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Lens replacement costs £2,000 to £5,500 per eye at the UK clinics we checked, and the lens you choose decides most of the price. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says you are likely to be suitable if you are over 50 and your glasses prescription is beyond the normal range for laser eye surgery. For most people under 50, laser surgery or a lens implant that keeps your own lens is generally the better option. Lens replacement is the same operation as cataract surgery. The NHS does it for cataract, and the College says it is not available on the NHS to cut your need for glasses.
- Price per eye: £2,000 to £5,500
- Consultation: free at 5 of 8 clinics
- Both eyes: same day at many centres
- NHS: for cataract, not glasses
Watch: How the natural lens is swapped for an artificial one, and the lens types. 1 min 22 s.
Read the transcript
Lens replacement surgery, explained.
Lens replacement swaps the natural lens inside your eye for an artificial one.
It can correct distance and near vision, and it is also used to treat cataracts.
Numbing drops are used, and the surgeon makes a tiny opening at the edge of the cornea.
The natural lens is removed through the opening, and the new lens is put in its place.
The opening is so small it usually heals by itself, without stitches.
It takes around 20 minutes an eye, and many centres treat both eyes on the same day.
Monofocal lenses are the simplest. Multifocal, trifocal and toric lenses are more complex, and cost more.
It can treat short sight, long sight, presbyopia, astigmatism and cataracts. Only an eye specialist can tell you if it is right for you.
At the 8 clinics we checked, prices range from £2,000 to £5,500 per eye.
The lens you choose decides most of the price. Multifocal lenses cost more than monofocal ones.
The NHS replaces the lens for cataracts, but not to reduce your need for glasses.
Compare quotes from clinics near you.
Is lens replacement right for me?
Lens replacement is the same operation as cataract surgery, done to cut your need for glasses rather than to clear a misty lens. Your natural lens loses flexibility and clarity with age, which is why the Royal College of Ophthalmologists points it at people over 50.
Usually suitable
- Over 50, with a glasses prescription beyond the normal range for laser eye surgery
- Over 50 and keen to rely less on glasses for both distance and reading: multifocal lenses aim to cover both
- Early signs of cataract: the operation removes your natural lens, so a cataract can’t form later
- Over 65: the College calls lens replacement the default vision correction operation at this age
Usually not, or needs a different treatment
- Under 50 with a clear, flexible lens: the College says laser surgery or a lens implant is generally the better option
- Other eye health problems: a multifocal lens may not suit you, and a monofocal may be the better choice
- Over 50 with a lower prescription, no sign of cataract and a healthy eye surface: the College says laser surgery may still be the better option
- Worried about halos around lights: a monofocal lens has fewer optical side effects, though you keep reading glasses
These points come from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ patient information. The surgeon measures your eyes at the consultation and recommends a lens, or says the operation is not right for you. The College’s standards say surgery should not happen on the day it is recommended, and advise at least a week to decide.
Prices at eight UK clinics
Published prices, read from each clinic’s own website on 11 October 2026. Your price depends on the lens your surgeon recommends and is confirmed at the consultation.
| Clinic | Price per eye | Consultation | What’s included | Paying monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optical Express | Single-focus from £2,000 Multi-focus from £3,495 |
Free | Appointments, drops and medication for 3 months, then £100 an optometrist visit and £200 a surgeon visit. YAG laser from £795 | Finance available (through a panel of lenders) |
| Optimax | Monofocal £2,995 Multifocal £3,450 Same price for any prescription |
Free | All aftercare until discharge | Finance available over 10 to 48 months, £500 deposit an eye (V12 Retail Finance); 0% APR over 10 to 24 months, representative example below |
| Optegra | Monofocal £3,495 Multifocal £4,195 Price for complex cases may vary |
Free, by video or phone | Consultation, surgery and aftercare for up to a year | Finance available for up to 60 months, minimum 10% deposit (Novuna Consumer Finance) |
| Focus Clinics | £6,500 for both eyes, monofocal £7,990 for both eyes, premium lens |
Free by phone | Not listed on its price page | Finance available over 12 to 60 months, £500 minimum deposit |
| London Vision Clinic | £3,450 to £3,900 Light Adjustable Lens from £4,400 |
Free | A year of post-operative care, with drops and reviews | Finance available over 12 to 36 months (V12 Retail Finance) |
| Centre for Sight | Monofocal from £3,602 Toric from £4,105 Multifocal from £4,683 Multifocal toric £4,998 |
From £465 | Laser-assisted surgery, 3 months of follow-up, laser enhancement if needed, YAG laser if needed within 6 months | Finance available for up to 24 months, with a deposit (V12 Retail Finance) |
| Blue Fin Vision (London, Essex, Hertfordshire) | Monofocal from £4,000 Monofocal toric from £4,500 Trifocal from £4,500 Trifocal toric from £5,000 |
£325 | Scans, all follow-up appointments and drops; anaesthetist extra if needed. Prices dated 1 January 2026 | Finance available; terms not published |
| Moorfields Private | About £4,500 to £5,500, depending on the lens | £195 | Take-home medication and one post-operative appointment | Finance available (Omni Capital Retail Finance) |
Per eye unless stated, read from each clinic’s website on 11 October 2026.
