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LASIK treats short sight, long sight and astigmatism, costs £1,295 to £3,750 per eye at UK clinics, and often has people back at work the day after surgery. One laser cuts a thin flap in the front of the eye, a second reshapes the cornea beneath, and the flap is smoothed back without stitches. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says laser correction is most likely to suit adults over 18 with a stable prescription of up to 10 dioptres of short sight, 4 of long sight or 6 of astigmatism. Optimax charges £1,295 an eye for any prescription. At Optical Express £1,295 is a starting price, and yours depends on your prescription.
- Price per eye: £1,295 to £3,750
- Consultation: free at most clinics; £195 at Moorfields
- Back at work: often the next day
- NHS: not usually offered
Watch: How LASIK reshapes the cornea under a flap, the recovery, who it suits and what it costs. 1 min 28 s.
Read the transcript
LASIK eye surgery, explained.
LASIK is the most common type of laser eye surgery. It treats short sight, long sight and astigmatism.
A laser reshapes the cornea, at the front of the eye, to change how the eye focuses.
Numbing drops go in. One laser cuts a thin flap in the cornea, and the surgeon lifts it.
A second laser reshapes the cornea beneath, and the flap is smoothed back without stitches.
It takes about half an hour for both eyes. Most people feel pressure rather than pain.
People are often back at work the next day. Contact sport has to wait at least a month.
Glare, halos and dry eyes are common at first, and usually improve within a few months.
It’s most likely to suit adults over 18 with a stable prescription and healthy eyes.
At the consultation, the surgeon measures your cornea and prescription, and says whether LASIK or another treatment fits.
At the 8 clinics we checked, LASIK costs £1,295 to £3,750 per eye.
Your price depends on your prescription. The consultation is free at most clinics.
It isn’t usually offered on the NHS, and health insurance doesn’t usually cover it.
Compare quotes from clinics near you.
Is LASIK right for me?
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists calls LASIK the commonest form of laser vision correction. A femtosecond laser makes a thin flap in the cornea, the surgeon lifts it, and an excimer laser removes a lens-shaped piece of tissue beneath to change the eye's focus. The flap then sticks back in place without stitches. Whether it suits you depends on your prescription, your cornea and your age.
Usually suitable
- Short sight up to 10 dioptres, long sight up to 4, or astigmatism up to 6, on the College's ranges; some people outside them can still be treated
- Over 18, with a prescription that has changed by no more than 0.5 dioptres in the last two years
- Healthy eyes, with a cornea thick enough for a flap
- You want clear vision quickly and can avoid contact sport for a month
Usually not, or needs a different treatment
- A thin cornea or keratoconus: The FDA warns that treating a cornea that is too thin may cause blinding complications, so ask about an ICL lens implant or, for keratoconus, cross-linking
- A prescription beyond the laser range: The College says lens implants such as the ICL are often a good alternative for younger people
- Retirement age or early cataract: The College says lens replacement is often preferred
- A prescription still changing, or pregnancy or breastfeeding, which can make it unstable
- Contact sport you can't pause for a month: After LASIK the College advises waiting at least a month, longer than after a surface laser or SMILE
The surgeon measures your cornea and prescription at the consultation and says whether LASIK, a surface laser, SMILE or a lens fits. The College's standards say surgery should not happen on the day it is recommended, and recommend a week to decide.
