Treatments · Vitreoretinal · Laser vitreolysis · Updated May 2026
Private YAG vitreolysis floaters removal in London, UK 2026
YAG vitreolysis is a non-incisional Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser procedure performed at the slit lamp under topical anaesthesia to vaporise and disrupt symptomatic vitreous floaters - most commonly a Weiss ring after posterior vitreous detachment, or one or two discrete mid-vitreous opacities sitting clearly away from the natural lens and the retina.
Unlike vitrectomy, YAG vitreolysis does not enter the eye, does not remove vitreous gel, does not require theatre and does not carry the surgical-cataract or retinal-detachment risk profile of pars plana vitrectomy. Patient selection is, however, much narrower: only discrete, well-positioned floaters away from the crystalline lens and the retinal surface are appropriate. UK 2026 projected self-pay is GBP 1,200-2,200 per eye per session, with one to three sessions typically required to achieve symptomatic relief.
Fast answer: private YAG vitreolysis in London and the UK in 2026
Typical cost per session
GBP 1,200-2,200 self-pay per eye per session, typically inclusive of the consultant vitreoretinal assessment, OCT, wide-field retinal imaging and the YAG vitreolysis treatment itself. One to three sessions are usually needed.
What it does
Targets a discrete vitreous floater - most often a Weiss ring or a clearly defined mid-vitreous opacity - with focused Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser pulses to vaporise the floater into smaller gaseous and particulate debris that the eye reabsorbs over weeks.
Procedure time
About 20-40 minutes per eye at the slit lamp under topical anaesthesia. Typically 200-600 laser shots per session. Both eyes are not treated in the same attendance to allow safety review and IOP check.
Recovery
Vision is usually back to baseline within hours. No flap, no sutures, no theatre. A short course of anti-inflammatory drops and an IOP check at 1 hour and 1 week complete the immediate aftercare.
What is YAG vitreolysis?
YAG vitreolysis is a non-incisional outpatient procedure that uses a Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser - the same family of laser used for YAG laser capsulotomy after cataract surgery - configured for vitreous work. Modern vitreolysis lasers used in the UK in 2026 include the Ellex Ultra Q Reflex, the A.R.C. Reflex Technology platform and the Lumenis Selecta Trio, all of which combine a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser with a coaxial illumination beam that allows the surgeon to focus precisely on a vitreous floater visualised through a contact vitreolysis lens at the slit lamp.
The laser delivers very short, high-energy pulses (typically 1-8 mJ, in nanosecond pulse durations) that vaporise collagen fibrils within the floater, producing a plasma at the focal spot. The mechanical effect breaks the floater up into smaller, optically less significant fragments and a small volume of gaseous debris, which the vitreous cavity reabsorbs over the following weeks. Unlike vitreoretinal surgery, YAG vitreolysis does not enter the eye, does not remove vitreous gel, does not require an operating theatre and does not carry the surgical-cataract risk that pars plana vitrectomy carries in phakic eyes. See the wider vitreous floaters treatment overview for the full pathway from observation to vitrectomy.
UK 2026 private YAG vitreolysis cost
Private YAG vitreolysis is priced per eye per session and typically includes the consultant vitreoretinal assessment with dilated fundoscopy, macular OCT, wide-field retinal imaging where indicated, the YAG vitreolysis treatment itself, post-treatment IOP checks at one hour and one week, a short post-treatment drop regimen and a 12-week follow-up to decide on a further session.
| Procedure | Typical UK 2026 cost per eye |
|---|---|
| Consultant vitreoretinal floaters assessment (often credited against treatment) | GBP 250-400 |
| YAG vitreolysis, single session (Weiss ring or discrete mid-vitreous floater) | GBP 1,200-2,200 |
| Per-eye package, up to 3 sessions over 6 months | GBP 2,400-4,800 |
| Bilateral pricing (treated on separate attendances) | Per-eye pricing applied to each side |
If your floaters are not suitable for YAG vitreolysis - for example because they are diffuse, anterior, very posterior or part of vitreous syneresis with strands - your consultant may instead recommend pars plana vitrectomy. See the vitrectomy cost overview, the vitrectomy treatment overview and the wider prices index for the full range. Stage payment via finance is available where the indication is met.
