Laser eye surgery vs ICL: which is best?

There is no single "best" — the right choice depends on your eyes. Laser eye surgery (LASIK, LASEK/PRK or SMILE) reshapes the cornea and is ideal for low-to-moderate short-sight, long-sight and astigmatism, with fast recovery. The ICL (implantable collamer lens) is a soft lens placed inside the eye and is often the better choice for high prescriptions, thin corneas or significant dry eye, because it removes no corneal tissue and is reversible. In the UK in 2026, laser starts from £2,400 per eye and ICL from £3,500 per eye. A consultation with corneal scans is the only way to know which suits you.

Two very different approaches

Both procedures aim for the same result — clear vision without glasses or contact lenses — but they get there in opposite ways:

• Laser eye surgery is subtractive: a laser precisely reshapes the front surface of your eye (the cornea) to change how it focuses light.
• ICL is additive: a permanent but removable lens is inserted inside the eye, in front of your natural lens, leaving the cornea untouched.

Because they change the eye in different ways, they suit different prescriptions and eye types — which is exactly why the "best" option varies from person to person.

Laser eye surgery: how it works & who it suits

Laser eye surgery uses a cool-beam excimer laser to reshape the cornea. There are three main techniques: LASIK (a thin flap is created, giving very fast recovery), LASEK/PRK (surface treatment, useful for thinner corneas, slightly longer recovery), and SMILE (keyhole, flapless).

Laser tends to be the best choice when:

• Your prescription is low to moderate
• Your corneas are thick enough and healthy
• You want the quickest possible recovery (LASIK/SMILE)
• You don't have significant dry eye

It's less suitable for very high prescriptions, thin or irregular corneas, keratoconus, or marked dry eye — situations where ICL often shines.

ICL: how it works & who it suits

The ICL is a soft, biocompatible collamer lens implanted through a tiny incision and positioned just behind the iris, in front of your natural lens. Nothing is removed from the eye, and the lens can be removed or exchanged in future if needed. Modern EVO ICL lenses have a central port so no separate iridotomy is usually required, and toric ICLs correct astigmatism.

ICL tends to be the best choice when:

• Your prescription is high (especially high myopia)
• Your corneas are too thin for laser
• You have dry eyes that laser could worsen
• You want a reversible, cornea-sparing option

Learn more about the lens options on our STAAR EVO ICL page.

Laser vs ICL compared

Here's how the two options weigh up on the factors that matter most:

• Prescription range: Laser is ideal for low–moderate; ICL extends to very high myopia.
• Cornea: Laser removes tissue and needs adequate thickness; ICL leaves the cornea untouched.
• Dry eye: Laser can temporarily worsen dry eye; ICL generally does not.
• Reversibility: Laser is permanent; ICL can be removed or exchanged.
• Recovery: LASIK and SMILE recover in days; ICL vision also settles quickly, with both eyes usually treated a week or so apart.
• Night vision: Both can cause temporary halos that usually settle; your surgeon will discuss expectations.

For very high prescriptions or those over about 50, your surgeon may also mention refractive lens exchange, which replaces the natural lens — useful where presbyopia or early cataract is also a factor.

Cost: laser vs ICL in the UK 2026

ICL generally costs more than laser because the lens itself is custom-ordered for your eye. As a 2026 guide at our partner clinics:

• Laser eye surgery: from £2,400 per eye — see the laser eye surgery cost guide and SMILE cost.
• ICL: from £3,500 per eye — see the ICL cost guide.
• Both are all-inclusive of consultation, scans, treatment and aftercare, with 0% finance available.

The cheaper option is not automatically the better one — the safest choice for your eyes is what matters, and that is confirmed at your assessment.

Frequently asked questions