Laser Eye Surgery Cost

The average cost of laser eye surgery in the UK is between £1,000 and £3,000 per eye. Of course, this price will depend on your prescription, as well as the treatment and clinic you choose, but most people can expect to pay around this figure.

Does that surprise you? You may find jaw-droppingly cheap laser eye surgery pricing online (from £595 per eye), and these rates do exist, but just know that they often only apply to a select number of people with very minor visual impairment.

Luckily, pay monthly options are available for the rest of us, and this article will help you understand the full cost of laser eye surgery, decide when and when not to seek cheaper laser eye treatment.

Plus, this is the only page out there to quote what real people paid (based on our 8,900 independent reviews), and we break down the prices at different clinics for you to compare.

For a more accurate estimate for you personally, the only way is to get tested by an ophthalmic consultant or surgeon at an initial consultation, which you can do for free at many of the UK’s best laser eye surgery clinics.

Or, if you would like to skip straight to booking a free consultation to talk through your options with a qualified consultant at a top-rated laser eye surgery clinic near you.

☛ Find your clinic match: Use our tool to receive a tailored quote at an eye clinic you can trust.

Our no-nonsense guide to eye surgery pricing in the UK covers:

1. Laser Eye Surgery Costs
2. LASIK Eye Surgery Costs
3. Compare Laser Eye Surgery Prices
4. What Affects the Cost?
5. What Extra Costs Should I Look Out For?
6. Should I Go For the Cheapest?
7. Can I Get It On Finance?
8. Can I Get Laser Eye Surgery On the NHS
9. Is Laser Eye Surgery Covered By Insurance?
10. It Is Worth Getting It Abroad?
11. Can Vision Correction Surgery Save Me Money?

1. How Much Does Laser Eye Surgery Cost in the UK?

Most laser eye clinics will quote you somewhere between £595 and £2,495 per eye for standard LASIK or LASEK treatment. As you would expect, the higher your prescription, the more eye surgery is likely to cost you. That’s because more complex procedures require surgeons with greater expertise, and you may decide to pay extra for more advanced technology, such as Wavefront diagnostics or a femtosecond laser.

But how much does it really cost? In reality, laser eye surgery costs between £1,195 and £2,875 per eye, on average, depending on the surgeon expertise, clinic reputation, chosen treatment, and eye prescription. The cheaper starting prices you sometimes see only cover the select few people with very low eye prescriptions, and are not representative of eye surgery costs in the UK as a whole.

The table below shows what most of us can expect to pay for the most common types of laser eye surgery, and come from average costs for the leading clinics in the UK.

It is always worth shopping around and comparing the prices from different surgeries to find the one that best suits your budget, and these price guidelines should help guide you.

2. LASIK Eye Surgery Costs

LASIK eye surgery costs between £1,195 and £2,235 per eye, based on the fifty most popular eye clinics in the UK. The final price you pay will depend on the experience of the surgeon and reputation of the clinic you choose, as well as the type of LASIK surgery that suits you.

So what does that look like for real people? The average cost of LASIK eye surgery in the UK is £3,695 for both eyes, according to what 8,973 patients disclosed in their independent reviews on Lasik Eyes. For a more accurate quote, you’ll need to have up-to-date eye tests done at a specialist clinic.

But of course, you want answers now. Well, since LASIK is the most common treatment for patients in the UK, the LASIK prices are the most reflective of what you can expect to pay. Eye clinics at the upper end of the price chart – such as the London Vision Clinic and Focus – generally offer the most advanced types of treatment by default, such as Wavefront diagnostics.

Just remember, though, that even cheaper clinics may offer this same level of advanced treatment, but under a different name. For example, at Optical Express, the ultra-accurate laser technology is called iDesign. And Clairvu is Optegra’s name for the tailored treatment plan for lens replacement surgery. Always discuss the terms with the eye doctor you meet at your consultation to give you.

Here are the full costs of laser eye surgery for different types of LASIK and LASEK surgery for you to compare:

To help you understand this table, the “from” prices are the cheapest quotes we found for this treatment (generally from Optical Express), and the “to” prices are the upper limits (mostly at the world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital).

☝ Track down a tailored quote from an eye expert and talk through your options, using our simple quote tool here.

Laser Eye Surgery Costs Explained

• LASIK – The most popular laser eye surgery: a microscopic blade creates a flap in the eye surface (cornea), the other reshapes the cornea, and the flap smoothes over naturally.
• LASEK / PRK – The surgeon moves away the skin over the cornea (using an alcohol solution), uses a laser to reshape it, and replaces the skin for it to heal back, usually within a few days.
• IntraLASIK – This is the same as LASIK, but a laser creates the flap, rather than a blade.
• EpiLASIK – In this version of LASIK surgery, a small instrument called an epi-keratome (rather than a tiny blade) removes the corneal tissue.
• Wavefront LASIK / LASEK – This advanced technology maps precise measurements from your eye onto a 3D computer image, which guides the laser for the most accurate results.
• ReLEx SMILE – In this bladeless procedure, the surgeon reshapes your cornea with a small hole that self-heals.