What is included in your YAG vitreolysis package
Consultant vitreoretinal assessment
A full consultant-led vitreoretinal workup - see what to expect at your consultation - with a detailed history of the symptomatic floater, visual function impact and counselling on YAG vitreolysis versus observation versus vitrectomy.
Dilated fundoscopy and imaging
Indirect ophthalmoscopy with scleral indentation to exclude a retinal tear or detachment, macular OCT to confirm a normal foveal contour, and wide-field retinal imaging to map the floater and document the peripheral retina.
YAG vitreolysis treatment
Slit-lamp YAG vitreolysis on a vitreolysis-rated Nd:YAG platform with a coaxial illumination beam and a dedicated mid-vitreous contact lens, with intra-procedural safety pauses and IOP monitoring.
Post-treatment medication
A short course of topical anti-inflammatory drops, a clear written symptom-watch sheet for flashes, sudden new floaters or visual field loss, and a 24-hour clinical advice line for the first week.
IOP and outcome review
An IOP check at one hour and again at one week, a 4-week symptomatic review and a 12-week consultant outcome review to confirm symptomatic improvement and decide on a further session if required.
Direct surgeon continuity
Continuity with your operating vitreoretinal surgeon for every session, with an escalation pathway to vitrectomy if vitreolysis is not effective or not appropriate.
What does the evidence say about YAG vitreolysis?
The published evidence base for YAG vitreolysis is moderate and is dominated by single-centre prospective cohort studies and a small number of randomised sham-controlled trials. The most-cited randomised work, Shah and Heier (JAMA Ophthalmology 2017), reported that approximately 53 percent of patients treated for a Weiss ring after posterior vitreous detachment perceived a significant symptomatic improvement at six months, compared with no patients in the sham arm. Real-world series at high-volume UK and international centres report symptomatic improvement in approximately 60-90 percent of well-selected Weiss-ring and discrete mid-vitreous floater patients after one to three sessions.
Patient selection drives outcome more than any other variable: anterior floaters close to the natural lens, posterior floaters within 3 mm of the retina, diffuse vitreous syneresis with multiple small floaters and the floaters of a young phakic eye that has not yet undergone posterior vitreous detachment respond poorly. NICE has published interventional procedure guidance (IPG 615) on YAG laser vitreolysis recognising it as a treatment option for symptomatic vitreous floaters with strict patient-selection requirements and an explicit consent discussion of limitations and risks. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists positions YAG vitreolysis as one of three pathways - observation, vitreolysis or vitrectomy - to be discussed with all patients presenting with symptomatic floaters. See our news article on floaters and when to worry for the safety net pathway.
YAG vitreolysis vs vitrectomy vs observation
Symptomatic vitreous floaters can be managed in three ways: observation with neuroadaptation, YAG vitreolysis or pars plana vitrectomy. The right choice depends on the type and position of the floaters, the severity of visual symptoms, the age and lens status of the eye, and the patient's risk appetite.
| Option | Mechanism | Best for | Key trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observation and neuroadaptation | No intervention; the brain typically suppresses awareness of stable floaters over 3-12 months | Mild to moderate floaters, especially in the first 6 months after posterior vitreous detachment | No procedure but no guarantee of full symptomatic relief |
| YAG vitreolysis | Non-incisional slit-lamp Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser disruption of a single discrete floater | Weiss ring after posterior vitreous detachment, discrete mid-vitreous floaters, age 50+, pseudophakic eyes | Strict selection; may need 1-3 sessions; not suitable for diffuse or anterior or posterior floaters |
| Pars plana vitrectomy (floaters-only) | Theatre-based small-gauge keyhole removal of the central vitreous gel and all floaters within it | Severe disabling floaters not suitable for vitreolysis; pseudophakic eyes preferred | Highest efficacy but adds cataract progression risk in phakic eyes and a small retinal-detachment risk |
| Combined pathway | YAG vitreolysis first, escalation to vitrectomy only if symptoms persist after appropriate sessions | Patients who want a least-invasive trial before considering theatre surgery | May add time and cost if both pathways are eventually used |
See the floaters treatment overview, the private vitreous floaters treatment page and the wider vitreoretinal surgery hub for the full pathway.
