Are Eye Drops FSA or HSA Eligible?
Eye drops for dry eyes, allergies, redness, and contact lens care are reimbursable from your FSA, HSA or HRA. All types, OTC and prescription, are covered.
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Short answer
Yes, eye drops are reimbursable from your FSA, HSA or HRA. OTC artificial tears, allergy drops and redness-relief drops are covered as over-the-counter medicines. Prescription eye drops are covered as prescribed medicines. Contact lens rewetting drops and solution are covered as contact lens supplies. No letter needed for any of them.
The key rule is simple. If your eye drops treat a medical need (dry eyes, allergies, redness, or contact lens care), they're a qualified medical expense under IRS Publication 502.
All eye drops qualify as a medical expense
Eye drops fall into three categories, and all three are reimbursable. OTC drops like artificial tears and allergy drops are covered as over-the-counter medicines. Prescription eye drops prescribed by your doctor are covered as prescribed medicines.
Contact lens rewetting drops and solutions are covered as contact lens supplies. Per IRS Publication 502, "you can also include the cost of equipment and materials required for using contact lenses, such as saline solution and enzyme cleaner."
Types of eye drops covered
Category | Examples | Eligible? |
|---|---|---|
OTC artificial tears and redness relief | Systane, Blink, Visine, Rohto | Yes, reimbursable outright |
OTC allergy eye drops | Pataday, Zaditor, Alaway | Yes, reimbursable outright |
Prescription eye drops | Restasis, Cequa, Xiidra, Lumigan | Yes, reimbursable outright |
Contact lens rewetting and care drops | Lens Plus rewetting drops, Boston rewetting drops | Yes, reimbursable outright |
Contact lens solution and cleaners | Saline solution, enzymatic cleaner | Yes, reimbursable outright |
How to get reimbursed for eye drops
You can buy eye drops from any pharmacy, drugstore or retailer using any card: credit, debit, HSA card, or even an FSA card if your plan allows it. Since eye drops are reimbursable outright with no letter needed, you can use your FSA or HSA card directly at checkout if your retailer's system recognizes them. If you pay with a different card and want Burst to file the reimbursement, submit your receipt and Burst files the claim with your administrator. Your FSA or HSA administrator pays you directly from your account by deposit or check.
When eye drops are covered, when they're not
The difference between reimbursable and non-reimbursable eye drops comes down to medical necessity. All eye drops with a Drug Facts label addressing a medical condition (dry eyes, redness, allergies) are covered. Prescription eye drops are always covered. The only eye drops that wouldn't be reimbursable are those used purely for cosmetic purposes with no medical basis, such as drops marketed only for brightening or whitening when there's no underlying eye condition.
What you should know
OTC eye drops must have a Drug Facts label to be reimbursable as over-the-counter medicines.
You don't need a letter. Drops with a Drug Facts label are OTC medicines.
Prescription drops are covered as prescribed medicines.
Rewetting drops and lens solutions are covered because they're contact lens supplies, not separately as medicines.
Related eye care items
Several other eye care expenses are also reimbursable. Under IRS Publication 502, you can be reimbursed for prescription glasses, contact lenses, eye exams and vision-correction surgery. For general FSA and HSA rules about medical expenses, see the FSA grace period deadline guide.
Getting eye drops reimbursed with Burst
When the answer is 'with a letter', this is the letter. Request it from Burst in about two minutes, a licensed clinician reviews it, and it's typically in your inbox within 24 hours. $35 once. Burst then files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator, and the administrator pays you out of your account by deposit or check. If no letter is issued you pay nothing, and if the claim is denied you get the $35 back. One timing rule: the letter has to be dated on or before the purchase it covers, so request it first.
Get reimbursed for my eye drops
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a letter for eye drops?
No. Eye drops are reimbursable outright with no letter needed, whether they're OTC or prescription. This is one of the simplest medical expenses to get reimbursed.
Are prescription eye drops covered?
Yes. Any prescription eye drops prescribed by your eye doctor or another licensed clinician are covered as prescribed medicines.
Are artificial tears covered?
Yes. OTC artificial tears and redness-relief drops with a Drug Facts label are covered as over-the-counter medicines under the CARES Act of 2020.
What about allergy eye drops?
Yes. OTC allergy eye drops are covered as over-the-counter medicines. Prescription allergy drops are also fully covered.
Are contact lens solution and rewetting drops covered?
Yes. Rewetting drops, saline solution, enzymatic cleaner and other contact lens supplies are covered as contact lens equipment and materials.
Can I use my HSA card directly to buy eye drops?
Yes. If your eye drops are eligible, you can pay with an HSA card at any pharmacy. Per IRS Publication 969, eye drops are qualified medical expenses for HSA spending. If you use a different card, Burst can file the reimbursement claim with your administrator.
Keep reading: Contact lenses: FSA and HSA eligibility, Glasses: FSA and HSA eligibility, Over-the-counter medicines: FSA and HSA eligible, and all guides on this topic.
Sources
IRS Publication 502 - Medical and Dental Expenses (eye drops (OTC and prescription), contact lens supplies and rewetting solutions, definition of qualified medical expenses)
IRS Publication 969 - Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans (HSA eligibility rules, qualified medical expenses for HSA spending)
FDA - Over-the-Counter Drugs (OTC drug classification, Drug Facts label requirements for over-the-counter medications)
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