LASIK prices at eight UK clinics
Published LASIK prices, read from each clinic's own website on 11 October 2026. Your price depends on your prescription and is confirmed at the consultation.
| Clinic | LASIK, per eye | Consultation | Aftercare included | Paying monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optical Express | LASIK from £1,295 LASIKAdvanced from £1,495 |
Free | 3 months, with drops and medication; then £100 an optometrist visit and £200 a surgeon visit | Finance available (through a panel of lenders) |
| Optimax | £1,295, any prescription | Free | Until discharge | Finance available over 10 to 48 months, £250 deposit an eye (V12 Retail Finance); 0% APR over 10 to 24 months, 9.9% APR representative over 36 or 48 months; representative example below |
| Optegra | £2,095 | Free, by video or phone | 12 months, with medication, out-of-hours support and any enhancement needed | Finance available, minimum 10% deposit (Novuna Consumer Finance) |
| Precision Vision (London) | £1,950 | Free; £100 holding fee, refunded when you attend and meet eligibility checks | 12 months of follow-ups, medication and any enhancement in the first year | Finance available over 12 to 60 months, £250 deposit (through Ideal4Finance, a credit broker) |
| Focus Clinics | From £4,400 for both eyes, by prescription £6,000 both eyes for complex cases Ray-tracing guided LASIK £6,500 both eyes |
Free telephone consultation | Free re-treatment for 10 years if needed, excluding age-related change | Finance available over 12 to 60 months, £500 deposit |
| Centre for Sight | From £2,595 | £500 deposit including the consultation, taken off the surgery price | Aftercare and 24-hour emergency support | Finance available for up to 24 months, with a deposit (V12 Retail Finance) |
| Moorfields Private | £5,682 for both eyes, whichever laser treatment | £195 | Tests, hospital and consultant fees, take-home drops, follow-up to 3 months | Finance available (Omni Capital Retail Finance) |
| London Vision Clinic | £2,950 to £3,750, the same band as its SMILE and PRK/LASEK | Free 30-minute screening | A year, with eye drops and reviews | Finance available over 12 to 36 months (V12 Retail Finance) |
Per eye unless stated. Read from each clinic's website on 11 October 2026.
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Optical Express
LASIK from £1,295
LASIKAdvanced from £1,495 Consultation: Free Aftercare included: 3 months, with drops and medication; then £100 an optometrist visit and £200 a surgeon visit Paying monthly: Finance available (through a panel of lenders) - Optimax £1,295, any prescription Consultation: Free Aftercare included: Until discharge Paying monthly: Finance available over 10 to 48 months, £250 deposit an eye (V12 Retail Finance); 0% APR over 10 to 24 months, 9.9% APR representative over 36 or 48 months; representative example below
- Optegra £2,095 Consultation: Free, by video or phone Aftercare included: 12 months, with medication, out-of-hours support and any enhancement needed Paying monthly: Finance available, minimum 10% deposit (Novuna Consumer Finance)
- Precision Vision (London) £1,950 Consultation: Free; £100 holding fee, refunded when you attend and meet eligibility checks Aftercare included: 12 months of follow-ups, medication and any enhancement in the first year Paying monthly: Finance available over 12 to 60 months, £250 deposit (through Ideal4Finance, a credit broker)
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Focus Clinics
From £4,400 for both eyes, by prescription
£6,000 both eyes for complex cases
Ray-tracing guided LASIK £6,500 both eyes Consultation: Free telephone consultation Aftercare included: Free re-treatment for 10 years if needed, excluding age-related change Paying monthly: Finance available over 12 to 60 months, £500 deposit - Centre for Sight From £2,595 Consultation: £500 deposit including the consultation, taken off the surgery price Aftercare included: Aftercare and 24-hour emergency support Paying monthly: Finance available for up to 24 months, with a deposit (V12 Retail Finance)
- Moorfields Private £5,682 for both eyes, whichever laser treatment Consultation: £195 Aftercare included: Tests, hospital and consultant fees, take-home drops, follow-up to 3 months Paying monthly: Finance available (Omni Capital Retail Finance)
- London Vision Clinic £2,950 to £3,750, the same band as its SMILE and PRK/LASEK Consultation: Free 30-minute screening Aftercare included: A year, with eye drops and reviews Paying monthly: Finance available over 12 to 36 months (V12 Retail Finance)
Prices change, so check with the clinic before you book.