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Optical Express
Single-focus from £2,000
Multi-focus from £3,495 Consultation: Free What’s included: Appointments, drops and medication for 3 months, then £100 an optometrist visit and £200 a surgeon visit. YAG laser from £795 Paying monthly: Finance available (through a panel of lenders) -
Optimax
Monofocal £2,995
Multifocal £3,450
Same price for any prescription Consultation: Free What’s included: All aftercare until discharge Paying monthly: Finance available over 10 to 48 months, £500 deposit an eye (V12 Retail Finance); 0% APR over 10 to 24 months, representative example below -
Optegra
Monofocal £3,495
Multifocal £4,195
Price for complex cases may vary Consultation: Free, by video or phone What’s included: Consultation, surgery and aftercare for up to a year Paying monthly: Finance available for up to 60 months, minimum 10% deposit (Novuna Consumer Finance) -
Focus Clinics
£6,500 for both eyes, monofocal
£7,990 for both eyes, premium lens Consultation: Free by phone What’s included: Not listed on its price page Paying monthly: Finance available over 12 to 60 months, £500 minimum deposit -
London Vision Clinic
£3,450 to £3,900
Light Adjustable Lens from £4,400 Consultation: Free What’s included: A year of post-operative care, with drops and reviews Paying monthly: Finance available over 12 to 36 months (V12 Retail Finance) -
Centre for Sight
Monofocal from £3,602
Toric from £4,105
Multifocal from £4,683
Multifocal toric £4,998 Consultation: From £465 What’s included: Laser-assisted surgery, 3 months of follow-up, laser enhancement if needed, YAG laser if needed within 6 months Paying monthly: Finance available for up to 24 months, with a deposit (V12 Retail Finance) -
Blue Fin Vision (London, Essex, Hertfordshire)
Monofocal from £4,000
Monofocal toric from £4,500
Trifocal from £4,500
Trifocal toric from £5,000 Consultation: £325 What’s included: Scans, all follow-up appointments and drops; anaesthetist extra if needed. Prices dated 1 January 2026 Paying monthly: Finance available; terms not published - Moorfields Private About £4,500 to £5,500, depending on the lens Consultation: £195 What’s included: Take-home medication and one post-operative appointment Paying monthly: Finance available (Omni Capital Retail Finance)
Prices change, so confirm with the clinic before you book.
Monofocal lenses focus at one distance, so most people keep reading glasses. Multifocal and trifocal lenses focus at several distances. Toric lenses correct astigmatism. Optical Express says 18.6% of the patients it assessed between 1 January and 31 December 2017 had one or both eyes that qualified for its £2,000 price. Prices change, so confirm with the clinic before you book.
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Which lens, and what it adds to the price
The lens decides what you can see without glasses and most of the cost. These are the types UK clinics list in October 2026.
| Lens type | What it does | Added to a monofocal price, per eye | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monofocal | Clear vision at one distance, usually far; reading glasses for close work | Base price | Fewest optical side effects. Some surgeons set one eye slightly nearer to help with screens, which the College calls micromonovision |
| Enhanced monovision | Distance, middle and near vision, designed to minimise halos and glare, Freedom Vision says | £1,160 at Freedom Vision | Freedom Vision says it aims to reduce or remove the need for glasses for most activities |
| Extended depth of focus | Distance and middle distance; small print may still need glasses | £1,300 at Newmedica | Newmedica charges the same for extended depth of focus and multifocal lenses |
| Spiral lens (Rayner RayOne Galaxy) | Designed for a continuous range of vision, Rayner says | £1,955 at Freedom Vision | Launched by Rayner in 2024. OCL Vision in London says its first patients had it in July 2024 |
| Trifocal or multifocal | Distance, middle and near. About 4 in 5 people need no glasses afterwards (RCOphth) | £455 to £1,800 | Halos around lights are 3.6 times as likely as with a monofocal (Cochrane review, 2016). About 1 in 100 people can’t adapt and have the lens swapped |
| Toric (any of the above) | Adds astigmatism correction | £400 to £1,160 on a monofocal | Newmedica and Freedom Vision charge nothing extra for a toric multifocal |
| Light Adjustable Lens | Power fine-tuned with UV light after surgery, then locked in | Full price from £4,400 at London Vision Clinic | UV-blocking glasses through healing and adjustment. London Vision Clinic says it is especially useful if you have had corneal laser surgery before |
The lens decides the result and most of the cost.
