Frequently asked questions
Ask before you decide
The ten questions we hear every week in consultation, answered the way we would answer you.
How much does laser eye surgery cost in Barcelona?
Between €995 and €1,450 per eye depending on the technique: PRK from €995, femtosecond LASIK at €1,195 and the ICL lens from €2,900. All-inclusive: pre-operative assessment, surgery, medication and first-year check-ups.
Beware of teaser prices that add "extras" later in the consultation. Here is our full price table.
Does laser eye surgery hurt?
No. It is performed with anaesthetic drops, no needles and no bandages, and takes about 15 minutes for both eyes. For the first few hours you may feel stinging or grittiness; with artificial tears and a nap, most patients describe it as "uncomfortable, not painful".
What is the ideal age for laser eye surgery?
Between 21 and 45, with a prescription stable for at least a year. Before 21, the eye is still changing. From age 50, an intraocular lens is usually the better option because it also solves presbyopia.
When will I recover my vision after surgery?
With LASIK you will see reasonably well within 24 hours and can work the next day. With PRK, 5 to 7 days. After cataract surgery, vision returns within 24–48 hours and stabilises fully within a month.
Am I a candidate for refractive surgery?
It depends on three things: your corneal thickness, your prescription and the overall health of your eye. One in five patients who asks for laser is not a candidate, and we say so: for high prescriptions or thin corneas, the ICL lens is usually the alternative.
The corneal topography at your first visit confirms it in 20 minutes.
When should a cataract be operated on?
When it limits your life: night driving feels stressful, you need more light to read, colours lose their vividness. The idea of waiting for a cataract to "ripen" is forty years old; today, operating earlier means less risk and a better result.
Do you work with health insurance companies?
Yes: Adeslas, Sanitas, DKV, Asisa and FIATC cover consultations, tests and much of cataract and glaucoma care. No insurer covers refractive surgery (they class it as cosmetic), but we offer 12-month interest-free financing.
What should I do in an eye emergency?
Call +34 930 000 000. Some signs cannot wait: sudden vision loss, a black curtain across your field of view, flashes with new floaters, intense pain with a red eye. A retinal detachment treated within hours can save your sight.
Is myopia surgery permanent?
The correction the laser makes to your cornea is permanent: treated myopia does not come back. What will arrive, as for everyone, is presbyopia from around 45 and perhaps cataracts from 65. Both have solutions, and having had myopia surgery does not prevent them.
What does the first visit include?
90 minutes and five tests: visual acuity, corneal topography, tonometry (eye pressure), an OCT scan of the optic nerve and a dilated-pupil examination. You leave with a diagnosis you understand and a fixed quote. Bring sunglasses: dilated pupils make light uncomfortable for a few hours.