Refractive lens exchange (RLE) costs from about £2,800 per eye for a monofocal lens, £3,600 per eye for an EDOF lens and £4,600 per eye for a premium trifocal lens in 2026, and is widely available on 0% APR finance — typically spreading both eyes over 12 to 24 months with no interest. As a guide, both eyes on a 24-month 0% plan work out from roughly £233 per month. Because RLE removes the natural lens it is permanent, so choose it on the basis of a full consultation, not price alone.
How lens replacement finance works
Refractive lens exchange replaces your eye's natural lens with a permanent artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to correct your vision and prevent cataracts developing later. Because it is a premium, self-pay procedure, most patients spread the cost with a payment plan rather than paying in full upfront.
A 0% APR plan means you pay the clinic price in equal monthly instalments over an agreed term — commonly 12 or 24 months — with no interest added. Longer interest-bearing terms (up to around 60 months) are also available if you prefer smaller monthly payments. Finance is provided by a regulated lender, is subject to status and a credit check, and usually requires little or no deposit.
Lens options and prices
The lens you choose is the biggest driver of both the total price and your monthly payment. Your consultant recommends the best option for your eyes and lifestyle.
Toric (astigmatism-correcting) versions add roughly £400 per eye. For the full breakdown see our RLE price page, the national refractive lens exchange cost guide and trifocal IOL costs.
Want a personalised finance quote? Book a consultation and we'll confirm your lens, price and monthly payment options.
Request a consultation0% APR payment plans explained
Here is how a typical 0% APR plan looks over 24 months, treating both eyes:
- Monofocal — both eyes ~£5,600: approximately £233 per month over 24 months.
- EDOF — both eyes ~£7,200: approximately £300 per month over 24 months.
- Trifocal — both eyes ~£9,200: approximately £383 per month over 24 months.
Shorter terms (for example 12 months) mean higher monthly payments but the same total, while longer interest-bearing terms lower the monthly cost. Representative examples and the current lender terms are on our finance page. Finance is subject to status.
What's included in the price
- Your consultant assessment and biometry scans
- The surgeon, theatre and hospital fees
- Your chosen intraocular lens (both eyes)
- Post-operative drops
- Your follow-up review appointments
RLE is generally not covered by private medical insurance because it is a refractive (lifestyle) procedure rather than treatment of disease — which is exactly why interest-free finance is so widely used.
Is RLE right for me?
RLE is most often chosen by patients over about 50 who want freedom from glasses, or who have high long-sightedness or the early stages of cataract. For younger patients with suitable corneas, laser eye surgery may be the better option. Because RLE removes the natural lens it is irreversible and carries a small but real risk of retinal detachment, so it should be chosen after a full consultation — never on price alone. Compare the options in our guide to lens replacement vs laser eye surgery over 50, and read more about presbyopia lens replacement and your implant lens options.