LASIK Eye Surgery
Clearer vision. A short procedure. Rapid recovery.
LASIK is a well-established type of laser eye surgery designed to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism. The procedure typically takes around 10 minutes per eye, and many patients notice a significant improvement in their vision within 24 - 48 hours.
At Optilase, every treatment starts with a detailed assessment of your eyes. If LASIK is right for you, your treatment will be tailored to your prescription and eye measurements using advanced laser technology. If another procedure is better suited to your eyes, we'll explain why and talk you through your options.
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SUCCESS RATE
97%+
Achieve 20/20 vision
World-Renowned Surgeons
LASIK
From €2,097.50 per eyeor from €88 per month
A flap-based laser procedure with rapid visual recovery, usually within a day.
- Free consultation
- Advanced diagnostic scans
- Pre-operative appointment with ophthalmic surgeon
- Surgery
- Post-operative follow up care with refractive optometrist
- Eye care drops
- Laser lifetime care guarantee
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A fast-recovery Laser Eye Surgery option
LASIK offers a fast route to reducing dependence on glasses or contact lenses. It combines a short, same-day procedure with rapid visual recovery and decades of clinical use.
LASIK is not the right procedure for everyone. Corneal thickness, prescription, age, eye health and lifestyle all influence which type of laser eye surgery is most appropriate. Your free consultation is designed to establish that before you make any decision about treatment.
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What is LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis. It is a form of laser eye surgery that changes the shape of the cornea — the clear front surface of your eye — so that light can focus more accurately.
During LASIK surgery, your consultant ophthalmic surgeon creates a very thin flap in the cornea using blade-free IntraLase technology. The flap is gently lifted, and an excimer laser reshapes the corneal tissue underneath according to your prescription. The flap is then repositioned, where it begins to heal naturally without stitches.
The procedure can correct short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. LASIK has become one of the most established forms of laser vision correction because the treatment itself is short and recovery is generally rapid.
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How does LASIK Eye Surgery work?
LASIK involves four main steps.
Your free LASIK consultation
The most important part of your LASIK journey happens before surgery. Not everybody who wants LASIK will be suitable for it, so your consultation is designed to assess your eyes carefully and determine which treatment - if any - is appropriate.
Your free consultation with an Optilase Laser Optometrist takes approximately one hour and includes a detailed assessment of your vision and eye health. There is no obligation to book surgery following your consultation.
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Your LASIK consultation includes:
- A discussion about your prescription, eye health and vision history
- Assessment of your suitability for LASIK or an alternative treatment
- A review of what you would like to achieve from treatment
- An explanation of the recommended procedure
- Detailed measurements and scans of your eyes
- Discussion of recovery, aftercare and potential risks
- Assessment of your corneal shape and thickness
- Clear information about your individual treatment cost
- i-Design and advanced eye mapping where appropriate
- Time to ask any questions before deciding whether to proceed
Preparing for LASIK Eye Surgery
Your clinical team will give you personalised instructions for preparing for LASIK eye surgery.
These may include temporarily stopping contact lens wear before certain scans or treatment, avoiding eye make-up on the day of surgery and using lubrication drops to improve corneal health.
You will receive clear instructions in advance so that you know exactly what to expect.
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Who is suitable for LASIK?
LASIK eye surgery is suitable for many adults with short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism, but suitability can only be confirmed after your eyes have been fully assessed.
Your lifestyle can matter too. For example, certain occupations or contact sports may influence whether a flap-based procedure such as LASIK or a surface procedure such as PRK is preferred.
Some prescriptions stronger than approximately -9 or +3 may require an alternative vision correction treatment. Your optometrist will explain your options based on your individual scans.
You may be a suitable candidate if you:
- Are aged 18 or over
- Have a stable glasses or contact lens prescription
- Have healthy eyes
- Have sufficient corneal thickness for LASIK
- Have a prescription within the treatable range
- Are not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have realistic expectations about what laser eye surgery can achieve
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Benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery
For suitable patients, LASIK can offer several advantages.
- Rapid visual recoveryMany patients notice significantly improved vision within 24–48 hours of LASIK, although vision can continue to settle after that.
- A short, same-day procedureLASIK typically takes around 10 minutes per eye. You can return home on the same day.
- Reduced dependence on glasses and contact lensesFor many patients, the biggest benefit is practical: being able to work, exercise, travel or simply wake up in the morning without immediately reaching for glasses or contact lenses.
- Minimal disruptionCompared with some other laser procedures, LASIK usually has a shorter initial recovery period, which can make it particularly attractive to people with busy work and family lives.
- Personalised treatmentDetailed diagnostic scans allow your clinical team to plan treatment around your individual prescription and the characteristics of your eyes.
- Long-term supportEligible Optilase laser eye surgery patients are supported by our Laser Lifetime Care Guarantee, subject to the applicable terms and clinical suitability.
Laser Lifetime Care Guarantee
Our team takes great pride in their work, and so we offer a lifetime guarantee on all laser procedures at our clinics. The Optilase laser lifetime care guarantee offers reassurance and an added layer of confidence to anyone undergoing Laser Eye Surgery.
If your prescription changes in the future and can be corrected by a laser enhancement procedure, we will offer it to you completely free of charge. That's our promise to you.
