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Ophthalmology · UK

Presbyopia treatment - near vision, without the readers.

A consultant assessment, and the honest option if surgery can wait.

See indicative pricing
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Indicative pricing

What private presbyopia treatment costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner eye units.

In short

£4,500–£6,500 for both eyes, home the same day.

Treatment Indicative range
Laser blended vision (both eyes) £4,500–£6,500
Refractive lens exchange - standard (per eye) £3,000–£4,500
Refractive lens exchange - multifocal/EDOF (per eye) £3,500–£5,500
Corneal inlay (one eye) £2,500–£4,000
Presbyopia-correcting eye drops (per year) £350–£700
Enhancement / fine-tuning £500–£1,500
Ophthalmology consultation and assessment £250–£500

Prices vary by clinic, by surgeon, by the lens or laser platform chosen, and by whether one or both eyes are treated. Premium multifocal lenses sit at the top of the range.

The problem

The right option for your eyes - not the one the clinic sells.

Presbyopia is where single-treatment clinics quietly over-reach - steering everyone to the one thing they offer. The best choice depends on your prescription, your cataract status and your life.

  • Surgery, drops - or neither?

    Sometimes updated glasses or a drops trial is the sensible first step. We will tell you when surgery can wait.

  • Match the option to the eye

    Lens exchange suits developing cataracts; laser blended vision suits clear lenses. The eye decides, not the marketing.

  • Plan for night vision honestly

    Haloes and glare are the real trade-off with multifocal options. We discuss them before you choose, not after.

When it helps

When treating presbyopia is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means urgent eye care rather than a routine presbyopia booking.

  • Holding the menu at arm’s length

    The classic sign of presbyopia - near print that will not stay in focus, usually starting in your mid-forties.

  • Tired of reading glasses

    For those who want freedom from readers for phones, menus, screens and fine work, several options can reduce or remove the need.

  • Already developing cataracts

    If cataracts are forming, a refractive lens exchange or multifocal lens can correct both the cataract and the near vision at once.

  • Long-sighted and struggling early

    Hyperopic eyes often feel presbyopia sooner and more severely - lens-based options tend to suit them well.

  • Contact lens intolerance

    When monovision contact lenses no longer work or dry eyes make them uncomfortable, a surgical or drop-based option may suit.

  • Wanting a non-surgical trial first

    The newer pilocarpine-based eye drops offer a reversible, needle-free way to sharpen near vision for part of the day.

  • An active, screen-heavy life

    For people whose work and leisure demand constant near and intermediate focus, blended or extended-depth-of-focus options can help.

  • Red flag: sudden near-vision change, flashes or floaters

    A sudden change in vision, new flashes, floaters or a shadow across your sight is not presbyopia - it needs same-day ophthalmology, not a routine booking.

Treatment options

The full range, from drops to lens surgery.

What each option involves - from the lowest-commitment eye drops through laser to permanent lens replacement.

  • Refractive lens exchange (RLE)

    The eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial multifocal or extended-depth-of-focus lens. Permanent, prevents future cataracts, and corrects near, intermediate and distance vision.

  • Laser blended vision

    LASIK or LASEK sets one eye slightly for distance and the other for near, and the brain blends the two. Best suited to those without significant cataract.

  • Multifocal and EDOF lens implants

    Advanced intraocular lenses that provide a range of focus. EDOF lenses trade a little near power for fewer night-time haloes than full multifocals.

  • Corneal inlays

    A small device implanted in the cornea of the non-dominant eye to improve near focus. Less commonly used now but reversible.

  • Presbyopia-correcting eye drops

    Pilocarpine-based drops constrict the pupil to create a pinhole effect, sharpening near vision for several hours. Non-surgical and reversible.

  • Monovision contact lenses

    A non-surgical trial that mimics blended vision - often used to test tolerance before committing to laser or lens surgery.

  • PRESBYOND and modern laser platforms

    Refined laser blended-vision programmes designed specifically for presbyopia, aiming for a wider range of clear vision.

  • Reading glasses and updated spectacles

    Still the simplest, lowest-risk option - and sometimes the right one. We never talk anyone out of glasses that serve them well.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Presbyopia treatments are well-established and generally very safe. The things worth planning are night vision, neuroadaptation and realistic expectations about focus at every distance.

  • Most treatments are day-case

    Laser and lens surgery are done under local or topical anaesthetic and you go home the same day. Eye drops are simply used at home.

  • Night-time haloes and glare

    Multifocal lenses and blended vision can cause haloes or glare around lights, especially at night. For most people this eases with time, but it should be discussed before you choose.

