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Laser Eye Surgery
Cost of Laser Eye Surgery
Patients will be required to undergo an initial consultation from either an Optometrist or surgeon who will be able to advise on the best course of treatment tailored to the patients unique condition. Many clinics offer this for free or take it as a deposit and take it off the final cost of the treatment however laser eye surgery patients can expect to pay around £50-£150 for an initial consultation.
There are a range of factors that can affect the cost of laser eye surgery including the prescription itself (which differs depending on the patients' condition), the type of procedure required, the reputation of the clinic as well as the operating surgeon themselves. As a general rule of thumb however the milder the prescription required the less the patient will be charged.
- Standard Lasik: £400-£1500
- Standard Lasek: £400-£1500
- Intralase: An additional £300 per eye
- Wavefront: An additional £400 per eye
When patients are comparing quotes from a number of laser eye clinics they should take care to find out exactly what is included in the overall cost of the laser eye surgery treatment as life-time guarantees and the amount of after-care provided for patients will vary from clinic to clinic. A good way of finding a clinic within your area that can provide the perfect laser treatment to help correct your vision is to have a look at our laser eye surgery clinics directory which, after entering a couple of details will help you to find the ideal clinic and their contact details within seconds.
Laser Eye Surgery Finance Options
Many clinics in the UK will offer patients a range of payment options including offering payment plans and 0% interest deals for surgery. These conditions of repayments as well as the options offered will of course vary from clinic to clinic and most will require patients to undergo credit checks before they are offered. Bank loans are available for health operations and depending on the severity of the condition it may be possible to receive the surgery on the NHS. It is also a good idea for potential patients to check the details of their health insurance to check whether their policy includes cover for such surgery.
Which Laser Eye Surgery Treatment?
The techniques utilised by surgeons which come under the umbrella of laser eye surgery include PRK, LASIK, LASEK, Intralase and Wavefront techniques. As well as varying in price they also are employed to effectively treat a range of different conditions and the technique which will prove most effective in treating your specific condition will be discussed with you and decided upon in the initial consultation.
Why have Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye surgery has helped millions of people from across the UK enhance their lives by freeing them from their dependence on glasses or contact lens and enabling them to achieve 20:20 vision. The various techniques developed by optical surgeons have evolved to a point where the safest and most effective means of treating a wide range of conditions has never been more affordable and accessible for patients. Now safe and affordable laser eye surgery is widely available from hundreds of clinics located all over the UK and can effectively treat a number of conditions including:
- Myopia (Short-sightedness)
- Hypermetropia (Long-sightedness)
- Astigmatism
The Procedure
Many patients potentially considering undergoing laser eye surgery to help improve their eyesight might be slightly hesitant about committing to treatment however with the technology and techniques used by surgeons constantly developing and improving there has never been a safer and more effective range of techniques available.
Once the patient has been seated the surgeon will place anaesthetic drops in the patients' eyes to numb them so that the patient won't feel any discomfort whilst the procedure is being performed. An eyelid clip may then be used to stop the patient from blinking or closing their eyes. As the anaesthesia takes effect the surgeon will use a highly precise instrument called a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser, to make an extremely thin flap in your cornea. This flap is then folded upwards to reveal the cornea so that a computer-controlled laser can accurately shape it, correcting for the specific condition.
This part of the procedure usually takes around 30 seconds to 1 minute and once completed, the flap in repositioned against the cornea and will heal within minutes. Antibiotic eyes drops will then be administered to prevent the treated area becoming infected.
After the surgery has been completed you will be allowed to go home almost immediately and will require someone to drive or escort you. You may be required to wear protective sunglasses to protect your eyes against sunlight and to avoid irritation.
Patients will be required to administer eye drops for the next 6 months following the operation to aide the healing process and avoid infection. The recovery time from laser eye surgery will vary depending on the type of technique used however patients will typically be able to return to work and drive within a couple of days. Patients will be required to attend a number of aftercare check up's post procedure to ensure a full recovery.
What are the PRK, LASIK & LASEK Techniques?
In Photo Refractive keratectomy (PRK) the top layer of the cornea, called the epithelium, is removed to expose the stromal layer underneath, while in LASIK and LASEK eye surgery the flap is repositioned after completion.
Wavefront Laser Eye Surgery
Similarly, this technique does not vary too much from that of the standard procedure. The added value given to the patient by undergoing Wavefront LASIK is that the technique used to analyse the eye gives a slightly more precise understanding of the unique aspects of the patients eye therefore tailoring the treatment specifically by the patients specific requirements. This will allow the surgeon to more effectively treat the patient, improving their chances of achieving 20:20 vision.