Laser eye surgery in London & Herts: options, process and cost

What is laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery is a term used to describe a collection of procedures. It commonly corrects short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hypermetropia), astigmatism and reading vision problems (presbyopia).

Different laser eye surgery techniques are used to correct each condition. These corrections are achieved through the use of a laser which reshapes the cornea (the transparent part) and adjusts the focus of the eye. Laser eye surgery at our central London clinic is a brief procedure and is entirely painless due to the application of anaesthetic drops.

Types of Laser Eye Surgery

There are several different types of laser eye surgery techniques due to the varying conditions treated.

LASIK

The commonest type of laser eye surgery; 90%+ of patients are suitable. A flap is created in the cornea and reshaped underneath to the correct prescription. Most suited to treating long & short-sightedness and Astigmatism. PresbyMAX can be used to treat reading vision.

LASEK

LASEK is an alternative to LASIK for patients who have thinner corneas. The main difference is that a flap is not created so reshaping takes place on the surface, resulting in a longer recovery time. This also includes TransPRK with SmartSurf technology (no-touch technique).

SmartSight

SmartSight is the latest innovation in laser eye surgery. It uses a process called refractive lenticule extraction, first popularised by the SMILE™ procedure. This involves creating a corrective lens of tissue within the cornea. Click on the link below to find out more.

What is the process of laser eye surgery?

Find out more about the process of laser eye surgery, from initial consultation to aftercare and recovery.

1 Consultation

We’ll take you through the process of laser eye surgery step by step and explain the potential complications to help you to weigh up the risks and benefits in order to make an informed decision regarding laser eye surgery.

2 Treatment plan

Our consultants will tailor a bespoke laser eye treatment plan just for you, based on your current eye sight and personal needs.

3 Preparing for surgery

Our dedicated team of consultants, nurses and patient co-ordinators will take you through our laser eye surgery pre-op process ensuring all your questions are answered and you’re totally at ease.

4 The procedure

Using a combination of the Schwind ATOS femtosecond laser and the Schwind Amaris 1050RS Excimer laser, your surgeon will correct your vision. The procedure is not painful as anaesthetic drops are used to completely numb the surface of the eye. Both eyes are treated at the same time and the whole laser eye surgery typically takes around 10-15 minutes from start to finish.

5 Recovery

If you are about to have or have just had laser eye surgery you’ll want to know how to look after your eyes immediately after surgery to get the best results from your investment. We will let you know what to do, for example avoiding rubbing your eyes, avoiding contact with water, staying away from dirt and dust and wearing sunglasses.

6 Follow up consult

After your laser eye surgery, we’ll support you and review you again on a number of visits to make sure your eyes are healing well and that you’re getting on well with your new HD vision.

Who is eligible for laser eye surgery?

While most people are eligible for laser eye surgery, there are a few exceptions:

Under 18s – it is not advised that people under 18 have laser eye surgery as their eyes are still changing
Pregnant women – Pregnancy can affect eyesight, so women are advised to wait until after they have given birth before presenting themselves for surgery.
Your prescription – Your prescription should be stable, ideally unchanged within the last two years, to ensure that the surgery will be effective. Laser eye surgery is most straightforward in a patient with a prescription in the normal range, usually between -10D and +7.25D.
Medical conditions – Some medical conditions can affect your suitability for laser eye surgery. Eye conditions like blepharitis leave you at a greater risk of infection, while general conditions like diabetes and epilepsy may render you unsuitable for this particular treatment if they are not under control. If the condition is well-managed however, you may be fine, so always seek advice.

Find out more about suitability for laser eye surgery here

Find out more

Recovery after laser eye surgery

Your eyes will start healing as soon as the procedure is over and you should see the results of your vision improvement immediately. You will be able to see things much more accurately but there may be a little blurriness shortly after surgery while your eyes stabilise so it’s important to arrange someone to meet you following surgery.