  • Neuroadaptation takes time

    The brain needs weeks to months to adapt to blended or multifocal vision. Patience is part of the treatment, and a small number of people never fully adapt.

  • Dry eye is common early on

    Laser procedures in particular can worsen dry eye for a few months. We screen for it beforehand and treat it, as it affects both comfort and vision quality.

  • Lens surgery has surgical risks

    Refractive lens exchange carries the small risks of any intraocular surgery - infection, retinal detachment and posterior capsule opacification, each uncommon and manageable.

  • Eye drops are temporary and reversible

    Presbyopia drops work only while used, can cause a brow-ache or dim vision in low light, and are not suitable for everyone - but they are the lowest-commitment option.

  • Results are not always perfect at every distance

    No option restores the effortless focus of youth. The aim is spectacle independence for most tasks, not flawless vision at every distance in every light.

  • An enhancement is sometimes needed

    Fine-tuning with a top-up laser treatment is occasionally required to reach your target - this is planned for, not a sign anything went wrong.

  • Red flags after treatment

    Increasing pain, worsening vision, a red sticky eye, flashes, floaters or a curtain over your sight need the same-day team or eye casualty, never a routine call.

Reading your assessment report

Your assessment report in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever option is recommended - lens exchange, laser blended vision, an inlay or drops - the report your surgeon shares keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant ophthalmologist reviewing a patient’s eye assessment

A quiet reminder

Optical measurements are precise and can read coldly - we translate them for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the assessment and the trade-offs before you decide, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Diagnosis and prescription

    Confirmation of presbyopia, your current prescription, and whether cataract is present - the starting point for everything.

  2. 02 Assessment

    Corneal and ocular measurements

    Corneal thickness and shape, pupil size, tear film and biometry - the measurements that decide which options are safe for your eyes.

  3. 03 Findings

    Recommended options

    The approaches that suit you - lens exchange, laser blended vision, inlay or drops - with the trade-offs of each spelt out.

  4. 04 Impression

    Plan, targets and aftercare

    Read this first: the recommended treatment, the vision target, what to expect during neuroadaptation, and the review schedule.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Purely refractive presbyopia surgery is usually elective and self-funded, though lens surgery for a visually significant cataract may be covered.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about presbyopia treatment.

Quick answers on the options, the new eye drops, cost, NHS access and glasses independence.

  • What is presbyopia and why does it happen?

    Presbyopia is the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus on near objects. It happens because the natural lens inside the eye stiffens with age and the focusing muscles weaken, so light from close objects no longer focuses sharply on the retina. It affects almost everyone from the mid-forties onwards and is a normal part of ageing, not a disease.

  • What are the treatment options for presbyopia?

    The main options are refractive lens exchange (replacing the natural lens with a multifocal or extended-depth-of-focus implant), laser blended vision (setting the eyes for slightly different distances), corneal inlays, and presbyopia-correcting eye drops. Reading glasses and monovision contact lenses remain simple, low-risk choices. The right option depends on your eyes, your prescription, whether you have cataracts and how you use your vision.

  • Do the new presbyopia eye drops work?

    Pilocarpine-based eye drops constrict the pupil to create a pinhole effect that sharpens near vision for several hours. They can genuinely reduce the need for reading glasses for part of the day and are non-surgical and reversible. They are not suitable for everyone, can cause a temporary brow-ache or dimmer vision in low light, and work only while you keep using them.

  • How much does private presbyopia treatment cost in the UK?

    Roughly £4,500–£6,500 for laser blended vision (both eyes), £3,000–£5,500 per eye for refractive lens exchange depending on the lens, £2,500–£4,000 for a corneal inlay, and £350–£700 a year for presbyopia-correcting eye drops. A full consultant assessment is £250–£500.

  • Is presbyopia treatment available on the NHS?

    The NHS provides glasses vouchers for those eligible and performs cataract surgery when a cataract affects daily life - but purely refractive presbyopia surgery, such as laser blended vision or a multifocal lens chosen for lifestyle reasons, is considered elective and is not routinely funded. This is why most presbyopia surgery in the UK is arranged privately.

  • Will I be completely free of reading glasses afterwards?

    The aim is spectacle independence for most everyday tasks, and many people achieve it - but no treatment perfectly restores youthful focus at every distance. Some people still reach for glasses for very small print or in dim light. We set realistic targets before treatment so you know what to expect, and an enhancement can fine-tune the result if needed.

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