Are you a candidate for YAG vitreolysis?
Good candidates
- Adults aged 50 and over with a single, discrete, mobile Weiss ring or mid-vitreous floater that has been present and symptomatic for at least 3-6 months after posterior vitreous detachment.
- Floaters that sit clearly behind the natural lens and clearly in front of the retina with at least 3 mm of clear vitreous on each side on imaging.
- A normal macular OCT, no retinal tear or detachment on dilated examination, and an open angle on gonioscopy.
- Pseudophakic eyes (a clear intraocular lens implant) tend to be easier to treat safely than phakic eyes.
- Patients who have completed a 3-6 month neuroadaptation trial without sufficient improvement and who continue to have a significant functional impact on driving, reading or working at a screen.
Better suited to other options
- Diffuse vitreous syneresis with multiple small floaters or strands that cannot be targeted as a single object - vitrectomy may be more definitive.
- Floaters sitting anteriorly close to the natural lens or implanted lens, where laser energy risks lens damage.
- Floaters sitting posteriorly within 3 mm of the retina, where laser energy risks retinal injury.
- Younger phakic patients who have not undergone posterior vitreous detachment, where vitreous gel is too organised to break up safely.
- Patients with a recent retinal detachment, untreated retinal tear, uveitis, dense vitreous haemorrhage or a markedly elevated IOP that has not been controlled.
NHS vs private YAG vitreolysis in the UK
YAG vitreolysis is not routinely commissioned by NHS England, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales or HSC Northern Ireland for primary symptomatic floaters in 2026. The NHS pathway is typically observation, with vitrectomy reserved for the most severe cases on a case-by-case Individual Funding Request basis. Patients seeking YAG vitreolysis specifically are therefore accessed through a private consultant-led vitreoretinal pathway at a UK centre equipped with a vitreolysis-rated Nd:YAG platform such as the Ellex Ultra Q Reflex, A.R.C. Reflex Technology or Lumenis Selecta Trio. Private YAG vitreolysis offers same-week consultant continuity, full dilated fundoscopy with macular OCT and wide-field imaging, the treatment itself and a structured outcome review with an explicit escalation pathway to vitrectomy if vitreolysis is not effective. See the treatments hub for the broader range of options.
Insurance and funding
YAG vitreolysis is regarded by most UK private medical insurers as a discretionary procedure for symptomatic floaters; some insurers will fund it on a case-by-case basis after the consultant has documented that the floater is significantly affecting daily activities and that more conservative options have been exhausted. Pre-authorisation through the insurer is essential. See insured patients for how we work with major UK insurers, and finance for self-pay stage payment options across single sessions or a per-eye package of up to three sessions.
Risks and limitations of YAG vitreolysis
YAG vitreolysis is non-incisional and avoids the risk profile of intraocular surgery, but it is not without specific risks: a transient IOP rise in the first hour treated with topical pressure-lowering therapy, very rare intraocular pressure elevation requiring oral pressure-lowering medication, lens (cataract) injury if the floater is too close to the natural lens, rare focal retinal injury or retinal haemorrhage if the floater is too close to the retina, rare retinal tear or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, transient new small floaters from the fragmentation of the original floater, mild post-treatment inflammation managed with topical steroid, and incomplete symptomatic relief requiring a further session or eventual vitrectomy. Patient selection - particularly the requirement that the floater is well clear of both the lens and the retina - is the single biggest determinant of safety and efficacy. The vitreolysis surgeon will always have an explicit escalation plan to vitrectomy if vitreolysis cannot achieve the necessary symptomatic relief safely.