Optical Express and Focus Clinics publish starting prices that depend on your prescription, and neither says how many patients qualify for its lowest LASIK price. Optimax charges one price whatever the prescription, and Moorfields one price whatever the laser treatment. Centre for Sight's LASIK page says from £2,595 an eye and its pricing page lists laser eye surgery at £2,593. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says a clinic's price normally covers follow-up visits and any top-up for up to two years, so ask what yours includes. Prices change, so check with the clinic before you book.
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Femto-LASIK, wavefront and the other types of LASIK
Clinics sell LASIK under several names. Most differ in how the flap is cut or how the laser plan is drawn up. Randomised trials comparing them have found little difference in average results.
| Type | What changes | What the evidence shows | Where, and the price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Femto-LASIK (bladeless) or blade LASIK | A femtosecond laser or a fine blade (microkeratome) cuts the flap. The College says LASIK is typically done with the laser. | Cochrane review, 2020 (11 trials, 1,691 eyes): No clear difference in vision. Inflammation under the flap was more common with the laser, and dry eye more common with the blade in one trial. | Standard LASIK at the clinics above |
| Wavefront-guided or wavefront-optimised (iDesign, Zyoptix) Guide | A wavefront scan maps small optical flaws in the eye, and the laser plan uses it | Cochrane review, 2020 (33 trials, 2,797 eyes): No important difference from standard treatment at 6 and 12 months, on low-certainty evidence | Optical Express says LASIK can be enhanced by iDesign; ask which price includes it |
| Topography-guided | A map of the cornea's surface shapes the treatment | Meta-analysis, 2021 (7 trials, 1,168 eyes): Slightly more eyes were within half a dioptre of target than with wavefront-optimised LASIK, and other results were similar | No clinic in our table prices it separately |
| Ray-tracing guided (WaveLight Plus with InnovEyes) | Several scans are combined into a 3D model of the eye to plan the treatment | Review of 14 studies, 2026 (1,577 short-sighted eyes): Follow-up was short, and the authors ask for longer studies | Focus Clinics, £6,500 for both eyes |
Most names describe how the flap is cut or how the laser plan is drawn up.
- Femto-LASIK (bladeless) or blade LASIK What changes: A femtosecond laser or a fine blade (microkeratome) cuts the flap. The College says LASIK is typically done with the laser. What the evidence shows: Cochrane review, 2020 (11 trials, 1,691 eyes): No clear difference in vision. Inflammation under the flap was more common with the laser, and dry eye more common with the blade in one trial. Where, and the price: Standard LASIK at the clinics above
- Wavefront-guided or wavefront-optimised (iDesign, Zyoptix) Guide What changes: A wavefront scan maps small optical flaws in the eye, and the laser plan uses it What the evidence shows: Cochrane review, 2020 (33 trials, 2,797 eyes): No important difference from standard treatment at 6 and 12 months, on low-certainty evidence Where, and the price: Optical Express says LASIK can be enhanced by iDesign; ask which price includes it
- Topography-guided What changes: A map of the cornea's surface shapes the treatment What the evidence shows: Meta-analysis, 2021 (7 trials, 1,168 eyes): Slightly more eyes were within half a dioptre of target than with wavefront-optimised LASIK, and other results were similar Where, and the price: No clinic in our table prices it separately
- Ray-tracing guided (WaveLight Plus with InnovEyes) What changes: Several scans are combined into a 3D model of the eye to plan the treatment What the evidence shows: Review of 14 studies, 2026 (1,577 short-sighted eyes): Follow-up was short, and the authors ask for longer studies Where, and the price: Focus Clinics, £6,500 for both eyes
Ask the clinic which laser and planning method it uses, and whether the price changes with it. Studies read 11 October 2026; prices read from each clinic's website the same day.
What happens, from consultation to settled vision
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Consultation Free at most clinics
The clinic maps your cornea and checks your prescription and eye health. The surgeon then says whether LASIK, a surface laser, SMILE or a lens implant fits your eyes, or that none does.
