Reading your prescription
SPH (sphere) is the main number: minus means short-sighted, plus means long-sighted. CYL is astigmatism, with an AXIS. ADD, if there is one, is the reading boost, which means presbyopia has started. Ask your optician for a copy if you don't have one.
The quick match
| Your eyes | Usually considered first | Also possible |
|---|---|---|
| Short sight up to about -6 | LASIK, LASEK or PRK, SMILE | Implantable lens if the cornea is thin |
| Short sight about -6 to -10 | LASIK or SMILE if the cornea is thick enough | Implantable lens |
| Short sight beyond -10 | Implantable lens (up to about -18) | Lens replacement from about 50 |
| Long sight | LASIK or LASEK for lower amounts | Implantable lens; lens replacement from about 45 to 50 |
| Astigmatism | Treated with the above | Toric implantable lens or toric lens replacement for higher amounts |
| Reading glasses (ADD) | Lens replacement from about 50 | Blended vision or monovision with laser |
These ranges are typical, not limits. The thickness and shape of your cornea, your pupils, your tears and your age move them.
What the assessment measures
- Your prescription, with and without drops that relax focusing.
- Corneal thickness and a map of its shape, which shows whether there is enough tissue for laser and rules out keratoconus.
- Pupil size in dim light, tear film, eye pressure and a check of the retina.
- For an implantable lens, the depth of the space in front of your own lens.
Prices by treatment
LASIK €1,500 to €2,600 per eye, LASEK or PRK €800 to €2,600, SMILE about €2,600, an implantable lens €2,900 to €3,900, lens replacement €2,900 to €3,700.
Questions people ask
What prescription is too high for laser eye surgery?
There is no single number. Beyond about -10, or less if the cornea is thin, an implantable lens is usually the safer route.
Can long-sighted people have laser eye surgery?
Yes, for lower amounts, with LASIK or LASEK. SMILE doesn't treat long sight, and from about 50 lens replacement is often suggested.
Do I need my prescription before the assessment?
It helps you use our tool, but the clinic measures everything again itself.