Concierge ophthalmology · UK
Laser eye surgery in the UK, every technique honestly compared.
LASIK, SMILE, LASEK, PRK and TransPRK — plus the honest answer when a lens-based option would be safer. Consultant refractive surgeon, RCOphth 2017-standard pre-op work-up, aftercare included.
Why patients choose us
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A consultant refractive surgeon, in theatre
Not an optometrist-led sales room. A named refractive surgeon, a full pre-op work-up, and the technique that actually suits your eyes.
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Every technique on the table
LASIK, LASEK, PRK, SMILE, TransPRK — and the honest answer if a lens-based option (ICL or RLE) would be safer for you.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private laser eye surgery costs in the UK.
All-inclusive ranges across our partner clinics — RCOphth 2017-standard, with aftercare included. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three techniques.
In short
LASIK in our network: £1,995 per eye typical, usable vision the next day.
| Technique | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| LASIK (per eye) | £1,995–£3,000 | 15 min per eye | Vision next day |
| SMILE / ReLEx SMILE Pro (per eye) | £2,500–£3,500 | 15 min per eye | Vision next day |
| LASEK / PRK / TransPRK (per eye) | £2,000–£3,000 | 15 min per eye | 3–7 days blur |
| Presbyopic LASIK / PresbyLASIK (per eye) | £3,500–£4,000 | 15 min per eye | Vision next day |
| Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL, per eye) | £3,500–£4,500 | 20 min per eye | Vision next day |
| Full pre-op refractive assessment | £250–£450 | 60–90 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by surgeon, by platform (VisuMax, Contoura, Wavelight) and by whether the pre-op assessment is bundled. Headline prices without aftercare are exactly what the RCOphth 2017 standards warned against — we quote all-inclusive.
The problem
The right technique, the right surgeon, the right honest answer.
Refractive surgery in the UK is quietly one of the most aggressively marketed procedures — single-technique clinics, unbundled prices, and “not everyone is a candidate” often left unsaid. We fix all three before you commit.
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Not sure it is safe for you?
A Pentacam, epithelial map and Belin-Ambrósio index tell us — the prescription alone does not.
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Worried about the wrong technique?
LASIK, SMILE, LASEK, PRK, TransPRK — or an ICL. We compare, we do not sell one.
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Want it done properly?
A consultant refractive surgeon, a proper laser suite, and aftercare included — per the RCOphth 2017 standards.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review — including the recovery window.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
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Before
You tell us about your eyes
A short, confidential form. Prescription, glasses or contact history, dry-eye symptoms, whether it is for driving, sport or work.
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Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: which technique is likely to suit you, whether a lens-based option should be considered, an indicative price.
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Before
Full pre-op assessment
Pentacam tomography, epithelial mapping, pachymetry, dry-eye assessment and keratoconus screening. Contacts out beforehand — soft two weeks, rigid four.
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On the day
Arrival at the clinic
Consent, final measurements and a chat with the surgeon. Anaesthetic drops only — no needles, no sedation needed.
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On the day
The laser itself
Ten to fifteen minutes per eye in theatre. LASIK and SMILE are usually a single visit; LASEK and PRK feel similar on the day.
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On the day
Home the same afternoon
A short recovery, protective shields, written aftercare, and home within a couple of hours. Bring a driver.
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After
Recovery and review
LASIK and SMILE: vision usable next day. LASEK and PRK: three to seven days of blur while the surface heals. Reviews at day one, week one, month one, month three.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to procedure. Full stabilisation: 3 months.
When it helps
When laser eye surgery is the right step.
The refractive problems we see most, plus the one red flag that means the answer is “not laser”.
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Myopia (short-sightedness)
Distance vision blurred, near vision fine. Treatable up to about −10D with LASIK or SMILE; higher with ICL.
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Hyperopia (long-sightedness)
Near vision strains, distance often reasonable. Treatable up to about +4D with LASIK; higher usually needs RLE.
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Astigmatism
Ghosting, streaks around lights, tired eyes. Treatable up to about 5–6D depending on the technique.
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Presbyopia (reading in your 40s)
Menus and phones held further away. PresbyLASIK, monovision LASIK or RLE — laser alone does not always solve it.