To start your journey on finding a quote at a well-reviewed laser eye surgery clinic near you, you can use our free tool:

3. Compare Laser Eye Surgery Prices

It is a lot of work trying to track down the costs of specific eye laser surgery treatments in the UK: trust us, we have done the legwork for you.

To give you a reliable idea of the real prices people really do pay for laser eye surgery or lens surgery, here is a table showing the costs from the UK’s most popular clinics: Optical Express, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Optegra, Optimax and Ultralase:

To help you digest these numbers, there are a few factors to bear in mind:

• Some of these prices vary even within the same clinic, depending on the specific type of treatment you choose and your prescription. LASIK surgery with Wavefront technology or laser-assisted lens replacement technology, for example, will cost more, and are optional.
• The surgeons at Moorfields Private set their own prices, so these will vary, but we have provided a range for the most and least experienced consultants there.
• The cost of your lens exchange surgery will depend on whether you need a monofocal lens (suitable for patients with astigmatism) or multifocal lens (for long and short vision correction), which costs a bit more.
• Credit is often available to let you spread the cost of these payments. Depending on the treatment you opt for and how long you would like to pay it off, you can pay between £25 and £300 per month on average over a period of one to a few years.

☛ Read more: How much does lens replacement surgery cost?

4. What Affects The Cost Of Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser eye surgery prices vary considerably, so it is always worth getting a tailored quote at a surgeon-led consultation. Several factors will impact the cost of your treatment, and you should consider these when comparing quotes:

• The type of treatment: the procedure you need will affect the total cost of your vision correction surgery. In general, more sophisticated procedures such as PRK and wavefront technology will drive up the price.
• Your prescription: the higher your prescription, the more expensive your surgery will be. This is because higher prescriptions require a bigger change to the shape of the cornea to correct your vision, and different types of laser eye surgeries treat different prescription ranges.
• The surgeon: every laser eye surgeon in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). But many of the more reputable surgeons will also be certified by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, meaning that they will be able to charge a higher fee. Although these additional qualifications will cost more, many people find it worthwhile going for a more experienced practitioner.
• The technology: the newer the laser technology, the higher the cost of surgery. Whilst the most up-to-date technology doesn’t come as cheap as older equipment, it also means your treatment is likely to be quicker, less uncomfortable and more accurate.
• The competition: in urban areas with several clinics, more competition should lead to more competitive pricing. In more rural areas, local clinics may be in a position to charge more, so check if commuting for treatment would be cheaper.
• The size of the clinic: larger clinics like Optical Express and Ultralase are often able to see a higher number of patients, which allows them squeeze profit margins and offer lower prices than a smaller clinic.
• Patient care: with larger, busier clinics you may not see your surgeon face-to-face before treatment. Initial assessments for laser eye surgery will often be made by an optician or optometrist, and whilst this can lower costs, it may mean that you don’t get to build a relationship with your surgeon prior to the surgery.
• Special offers: laser eye surgery deals and discounts can be hard to come by, but they do exist and will reduce the cost.

Watch Alexander Ionides, consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, discusss why the cost of laser eye surgery varies so much.

5. What Additional Costs Should I Look Out For?

Always check what the laser eye surgery quote covers before going ahead. Choosing a clinic that promises ultra-low cost surgery may prove costlier than you think, as the advertised price often doesn’t include a number of additional, hidden costs.

Here are the main extra costs to watch out for when pricing up your laser eye treatment:

• Eye Test: the clinic will need to check your prescription as this may affect the type of surgery you need. If this is not included in your initial consultation fee, prices will range between £20 and £40.
• Consultation: whilst initial consultations are often free, they can cost up to £170.
• Medication: the price of your surgery often covers any medication needed, but it is important to check, as you may need to buy your own eye drops.
• Aftercare: aftercare is at the heart of any laser eye procedure to check it was successful and address any potential complications. Follow-up appointments can range in price from £50 with an optician to around £150 with an ophthalmologist or ophthalmic surgeon.

Another bottle of eye drops may not break the bank, but forking out for weekly check-ups with your surgeon could tip the cost of your eye surgery into a range you are less comfortable paying. Additional costs can quickly add up, so always consult with your laser eye surgeon what is included in the advertised price, and what isn’t.

6. Should I Go For The Cheapest Laser Eye Surgery?

With so many laser eye surgery clinics in the UK and reassuring success rates, it can be tempting to choose the cheapest laser eye surgery you can find. Whilst there are plenty of times in life when choosing the cheapest option will be fine, cutting corners when it comes to you sight is not one of these instances.

Is it worth it? Using an experienced surgeon and the latest technology from a well-known clinic is the best way to ensure that the surgery you have is of a high quality, effective and of course safe.

So, how can I save? You do not need to pay any more than you are comfortable with. If you are looking for cheap laser eye surgery, then you will be better off with a reputable high street clinic such as Optical Express or Optegra, rather than a premium eye hospital such as Moorfields Private.

