Eye Surgery (LASIK & Cataract) abroad

Why UK patients travel for eye surgery (lasik & cataract)

Refractive eye surgery in the UK is straightforward but expensive — partly because UK private prices include long-term aftercare and replatform guarantees. Treatment in Turkey, Czechia and India can deliver the same surgical outcome at a fraction of the cost, especially at clinics using current-generation laser platforms and surgeons with high-volume experience. Cataract surgery is increasingly travelled-for as NHS waiting lists have grown. The trip is short (2–4 days total) and the procedure is genuinely minor for healthy candidates.

How the procedure works

LASIK creates a thin corneal flap with a femtosecond laser, then reshapes the underlying stroma with an excimer laser. SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) avoids the flap entirely, removing a lenticule through a 2–4 mm incision; it suits patients with thinner corneas or dry-eye concerns. PRK / LASEK remove the corneal epithelium and reshape directly — used where LASIK is contraindicated, with a longer recovery. Cataract surgery removes the clouded natural lens and replaces it with an intraocular lens (IOL); monofocal, multifocal and toric IOL options have different visual outcomes.

Cost breakdown: UK vs abroad

Indicative figures based on cliniccheck research; always request a written itemised quote from any clinic before paying a deposit.

Where eye surgery (lasik & cataract) is typically done

What to verify before booking

• The laser platform is named (Zeiss VisuMax, Wavelight EX500, Schwind Amaris are mainstream).
• A full pre-op assessment is performed: topography, pachymetry, dry-eye work-up. 20-minute "screenings" are not adequate.
• The surgeon performs ≥1,000 cases per year and is on the local medical register.
• Realistic candidacy assessment — if you are told you are a candidate without thorough testing, that is the warning sign.
• Antibiotic and steroid drops are prescribed in writing with a clear taper schedule.
• Follow-up appointments scheduled at day 1, week 1, month 1, month 3 (online review is acceptable for later visits).
• A clear policy on re-treatment if outcomes are below target — what is covered, for how long.

Recovery and aftercare

LASIK and SMILE have rapid recovery; useful vision returns within 24 hours, full visual stability over 4–6 weeks. PRK / LASEK take 4–7 days for epithelium to heal and longer for visual stabilisation. Cataract surgery recovery is similar to LASIK; vision sharpens over 2–4 weeks. No flying within 24 hours, no swimming for 2 weeks, sleep with eye shields for the first week. Dry-eye symptoms are the most common short-term complaint and resolve over 3–6 months.

UK-specific considerations

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) publishes refractive surgery standards for UK practice. GMC regulates UK ophthalmologists; refractive surgeons abroad sit outside this. NHS will treat post-operative emergencies (infection, retinal detachment) but not elective re-treatment. UK private health insurance typically excludes elective refractive surgery and complications from it.

FAQ: eye surgery (lasik & cataract) abroad

Clinics offering eye surgery (lasik & cataract)