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A week to decide At least a week after the recommendation
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists' standards say surgery should not happen on the day it is recommended, and recommend a cooling-off week. Any deposit should be fully refundable if you change your mind.
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Treatment day About half an hour for both eyes
You lie down, numbing drops go in and a spring clip holds your lids open. One laser makes the flap, a second reshapes the cornea beneath, and the flap is smoothed back without stitches. Most people feel pressure rather than pain. You go home the same day, and someone else drives.
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The first days Often back at work the next day
Rest with your eyes closed for the first few hours and use lubricant drops often, then antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops as prescribed. You can shower and go to the gym from day one, but the College says most surgeons advise no swimming for a week. Red blotches on the white of the eye are common after LASIK and can take up to 6 weeks to clear.
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The first months No contact sport for at least a month
Glare, halos and dry, gritty eyes are common at first, and night driving may be difficult. The College says these usually improve within a few months. The NHS advises no driving at night until your eyes have recovered.
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Settled result Up to two years
Most changes after three months are very small, but the College says the result can take up to two years to settle fully. Up to 1 in 10 people need further surgery to improve the result, and the College says clinic prices normally include top-ups for up to two years.
Results and risks, with the study behind each figure
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says visual results at three months are equally good for LASIK, surface laser and lenticule extraction such as SMILE.
- Satisfied with the outcome Over 95% Royal College of Ophthalmologists patient information, 2024
- New dry eye symptoms at 3 months About 28% US FDA PROWL studies, 2017, in people with none before surgery
- New glare, halos or other visual symptoms at 3 months 43% to 46% PROWL-1 and PROWL-2, 574 people; the College says these usually improve within months
- Need further surgery Up to 1 in 10 RCOphth; 2.55% were re-treated in a Singapore audit of 53,731 LASIK eyes, 2019
- Infection after LASIK About 1 in 2,800 72 eyes in 204,586 procedures at Clínica Baviera, Spain (Llovet, Ophthalmology 2010)
- Need a corneal transplant Under 1 in 5,000 Royal College of Ophthalmologists patient information, 2024
The PROWL, Spanish and Singapore figures come from clinics abroad. Ask a UK clinic for its own audited results.
What the studies show
- The College says LASIK patients are often back at work the day after surgery, sooner than after a surface laser or SMILE
- Treats short sight, long sight and astigmatism, up to 10, 4 and 6 dioptres on the College's ranges
- In the PROWL studies, dry eye and visual symptoms were less common overall after LASIK than before it, and 1% to 2% were dissatisfied with the surgery
Worth knowing
- The flap rules out contact sport for at least a month; surface laser and SMILE allow it sooner, says the College
- Glare from oncoming headlights is common at first and night driving may be difficult, usually improving within a few months
- Laser correction can make glaucoma pressure checks read low and can make later cataract surgery slightly less accurate, so tell your optometrist and surgeon you've had it
If LASIK isn't for you
Each alternative has its own guide. The College says the main difference between the laser treatments is speed of recovery.
| Option | Who it usually suits | How it differs from LASIK | Price per eye |
|---|---|---|---|
| LASEK, PRK or TransPRK Guide | People who want to return to contact sport sooner | No flap. The surface layer is removed and regrows over about a week, and the eye is normally very sore meanwhile. Reaching the driving standard may take a week or longer. | £549 to £3,750 |
| SMILE or SMILE Pro Guide | Short sight and astigmatism | No flap. A disc of tissue is removed through a small incision. Vision may recover slightly more slowly, and contact sport can resume sooner. | £2,200 to £3,750 |
| ICL lens implant Guide | Younger people with a prescription outside the laser range | A lens is placed inside the eye in front of your own lens, and nothing is removed from the cornea | £3,395 to £4,600 or more |
| Lens replacement Guide | Retirement age or early cataract | Your natural lens is replaced with an implant, as in cataract surgery | £2,000 to £5,500 |
| Glasses or contact lenses | Anyone | No surgery. The College notes about 1 in 3,000 contact lens wearers a year get a serious corneal infection | Ongoing cost |
Each alternative has its own guide.
