Private LASIK eye surgery, by a consultant refractive surgeon.
Femtosecond flap, wavefront-guided excimer ablation, and the aftercare included - from £1,995 per eye. If LASIK is not the right fit for your cornea, we say so and put SMILE, PRK or an implantable collamer lens on the table instead.
Indicative pricing
What private LASIK costs in the UK.
In short
£1,995–£2,500 per eye, back at work in 24–48 hours.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| LASIK - single-vision (per eye) | £1,995–£2,500 | 15–20 min bilateral | Same day |
| LASIK - wavefront / topography-guided (per eye) | £2,500–£3,500 | 15–20 min bilateral | Same day |
| Presbyopic (blended-vision) LASIK (per eye) | £3,500–£4,500 | 15–20 min bilateral | Same day |
| Full pre-op refractive workup | £250–£450 | 90 min | Same visit |
| Enhancement (top-up within 12 months) | Often included | 10 min | Same visit |
| Consultation only | £200–£400 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by the surgeon, by the femtosecond and excimer platforms used, and by the ablation profile (standard, wavefront-guided or topography-guided).
The problem
The right platform, the right surgeon, the right procedure.
LASIK is one of the most heavily marketed procedures in UK private medicine - cheap headline prices, extras added later, and alternatives never mentioned. We fix all three before you commit.
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Is LASIK actually right for your eye?
A thin cornea, a suspicious Pentacam, or a very high prescription can all mean SMILE or an ICL is safer. We say so before you agree to laser.
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Worried about the small print?
All-inclusive quote, aftercare and any enhancement within 12 months included. If a clinic is cheaper, we show you what has been unbundled.
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Want it done on a modern platform?
Consultant refractive surgeon, femtosecond flap, wavefront- or topography-guided ablation - the modern standard, not a decade-old microkeratome.
When it helps
When LASIK is the right step.
The prescriptions and lifestyles LASIK suits best, plus the one red flag that means laser is not the answer.
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Myopia (short sight) −1 to −10D
The classic LASIK indication. Excellent outcomes for prescriptions up to about −6D, still good but with more variance beyond.
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Hyperopia (long sight) +1 to +4D
LASIK reshapes a steeper central cornea. Beyond +4D refractive lens exchange is usually safer.
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Astigmatism up to 6D
Regular astigmatism corrects well with wavefront- or topography-guided LASIK; irregular astigmatism needs a different plan.
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Contact-lens intolerance
Dry eyes, giant papillary conjunctivitis, or simply years of lens fatigue - LASIK removes the daily hassle.
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Sport, water and shift work
Rugby, swimming, night shifts, military and emergency roles - jobs and hobbies where glasses and lenses are a liability.
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Cosmetic / lifestyle preference
A personal choice for freedom from glasses. Done properly, on a modern platform, with the aftercare included.
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Stable prescription for 2+ years
The RCOphth standard: refraction must be stable for at least two years before refractive surgery is offered.
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Red flag: keratoconus or thin cornea
Suspicious Pentacam tomography, thin pachymetry or a high Belin–Ambrósio ectasia score rules LASIK out - SMILE or an ICL may still be safe.
Procedure options
LASIK is one option - not the only one.
What each refractive option actually involves - and which fits which eye.
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Standard LASIK
Femtosecond flap plus excimer ablation, single-vision correction for distance. The workhorse option for most eyes.
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Wavefront-guided LASIK
A wavefront map of your eye guides the ablation - sharper night vision and fewer higher-order aberrations than standard LASIK.
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Topography-guided LASIK
Ablation shaped by a corneal topography map. Preferred for irregular corneas or previous refractive surgery.
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Presbyopic / blended-vision LASIK
One eye set for distance, the other slightly for near - reduces reading-glass dependence in the 40s and 50s.
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PRK / LASEK (no-flap alternative)
Surface ablation without a flap. Slower recovery than LASIK but a safer choice for thin corneas, contact sports or military roles.
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SMILE (ReLEx SMILE)
A small-incision lenticule extraction - no flap, less dry eye, but a narrower correction range and no enhancement option.
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Implantable collamer lens (ICL)
For very high prescriptions or corneas too thin for laser, an intraocular lens sits behind the iris - reversible, and does not touch the cornea.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of whether LASIK is right for your eye - and which of the alternatives fits better if it is not.
Safety and outcomes
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Modern femtosecond LASIK is one of the safest elective procedures in medicine. Roughly 90–95% of eyes with a prescription of −3D or better reach 20/20; 80–90% for higher myopia up to −10D. The rest of the picture is honest below.
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Dry eye for 3–6 months
The commonest post-LASIK symptom. Preservative-free drops manage it; a small subset have persistent dryness that needs longer treatment.