You can also find cheaper treatment at clinics within more competitive postcodes, or ones where the technology is reliable, but not quite cutting-edge. Just remember that for some people with very high prescriptions and or complex eye conditions, the cheapest laser eye surgery will sadly not be an option.

7. Can I Get Laser Eye Surgery On Finance?

Laser eye surgery pay monthly options are often available for the number of people who are not able to cover the full cost of treatment upfront. By paying an initial deposit followed by small monthly payments over a pre-agreed time period, these payment plans help you spread the cost of your laser eye surgery.

The table below compares the financing options for the different types of corrective eye surgeries, from leading laser eye clinics in the UK. The information shows you the size of the deposit you should expect to pay, as well as the typical financial installments per month over 10 and 24 months.

But don’t rush into any laser eye surgery payment plans, even if you can afford it. Here are the key factors to consider when using finance to purchase your eye surgery treatment:

• You must be at least 18 years of age and have a bank account from which you can set up monthly direct debits.
• You will need to have been in full time employment for at least 12 months, and to have been a UK resident at a registered address for at least 3 years.
• Initial deposits are usually around 10% of the overall cost of your surgery, so you should make sure you can cover this amount before entering into a finance agreement.
• Monthly payments come with a fixed interest rate. For shorter payback periods, this is typically 0% meaning you only pay back the price of the laser eye surgery. For longer payback periods, the interest rate is often larger meaning you end up paying back more than the cost of the procedure.
• Using a finance option may have an impact on your credit score.
• If you have had any defaults on previous payments, county court judgements, bankruptcy notices or an IVA in your credit history, you may find it difficult to enter into financial deals.
• Make sure that you read and understand the terms and conditions of any finance agreement before you commit to it.

Read more: Laser eye surgery on finance

8. Can I Get Free Laser Eye Surgery On the NHS?

These days, it’s rare. You are only eligible for free laser eye surgery on the NHS if you suffer from a medical condition that affects your vision, and could lead to partial – or even full – loss of eyesight if left untreated. Qualifying conditions include diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and certain corneal deficits.

In other words, if you can treat your vision difficulties with cheaper, non-surgical treatments such as glasses and contact lenses, you will not qualify. To check for yourself, take a look at the full criteria and find out more about on our guide.

Read more: Can I get laser eye surgery on the NHS?

9. Is Laser Eye Surgery Covered by Insurance?

Finally, some good news: depending on your private health insurance provider, you may be in luck. Generally your private health insurance will not cover refractive or laser eye surgery as a cosmetic procedure, but some companies will help you foot the bill.

Private health insurer BUPA, for example, accepts claims for corrective eye surgery to treat myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. You may also get help if you are with AXA, Simply Health or Vitality health insurance providers.

Even if you are covered, though, you may have excesses to pay, so just make sure you check your insurance cover before committing to the laser eye surgery costs.

Read more: Does insurance cover laser eye surgery?

10. Is It Worth Getting Laser Eye Surgery Abroad?

Many people consider having laser eye surgery abroad, but it’s worth thinking twice about this option if you are trying to cut costs and get what you think you’re paying for.

It may not be cheaper. The surgery itself may be cheaper, but you need to factor in the cost of travel, expenses and accommodation to the total price. Since the Royal College of Ophthalmologists does not recommend flying for at least a week after most eye surgeries, you could find tapping a week’s holiday onto the procedure even more expensive than seeking treatment in the UK where you are close to home.

It’s harder to know what you’re getting. Less stringent competence checks and language barriers can also make it difficult to find out exactly what qualifications your surgeon has.

After that, you’re on your own. Once you return to the UK, accessing aftercare can be more problematic, and in the rare case of complications, it will be difficult (and expensive) to correct.

11. Can Laser Eye Surgery Save Me Money?

Laser eye surgery may not be cheap, but it can be cost-effective. This is because the costs of all those eye tests, glasses and contact lenses will add up over your lifetime. So, if you spend around £200 on glasses every three years, £150 on contact lenses (including the cleaning solution) each year, and £20 for your annual eye check up, that makes £175 a year.

Laser eye surgery costs £4,000 on average all-in, so after 16 years or so, it can start paying for itself – and the younger you start, the more you can save. That said, deciding on ophthalmic surgery is a personal choice, and the prices (and savings) will vary from person to person. To see if it makes sense for you, find a tailored quote from a top-rated clinic near you, and explore all your options.

How much will laser eye surgery cost me personally?

Compare clinics: See if there are any other top-rated clinics near you, and find out the right treatment for you.

Want a tailored quote? The cost of your laser eye or lens replacement surgery will depend on the clinic you choose, the experience of the surgeon and the treatment you go for. That means the only way to get an accurate quote is to go to a free consultation, have free eye tests (worth £800) and talk through your options with an eye expert.

Our simple tool helps our readers every day get there:

1. Find the top clinic in seconds: Answer three questions to get matches to the leading eye clinic in your area
2. Check you’re eligible in minutes: Receive a quick call to check you can get surgery
3. Book a free consultation: Talk to an expert at a clinic you can trust, and get a personalised quote

☝ Find the best-rated clinic near you, and get a tailored quote from an eye expert using our simple quote tool here.