Yes, you can join the Army after laser eye surgery. The Armed Forces used to turn applicants away for it, but that changed years ago — LASIK, LASEK/PRK and SMILE are all accepted now for the great majority of roles. The catch is in the detail: you have to declare the surgery, your eyes must have healed with a stable prescription, and there's usually a waiting period before you can be assessed. A few high-demand roles — aircrew, divers, some special forces posts — keep tighter rules. Treatment at our partner clinics starts from £2,400 per eye (from £2,900 for SMILE), all-inclusive of your assessment, surgery, medications and aftercare.
Laser eye surgery and the Army eyesight standard
Soldiers need vision they can rely on in conditions that are anything but ideal, so recruitment sets a minimum eyesight standard for every role. That standard has two sides to it: an unaided figure (how well you see without any correction) and a corrected figure (how well you see once glasses, lenses or surgery are taken into account). Colour vision is checked too, and for some trades it matters a great deal.
Where laser surgery earns its place is on the corrected side. A good result brings your vision comfortably within range without leaning on a strong prescription that could rule you out on the unaided measure. You'll declare the treatment during your medical, and it's worth holding on to the paperwork from your clinic — some assessments ask for written confirmation of what was done and that your eyes have settled.
One thing to be clear about: the exact figures, the accepted techniques and the waiting periods are set by the Armed Forces, they differ between the Army, Royal Navy and RAF, and they get reviewed from time to time. Always confirm the current medical standard for your chosen role with your Armed Forces Careers Office before you book anything. A proper laser eye surgery suitability check is the sensible first move.
Who is suitable?
- Stable prescription for at least 12 months
- Healthy corneas of adequate thickness on topography scanning
- No significant dry eye or corneal disease such as keratoconus
- A prescription within range that surgery can bring to the recruitment standard
- Usually aged 21 or over, once your prescription has settled
Enlisting soon? A suitability assessment tells you whether laser surgery can get your vision within the standard for your role — before you commit to anything.
Book a suitability checkLaser eye surgery options
We offer the full range of corneal laser techniques. Historically the military leaned towards flapless, surface-based treatment for physically demanding roles — the thinking being that there's no corneal flap to worry about in a knock. That preference has softened as flap and keyhole techniques have proven themselves, but it's a good reason to check what your specific role accepts before you settle on a method. Your surgeon will weigh that up alongside your cornea and prescription.
Compare the techniques in detail on our LASIK, PRK, LASEK surface ablation and SMILE pages, or read the full laser eye surgery overview. Applying for a flying role? See our guide to laser eye surgery for a Class 1 aviation medical, where the rules are stricter.
What happens during laser eye surgery
Laser eye surgery is a day-case procedure under local anaesthetic eye drops and takes around 10–15 minutes per eye. You're awake throughout and feel no pain, just a little pressure.
- Numbing drops go in and a soft holder keeps the eyelids gently open.
- For LASIK a femtosecond laser creates a thin corneal flap; for PRK/LASEK the surface layer is eased aside instead.
- An excimer laser reshapes the cornea in seconds to correct your prescription, guided by your wavefront or topography map.
- The flap is smoothed back into place (LASIK) or a protective contact lens is fitted (PRK/LASEK).
- You rest for a short while, then head home the same day — arrange for someone to drive you.
Recovery week-by-week
LASIK and SMILE bounce back quickly; surface treatments (PRK/LASEK) take a bit longer while the top layer heals over. If you've got a start date or an assessment booked, plan the surgery around it with room to spare rather than cutting it fine.
Day of surgery
Vision is misty and the eyes may water or feel gritty for a few hours. Rest with them closed. Drops begin.
Days 1–3
LASIK/SMILE vision is often usable the next day. PRK/LASEK feels sore for 2–4 days under a bandage lens.
Week 1
First review. Most LASIK patients are back at work and driving; surface-treatment vision is still sharpening.
Weeks 2–4
Vision stabilises and any night-time halos fade. Keep using lubricating drops as advised.
1–3 months
Vision is settled. A final refractive check confirms your result — and, for most roles, that's the point the Army will want you past before your medical.
Laser eye surgery cost for Army applicants
Our laser prices are all-inclusive of your assessment, the treatment and aftercare, plus paperwork confirming the procedure if your medical asks for it:
- Self-pay: from £2,400 per eye for LASIK or PRK/LASEK; from £2,900 per eye for SMILE.
- Typical UK range: around £1,300–£3,000 per eye depending on technology and prescription.
- Finance: 0% options available to spread the cost over 12–24 months.
For the full picture see our laser eye surgery cost guide, our breakdown of how much private laser eye surgery costs, and an honest look at whether laser eye surgery is worth the cost.