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Contact-lens intolerance
Dry, red, gritty eyes after a few hours in lenses. A common, sensible reason to consider surgery — after a dry-eye work-up.
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Sport, work or lifestyle
Swimmers, cyclists, pilots, surgeons, parents of small children — glasses and lenses get in the way, and it is a valid reason.
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Thin cornea or high prescription
Not a dead end — TransPRK, SMILE or ICL may still be options. The work-up is what tells us, not the prescription alone.
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Red flag: keratoconus risk
A steep, thin or asymmetric cornea (Belin-Ambrósio) rules out LASIK and often SMILE. This is exactly what pre-op tomography is for.
Techniques
LASIK is not the only option.
What each refractive technique on the table actually involves — and which fits which eye.
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LASIK
A femtosecond flap plus excimer reshaping. Fast recovery, vision usually usable next day. The workhorse for −10 to +4D with astigmatism up to 6D. See our dedicated page: /treatments/lasik-eye-surgery
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SMILE / ReLEx SMILE Pro
A small-incision lenticule extraction using the VisuMax femtosecond — no flap, less dry eye, quick recovery. Best for myopia −10 to 0D with astigmatism up to 5D.
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LASEK
Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis — surface ablation preserving the epithelium as a flap. No corneal flap risks; three to seven days of blur while it heals.
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PRK
Photorefractive Keratectomy — the original surface ablation. Still the right answer for thin corneas or higher ectasia risk. Mitomycin C reduces haze.
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TransPRK
Touchless surface ablation — the epithelium is removed by the laser itself. No blade, no alcohol. A gentle option when a flap is not appropriate.
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Presbyopic LASIK / PresbyLASIK
Aspheric or multifocal ablation profiles to reduce reading glasses in your 40s–50s. Monovision LASIK is the simpler cousin.
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Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL)
A lens-based alternative for very high myopia or thin corneas where laser is unsafe. Reversible, no tissue removed. See: /treatments/implantable-collamer-lens
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Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
The natural lens is replaced with a multifocal or EDOF IOL — the honest option for high hyperopia and presbyopia in the over-50s. Not a laser procedure.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of refractive surgeons, we picked them.
Consultant refractive surgeons across London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your eyes.
Selection criteria
How we choose every refractive surgeon in our network.
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Consultant refractive surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register, RCOphth-trained
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Full pre-op work-up: Pentacam, epithelial mapping, pachymetry, dry-eye and keratoconus screening
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Every technique in-house — LASIK, LASEK, PRK, TransPRK, SMILE and ICL — not a single-technique clinic
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All-inclusive pricing with aftercare included, per the RCOphth 2017 refractive standards
Safety and outcomes
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
Well-selected laser eye surgery is safe and satisfying — around 95% of patients hit 20/20 for LASIK at −3D or better, and satisfaction sits above 95% in properly-selected series. The honest bits are dry eye, night vision and the rare-but-real risks.
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Not everyone is a candidate
Stable prescription for two years, age over 21, adequate corneal thickness, no keratoconus signs. The pre-op work-up is what says yes or no — not the prescription alone.
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Dry eye is the commonest side effect
Three to six months of dryness is normal after LASIK; less after SMILE; worst in the first week after PRK. Preservative-free drops are standard aftercare.
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Night vision — halos and glare
Common in the first weeks, usually settle. Modern wavefront-optimised platforms have made this much better than a decade ago.
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Corneal ectasia — rare, screened for
A late weakening of the cornea. The Belin-Ambrósio index and full tomography are exactly why pre-op work-up matters. This is the reason to say no.
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Flap complications (LASIK only)
Buttonhole, incomplete cut, dislocation and epithelial ingrowth — rare with a modern femtosecond laser, but real. SMILE and surface ablation avoid flap risks entirely.
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Under- or over-correction
Around 5–10% of eyes need an enhancement in the first year to fine-tune the result. Usually a straightforward top-up.
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Corneal haze (surface ablation)
PRK and TransPRK can haze in the first months — mitomycin C intra-operatively reduces this significantly.