After 24- 48 hours the majority of patients are fully recovered and able to go about their usual day to day activities but this can vary depending on the type of laser eye surgery undergone.

Read more here to find out more about recovery after surgery and common questions asked.

How much does it cost?

LASIK, LASEK, PRK

Initial consultation
Follow-up appointments
15 year aftercare guarantee

Total Cost

£1975 - £2475

per eye

Finance From

£74 p/m

per eye

From £74 for 24 months 0% APR

See finance options Get a quote

SmartSight

Initial consultation
Follow-up appointments
15 year aftercare guarantee

Total Cost

£2150 - £2475

per eye

Finance From

£81 p/m

per eye

From £81 for 24 months 0% APR

See finance options Get a quote

LASER
Blended Vision

Initial consultation
Follow-up appointments

Total Cost

£4950

both eyes

Finance From

both eyes

From £186 for 24 months 0% APR

See finance options Get a quote

LASER
Presbymax

Initial consultation
Follow-up appointments

Total Cost

£2750

per eye

Finance From

£103 p/m

per eye

From £103 for 24 months 0% APR

See finance options Get a quote

Laser eye surgery: ask the surgeons

Masara Laginaf

Laser eye surgeon at OCL Vision

What are the long term effects of laser eye surgery?

The longest study is about 20 years and we know that those patients have generally been very safe and long-term safety has been excellent. Your laser eye surgery won’t last forever, just as a pair of glasses won’t last forever. That’s because the human eye continues to age and having laser eye surgery doesn’t stop that. So your prescription can change mildly over time, but the main changes occur in your mid to late 40s when your reading vision becomes an issue.

Meet the surgeon

Mukhtar Bizrah

Laser eye surgeon at OCL Vision

Does laser eye surgery hurt?

The simple answer is no. We use anaesthetic eye drops to numb the eyes before the procedure, making it as painless as possible. There are certain bits of the procedure where you may be aware of what’s going on, for example in the LASIK procedure there is a bit of pressure, which lasts about 20 seconds – but I wouldn’t describe that as pain.

Meet the surgeon

Laura De Benito

Laser eye surgeon at OCL Vision

What are the risks of laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery is one of the safest operations available today. We screen patients very thoroughly to try and reduce the risk to the lowest level possible. With modern technology, the risk of laser eye surgery is less than a lifetime of contact lens wear. However, risks do still occur. The most common risk is dry eye. There is always a very small risk of reduction of vision. This can be treated with further corrective surgery. The final risk of surgery relates to a problem with the surgery itself. We are confident in the ability of our surgeons to reduce this to the lowest level possible.

Meet the surgeon

Laser eye surgery FAQs

We understand that laser eye surgery is a big decision, and you may have questions. Here we answer some of the most common questions from our patients. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us on 0203 369 2020.

Is laser eye surgery safe?

Yes! Laser eye surgery is one of the safest vision correction procedures. Technology has evolved and our elite surgeons can help you achieve the best results possible with little to no pain.

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Is laser eye surgery worth it?

In our view, laser eye surgery is worth it. Combined with the obvious lifestyle benefits, you will likely find that the cost of the procedure works out at less than the total cost of contact lenses, glasses, eye check ups and other expenses over your lifetime.

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How long will it take to recover?

Most people are able to resume normal daily activities 24 hours after laser eye surgery. You should notice clearer vision immediately after your surgery. You should wait a little longer before doing certain activities such as exercise. Find out more on our recovery page.

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When can I get laser eye surgery done?

At OCL Vision, our minimum age for laser eye surgery is normally 21, although there are occasional exceptions. This is because the eyes often continue to change into early adulthood or even mid-twenties. There is no upper age limit for laser eye surgery, but for patients who have begun to develop presbyopia a different type of surgery may be needed to correct for both distance and reading vision.

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What does the cost of laser eye surgery include?

The cost of laser eye surgery at OCL Vision includes the consultation, surgery itself, aftercare and our 15 year guarantee.

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