- Monofocal What it does: Clear vision at one distance, usually far; reading glasses for close work Added to a monofocal price, per eye: Base price Worth knowing: Fewest optical side effects. Some surgeons set one eye slightly nearer to help with screens, which the College calls micromonovision
- Enhanced monovision What it does: Distance, middle and near vision, designed to minimise halos and glare, Freedom Vision says Added to a monofocal price, per eye: £1,160 at Freedom Vision Worth knowing: Freedom Vision says it aims to reduce or remove the need for glasses for most activities
- Extended depth of focus What it does: Distance and middle distance; small print may still need glasses Added to a monofocal price, per eye: £1,300 at Newmedica Worth knowing: Newmedica charges the same for extended depth of focus and multifocal lenses
- Spiral lens (Rayner RayOne Galaxy) What it does: Designed for a continuous range of vision, Rayner says Added to a monofocal price, per eye: £1,955 at Freedom Vision Worth knowing: Launched by Rayner in 2024. OCL Vision in London says its first patients had it in July 2024
- Trifocal or multifocal What it does: Distance, middle and near. About 4 in 5 people need no glasses afterwards (RCOphth) Added to a monofocal price, per eye: £455 to £1,800 Worth knowing: Halos around lights are 3.6 times as likely as with a monofocal (Cochrane review, 2016). About 1 in 100 people can’t adapt and have the lens swapped
- Toric (any of the above) What it does: Adds astigmatism correction Added to a monofocal price, per eye: £400 to £1,160 on a monofocal Worth knowing: Newmedica and Freedom Vision charge nothing extra for a toric multifocal
- Light Adjustable Lens What it does: Power fine-tuned with UV light after surgery, then locked in Added to a monofocal price, per eye: Full price from £4,400 at London Vision Clinic Worth knowing: UV-blocking glasses through healing and adjustment. London Vision Clinic says it is especially useful if you have had corneal laser surgery before
Differences between tiers at the same clinic, 11 October 2026.
Added costs are the differences between tiers on the same clinic’s price list on 11 October 2026, at Optimax, Optegra, Centre for Sight, Blue Fin Vision, Newmedica and Freedom Vision. Newmedica’s and Freedom Vision’s figures come from their cataract surgery price lists.
What happens, from consultation to settled vision
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Consultation Free at five of the eight clinics we checked
Your eyes are measured and scanned so the surgeon can work out the lens power. The surgeon recommends a lens type, or says laser surgery or a lens implant would suit you better. The College’s standards say that recommendation should come from the surgeon who will operate, in person or by video under set conditions, and not on the day of surgery.
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A week to decide At least a week after the recommendation
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says surgery should not happen on the day it is recommended, and recommends at least a week to think it over. Any deposit should be fully refundable if you decide not to go ahead.
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Treatment day About 20 minutes an eye; many centres treat both eyes the same day
Numbing drops, with an injection in the back of the hand to relax you if you need it. The surgeon removes your lens through small self-sealing openings with an ultrasound probe, and the new lens unfolds in its place. You go home the same day.
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The first days Vision mostly recovers within 2 to 3 days; eye shield at night for a week
Use the antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops as prescribed. You can wash and shower from day one, and go to the gym or jog. Red blotches on the white of the eye can take up to six weeks to fade.
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Settling Driving typically within a few days, once your surgeon says so; no swimming for a week, no contact sport for a month
Most people notice some light scatter in the early months, such as a shimmering arc at the edge of their vision, and it tends to fade. The College says a laser touch-up to fine-tune the focus is often needed and normally included in the price, so ask. Clouding behind the lens can appear months or years later and is cleared with a YAG laser.
Results and risks, with the study behind each figure
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says serious, lasting loss of sight is significantly more common after lens replacement than after laser surgery or a lens implant.