- LASEK, PRK or TransPRK Guide Who it usually suits: People who want to return to contact sport sooner How it differs from LASIK: No flap. The surface layer is removed and regrows over about a week, and the eye is normally very sore meanwhile. Reaching the driving standard may take a week or longer. Price per eye: £549 to £3,750
- SMILE or SMILE Pro Guide Who it usually suits: Short sight and astigmatism How it differs from LASIK: No flap. A disc of tissue is removed through a small incision. Vision may recover slightly more slowly, and contact sport can resume sooner. Price per eye: £2,200 to £3,750
- ICL lens implant Guide Who it usually suits: Younger people with a prescription outside the laser range How it differs from LASIK: A lens is placed inside the eye in front of your own lens, and nothing is removed from the cornea Price per eye: £3,395 to £4,600 or more
- Lens replacement Guide Who it usually suits: Retirement age or early cataract How it differs from LASIK: Your natural lens is replaced with an implant, as in cataract surgery Price per eye: £2,000 to £5,500
- Glasses or contact lenses Who it usually suits: Anyone How it differs from LASIK: No surgery. The College notes about 1 in 3,000 contact lens wearers a year get a serious corneal infection Price per eye: Ongoing cost
Prices read on 11 October 2026.
Lowest and highest published per-eye prices on our guide to each treatment, read on 11 October 2026. Optical Express's £549 LASEK price applied to 22.8% of the eyes it assessed between 1 September and 28 December 2024, and its £2,000 lens replacement price to 18.6% of patients assessed in 2017. London Vision Clinic's ICL price is from £4,600.
The NHS, insurance and paying monthly
NHS. The NHS says laser eye surgery and lens surgery are “not usually offered on the NHS”. It makes exceptions for an eye condition that could lead to loss of vision, or sight problems that glasses or contact lenses can’t correct. See when the NHS pays.
Private medical insurance. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says surgery to correct the need for glasses or contact lenses is “not covered by private health insurance schemes”. Bupa’s guide for policies starting from 1 September 2026, for example, excludes “treatment to correct your eyesight (for example, long or short sight)”. See insurance and laser eye surgery.
Paying monthly. Every clinic in our table offers finance. Optimax’s representative example for LASIK is £1,295 an eye with a £250 deposit and £1,045 of credit, then £27 a month over 48 months at 9.9% APR representative, £1,510 in total, with credit from Secure Trust Bank, trading as V12 Retail Finance. Over 24 months at 0% APR it is £44 a month, £1,295 in total. Finance is a loan, so check the APR, the lender and the total before you sign. See paying monthly for laser eye surgery.
Questions people ask about LASIK
£1,295 to £3,750 per eye at the eight clinics in our table, read on 11 October 2026. Optimax charges £1,295 an eye for any prescription, and Optical Express starts at £1,295 with the price set by your prescription. Moorfields Private charges £5,682 for both eyes. Ask what the price includes. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists says it normally covers follow-up visits and any top-up for up to two years. Our cost guide compares every treatment.
The College says LASIK patients are often back at work the day after surgery. You can shower from day one, but most surgeons advise no swimming for a week and no contact sport for a month. Glare, halos and dry eyes usually improve within a few months, and the result can take up to two years to settle fully.
Most people have some glare, halos or starbursts early on, and dry, gritty eyes. In the US PROWL studies, about 28% of people with no dry eye symptoms before LASIK had them at three months, and 43% to 46% reported new visual symptoms. Infection affected 72 of 204,586 LASIK procedures in one Spanish series, and the College says fewer than 1 in 5,000 patients need a corneal transplant. Up to 1 in 10 need further surgery to improve the result.
