Lens replacement eye surgery overseas.
Lens replacement eye surgery overseas.
Author
Discussion

paulguitar

Original Poster:

33,355 posts

135 months

Sunday 23rd November 2025
quotequote all
Has anyone had this done in Prague or elsewhere?


I'd like to be able to do away with my reading glasses. My long sight is good, I just need glasses for close up. At the moment I need to keep glasses on my forehead, because they are off and on all the time if I am working doing a gig, as I need them to read from my charts on the ipad but can't clearly see the audience with them on, or if I am driving I need them to use the satnav but not to look through the windscreen. As I understand it, a monofocal lens exchange would fix my issue.


I've read that Prague is something of a world leader in these procedures, and it is significantly less expensive than having it done here.


paulguitar

Original Poster:

33,355 posts

135 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
Has anyone had this treatment done, either overseas or in the UK?



Callerton

120 posts

70 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
My wife had the same problem & had a pair of varifocal glasses with plain lenses in the top. Worked fine for her.
To a wimp like me seems a much cheaper & less invasive, although it meant wearing the glasses all the time whilst she was working.

Red9zero

10,153 posts

79 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
Callerton said:
My wife had the same problem & had a pair of varifocal glasses with plain lenses in the top. Worked fine for her.
To a wimp like me seems a much cheaper & less invasive, although it meant wearing the glasses all the time whilst she was working.
You could be a top level wimp like me and have a general anaesthetic for the procedure.

paulguitar

Original Poster:

33,355 posts

135 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
I'm not worried about the procedure, apparently it's about 20 mins!

simon_harris

2,515 posts

56 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
I am not sure I would want to take the cheapest option for my eyes

paulguitar

Original Poster:

33,355 posts

135 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
simon_harris said:
I am not sure I would want to take the cheapest option for my eyes
It's not just about money. From what I can see in my research, Prague has a reputation for being particularly advanced in these procedures. The concern is, of course, if all does not go smoothly, it's a long way to go...





Armitage.Shanks

2,919 posts

107 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
I've been looking into Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) as an alternative to wearing specs for reading and computer (intermediate distance) work. My long range prescription is very minor so whilst wearing specs will sharpen things up I can just about get away with reading a number plate at the correct licensing distance.

I think RLE is specialist work and not best undertaken by these high street outfits like Vision Express, Optimax etc so you need to do due diligence around the consultant. For example I've no issue going to Turkey for my teeth given their level of expertise when you've carried out checks to ensure the right place to go, but would need a lot of reassuance if an overseas place was going to carry out surgery on my eyes given it's not a correctible process post surgery even if there's a cost benefit.

The compromise of possible halos around lights or reduced contrast in vision is a potential outcome even if the operation deals with age related cataracts.

Following with interest.

Red9zero

10,153 posts

79 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
Armitage.Shanks said:
The compromise of possible halos around lights or reduced contrast in vision is a potential outcome even if the operation deals with age related cataracts.
I suffer from the halo effect, but it is mainly on LED rear lights and isn't quite so noticeable on other LED's. If I am driving a long distance at night, I will use some yellow lensed driving glasses, which do make the effect slightly better. My consultant told me (after the op) that it was caused by the concentric rings in the lenses that create the variofocal element. Not sure if normal lenses have them too.

Berocca

29 posts

158 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
I too had the operation done here in the UK, in 2020.

Very pleased with the results,as has been said the halo effect around lights is a minor issue, but I don't drive much at night as a rule and its fine for just being out and about. Day time or normal vision is wonderful, as I too was glasses on for one thing, off for another and almost another for close-up, so to achieve the 'near' perfect for 100% of the time is so much better.

steveo3002

11,000 posts

196 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
Berocca said:
I too had the operation done here in the UK, in 2020.

Very pleased with the results,as has been said the halo effect around lights is a minor issue, but I don't drive much at night as a rule and its fine for just being out and about. Day time or normal vision is wonderful, as I too was glasses on for one thing, off for another and almost another for close-up, so to achieve the 'near' perfect for 100% of the time is so much better.
did you always have poor eyesight or it came on with age ? mines gone bad since i turned 50

Berocca

29 posts

158 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
steveo3002 said:
did you always have poor eyesight or it came on with age ? mines gone bad since i turned 50
Only had a prescription of -1.0 in both eyes, but that was since I was about 18, had operation done at 50.

simon_harris

2,515 posts

56 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
as you age you lenses become less flexible and the muscles around the eyes become weaker and the effect is that close vision deteriorates, there are things you can do to mitigate it but it is a predictable as the tide.

