Precision Vision London lists corneal cross-linking from £1,750 per eye, or £2,000 per eye laser-assisted. Precision Vision London asks for a £250 deposit per eye when you reserve treatment, deducted from the final cost, and its keratoconus assessment is £250, non-refundable once attended. It is the only partner of Eye Surgery Clinic that treats keratoconus; Sapphire Eye Care does not offer keratoconus treatment. Other clinics set their own prices.
What is corneal cross-linking?
Corneal cross-linking, usually shortened to CXL, uses riboflavin (vitamin B2) drops together with controlled ultraviolet light. Precision Vision London explains that these create stronger links between the collagen fibres in the cornea, increasing its strength and helping it keep its shape. Its purpose is to slow or halt the progression of keratoconus, a condition in which the cornea becomes thinner and steeper. It is not done to improve eyesight, and glasses or contact lenses are still needed afterwards.
NICE’s interventional procedures guidance IPG466 covers cross-linking with riboflavin and ultraviolet A for keratoconus and keratectasia. Precision Vision London says cross-linking is generally considered when keratoconus is progressing, and it offers it to patients aged 18 and over whose keratoconus has not reached an advanced stage; the surgeon confirms suitability after a full assessment.
Corneal cross-linking prices
Precision Vision London lists manual cross-linking from £1,750 per eye, laser-assisted cross-linking at £2,000 per eye and corneal implants (INTACS and Kerarings) at £2,575 per eye. Precision Vision London asks for a £250 deposit per eye when you reserve treatment, deducted from the final cost.
Each eye is treated individually. Manual cross-linking on both eyes at Precision Vision London therefore starts from £3,500 (our arithmetic: twice its per-eye price). Its pricing footnote says specialist or complex cases and previous surgery may incur higher costs, and that its prices are indicative and may change. Precision Vision London notes that if cross-linking is not undertaken, keratoconus can progress to the point where a corneal transplant is required; see our corneal transplant cost page and the wider price list.
Is your keratoconus progressing? Precision Vision London’s assessment includes corneal mapping, which shows whether the cornea is stable or still changing.
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What’s included in the price
Precision Vision London says its cross-linking price includes:
- A comprehensive consultation with essential eye tests, health checks, dilation, biometry and topographic mapping
- A personalised treatment plan
- A 12-month aftercare programme
- 24-hour post-treatment telephone access to the clinical team
- All post-operative medication for one month after treatment
Procedure, NHS and insurance
Precision Vision London uses the epithelium-off (epi-off) approach, which it describes as the more effective of the two approaches at halting progression with a single procedure. Anaesthetic drops numb the eye, the thin surface layer of the cornea is removed, riboflavin drops are absorbed, and the eye is exposed to a controlled amount of ultraviolet light; a soft bandage contact lens then protects the surface while it heals. The clinic says the treatment currently takes around 60 minutes per eye. The less common complications it lists are infection while the surface heals, corneal haze, scarring that may affect sight, and continued progression despite treatment.
Cross-linking is also provided by NHS hospital eye services; Moorfields Eye Hospital describes its own cross-linking service. Whether a private medical insurance policy pays for cross-linking is set by each insurer and policy, so ask yours before you book; see our guidance for insured patients and on paying for treatment.