Laser eye surgery

What is laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery is a procedure designed to change the shape of your cornea so you can see clearly without, or with less reliance on, glasses or contact lenses. There are different types, but by far the most well-known is LASIK.

It’s estimated that over 100,000 people in the UK undergo laser eye surgery every year.

What is laser eye surgery also known as?

Laser eye surgery goes by a variety of names, including LASIK laser eye surgery, myopia treatment and laser vision correction.

What are the benefits of laser eye surgery?

There are a range of benefits associated with getting laser eye surgery, all of which are associated with improving your vision and quality of life. These include, but aren’t limited to:

• Clearer vision: Studies estimate that over 90% of people who undergo laser vision correction achieve 20/20 vision or better.
• Permanent correction: Corneal reshaping is irreversible, meaning you can enjoy long-lasting results.
• Greater convenience: Most people benefit from significantly less reliance on glasses or contact lenses, meaning there’s less need to worry about cleaning contact lenses or remembering to take glasses with you.
• Long-term cost saving: Glasses and contact lenses can be expensive. Laser eye surgery can eliminate the recurring costs associated with prescription eyewear.
• Fast surgery and recovery: Laser eye surgery typically takes less than 15 minutes per eye, and most people can return to work within 48 hours.

What conditions can laser eye surgery treat?

Laser eye surgery is an effective treatment for nearly all refractive eye errors. These occur when your cornea (which is the part of your eye that laser eye surgery reshapes) doesn’t refract light correctly onto your retina, which is the light-sensitive area at the back of your eye. This distorts the message that is sent to your brain, making your vision appear blurred.

There are different refractive errors based on how your vision is affected. These are:

• Myopia: also known as short-sightedness and is when you can see nearby objects clearly, but those that are further away get progressively blurrier. Myopia happens when your eyeball grows slightly too long, or your cornea is too curved. This causes light to be focused in front of your retina, rather than directly onto it.
• Hyperopia: also known as long-sightedness, it’s the opposite to myopia. People with hyperopia can see things at a distance, but struggle to focus clearly on close-by items like text on a book or phone. Hyperopia happens when your eyeball is too short or your cornea too flat, causing light to be focused behind your retina.
• Astigmatism: Astigmatism is a condition characterised by a cornea that is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football, and this causes light to be focused in several different areas of the retina, causing blurred vision at all distances.
• Presbyopia: as you get older, the natural lens of your eye starts to become harder and stiffer, and this can make it harder to focus on nearby objects. This is known as age-related long-sightedness and often means that you need a new prescription for glasses or contact lenses for near vision, even if you were previously diagnosed with myopia.

What are the different types of laser eye surgery?

The distinctive types of laser eye surgery can be differentiated by the specific techniques and type of laser used.

Who is suitable for laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery is generally considered safe for adults over the age of 18, who have healthy eyes with no indications of eye disease, and who have a stable prescription for glasses or contact lenses. Stable usually means that it hasn’t changed in the last 2 years.

There are also prescription parameters to meet. These can vary slightly depending on the individual and the type of laser vision correction surgery that you wish to have.

What prescription do you need for laser eye surgery?

The limitations for laser eye surgery usually cap at up to -10.00 dioptres for short-sightedness, up to +4.00 dioptres for long-sightedness, and +6.00 dioptres for astigmatism. Nevertheless, even if your vision falls outside these parameters, it’s worth enquiring with your consultant if you could be a good candidate for treatment.

Can I have laser eye surgery if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?

No. While there’s no proven clinical risk to mother or child, it’s generally recommended that you wait until after pregnancy/breastfeeding before undergoing laser vision correction.

Who is not suitable for laser eye surgery?

You may not be a good candidate for laser vision correction if you are under the age of 18, have regularly changing prescriptions or an active eye disease or infection. Underlying health issues such as uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure, or an autoimmune disease, may also prevent you from having laser eye surgery.

What are the alternatives to laser eye surgery?

If you aren’t suitable for laser eye surgery, there are a couple of alternatives that your optician may recommend. In addition to continuing to wear glasses or contact lenses, you may be advised to consider refractive lens exchange surgery.

Lens replacement surgery (refractive lens exchange) is where the natural lens of your eye is removed and replaced with an artificial alternative, called an intraocular lens or IOL. It’s very similar to cataract surgery, except rather than being clouded, the lens of your eye that will be removed will be clear. When it’s replaced, it’s with the equivalent of a permanent contact lens.

Lens implantation is particularly effective for people with high myopia (usually outside of the parameters for laser eye surgery), thin or irregular corneas, or very dry eyes.

How should I prepare for laser eye surgery?

To make sure that your laser eye surgery goes smoothly with minimal risk of complications, and to help you achieve the best possible outcome from treatment, there’ll be a few things you are recommended to do to prepare.