Recovery timeline after YAG vitreolysis
First 24 hours
Vision returns to baseline within hours of treatment. Mild gritty sensation, transient mild blurring and an awareness of small new fragmentation debris are common and settle quickly. The dilating drops wear off over 4-6 hours.
Week 1
Topical anti-inflammatory drops continue. The 1-week IOP and slit lamp review confirms the eye is settling, the IOP is stable and there has been no retinal complication. Most patients return to all normal activities including driving and screen work the same week.
Weeks 4-12
Fragmentation debris is reabsorbed by the vitreous cavity. The 4-week and 12-week reviews confirm symptomatic improvement against the patient's baseline floater symptom score. A second session is planned at 12 weeks where the original floater is partially treated.
3-6 months
Final symptomatic outcome is established. Most appropriately selected patients require 1-3 sessions in total. If symptomatic improvement is insufficient, escalation to pars plana vitrectomy is offered.
How to choose a UK YAG vitreolysis clinic
- Confirm the operating consultant is a GMC-registered vitreoretinal surgeon with personal experience of YAG vitreolysis (not a general ophthalmologist learning the procedure).
- Insist on a vitreolysis-rated Nd:YAG laser platform (Ellex Ultra Q Reflex, A.R.C. Reflex Technology or Lumenis Selecta Trio) with a coaxial illumination beam, not a standard YAG capsulotomy laser used off-label.
- Insist on dilated indirect ophthalmoscopy with scleral indentation, macular OCT and wide-field retinal imaging before treatment to exclude a retinal tear or detachment.
- Ask for the surgeon's personal Weiss-ring success rate, retreatment rate, complication rate and rate of escalation to vitrectomy.
- Confirm the clinic offers vitreoretinal surgery, pars plana vitrectomy and same-day retinal detachment surgery as part of the same pathway so any escalation or complication is managed in-house.
- Insist on a written, itemised quote covering the consultant assessment, the YAG vitreolysis session, post-treatment IOP checks, drops and the 12-week outcome review.
See our consultant vitreoretinal surgeon team and the treatments hub for the wider offering.
YAG vitreolysis frequently asked questions
How much does private YAG vitreolysis cost in London and the UK in 2026?
Self-pay YAG vitreolysis in the UK in 2026 is typically GBP 1,200-2,200 per eye per session, inclusive of the consultant vitreoretinal assessment, OCT, wide-field imaging, the treatment itself, IOP checks and a 12-week outcome review. A per-eye package of up to three sessions over six months is GBP 2,400-4,800 at high-volume vitreolysis centres.
Is YAG vitreolysis available on the NHS?
No. YAG vitreolysis is not routinely commissioned by NHS England, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales or HSC Northern Ireland for primary symptomatic floaters in 2026. The NHS pathway is observation, with vitrectomy reserved for severe cases on Individual Funding Request. YAG vitreolysis is accessed through private consultant-led vitreoretinal centres equipped with a vitreolysis-rated Nd:YAG platform.
Does YAG vitreolysis hurt?
No. The eye is anaesthetised with topical drops and the treatment is performed at the slit lamp with a contact vitreolysis lens. Patients see flashes of laser light and may notice a faint clicking sensation as the laser fires, but there is no pain.
How many sessions of YAG vitreolysis will I need?
Most appropriately selected patients need one to three sessions, spaced 6-12 weeks apart, to achieve symptomatic relief. A Weiss ring after posterior vitreous detachment can sometimes be resolved in a single session; more complex mid-vitreous floaters typically need two or three sessions of partial treatment.
What types of floaters can YAG vitreolysis treat?
YAG vitreolysis is best suited to a single, discrete, mobile Weiss ring or a discrete mid-vitreous floater sitting clearly away from the natural lens and clearly away from the retina. It is not suitable for diffuse vitreous syneresis with multiple small floaters or strands, anterior floaters close to the lens, or posterior floaters close to the retina.
