Laser eye surgery

If you live in the UK, laser eye surgery is not normally available on the NHS, so you'll need to go private. Prices vary depending on the type of surgery you get, location, the surgeon's experience and any added extras. You might have to pay for the initial consultation too. Always ask for a detailed breakdown of all fees before going ahead. Laser eye surgery costs in the UK start at around £1500 per eye.

Like any kind of eye operation, laser eye surgery comes with advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of laser eye surgery

Numerous studies have concluded that laser eye surgery is safe, predictable and highly effective. Most operations lead to serious improvements in vision ‑ many people end up with good 20/20 vision without the need for glasses. Other surveys have found that over 98% of people are satisfied with the result. For people who find glasses or contacts annoying or uncomfortable, it allows them to see well without them.

Drawbacks of laser eye surgery

The cost of laser eye surgery is prohibitive for many people. Where a pair of glasses can give you good vision for as little as £15, LASIK eye surgery prices, for example, can be well over £3000. Depending on the procedure you have, your eyes may feel sore afterwards, and recovery can take weeks or months. And while most laser eye surgery is successful, there's no guarantee your eyesight will be improved.

As with any kind of medical procedure, laser eye surgery comes with certain risks and side effects. The surgeon at the clinic should explain all to you in detail. The following points aren't intended to put you off getting the operation ‑ the vast majority of operations are successful, and patients come away satisfied. Still, it's important to have all the information before you sign up for it. 

• Short‑term visual problems: For a few weeks or even a few months after laser eye surgery, many people get blurred vision and light scattering (things like glare, halos, floaters and starbursts) until their eyes adjust. Learn more about blurry vision.

• Eye issues during recovery: People often get sore and dry eyes for up to a few weeks after the surgery. It's also common to get red patches on the whites of your eyes. These are harmless, but you may not like how it looks. 

• Repeated operations: Sometimes people need more than one operation to fine‑tune their sight and focus. Sometimes, the surgeon may over‑ or under‑correct your sight, which will need further surgery to fix. 

• Serious injuries and sight loss: While it's rare, a very small number of people experience very negative outcomes from laser eye surgery, including permanent loss of vision or medical emergencies such as a detached retina. Learn more about retinal detachment.

• Poor sight sometimes returns: It's fairly rare, but some people find that their previous refractive problems return within just a few years of having the surgery. This can be very disappointing given how expensive the procedure is.

Once you've found a provider, check that the surgeon is listed on the General Medical Council's website. Ask to see their laser eye surgery certificates, insurance documents, and request customer testimonials.

If you decide to get laser eye surgery, it can be very exciting ‑ though you might also feel a bit nervous about the operation itself. Your surgeon should give you a complete, clear explanation of everything that's going to happen and how to prepare. Here's what to expect before, during and after the surgery.

• Before laser eye surgery: the surgeon should do a full inspection of your eyes and ask about your medical history. They will measure the shape of the cornea and work out which parts of the eye need to be reshaped. They will use a kind of scanner that helps create a detailed 'map' of the surface of your eye. During this meeting, they should also tell you how to prepare and answer any questions you have. This is a good opportunity to ask any and all questions you have. At this stage, you should ask for a clear breakdown of all the costs and fees (including for aftercare).

• Preparing for laser eye surgery: Depending on which type of surgery you have, the way you prepare might be slightly different. The surgeon will tell you what to do. Avoid using eye makeup or creams for at least a day before the surgery. You can usually eat and drink on the day of the operation, and you can have any medication you normally take.

• During the operation: Most people in the UK have LASIK eye surgery. But whichever type you have, the experience is quite similar. You'll lie on a reclining chair, and anaesthetic eye drops will be put in your eye to numb it. A spring clip will keep your eyelids open, and a suction device is often used to keep your eye in position. You'll be asked to look at a light above you. If you're feeling uncomfortable, anxious or need to blink, you can tell the surgeon. They might also give you medicine to relax. The procedure itself is normally quite quick. The surgeon will use a software‑guided system that helps to precisely remove parts of the cornea and reshape it. You might notice a slight burning smell, a bit like singed hair. The entire procedure usually lasts less than 30 minutes for both eyes.

• After laser eye surgery; After the operation, your vision will normally be blurry for a few hours or even a few days. This doesn't mean the operation wasn't successful, but it might take some time before you notice the improvement. It can take up to a couple of months for your eyes to fully heal after the surgery. Most people feel some soreness, grittiness and discomfort in their eyes after laser eye surgery. You can take over‑the‑counter pain medication to manage this. You might also be given eye drops and antibiotics. You can't drive immediately after the surgery, so you should organise transport home. You will usually have a follow‑up appointment with the surgeon a couple of days later, and you may also need to go for further checks.

Laser eye surgery operations are usually quite quick. For most people, the entire procedure lasts 20‑30 minutes.

Yes, astigmatism is one of the main eye conditions that laser eye surgery is used to treat. Astigmatism means you have an irregularly shaped cornea. Laser eye surgery can smooth out the shape.

No, the actual operation itself should not hurt. You will be given anaesthetic eye drops which numb the eye. This means you won't feel anything when the laser is reshaping your cornea. However, many people notice soreness, grittiness and discomfort in their eyes for a few hours, days or even weeks after surgery. The pain can usually be managed with things like paracetamol.

In the first 24 hours after laser eye surgery, you should rest and recover, and shouldn't do any sports or exercise. Your surgeon will tell you when they think your eyes have recovered and when it's safe to take part in sport. You might be able to do non‑contact activities (like yoga or going to the gym) sooner than contact sports like football or rugby. For things like swimming, boxing or martial arts, you will need to wait until your eyes are completely recovered before participating.

Yes, laser eye surgery is a permanent procedure. The laser physically changes the shape of your cornea and its effects are long‑lasting. That being said, your eyes will continue to change as you get older, and so your sight could still change too. Later in life, you may need to start wearing glasses again.

If your operation is successful (and the vast majority are), then you shouldn't need to wear glasses any more after laser eye surgery. However, it won't mean you never need them again. Your cornea could change in a few years, which will make glasses necessary again. Also, you will develop presbyopia as you get older, which is when the lens in your eye becomes less flexible (laser surgery changes the cornea, not the lens), meaning you'll need reading glasses.

It really varies from one individual to the next. But in general, it's most effective in people aged 25‑40. This is because your eyesight should be quite stable during these years, so you will benefit from the surgery for a longer time.