cards are pre-approved for optical retailers, and some require a receipt and manual claim submission. Check with your administrator.
What if my administrator denies my contact lens claim?
Contact lens reimbursements are rarely denied, because the IRS rule is clear. If your administrator pushes back, Burst handles the appeal and works the paperwork to get it resolved.
Keep reading: Is Shampoo FSA or HSA Eligible, Are Vitamins and Supplements FSA-Eligible, and all guides on this topic.
Sources
IRS Publication 502 - Medical and Dental Expenses (contact lenses, contact lens solution and care materials, medical purpose requirement)
IRS Publication 969 - Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans (HSA eligibility, HSA contribution limits, HSA rules and overview)
Healthcare.gov Glossary (FSA and HRA definitions, general account overview)
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