Vision Eye Institute’s Sydney laser eye surgeons are among the most experienced in New South Wales. Our laser eye surgeons perform SMILE, LASIK eye surgery and ASLA/PRK. Surgery is performed in our dedicated Sydney laser eye clinic featuring the latest technology and amenities. Following a rigorous screening and assessment in a Sydney laser clinic, your laser eye surgeon will recommend a surgical plan that takes into account your vision correction requirements, individual eye measurements and lifestyle goals.
All forms of laser eye surgery involve reshaping the cornea (the clear, curved surface that protects the front of the eye) to correct refractive errors, including short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism (an imperfection in the curvature of the eye that distorts vision). Laser eye surgery is considered safe and effective when performed by an experienced laser eye doctor.
If you would like to find out whether you are eligible for laser eye surgery, we offer a free, no-obligation assessment with one of our friendly orthoptists or optometrists. Call 1800 1 LASER (1800 152 737) or take our online eligibility quiz to book a free assessment. Please note that the free assessment is optional and is not required prior to surgery.
If you are ready to proceed with laser eye surgery in Sydney, the next step will be a consultation with one of our surgeons or clinical optometrists to discuss the procedure in detail and perform additional tests before your surgery. This consultation will incur a fee; however, a Medicare rebate is available if you have a referral letter from an optometrist or GP.
Book a consultation with one of our doctors or at one of our clinics below.
Do NOT use this form in an emergency – contact one of our clinics or your nearest hospital emergency department instead.
Some services may not be performed by your preferred doctor or at your preferred clinic. We will confirm this with you before making an appointment.
Our Sydney laser eye surgeons use LASIK eye surgery as a treatment for refractive errors such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism.
LASIK eye surgery is a two-step procedure that uses two different lasers to correct refractive errors by reshaping the cornea. This type of operation leads to less discomfort during healing compared to other forms of laser eye surgery (e.g. ASLA/PRK surgery).
For more information about LASIK eye surgery, visit our laser eye surgery Services page.
SMILE (small incision lenticular extraction) laser eye surgery and SMILE Pro (the latest form of SMILE surgery) are available at our Chatswood laser eye clinic in Sydney. In fact, the first SMILE Pro laser eye surgery in Australia and New Zealand was performed at our Chatswood clinic by A/Prof Michael Lawless. Read more about SMILE Pro surgery.
The SMILE procedure is a single-step, minimally invasive, keyhole form of laser eye surgery. For this reason, recovery is quick and it’s an ideal option for people who want to return to contact sport as soon as possible. It is also an appropriate option for patients with dry eye disease. SMILE Pro is even faster than the original SMILE laser eye procedure – the laser part of the surgery only takes 10 seconds versus 27 for the original SMILE surgery.
However, SMILE cannot be used for long-sightedness, and not everyone will be suitable for SMILE laser eye surgery. Your laser eye doctor will be able to advise whether SMILE is an appropriate treatment for you.
For more information about SMILE laser eye surgery, visit our laser eye surgery Services page.
Although the majority of vision correction surgeries are now either LASIK or SMILE, advanced surface laser ablation (ASLA), also known as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), still plays a role, especially for patients with thin or unusual corneas. It can be used to treat short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism.
For more information about ASLA/PRK eye surgery, visit our laser eye surgery service page.
In this procedure, the laser eye surgeon corrects one eye (usually the dominant one) for distance vision and the other eye for reading/near vision. Overall, the images from both eyes are processed by the brain as one blended image. Monovision can be achieved using laser eye surgery (e.g. LASIK or ASLA) or artificial lenses (e.g. replacement lenses or implantable phakic lenses).
Most people who have monovision find they adjust within a matter of days and can minimise their use of glasses. Before the procedure, our Sydney laser eye surgeons will usually get you to trial a set of contact lenses to make sure you can adapt to this change.
At Vision Eye Institute, a detailed quote with the full cost will be provided during your laser consultation after we check the health of your eyes and determine which procedure is recommended for your individual situation.
The cost of laser eye surgery in Sydney is between $3,800 per eye. However, it’s important to understand the true value of your surgery. This means knowing what type of laser eye surgery you are having (e.g. LASIK, ASLA or SMILE), the experience of your surgeon and clinic staff, and whether there are any additional costs (e.g. medications, enhancement procedures, theatre fees).
Latitude Gem Visa* is available for laser eye surgery procedures (credit limit subject to approval). Latitude Gem Visa offers interest-free payment plans, low monthly account fees and fast approval.
Read our cost of laser eye surgery article to understand why different providers charge different fees. And use our cost calculator to find out how much you can save compared to a lifetime of glasses and contact lens use.
*Approved customers only. Conditions, fees and charges apply. Credit provided by Latitude Finance Australia ABN 42 008 583 588 Australian Credit Licence number 392145.
Medicare does not rebate any of the cost of laser eye surgery. However, many health insurers will cover some or all of the cost. You will need to check with your health insurer as to whether your level of cover includes rebates for laser eye surgery.
For example, BUPA’s Ultimate Health Cover offers 100% cover for laser eye surgery (3-year waiting period applies). For your convenience, we also invoice the cost of your procedure (LASIK, PRK or SMILE) directly to BUPA, meaning you have nothing to pay upfront.* Contact BUPA to find out if you qualify (phone 134 135 or visit their website).
Medibank members with selected extras and packaged covers can receive 15% off surgical fees if they have their procedure performed at Vision Eye Institute. This excludes consultation fees and diagnostic tests.
When comparing providers, make sure you get an accurate indication of all charges that you will incur before, during and after your laser eye surgery procedure (including enhancement or follow-up procedures).
Laser eye surgery is an elective procedure and does not have a waiting period. However, there may be a waiting period if you are claiming a benefit from your private health insurer.
In our Sydney clinics we use femtosecond lasers and excimer lasers for all our laser eye surgeries. Both types of lasers are used by our laser eye surgeons to make precise incisions, allowing our surgeons to reshape the cornea to correct vision. All our lasers are computer-guided cold lasers.
We offer three types of laser eye surgery:
At our Sydney laser eye clinics clinics, Latitude Gem Visa* is available for laser eye surgery procedures (credit limit subject to approval). Latitude Gem Visa offers interest-free payment plans with low monthly account fees and fast approval.
*Approved customers only. Conditions, fees and charges apply. Credit provided by Latitude Finance Australia ABN 42 008 583 588 Australian Credit Licence number 392145.
There are no aftercare practices specific to climate or weather. Best practices for laser eye surgery aftercare include:
You do not need a referral for laser eye surgery. However, if you receive a referral from your GP or optometrist you may be able to claim some of the cost of your pre-surgical consultation through Medicare.
To be eligible for laser eye surgery you must:
However, individuals over 55 may still be eligible for laser eye surgery or another vision correction procedure. To find out if you are eligible, book a comprehensive assessment with one of our Sydney laser eye surgeons.
Between them, our Sydney laser eye surgeons have performed tens of thousands of procedures. Our team of world-class Sydney laser eye doctors also includes members of the first group to perform laser eye surgery in Australia (with the excimer laser), one of the first Australian surgeons to perform LASIK with the femtosecond laser (also performed in New South Wales), one of the first Sydney laser eye surgeons to perform SMILE and one of the first laser eye surgeons in the Asia-Pacific region to perform Wavefront-guided LASIK.
Our laser eye surgeons consult at our state-of-the-art clinics in Sydney, NSW. Laser eye surgery is performed at our dedicated laser suite at our Chatswood clinic. Other vision correction procedures are performed at Chatswood Day Surgery, which is co-located with the clinic.