- Satisfied with the outcome About 95% Royal College of Ophthalmologists, patient information, 2024
- No glasses at all with a multifocal lens About 4 in 5 Royal College of Ophthalmologists, 2024
- Serious, lasting loss of vision About 1 in 500 Royal College of Ophthalmologists; sight in that eye worse than the driving standard, even with glasses
- Multifocal lens swapped because the person can’t adapt About 1 in 100 Royal College of Ophthalmologists, 2024
- Infection inside the eye 1 in 8,600 18 cases in 154,826 cataract operations at Moorfields, 2015 to 2022 (Ting et al., Eye, 2024)
- Capsule tear during surgery 0.70% National Cataract Audit 2026, 546,974 UK operations, April 2024 to March 2025
The last two figures come from cataract surgery, which the College says is identical to lens replacement.
What the studies show
- It is the same operation as cataract surgery. The NHS funded about 681,400 cataract operations in England in the year to March 2024, and in the 2026 national audit 93.1% of eyes saw well enough to drive afterwards
- It removes the need for cataract surgery later in life (Royal College of Ophthalmologists)
- In an Alcon-funded meta-analysis of its PanOptix trifocal lens, 91.6% of 513 people needed no glasses at all (Zhu et al., 2023)
- For long-sighted people with a narrow drainage space at the front of the eye, it removes the risk of a sudden, painful form of glaucoma (Royal College of Ophthalmologists)
Worth knowing
- Retinal detachment is about five times more likely in the first four years after lens surgery, and very short-sighted eyes are at higher risk to begin with (Royal College of Ophthalmologists)
- Halos around lights are 3.6 times as likely with a multifocal lens as with a monofocal, and glare 1.4 times (Cochrane review, 2016, pooling seven trials for each)
- Clouding behind the lens is the commonest cause of blur in later years. A YAG laser clears it, and some clinics charge for it (Optical Express from £795 an eye)
- Lens power is calculated from measurements of your eye, and the calculation is not exact, so some people need a laser touch-up afterwards
If you are under 50, or want to keep your natural lens
The College says laser surgery or a lens implant is generally the better option for most people under 50, because their own lens is still clear and flexible.
| Option | Who it suits | Price per eye |
|---|---|---|
| Laser eye surgery Guide | Under 50 with a clear lens, or over 50 with a lower prescription, no sign of cataract and a healthy eye surface (RCOphth) | £549 to £3,750 |
| Laser blended vision (PRESBYOND) Guide | People who need reading glasses, with a prescription laser can treat | £2,500 to £3,950 or more |
| ICL lens implant Guide | Younger people with a clear, flexible lens and a high prescription; the implant sits in front of your own lens | £3,395 to £4,600 or more |
| Varifocal glasses or contact lenses | Anyone. The College calls varifocals the main alternative for older people | Ongoing cost |
Options that keep your own lens.
- Laser eye surgery Guide Who it suits: Under 50 with a clear lens, or over 50 with a lower prescription, no sign of cataract and a healthy eye surface (RCOphth) Price per eye: £549 to £3,750
- Laser blended vision (PRESBYOND) Guide Who it suits: People who need reading glasses, with a prescription laser can treat Price per eye: £2,500 to £3,950 or more
- ICL lens implant Guide Who it suits: Younger people with a clear, flexible lens and a high prescription; the implant sits in front of your own lens Price per eye: £3,395 to £4,600 or more
- Varifocal glasses or contact lenses Who it suits: Anyone. The College calls varifocals the main alternative for older people Price per eye: Ongoing cost
Prices checked 11 October 2026.
Prices are the lowest and highest published per-eye figures at the clinics we checked on 11 October 2026. Optical Express says 22.8% of the eyes it assessed between 1 September and 28 December 2024 qualified for its £549 laser price. London Vision Clinic’s ICL price of £4,600 is a “from” price.
The NHS, insurance and paying monthly
NHS. Laser eye surgery and lens surgery are “not usually offered on the NHS”, according to nhs.uk. The NHS does replace the lens when a cataract affects your vision and quality of life, and NICE’s cataract guideline says not to offer multifocal lenses for cataract surgery, so anyone who wants one pays privately. See when the NHS pays.
Private medical insurance. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says surgery to correct the need for glasses “is not covered by private health insurance schemes”. Optegra says insurers generally cover cataract surgery but not lens replacement. Check your own policy if you have one.
Paying monthly. Every clinic in the table offers finance. Optimax publishes this representative example: cash price £2,995 for one eye, £500 deposit, £2,495 of credit, 24 payments of £104 at 0% APR representative, total payable £2,995, through V12 Retail Finance. The College’s standards say clinics should not offer time-limited discounts or refund your consultation fee only if you go ahead. See paying monthly for eye surgery.
