Laser eye surgery (LASIK)

What is laser eye surgery (LASIK)?

Laser eye surgery (LASIK) uses a laser to reshape the clear front window of the eye (the cornea) so that light focuses more accurately. The aim is to reduce or remove your dependence on glasses or contact lenses for short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism.

In LASIK the surgeon first makes a thin hinged flap in the surface of the cornea (with a laser or a fine blade), lifts it, reshapes the tissue underneath with a second 'cold' laser, then lays the flap back down. Because the surface is mostly left intact, vision often recovers quickly. A related keyhole method, SMILE, removes a small disc of tissue through a tiny opening instead of making a full flap.

This is an elective, lifestyle procedure on healthy eyes — not a treatment for eye disease. It is funded privately, so it should never be rushed or sold to you. A good provider is as clear about who should not have it as about who should.

It is important to be realistic. Laser surgery aims to reduce your reliance on glasses, not to guarantee perfect vision forever. Many people still need glasses for some tasks, and almost everyone needs reading glasses from their mid-40s onwards (presbyopia) whether or not they have had laser surgery.

Types & techniques

There isn't one single operation. The right approach depends on you — which is something to discuss with your surgeon.

LASIK vs surface laser (LASEK/PRK)

Neither is universally 'better'. The right choice depends on your prescription, corneal thickness and shape, dry-eye status, job and hobbies. A responsible surgeon will sometimes recommend against laser altogether.

Preparing for your surgery

• Stop wearing contact lenses before your assessment and surgery for as long as advised (often around two weeks for soft lenses, longer for hard lenses), because they change the corneal shape.
• Expect a thorough suitability assessment, including corneal thickness and shape (topography/tomography), prescription stability, pupil size and a dry-eye check — be wary if this is skipped or rushed.
• Tell the clinic if your prescription has changed in the last year or two, as an unstable prescription is a reason to wait.
• Mention dry eyes, previous eye problems, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, or medicines such as isotretinoin (Roaccutane), as these affect suitability.
• Tell them if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as this can alter your prescription and is usually a reason to delay.
• Arrange a lift home and someone to help for the first day, as your vision will be blurry and your eyes light-sensitive.
• Ask for the written patient information and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists patient checklist, and take time to read it before consenting.

What happens

Laser eye surgery is done while you are awake, lying flat, with numbing drops in your eyes; you do not normally need an injection or sedation. A small clip gently holds the eyelids open so you cannot blink, and you are asked to look at a target light.

For LASIK, the surgeon creates a thin flap in the cornea, gently lifts it, and uses a second laser for a short time (usually under a minute per eye) to reshape the tissue. You may feel pressure and notice the lights dim briefly, but it should not be painful. The flap is then smoothed back into place, where it sticks without stitches.

Most people have both eyes treated the same day. The whole appointment usually takes well under an hour. Afterwards your eyes may water and feel gritty, and you will rest before going home with protective shields and drops.

Is this operation right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

Anaesthetic choices

The safest option depends on the operation, your health, the facility and your surgeon/anaesthetist. Ask what is planned and why.

The two issues most people underestimate are dry eye and night-time glare, which are common early on and occasionally persist. Ectasia (corneal weakening) is rare but is the reason a careful pre-operative scan of corneal thickness and shape matters so much. Ask your surgeon what your personal risk is given your prescription, corneal thickness and pupil size, and what the plan is if you are left over- or under-corrected.

Published figures to discuss

Published results vary with the technology, the surgeon, the prescription treated and how outcomes are defined, so figures should be read as cautious guides rather than promises. Reputable summaries report broadly similar effectiveness across modern laser methods, with dry eye and night-vision symptoms common early on and serious complications rare. Higher prescriptions and thinner corneas carry more risk.

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

Recovery — what to expect, and when

LASIK has one of the quickest recoveries in eye surgery — many people see noticeably better within a day. Even so, the eye surface and its nerves take weeks to months to settle fully, so dryness and night glare can linger for a while.

• Gritty, watery, light-sensitive eyes for the first few hours to days
• Hazy or fluctuating vision that improves over days to weeks
• Haloes or starbursts around lights at night that usually fade over weeks to months
• Needing lubricating drops regularly for several weeks
• Vision being a little sharper on some days than others while it settles

Aftercare

• Use all prescribed drops (lubricating, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory) exactly as directed.
• Do not rub your eyes, and wear the protective shields when sleeping for as long as advised, to protect a LASIK flap.
• Avoid eye make-up, creams near the eyes, swimming pools, hot tubs and saunas for the advised period.
• Wear sunglasses outdoors as your eyes may be light-sensitive.
• Avoid dusty, smoky or sandy environments and contact sport until cleared.
• Do not drive until you can clearly meet the legal eyesight standard and your surgeon agrees.
• Keep all follow-up appointments so healing and the final result can be checked.