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Presbyopia is not fixed by laser
Your reading vision in your 40s–50s is a lens problem, not a corneal one. Presbyopic LASIK helps but does not stop the clock.
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Red flags after surgery
Increasing pain, sudden vision loss, discharge or a shifting flap after LASIK all warrant same-day contact with the clinic — not a wait-and-see.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever laser was used, the note the refractive surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Refractive language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Prescription, technique and platform
The prescription treated in each eye, the technique used (LASIK, SMILE, PRK, LASEK, TransPRK), the platform, and the amount of tissue removed.
- 02 Technique
Flap, ablation and any intra-op notes
Flap thickness and hinge (LASIK), lenticule dimensions (SMILE), whether mitomycin C was used (PRK/TransPRK), and any intra-operative comments.
- 03 Findings
Pre-op measurements and residual bed
Pre-op corneal thickness, K-readings, Belin-Ambrósio index, and — critically — the residual stromal bed thickness after ablation.
- 04 Impression
Expected recovery, drops and review dates
Read this first: expected visual recovery, the drop regime, when it is safe to drive, swim or wear eye make-up, and the review schedule.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Refractive laser surgery is almost always self-pay in the UK — it is rarely covered by private medical insurance. We confirm cover, and quote firm all-inclusive prices, before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about laser eye surgery.
Quick answers on technique choice, cost, recovery, and whether laser is even the right answer for you.
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Which laser eye surgery is best — LASIK, SMILE, LASEK or PRK?
There is no single best. LASIK is the workhorse for most myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism with the fastest recovery. SMILE is flap-free and gentler on dry eye, but limited to myopia and astigmatism. LASEK, PRK and TransPRK are the right answer for thin corneas or higher ectasia risk. The pre-op work-up decides — not the marketing.
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Is laser eye surgery painful?
The procedure itself is painless — only anaesthetic drops are used. LASIK and SMILE feel like pressure for a few seconds. LASEK, PRK and TransPRK are painless on the day but the surface heals over three to seven days, and can feel gritty in the first 48 hours.
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How much does laser eye surgery cost privately in the UK?
Roughly £1,995–£3,000 per eye for LASIK, £2,500–£3,500 for SMILE, £2,000–£3,000 for LASEK, PRK or TransPRK, and £3,500–£4,000 per eye for presbyopic LASIK. All-inclusive pricing with aftercare included is the RCOphth 2017 standard — beware headline prices that unbundle the follow-up.
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Am I too short-sighted for laser eye surgery?
LASIK and SMILE typically go to about −10D. Above that, or with thin corneas, an implantable collamer lens (ICL) is usually the safer option. We look at your prescription and your Pentacam together — not one in isolation.
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Will laser eye surgery fix my reading glasses?
Not straightforwardly. Presbyopia — the reading-glasses problem of your 40s and 50s — is a lens problem, not a corneal one. Presbyopic LASIK, monovision LASIK or refractive lens exchange (RLE) all help, each with trade-offs. Standard LASIK for distance will still leave you reaching for readers.
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How long is the recovery from laser eye surgery?
LASIK and SMILE: usable vision the next day, close-to-final vision within a week. LASEK, PRK and TransPRK: three to seven days of blur while the surface heals, sharpening over four to six weeks. Full stabilisation for any technique takes about three months.
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When can I drive, exercise or wear make-up again?
Driving usually 24–48 hours after LASIK/SMILE, five to seven days after surface ablation — always once your surgeon and the DVLA standard are met. No swimming or eye make-up for two weeks. Contact sport with eye protection for a month.
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What are the real risks of laser eye surgery?
Dry eye (usually months, not years), night-vision halos (usually weeks), under- or over-correction needing an enhancement (5–10%), and — rarely — corneal ectasia, flap complications with LASIK, infection, or persistent haze after surface ablation. Rigorous pre-op screening is what keeps ectasia rare.
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Can everyone have laser eye surgery?
No — and an honest clinic will tell you so. Age over 21, a stable prescription for two years, adequate corneal thickness, no keratoconus signs and controlled dry eye are the usual requirements. Pregnancy, active autoimmune disease or an unstable prescription mean waiting.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
Nearby in the library