This may include:

• Stop wearing contact lenses: If you usually wear contact lenses, you’ll be asked to stop a few weeks before your laser eye surgery. This is usually up to 2 weeks before for soft contact lenses, or 3 to 4 weeks if you usually wear hard, inflexible ones. This is because contact lenses alter the natural shape of your cornea. Stopping wearing them will help them return to their normal shape ahead of your surgery.
• Avoid wearing eye make-up: You’ll be told not to wear eye cosmetics on the day of your surgery. This is because doing so can increase your risk of infection. You should also avoid any other products on your face or hair, including moisturiser, perfume and hairspray.
• Don’t drink alcohol: Alcohol can dehydrate your eyes and cause complications during your laser eye surgery. Avoid drinking it for at least 48 hours before your laser vision correction.
• Stop smoking: If you smoke, try to stop as far in advance of your surgery as possible. This is because smoking is proven to increase your risk of surgical complications and delay healing.
• Arrange a lift: You won’t be able to drive yourself home after your laser eye surgery, so make sure you’ve got someone who can take you.

Always follow the advice and recommendations given to you by your Nuffield Health healthcare team.

What happens during laser eye surgery?

Exactly what will happen during your laser eye surgery will depend on the specific technique that you have. However, the general process is the same across all types.

First, you’ll be asked to lie in a special chair while numbing drops are applied to your eyes. These contain anaesthetic to make sure that you don’t feel anything during the procedure. You may also be given a mild sedative to help you relax.

A special device will be placed onto your eye to keep it open, while your other eye will be taped shut. Once your eyes are numb, your surgeon will perform the laser eye surgery, either creating a flap in your cornea or removing the outermost layer of epithelial tissue.

The underlying cornea will then be reshaped to correct your specific refractive error. This usually takes less than a minute per eye, and while you may notice some clicking, buzzing and bright lights, you shouldn’t feel any pain.

At the end of your surgery, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops will be applied and a protective shield placed over the treated eyes to protect them. And then you’ll be able to go home.

How long does laser eye surgery take?

Laser eye surgery is a quick procedure, with total surgery time for both eyes usually taking 30 minutes or less. The actual time to perform corneal reshaping usually takes less than a minute.

Is laser eye surgery painful?

No, you’ll be given anaesthetic eye drops to keep you comfortable. You may also be given mild sedation to help you feel calm and relaxed.

How long does it take to recover from laser eye surgery?

Recovery from laser eye surgery depends heavily on the type of procedure you have.

LASIK is the fastest option, with most people seeing significant improvement within a few hours, returning to work in 1–2 days, and resuming normal activities within a week.

SMILE follows a similar but slightly more conservative timeline, while PRK and LASEK are the slowest options, often requiring 3–7 days of discomfort and blurred vision before returning to work, with vision gradually sharpening over weeks to months. Although most daily activities resume quickly with any procedure, full visual stability and the best possible vision typically take 3–6 months to achieve, regardless of the surgery type.

How long will I have to use eye drops after laser eye surgery?

You should expect to use the prescribed eye drops for at least 2 weeks after surgery, and these will help to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. You may need to continue to use lubricating eye drops, also known as artificial tears, for up to 6 months, or until your eyes feel more comfortable.

What is the best way to sleep after laser eye surgery?

We strongly recommend that you continue to wear the provided eye shields, as these will help reduce your risk of infection and protect your eyes while they heal. You will also be advised to sleep on your back, with your head elevated. This will help reduce swelling and inflammation as you heal.

When can I return to work after laser eye surgery?

Again, it depends on exactly which type of laser vision correction you’ve had. Most people who have had LASIK can return to work within 48 hours. However, LASEK and other techniques where the entire epithelial tissue is removed can take longer to recover from. In these instances, it can take up to a week before you may feel ready to go back to work.

When can I drive after laser eye surgery?

You can drive as soon as your vision returns, and you meet the minimum visual standard for driving. It’s important to note that you may still need to wear prescription glasses/contact lenses to help you drive.

When can I exercise after laser eye surgery?

You may be able to get back to light activity like walking within 48 hours. However, it’s generally recommended to avoid more strenuous exercise such as running or cycling for several weeks, with swimming and contact sports firmly left until at least four weeks post-treatment. Always get clearance from your medical team before restarting any exercise.

What are the possible risks and complications of laser eye surgery?

As with any surgery, there are always side effects and a risk of complications.

Side effects of laser eye surgery

• Dry eyes
• Halos around lights
• Glare
• Floaters in your field of vision
• Sore, gritty or burning eyes
• Blurred vision, especially for the first few days.

Most side effects tend to resolve as your eyes heal and should disappear completely within a few weeks. However, if you have any concerns, speak to your medical team.

Potential complications of laser eye surgery 
These aren’t as common as side effects of laser vision correction, and include but aren’t limited to:

• Under or overcorrection of vision
• Corneal infection
• Progressive thinning and bulging of the cornea, called corneal ectasia
• Complications with the flap (in LASIK)
• Earlier development of age-related cataracts
• Detached retina
• Posterior capsular opacification (PCO)

Does laser eye surgery cause dry eyes?

Yes, dry eyes are one of the most common side effects of laser eye surgery. In fact, up to 95% of patients report experiencing dry eyes after getting laser vision correction.

What is the success rate of laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery has a very high success rate. Although exact figures vary depending on the technique used, studies estimate that over 90% of people who undergo laser vision correction achieve 20/20 vision or better.

How much does laser eye surgery cost at Nuffield Health?

For pricing information, please contact your local hospital. The hospital or your healthcare team will give you a fixed all-inclusive price for the treatment following your initial consultation.