Most people feel pressure rather than pain. The eye is numbed with drops, and you stay awake so you can look at a target light. If you’re anxious, the College says a relaxing drug such as diazepam can help, so ask your surgeon before the day. For the first few hours afterwards, rest with your eyes closed and use lubricant drops often.
Your eyes can still change. The College says natural prescription changes can happen at any stage in life, so laser correction “sometimes needs to be repeated”. Reading vision also fades with age whether or not you’ve had LASIK. From the mid-40s, the College says, surgeons often set one eye for distance and the other for arm’s length to help. See laser blended vision and having laser eye surgery twice.
The College says visual results at three months are equally good for all types of laser correction. LASIK gives the quickest recovery. SMILE has no flap, so you can return to contact sport sooner, and eye comfort may recover slightly faster. A 2022 meta-analysis of 1,985 eyes found SMILE tended to under-correct low to moderate astigmatism compared with LASIK. See our SMILE guide.
LASEK removes the surface layer of the cornea instead of cutting a flap. The College says the eye is normally very sore while that layer regrows over about a week, and you may need a week or longer to reach the driving standard. You can return to contact sport sooner than after LASIK. Prices start lower, from £549 an eye at Optical Express, a price 22.8% of the eyes it assessed in late 2024 qualified for. See our LASEK guide.
Not usually. The NHS says laser eye surgery is not usually offered, except for an eye condition that could lead to loss of vision or sight problems that glasses and contact lenses can’t correct. 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, Laser Vision Correction patient information, PROF/2024/499 (opens in a new tab), Updated 3 December 2024
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Professional Standards for Refractive Surgery, 2024/PROF/497 (opens in a new tab), December 2024
- NHS, Laser eye surgery and lens surgery (opens in a new tab), Reviewed 15 February 2024
- US Food and Drug Administration, When is LASIK not for me? (opens in a new tab), Content current as of 11 July 2018
- Eydelman et al., symptoms and satisfaction in the PROWL studies, JAMA Ophthalmology 135(1) (opens in a new tab), January 2017
Show all 28 sources Show fewer sources
- Llovet et al., infectious keratitis in 204,586 LASIK procedures, Ophthalmology 117(2) (opens in a new tab), February 2010
- Chua et al., 18-year audit of LASIK for myopia in 53,731 eyes, British Journal of Ophthalmology 103(9) (opens in a new tab), September 2019
- Kahuam-López et al., LASIK with a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser, Cochrane review CD012946 (opens in a new tab), 7 April 2020
- Li et al., wavefront excimer laser refractive surgery for adults, Cochrane review CD012687 (opens in a new tab), 18 December 2020
- Cheng et al., topography-guided versus wavefront-optimised LASIK, meta-analysis, Journal of Refractive Surgery 37(10) (opens in a new tab), October 2021
- Friedrich et al., ray-tracing guided LASIK, systematic review and meta-analysis, Ophthalmology and Therapy 15(5) (opens in a new tab), May 2026
- Song et al., SMILE versus LASIK for astigmatism, meta-analysis, American Journal of Ophthalmology 247 (opens in a new tab), Online 19 November 2022
- Bupa By You policy guide, exclusion 16 (eyesight) (opens in a new tab), Policies from 1 September 2026
- Optical Express laser eye surgery pricing (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optical Express LASIK (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optical Express lens replacement pricing (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optimax LASIK (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optimax prices (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optegra laser eye surgery costs (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Optegra lens replacement costs (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Precision Vision London pricing (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Centre for Sight laser eye surgery (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Centre for Sight pricing (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Moorfields Private laser eye surgery cost (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- London Vision Clinic prices (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Focus Clinics pricing (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Focus Clinics LASIK costs and re-treatment terms (opens in a new tab), 11 October 2026
- Kingsbridge Private Hospital, SMILE laser eye surgery (opens in a new tab), Prices dated February 2026, read 11 October 2026