Questions people ask about lens replacement
Not always. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says your prescription normally stays stable afterwards unless a new eye problem develops. About 1 in 100 people with a multifocal lens can’t adapt and have it swapped for a monofocal, which the College calls a potentially complicated operation. Clouding behind the lens can blur your vision months or years later, and a YAG laser clears it.
Most people feel pressure rather than pain. The eye is numbed with drops, and you can have an injection in the hand to help you relax. The College says discomfort afterwards is usually mild, and vision mostly recovers within two to three days.
The College lists the main ones. About 1 in 500 people have serious loss of vision in the treated eye that glasses can’t correct, which is more common than after laser surgery or a lens implant. Retinal detachment is about five times more likely in the first four years. Multifocal lenses cause more halos and glare than monofocals, and a laser touch-up or a YAG laser is often needed later.
A monofocal lens has fewer optical side effects, and most people keep glasses for reading. With a multifocal or trifocal, about four in five people need no glasses at all, but halos around lights are 3.6 times as likely (Cochrane). The College says a monofocal may suit you better if you have other eye problems or are worried about coping with halos. At the clinics we checked, a multifocal costs £455 to £1,800 more per eye.
Yes, but picking the right lens power is harder. London Vision Clinic says its Light Adjustable Lens, whose power is set after surgery, is especially useful if you have had corneal laser surgery. Moorfields Private quotes the consultation separately if you have had refractive surgery before.
Many centres now offer it, according to the College, and you can still choose one eye at a time. Moorfields Private usually treats the eyes a week apart. Blue Fin Vision treats them one to two weeks apart, or both in one session where suitable. Your surgeon will talk you through the pros and cons.
The College says your surgeon will tell you when you can drive, typically within a few days. Optegra says many people are back at work after around three days, and Moorfields Private says a few days. Avoid swimming for a week and contact sport for a month.
Not to cut your need for glasses, which the Royal College of Ophthalmologists says is not available on the NHS. The NHS replaces the lens as cataract surgery when a cataract affects your vision and quality of life, and NICE says not to offer multifocal lenses for cataract surgery. See when the NHS pays.
We pass your answers and contact details to a partner clinic, which the form names before you send it. The clinic calls to book a consultation (free at most partner clinics). Clinics pay us for referrals and you pay us nothing.
Related guides
Sources and how we checked the prices
Every price on this page was read from the clinic’s own website on 11 October 2026. Clinical figures come from the sources below. Prices change, so confirm with the clinic before you book.
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Refractive Lens Exchange patient information, PROF/2024/498 (opens in a new tab), reviewed 3 December 2024
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Professional Standards for Refractive Surgery (opens in a new tab), December 2024
- RCOphth National Ophthalmology Database, National Cataract Audit, ninth annual report (opens in a new tab), September 2026
- de Silva et al., Multifocal versus monofocal intraocular lenses after cataract extraction, Cochrane Review CD003169 (opens in a new tab), 12 December 2016
- Zhu et al., Rate of complete spectacle independence with a trifocal intraocular lens, Ophthalmology and Therapy 12 (funded by Alcon) (opens in a new tab), 6 February 2023
Show all 25 sources Show fewer sources
- Ting et al., Incidence and outcomes of post-operative endophthalmitis following elective phacoemulsification cataract surgery, between 2015 and 2022, Eye 38 (opens in a new tab), 2024
- NICE NG77, Cataracts in adults: management, recommendations 1.2.1 and 1.4.2 (opens in a new tab), 26 October 2017
- NHS, Laser eye surgery and lens surgery (opens in a new tab), reviewed 15 February 2024
- Ophthalmology Times, Rayner announces launch of RayOne Galaxy spiral IOL (opens in a new tab), 26 August 2024
- Optical Express lens replacement pricing (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optical Express laser eye surgery pricing (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optimax treatment prices (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optegra lens replacement costs (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optegra lens replacement aftercare (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optegra laser eye surgery costs (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Centre for Sight pricing (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Centre for Sight lens replacement surgery (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- London Vision Clinic prices (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- London Vision Clinic, Light Adjustable Lenses (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Moorfields Private, refractive lens exchange (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Focus Clinics pricing (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Blue Fin Vision lens replacement costs (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Newmedica private eye treatment prices (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Newmedica, extended depth of focus lenses (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Freedom Vision treatment pricing (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
