Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea — the clear front window of the eye — to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism. It is permanent, day-case, takes ~15 minutes per eye, and costs from approximately £1,800 to £3,500 per eye in the UK depending on procedure. Modern techniques include LASIK, SMILE Pro, SILK, SMARTSIGHT, and Presbyond blended vision. Laser is unsuitable for people over ~45 with developing presbyopia, those with very high prescriptions, thin corneas, severe dry eye, or progressive keratoconus — in those cases, lens-based surgery (RLE or ICL) is usually a better option.
How laser eye surgery works
The cornea is responsible for about two-thirds of the eye's focusing power. Reshaping its surface by even microns changes how light hits the retina, correcting refractive error. All modern laser procedures use an excimer laser (or, in SMILE and SILK, a femtosecond laser alone) to remove tissue with sub-micron precision in a procedure that takes seconds of actual laser time.
Surgery is performed under topical anaesthetic (eye drops only). You're awake, hold your gaze on a target, and feel pressure but no pain. Vision is hazy for hours, clears within 24–48 hours, and stabilises over weeks. Most people return to driving within 24–48 hours and to office work within 1–2 days.
Is laser right for you?
Suitability for laser depends as much on what your eyes aren't as what your prescription is. Use this honest checklist:
Not sure which category you're in? A proper suitability assessment includes corneal topography, pachymetry, pupil measurement and dry eye screening. Without those scans, no honest surgeon will commit you to a procedure.
Register your interestThe five modern laser procedures
Marketing language muddles the field, but there are really five distinct techniques in mainstream UK practice. Each suits different eyes:
LASIK
The original modern laser procedure (Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis). A femtosecond laser creates a thin corneal flap; an excimer laser reshapes the underlying stroma; the flap is repositioned. Pros: 30+ years of evidence, fastest recovery (most patients see well within hours), broad prescription range. Cons: The flap is a permanent structural change — contact sports and trauma risk. Topography-guided LASIK (Contoura) tailors the correction to each eye's irregular surface map. Full LASIK guide → · Read about Contoura LASIK →
SMILE Pro
Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction. No flap — the surgeon uses a femtosecond laser only to cut a lens-shaped piece of tissue (lenticule) inside the cornea, then removes it through a 2–4mm keyhole incision. Pros: No flap means stronger cornea, less dry eye, better for active patients. Cons: Currently limited to myopia and astigmatism (not long-sight); slightly slower visual recovery than LASIK. Full SMILE guide → · Read about SMILE Pro →
SILK
Smooth Incision Lenticule Keratomileusis. The newest lenticule technique, using a different laser platform (ELITA) and a more refined lenticule shape than SMILE. Pros: Smoother stromal surface for faster visual recovery; reported lower dry eye incidence. Cons: Newer — fewer years of follow-up evidence. Currently myopia and astigmatism only. Read about SILK →
SMARTSIGHT
Zeiss's next-generation single-laser refractive procedure aimed at very high precision keyhole correction. Conceptually similar to SMILE but with software-driven optimisation for individual corneal biomechanics. Read about SMARTSIGHT →
Presbyond Laser Blended Vision
A LASIK variant specifically for the 40–55 age group with developing presbyopia. The dominant eye is corrected for distance with a slight bias to intermediate; the non-dominant eye is corrected for near with a slight bias to intermediate. The brain blends them. Pros: Glasses-free reading without bifocals, no lens removal. Cons: Some adaptation period; doesn't future-proof you against cataracts the way RLE does. Read about Presbyond →
Laser vs Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
For most people in their 40s and 50s researching laser, the more honest conversation is whether RLE is a better fit. Here's the comparison surgeons themselves use:
| Laser eye surgery | Refractive lens exchange | |
|---|---|---|
| Best age | 21–40 | 45+ |
| Fixes presbyopia? | Partially (Presbyond) | Yes (trifocal/EDOF IOL) |
| Prevents future cataract? | No — cataracts develop normally | Yes — lens already replaced |
| High prescriptions | Up to ~-8.00 / +4.00 | Any prescription |
| Cost (UK 2026) | £1,800–£3,500/eye | £4,300/eye |
| Recovery | 24–48 hours | 2–4 weeks |
| Permanent? | Yes (vision may shift with age) | Yes (lens is forever) |
If you're over 45 or have a high prescription — most ophthalmic surgeons will recommend RLE over laser. It costs more upfront but solves more, lasts longer, and removes cataract risk entirely.
Learn about RLEUK 2026 laser eye surgery cost
Headline prices vary enormously depending on procedure, surgeon experience and clinic. Beware of "from £595 per eye" advertising — that price is almost always for the lowest-prescription monovision-only LASIK and excludes pre-op scans, premium tracking, or any topographic guidance. A realistic UK 2026 range:
- LASIK: £1,800–£2,800 per eye (Contoura adds £300–£500)
- SMILE Pro / SILK: £2,400–£3,200 per eye
- SMARTSIGHT: £2,800–£3,500 per eye
- Presbyond: £2,800–£3,500 per eye
- PRK / LASEK (legacy surface laser, longer recovery): £1,500–£2,200 per eye
Most private medical insurers (Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality) classify laser eye surgery as cosmetic and don't cover it.
Frequently asked questions
Is laser eye surgery safe?
Why are private surgeons often steering me toward RLE?
What's the difference between LASIK and SMILE?
Can laser eye surgery wear off?
How do I know if a surgeon is good?
Register your interest
We currently partner with consultant-led clinics across South England for cataract, refractive lens exchange, oculoplastic, glaucoma and retinal surgery. Laser eye surgery is delivered by specialist refractive clinics we do not yet have a partnership with.
If you'd like us to notify you when a vetted laser clinic in your area joins our network, leave your details below. We use this list to identify which regions and procedures have enough patient demand to bring a clinical partner on board.
Notify me when laser is available
Email-only notification. No callback. No marketing follow-up.
Looking to book now? If you're 45+ and researching laser because of reading vision changes, RLE is almost certainly the right operation for you — and we do book RLE directly. Visit the RLE page →