Galway at a glance
- People in County Galway
- 277,737CSO Census 2022, up 7.6% since 2016
- Aged 20 to 39
- 70,59225% of the county (Ireland: 26%)
- Aged 45 to 64
- 69,79125%, the age reading glasses arrive (Ireland: 25%)
- Treatment done in
- The countyno long drive needed
- Nearest check-ups
- Localwithin the county
- Laser, per eye
- €800 to €2,600the same range as Dublin
Galway city has a clinic that does laser treatment, so people in Galway can usually be assessed, treated and checked without a long drive.
Which treatment, at which age
About 70,592 people in County Galway are aged 20 to 39, the age most people have laser treatment once their prescription has settled. Another 69,791 are 45 to 64, when the eye's own lens stiffens, reading glasses arrive and lens replacement or blended vision come into the conversation.
For an everyday short-sighted prescription, LASIK, LASEK or PRK and SMILE are the usual choices. For high prescriptions or thin corneas, an implantable lens. The prescription guide lays it out.
Getting to the clinic and back
Plan on about 6 visits: the assessment, the treatment day, a check the next day, one at about a week and later checks at three months and a year. With treatment in the county, most of those are short trips. You still need someone to drive you home on the day, and you can't drive until the clinic says your sight meets the standard.
Choosing a surgeon
Ask for the surgeon's name and check it on the Medical Council's register. By law a doctor can only practise independently as a specialist with specialist registration, and an eye surgeon should be on the Specialist Division of the register in ophthalmology.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists advises taking at least a week after the consultation with your surgeon before you decide, and checking that any deposit is refundable if you change your mind.
Treatments and guides
Questions from Galway
Where is laser eye surgery done nearest Galway city?
The laser treatment itself is done in Galway, so most people in County Galway don't need to travel.
Is laser eye correction cheaper in Galway than in Dublin?
No. Clinics around the country charge in the same range, €800 to €2,600 per eye for laser. The treatment and your prescription move the price, not the county.
Can the check-ups be closer to home?
Often, yes. Some clinics do assessments and check-ups at smaller clinics nearer you and only the treatment at the main centre. Ask before you book.
Who contacts me if I send the form from Galway?
One Irish eye clinic, not five. They contact you to arrange an assessment. Nothing is booked until you say yes.