What it costs for people in Carlow
| Treatment | Per eye | Both eyes | After 20% relief |
|---|---|---|---|
| LASIK | €1,500 to €2,600 | €3,000 to €5,200 | €2,400 to €4,160 |
| LASEK, PRK or TransPRK | €800 to €2,600 | €1,600 to €5,200 | €1,280 to €4,160 |
| SMILE | €2,600 | €5,200 | €4,160 |
| Implantable contact lens (ICL) | €2,900 to €3,900 | €5,800 to €7,800 | €4,640 to €6,240 |
| Lens replacement (RLE) | €2,900 to €3,700 | €5,800 to €7,400 | €4,640 to €5,920 |
These are our price guide ranges. The clinic gives you a written price for your own eyes after the assessment.
Carlow at a glance
- People in County Carlow
- 61,968CSO Census 2022
- Aged 20 to 39
- 25%15,317 people, the usual age for laser
- Treatment
- Dublin1 hour 10 minutes from Carlow
- Assessments and check-ups
- Newbridge40 minutes by car
- Laser, both eyes
- €1,600 to €5,200the same range as Dublin
- After 20% tax relief
- €1,280 to €4,160both eyes
The travel: time, not money
Count on about six visits: the assessment, the treatment day, a check the next day, one at about a week and later checks to a year. If every visit were in Dublin, that's about 14.2 hours of driving from Carlow, there and back. Ask whether the assessment and the later checks can be in Newbridge. The M9 runs from Carlow to Dublin in about 70 minutes; Newbridge, for assessments, is about 40.
On the treatment day someone else has to drive you home, and after LASEK or PRK you may not be cleared to drive for five to seven days. Add the time off work: about two days after LASIK, about five after LASEK or PRK.
Paying for it
Claim 20% tax relief on what you pay. If you have health insurance, check for a member discount first. Spreading the cost? Read our finance guide before you sign.
Before you pay a deposit
Check the surgeon's name on the Medical Council's register before you pay a deposit: an eye surgeon practising as a specialist should be on its Specialist Division, in ophthalmology.
Don't book or pay on the day of a free consultation. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists advises at least a week between seeing the surgeon and deciding, and a deposit you can get back.
Price guides
Questions from Carlow
How much is laser eye surgery in Carlow?
€800 to €2,600 per eye for laser, €1,600 to €5,200 for both eyes, or €1,280 to €4,160 after the 20% tax relief. Implantable lenses and lens replacement cost €2,900 to €3,900 per eye.
Is it cheaper in Dublin?
No. Clinics around the country charge in the same range. Your prescription and the treatment move the price; the county doesn't.
How many trips will I make from Carlow?
About six: the assessment, the treatment, the next-day check, one at about a week and later checks to a year. Some can be at a clinic nearer home.
Can I claim tax relief on travel?
Generally not for laser eye surgery. Revenue's travel rules cover treatment abroad that isn't available in Ireland and a few specific cases that don't include eye surgery. Claim the treatment itself.
Who contacts me if I enquire from Carlow?
One Irish eye clinic, not five. They arrange an assessment and give you a written price. Nothing is booked until you say yes.