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Night vision - halos, glare, starbursts
More noticeable in the first weeks and in low light. Modern wavefront- and topography-guided platforms have made this markedly less common.
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Flap complications are rare with femtosecond
Buttonhole, incomplete cut, epithelial ingrowth and striae are all uncommon with modern femtosecond lasers - much rarer than with the older mechanical microkeratome.
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Corneal ectasia - rare but serious
A weakening of the cornea after LASIK. Pentacam screening and the Belin–Ambrósio ectasia risk score are how we keep this rare.
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Under- or over-correction
5–10% of eyes need an enhancement within 12 months.
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Diffuse lamellar keratitis ("sands of the Sahara")
A rare inflammation under the flap in the first days. Recognised early and treated with topical steroid - the reason day-one review matters.
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Presbyopia is not fixed
LASIK corrects your distance prescription. You will still need reading glasses in your 40s and 50s unless blended-vision LASIK is chosen.
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Regression years later
A small subset of eyes drift back slightly over ten years - usually mild and correctable with a light enhancement or glasses.
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Red flags
Sudden pain, sudden loss of vision or a flap dislodged after trauma are not normal - call the clinic or eye A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your LASIK note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever platform and ablation profile was used, the note the 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 treated and platform used
Your pre-op refraction, the femtosecond and excimer platforms, and the ablation profile chosen (standard, wavefront- or topography-guided).
- 02 Technique
Flap parameters and ablation depth
Flap thickness (typically 100–110 microns), hinge position, ablation depth per eye, and residual stromal bed - the numbers that matter for long-term safety.
- 03 Findings
Intra-op events and immediate result
Any minor events (suction loss, epithelial defect), the day-one uncorrected visual acuity, and any early findings on slit-lamp examination.
- 04 Impression
Drops, restrictions and review schedule
Read this first: the drop regimen, when you can drive, when you can swim, when you can wear eye make-up, and the day-1, 1-week, 1-month and 3-month reviews.
Recognised by major UK insurers
LASIK for refractive error is generally not funded by private medical insurance - it is treated as an elective lifestyle procedure. Most patients self-pay.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about LASIK.
Quick answers on cost, pain, recovery, dry eye and the honest risks - plus how LASIK compares with SMILE, PRK and lens-based options.
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What exactly is LASIK?
LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. A femtosecond laser creates a thin hinged flap in the cornea, an excimer laser reshapes the underlying stroma to correct your prescription, and the flap is replaced. It adheres by natural suction within minutes - no sutures.
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How is LASIK different from SMILE or PRK?
LASIK uses a corneal flap. SMILE removes a small lenticule through a keyhole incision - no flap, less dry eye, but a narrower correction range. PRK / LASEK is surface ablation with no flap - safer for thin corneas or contact sports, but recovery takes weeks rather than 24–48 hours.
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What prescriptions can LASIK correct?
Myopia from about −1 to −10 dioptres, hyperopia from +1 to +4 dioptres, and astigmatism up to about 6 dioptres. Prescriptions beyond these ranges are usually better served by an implantable collamer lens or refractive lens exchange.
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How much does private LASIK cost in the UK?
Roughly £1,995–£2,500 per eye for standard single-vision LASIK, £2,500–£3,500 per eye for premium wavefront- or topography-guided treatment, and £3,500–£4,500 per eye for presbyopic blended-vision LASIK.
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Does LASIK hurt?
No. Numbing drops mean you feel pressure but no pain during the procedure. Afterwards there is a scratchy, gritty sensation for a few hours as the corneal surface settles - mild and short-lived.
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How quickly will I see again?
Vision is hazy for a few hours after LASIK, then clears rapidly. Most patients see 20/20 by day one and are back to work within 24–48 hours. This fast recovery is the main advantage of LASIK over PRK or LASEK.
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What are the real risks?
Dry eye for 3–6 months is common. Night-vision halos, glare and starbursts are less common with modern wavefront-guided platforms. Flap complications, infection, diffuse lamellar keratitis and corneal ectasia are all rare - Pentacam screening is the main defence against ectasia.
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Will I still need reading glasses?
Standard LASIK corrects your distance prescription only. Presbyopia - the age-related loss of near focus - still happens, so you will need reading glasses in your 40s and 50s. Blended-vision LASIK reduces this but does not eliminate it.
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When should I call the clinic urgently after LASIK?
Sudden severe pain, sudden loss of vision, a red painful eye or a flap dislodged after a knock are all reasons to call the clinic or attend eye A&E the same day. Mild grittiness and light-sensitivity in the first hours are normal.