You can join the police after laser eye surgery. UK forces accept LASIK, LASEK/PRK and SMILE, provided you declare the treatment, your eyes have fully healed and your corrected vision meets the recruitment standard. Most forces follow the College of Policing eyesight standards, which set out the distance and near vision you need — with glasses, contact lenses or after surgery. At our partner clinics laser treatment 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 police eyesight standard
Police recruitment sets an eyesight standard because officers rely on dependable vision on duty — reading a number plate at distance, using screens and pocketbooks up close, and telling colours apart. For years the uncorrected side of that standard put some applicants off, but corrective surgery has long been allowed, and a good laser result usually removes the barrier altogether.
The College of Policing standards, which most UK forces follow, ask for corrected distance vision of roughly 6/12 or better in each eye and 6/6 or better using both eyes together, along with adequate near vision and a colour-vision check. The exact wording is reviewed from time to time and some forces add their own requirements, so always confirm the current standard with the force you're applying to before you make any decisions.
Where laser surgery matters is that it lets you meet those figures without relying on a strong prescription. You'll need to declare the treatment on your medical questionnaire, and a few forces ask for a short report confirming what was done and that your eyes have settled — so keep the paperwork from your clinic. A thorough laser eye surgery suitability check is the sensible first step before you book anything.
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
Applying to a force soon? A suitability assessment confirms whether laser surgery can get your vision within the police standard — before you commit.
Book a suitability checkLaser eye surgery options
We offer the full range of corneal laser techniques. Unlike aviation, policing doesn't insist on one particular method — the right choice comes down to your cornea, your prescription and how quickly you want to be back to normal.
Compare the techniques in detail on our LASIK, PRK, LASEK surface ablation and SMILE pages, or read the full laser eye surgery overview.
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 the whole time 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 surface layer heals. Line your application timeline up with this, not against it.
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 — the point at which you're ready for the recruitment eye test.
Laser eye surgery cost for police applicants
Our laser prices are all-inclusive of your assessment, the treatment and aftercare, plus paperwork confirming the procedure if your force 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.