Vision correction (LASIK, SMILE) and lens procedures to reduce dependence on glasses. Every quote is itemised in writing before you fly, and each clinic offer states its own inclusions.
A plain-English guide to cataract surgery abroad: real price ranges, how to judge a clinic, and how the trip actually works.
Vision-correction surgery replaces glasses and contacts by reshaping the cornea (LASIK, PRK, SMILE) or replacing the natural lens (refractive lens exchange, cataract surgery with premium lenses). Eligibility is decided by measurements, corneal thickness, prescription stability, eye health, not by preference, which is why the diagnostic workup is the real product.
Laser vision correction abroad typically costs €950-€1,800 for both eyes against £4,000-£6,500 in the UK, and lens procedures show a similar gap, with the same laser platforms (Zeiss, Alcon) and often higher surgical volumes. The full assessment, surgery and first follow-ups fit in a 3-5 day trip.
Choose surgeons who run their own full diagnostics (topography, pachymetry, dry-eye assessment) and publish their enhancement rates. A clinic that offers you LASIK without scanning your corneas first is selling, not screening: make sure the scan comes before the quote.
LASIK vision is functional within 24-48 hours; PRK takes 5-7 days of surface healing; lens surgery patients typically resume normal activity in 2-3 days with a drop schedule for several weeks. You'll be cleared to fly at the post-op check, usually within days.
Share your case once: photos and a short history. Clinics review it and return itemised written quotes, each stating a fixed price or an estimate. You meet the clinic's medical team on video before committing to anything. Matching is free, and each offer states its aftercare programme in writing.
Eligibility depends on a stable prescription for 12+ months, sufficient corneal thickness and healthy eyes, confirmed by a full scan set, not a questionnaire. If laser isn't safe for you, lens-based options usually are.
All three reshape the cornea. LASIK heals fastest; PRK suits thinner corneas and contact-sport lifestyles; SMILE is flapless with a small incision. Your scans, reviewed on a video consult, decide which is right.
Typically 3-5 days: diagnostics, surgery, and the first follow-up before you're cleared to fly. A second remote check happens after you're home.
Standard distance correction doesn't stop age-related reading loss after 45. If that's your goal, ask about blended vision or trifocal lens exchange, honest clinics will tell you which trade-offs apply.
