Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery is often thought of as a very recent invention, but this vision correction treatment has its origins in refractive eye surgery – a technique that first began its development in the late 19th century. However, Laser eye surgery in UK has really boomed into popularity recently due to the massive leaps and bounds in which the treatment has advanced in the last 40 years.

More and more people are considering the benefits of laser eye surgery in UK, as people are becoming more familiar with corrective procedures in general, due to the increased media presence of modern techniques from teeth whitening to non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Laser eye surgery is often given as an option to the people who suffer from conditions such as short-sightedness, long sightedness or astigmatism.

Different types of Laser eye surgeries

PRK – photorefractive keratectomy– is a well established technique that has been around for nearly 30 years. An ablative laser that uses ultraviolet light is used to reshape the surface of the cornea to help focus light and images coming into the eye directly onto the cornea. This can correct the problems that lead to both long and short sightedness. PRK tends to have a lower laser eye surgery cost than LASIK surgery, and you can expect to pay between £700 and £1000 per eye.

LASIK – laser assisted in situ keratomileusis – involves cutting away a thin flap of tissue from the front of the cornea. The laser is then directed onto the exposed part of the cornea to change its shape before the flap is put back in place. LASIK causes less pain than PRK and has superceded this older technique to a great extent. LASIK laser eye surgery costs between £850 and £1400 per eye.

Wavefront LASIK – this is a modification of the original LASIK technique in which the surgeon uses a wavefront sensor to guide the laser by computer. This is claimed to improve the results obtained after the treatment and many patients report fewer problems with ‘halos’ and other annoying disturbances of vision. If you opt for wavefront LASIK, laser eye surgery costs are higher than traditional LASIK; typically between £1500 and £1900 per eye.

LASEK – laser epithelial keratomileusis – although this sounds similar to LASIK, it is actually a variant form of PRK. LASEK is usually used in people whose cornea is very thin – the chance of damage is much less than with LASIK and the results are just as good. LASEK laser eye surgery costs tend to be very similar to the LASIK treatment – you can expect to pay between £850 and £1300 per eye if the treatment is done in the UK.

Laser eye surgery costs vary depending on what type of treatment you have. You can expect to pay in the region of £500 per eye at least and the price can go up to around £2000 per eye. Your choice of treatment cannot be made solely on Laser eye surgery cost; the optimum results that can be obtained depend on your individual eyesight and eye problems. A preliminary consultation allows an eye specialist to assess this and to advise you on the type of laser eye surgery that’s best for you.

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