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LASIK recovery, aftercare and risk
LASIK is known for its rapid initial recovery, but your eyes still need time and care to heal properly.
The first 24 - 48 hours
Many patients notice a major improvement in their vision within the first day or two. Immediately after LASIK, however, it is normal for your eyes and vision to feel different while they begin to settle.
You will be given aftercare instructions and any prescribed eye drops before leaving the clinic.
Temporary symptoms can include:
- Dryness or grittiness
- Watering
- Light sensitivity
- Mild irritation
- Fluctuating vision
- Glare or halos, particularly around lights
Care after LASIK Eye Surgery
Following your aftercare instructions is an important part of your recovery. Your clinical team will explain when you can return to work, exercise, driving and other everyday activities. You will also receive guidance about eye drops, avoiding rubbing your eyes and precautions around make-up, showering, swimming and other activities while your eyes heal.
You should attend all scheduled follow-up appointments even if your vision feels excellent. These appointments allow us to monitor your healing and respond to any concerns.
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How long does LASIK Eye Surgery take to heal?
The most noticeable visual recovery commonly happens during the first 24 - 48 hours, but that does not mean the eye has finished healing. Your vision may continue to settle and fluctuate during the following weeks.
Your individual recovery depends on factors including your prescription, eye health and natural healing response. Your Optilase team will monitor your progress during your follow-up care.
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Is LASIK safe? Understanding the risks
LASIK is a thoroughly established surgical procedure with a long clinical history, but no eye surgery is completely risk-free. Careful patient selection is therefore essential.
Potential side effects and complications can include:
- Temporary or persistent dry eye symptoms
- Glare, halos or starbursts around lights
- Fluctuating vision during recovery
- Under-correction or over-correction
- Some return of the original prescription over time
- The need for enhancement treatment in suitable cases
- Inflammation or infection
- Flap-related complications
- Less commonly, more significant changes to vision
Your individual risk depends on factors such as your prescription, corneal thickness and shape, existing dry eye, pupil characteristics and overall eye health.
What is the LASIK Eye Surgery risk percentage?
There is no single LASIK eye surgery risk percentage that accurately describes every possible side effect or complication. Different risks occur at different rates, and temporary symptoms such as dryness or glare should not be grouped with uncommon surgical complications as if they were the same outcome.
The most useful assessment is therefore your personal risk profile. At your consultation, we will assess your eyes and discuss the benefits, limitations and relevant risks so you can make an informed decision about whether LASIK is right for you.
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Advanced LASIK technology at Optilase
Precision begins with understanding the individual characteristics of your eyes.
Meet our surgeons
Our surgeons are among the most skilled and experienced in Ireland. Each one is highly qualified in the latest vision correction technologies, with patient safety and outcomes at the heart of everything they do.
LASIK questions answered
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often about LASIK at Optilase Eye Clinic.
LASIK is the most frequently performed laser procedure in the world. Your Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon prepares your eye for laser treatment by creating a small flap on the surface of the cornea (front surface of the eye) by using blade-free IntraLase technology. The laser is then applied to the underlying surface to reshape your cornea and correct for your prescription. Your Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon then places the flap back down and your eye begins to heal. The key benefits of the LASIK procedure are a rapid recovery time, usually within 48 hours and little or no post operative discomfort.
At Optilase, your safety is our No. 1 priority. We use the most advanced and safest laser technology and all of our Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeons, Laser Optometrists, Laser Technicians and surgery nurses are highly experienced and fully accredited.
The laser vision correction process itself is painless as we use anaesthetic drops to numb your eyes. Depending on your treatment type. there can be some discomfort in the days following treatment, but this is generally temporary.
Both procedures have the same outcome/results. The only difference is the the actual procedure and aftercare. There is a slightly longer recovery in a PRK surgery.
Yes, many forms of astigmatism can be corrected with Laser Eye Surgery. The laser reshapes the cornea to improve the way light is focused, and astigmatism can often be treated alongside short-sightedness or long-sightedness.
Suitability depends on the type and degree of astigmatism, your corneal measurements and overall eye health.
We use Advanced Wavefront IDesign technology for Laser Eye Surgery in the Republic of Ireland and Schwind Amaris technology in the North of Ireland.
Blurred or fluctuating vision can occur during early recovery. The amount and duration vary according to the procedure and how your eyes heal. Other temporary effects can include dryness, glare or halos.
Your clinical team will explain what to expect and when you should contact them if symptoms do not improve as anticipated.
Everyone is different, but it can be completely normal to have bruising on one or both eyes after LASIK Laser Eye Surgery.
Laser Eye Surgery permanently changes the shape of the cornea, but your eyes can continue to change naturally over time.
Age-related changes to the natural lens, including the gradual loss of near focusing ability, can still occur even if your original laser correction remains stable. Some people may also experience changes in their prescription later in life.
In some cases further laser treatment may be possible if the prescription changes or an enhancement is clinically appropriate.
Whether repeat treatment can be performed depends on factors such as your corneal measurements, eye health, previous procedure and current prescription. A new assessment is therefore required rather than assuming that further surgery will always be possible.
Find the right vision solution for you.Book a consultation.
- Laser Lifetime Care Guarantee
- Clinical Experts
- World-Renowned Surgeons