@ Paulguitar - i would be inclined to go wherever the people are that are best at doing it with the best documented success rate.

MrOrange

2,038 posts

275 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
I had laser blended vision at London Vision Clinic (it was branded at Presbyond iirc) in 2016 (age 51) to get rid of my readers that I had started to wear 5 or so years earlier (eye sight was good before) and it's been a revelation. No lens replacement etc, they use lasik to make your left/right eye work at different focal ranges with an overlap in the middle, quite clever stuff.

9 years later (I'm 60 now) and it's still going strong. I did take a while for my eyes to adjust, though. Highly recommended in my book.

Armitage.Shanks

2,919 posts

107 months

Monday 24th November 2025
quotequote all
MrOrange said:
I had laser blended vision at London Vision Clinic (it was branded at Presbyond iirc) in 2016 (age 51) to get rid of my readers that I had started to wear 5 or so years earlier (eye sight was good before) and it's been a revelation. No lens replacement etc, they use lasik to make your left/right eye work at different focal ranges with an overlap in the middle, quite clever stuff.

9 years later (I'm 60 now) and it's still going strong. I did take a while for my eyes to adjust, though. Highly recommended in my book.
Both my pal and his partner had that done where they do a different prescription for each eye and somehow the brain works it out when both eyes focus on an object. From memory they had it done around 10yrs ago (age 60) and no issues. He lives in Spain (actually Gibralter for tax) but I think he had it done in Harley Street London. I must catch up with him and ask.

Mr Pointy

12,755 posts

181 months

Tuesday 25th November 2025
quotequote all
paulguitar said:
Has anyone had this done in Prague or elsewhere?

I'd like to be able to do away with my reading glasses. My long sight is good, I just need glasses for close up. At the moment I need to keep glasses on my forehead, because they are off and on all the time if I am working doing a gig, as I need them to read from my charts on the ipad but can't clearly see the audience with them on, or if I am driving I need them to use the satnav but not to look through the windscreen. As I understand it, a monofocal lens exchange would fix my issue.

I've read that Prague is something of a world leader in these procedures, and it is significantly less expensive than having it done here.
There are at least two fairly recent threads on the subject of RLE/cataract removal:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

While it's a very common procedure it's not something to be undertaken lightly & you should understand the risks - for instance it raises the chance of retinal tears & detachment which can end up in blindness without immediate surgery. I'd be very wary of having RLE as elective surgery when it's not medically necessary.

You end up with fixed focal length eyes so there is no accomodation: don't belive anyone who says you will end up with perfect vision or that you won't need glasses. It's impossible to predict how your eyes will react & it's not unusual to still need reading glasses, although this post will be followed by others saying that they have perfect vision from zero to infinity & don't need glasses for anything.

Try messaging 968 for advice - he has been helpful in the past. Don't go for multifocal lenses. Personally I'd try varifocal or specialist glasses before considering surgery.

Stu78

237 posts

157 months

Tuesday 25th November 2025
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My friend went to Prague. She says it's best thing she's ever had done. There was a small complication with one eye but they looked after her and sorted it. Only downside is she suffers from the halo effect and has trouble judging car headlight distance at night.

QuartzDad

2,743 posts

144 months

Tuesday 25th November 2025
quotequote all
Friend had it done recently in London, was around £8000 for both eyes IIRC. Ended up with a cyst behind one eye that needed draining and is now scheduled for a YAG laser capsulotomy which is apparently a result of a rare-ish side effect of the original surgery.

mike9009

9,440 posts

265 months

Tuesday 25th November 2025
quotequote all
paulguitar said:
Has anyone had this done in Prague or elsewhere?


I'd like to be able to do away with my reading glasses. My long sight is good, I just need glasses for close up. At the moment I need to keep glasses on my forehead, because they are off and on all the time if I am working doing a gig, as I need them to read from my charts on the ipad but can't clearly see the audience with them on, or if I am driving I need them to use the satnav but not to look through the windscreen. As I understand it, a monofocal lens exchange would fix my issue.


I've read that Prague is something of a world leader in these procedures, and it is significantly less expensive than having it done here.
I was very short sighted then at age 40 my near sight started to deteriorate as well. So, I was wearing varifocal glasses for about 5 years back then.

Then I had cataracts lens replacement in both eyes. I had mono focal lens put in, so now I can see distance without glasses. I still need reading glasses, but I have a pair of varifocals ( with no prescription at the top) so I can work at my computer and still see people when they come to discuss something......