How is YAG vitreolysis different from a YAG capsulotomy?
Both use a Q-switched Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser at the slit lamp. YAG capsulotomy targets a clouded posterior lens capsule behind an intraocular lens implant after cataract surgery, with the laser focused on the capsule. YAG vitreolysis targets a free-floating floater within the vitreous cavity using a dedicated vitreolysis platform with coaxial illumination and a mid-vitreous contact lens.
How soon can I drive after YAG vitreolysis?
You should not drive home immediately after treatment because of the dilating drops, which wear off over 4-6 hours. Most patients drive normally from the day after treatment, having met the UK DVLA visual standard which is typically unchanged before and after the procedure.
What are the risks of YAG vitreolysis?
Specific risks include a transient IOP rise treated with topical pressure-lowering drops, very rare lens (cataract) injury if the floater is too close to the lens, very rare retinal injury, retinal haemorrhage, retinal tear or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, transient new small floaters from fragmentation, mild inflammation, and incomplete symptomatic relief requiring further sessions or eventual vitrectomy.
Will YAG vitreolysis remove all my floaters?
No. YAG vitreolysis targets the specific floater that is causing the symptoms; it does not, and is not designed to, remove all vitreous opacities. The aim is to break up the symptomatic floater into smaller fragments that are no longer perceived as a significant visual obstruction.
When should YAG vitreolysis not be used?
YAG vitreolysis is not appropriate for floaters too close to the natural lens or the retina, for diffuse vitreous syneresis with multiple small floaters or strands, for young phakic eyes that have not undergone posterior vitreous detachment, for patients with an untreated retinal tear or recent retinal detachment, for uveitis, vitreous haemorrhage, or uncontrolled intraocular pressure.
When should I consider vitrectomy instead of vitreolysis?
Vitrectomy is more appropriate when the floaters are diffuse, anterior, posterior, or numerous and cannot be safely or efficiently broken up at the slit lamp, or when YAG vitreolysis sessions have not achieved sufficient symptomatic relief. Vitrectomy is more definitive but adds cataract progression risk in phakic eyes and a small retinal-detachment risk.
When should I worry about new floaters or flashes?
A sudden shower of new floaters, persistent new flashes of light, or a curtain or shadow across part of the vision should be assessed urgently to exclude a retinal tear or retinal detachment. See our article on floaters and when to worry and contact the practice immediately.
Where can I book a private YAG vitreolysis consultation in London or the UK?
Book a free online consultation or an in-person assessment with our consultant vitreoretinal team through the eyesurgeryclinic.co.uk booking pages or call 0800 852 7782 to be triaged the same week and to confirm current YAG vitreolysis availability and platform certification.
Methodology and sources
Pricing is taken from a 2026 UK private vitreoretinal tariff audit across CQC-regulated providers equipped with a vitreolysis-rated Nd:YAG platform and is presented as a typical self-pay range per eye per session, inclusive of consultant assessment, imaging, the treatment, IOP checks, drops and a 12-week outcome review. Clinical statements are drawn from NICE interventional procedure guidance IPG 615 on YAG laser vitreolysis, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists guidance on vitreous floaters, peer-reviewed prospective and randomised sham-controlled work including Shah and Heier in JAMA Ophthalmology 2017, and platform-specific instructions for use for the Ellex Ultra Q Reflex, A.R.C. Reflex Technology and Lumenis Selecta Trio. Page last reviewed 28 May 2026 against the live URL set on eyesurgeryclinic.co.uk.
Book a consultant YAG vitreolysis assessment
Find out whether YAG vitreolysis on a vitreolysis-rated Nd:YAG platform is the right option for your floaters, with a same-week consultant vitreoretinal appointment, full dilated examination, macular OCT and wide-field imaging, and a transparent UK 2026 quote.
Or call 0800 852 7782.
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