How much is Laser Eye Surgery?

Of course, vision correction surgery is an investment, and the advantages of being able to see without glasses or contact lenses are great. When researching, ensure the price quoted is a final cost, not “from” a certain amount.

At Optegra we have no hidden costs. Some patients work out their current cost of annual prescription changes, new spectacles, or monthly financial commitments for contact lenses and all the associated solutions… if you wear glasses or contact lenses, you’ll have to keep paying for eye tests, lenses and frames for the rest of your life. Over the course of a lifetime, this can really add up – not just financially but in terms of the time you spend visiting the optician too.

If you choose laser eye surgery, you’re choosing a permanent treatment with one fixed cost.

With so many better options out there, it might be tempting to look for the cheapest price for laser eye surgery. However, it is important to keep in mind that even if you qualify for the cheapest treatment, it can be detrimental to your health long term – and even costs you more in the long run. Therefore it is so important to choose a fully qualified surgeon from a renowned clinic to perform your surgery to make sure that you get the best outcome.

Laser eye surgery is available for free on the NHS. However, NHS-funded treatments are only offered in exceptional circumstances – for instance to patients with conditions that can lead to blindness if left untreated.

If you wish to correct refractive errors such as myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness) or astigmatism, your best option is to look for private laser eye surgery instead as these conditions are considered as a cosmetic procedure rather than a medical one.

At Optegra, we also offer finance options so you can spread the cost over several months – up to four years. Our handy price calculator right above helps you simulate the cost of your treatment depending on the treatment you need and the payment period you choose. If you need more information about our finance options, please do get in touch and one of our staff will answer all your questions.

It is certainly possible to get laser eye surgery abroad for less than the prices in the UK, but what you need to consider is your safety, as well as the various associated costs. At Optegra we offer a fixed price that includes all your treatment from start to finish. If you travel abroad, then as well as the cost of your treatment, you’ll also need to pay for flights, accommodation, transport and food.

Many people think they can get the whole thing done in a couple of days, but the reality is very different. It is strongly recommended that in the days immediately after treatment you take it easy and try to strain your eyes as little as possible. You may also need assistance during your trip, so if you bring a family member or friend, you’ll be paying for them too. All of this may still work out cheaper if you’re willing to cut your stay short and risk travelling when you should be resting.

But what about the risks of complications? Although there are some excellent surgeons in many countries around the world, nothing beats the assurance of choosing a provider closer to home, where you can be assured of high standards.

Here at Optegra, we’re regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). All of our surgeons are also NHS trained and Fellows of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists or equivalent organisations, so you can trust that you’re in a safe pair of hands.

You may also be wondering if your private medical insurance will cover the cost of vision correction. If you are having cataract surgery, that is covered by insurance. However, the amount covered in terms of treatment cost is on a patient-by-patient basis dependent on your individual policy.

If you are choosing to have elective surgery (i.e. not medically required), for example RLE, this would not be covered by private medical insurance.

Yet if you have a cataract and also want to be free of glasses (as with the RLE procedure), the cataract element would be covered and you would only have to pay separately for your enhanced lenses. For example, to upgrade from regular cataract surgery to an RLE ‘package’ is an additional £1,495 per eye – this would cover follow-ups for a year and enhancement in that time frame if required.