• Lift home and help for the first day arranged
• Prescribed drops collected and a dosing plan understood
• Protective eye shields ready for sleeping
• Sunglasses ready
• Time off booked (often 1–2 days, longer for some jobs)
• Day-after follow-up appointment booked
• Clinic's urgent/out-of-hours number saved in case of pain or vision change

⚠ Get urgent help if…

• Increasing or severe eye pain rather than mild grittiness
• Sudden drop in vision, or vision getting worse rather than better
• Growing redness, light sensitivity or discharge (possible infection)
• A sensation that the surface has moved or been knocked, especially after rubbing or trauma (possible flap problem)
• Increasing haloes, glare or distortion that is worsening rather than settling
• Any of these in the first days and weeks should prompt urgent contact with your clinic

Who to contact: your surgeon or clinic first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A good result means clearer distance vision with much less reliance on glasses or contact lenses, usually reaching the legal standard for driving. In suitable eyes, most achieve vision close to what they had with glasses, and a high proportion reach the standard for driving without correction — but a minority are left slightly over- or under-corrected and may still need glasses for some tasks.

Laser surgery cannot stop the eye ageing. Distance vision can drift a little over years, and reading glasses become necessary from the mid-40s. It also cannot prevent eye diseases such as cataract or glaucoma later in life, so regular eye checks remain important.

For most people the corneal reshaping is long-lasting, but it is not always permanent. A small number of eyes drift back towards needing some correction over the years and may be offered an enhancement, if the cornea is thick enough. Because everyone develops age-related reading difficulty (presbyopia) and may develop cataract later, laser surgery does not mean you will never need glasses or further eye care.

Combining with other procedures

Both eyes are usually treated in the same appointment. Laser surgery is sometimes discussed alongside lens-based options (such as an implantable contact lens or, in older patients, lens replacement), and the right choice depends on your prescription and eye anatomy. Be cautious of being upsold add-ons; the procedure should match your eyes, not a package.

Follow-up & long-term care

You should be seen the day after surgery and again over the following weeks and months to check healing, pressure and the final result. Good clinics include these reviews, and any enhancement discussion, in what they arrange from the start. Report pain or worsening vision immediately rather than waiting for a scheduled visit.

• Continue routine sight tests and eye-health checks with an optometrist after surgery.
• Expect to need reading glasses from your mid-40s regardless of laser surgery.
• Use lubricating drops as advised if dryness lingers.
• Keep records of your treatment in case future eye care (for example cataract surgery) is needed, as past laser surgery affects later lens calculations.

Revision and secondary surgery reality

• A minority of people need an enhancement (top-up) laser treatment, which is only possible if enough corneal tissue remains.
• Some over- or under-correction may be managed with glasses for certain tasks rather than more surgery.
• Distance vision can drift slightly over years, and reading glasses are still needed with age.
• Past laser surgery makes later cataract lens calculations more complex, so keep your treatment records.

Ask your surgeon for their own revision rate, what counts as a revision, and what is included in the written aftercare policy.

What good aftercare looks like

• A named contact route and clear written instructions on when to seek urgent help for pain or vision change.
• A next-day check plus reviews over the following weeks and months to confirm the result.
• An honest enhancement policy if fine-tuning is needed, with the criteria explained.
• Lubrication and dry-eye management advice for as long as symptoms last.
• Advice to continue routine sight tests and eye-health checks for life.

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

• The type of laser procedure (LASIK, surface laser or SMILE) and the technology used
• Your prescription strength and how complex your eyes are to treat
• The surgeon's experience and seniority
• Whether the assessment, both eyes, follow-up appointments and any enhancement are included
• The clinic and facility fees
• Whether long-term aftercare and a clear policy for complications are included

• Whether the full suitability assessment is included or charged separately
• Whether the price covers both eyes
• Which laser/procedure type is included and why it suits you
• Whether all follow-up appointments are included
• Whether an enhancement (top-up) is included if needed, and for how long
• The named operating surgeon
• What happens, and what it costs, if there is a complication or you are not happy with the result

On the NHS? Laser eye surgery to reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses is not normally funded by the NHS and is an elective, self-funded procedure; the NHS treats eye disease rather than lifestyle vision correction.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.

Consent traps and marketing red flags

These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.

Choosing a surgeon safely

• Check your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
• Make sure they practise at a CQC-registered location, and look for membership of bodies like BAAPS or BAPRAS.
• You're entitled to a two-stage consent process with time to reflect (a cooling-off period). The surgeon who will operate must consent you — not a salesperson.
• Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers, discounts or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
• You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.

• Based on my corneal thickness, shape and prescription, am I genuinely suitable — and would surface laser, SMILE or a lens option be safer for me?
• What is my personal risk of lasting dry eye or night-vision problems, given my pupil size and prescription?
• What result can I realistically expect, and what happens if I am over- or under-corrected?
• What is your enhancement (top-up) policy, and is it included if I need one?
• Who exactly will perform my surgery, and what is their experience and complication rate?
• What is the plan and who do I contact if I get pain or worsening vision afterwards?
• Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
• Will you be the surgeon who carries out my operation, and who looks after me afterwards?
• What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
• What does a realistic result look like — and what can this operation not achieve?
• What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
• Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
• What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

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How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: NHS — Laser eye surgery and lens surgery Royal College of Ophthalmologists — Refractive surgery (patient information) Royal College of Ophthalmologists — Professional Standards for Refractive Surgery (2024) NICE — Photorefractive (laser) surgery for refractive errors (IPG164) GMC — Cosmetic interventions guidance Dry eye disease after LASIK — review (PMC) CQC — Care Quality Commission (England) Healthcare Improvement Scotland (independent healthcare, Scotland) Healthcare Inspectorate Wales RQIA — Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (Northern Ireland)

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.