How long does laser eye surgery take?
Laser eye surgery can change your life—but how long does it actually take?
You might be surprised to learn that the procedure itself only takes a few minutes. Yes, really. Most people spend more time in the waiting room than in the treatment room.
In this post, we’ll walk you through:
- How long each part of the day takes
- What to expect before and after
- The difference between LASIK, LASEK, and TransPRK
The procedure itself takes around 10 minutes per eye
For LASIK, the laser part of the treatment usually takes less than 60 seconds per eye. Add in setup time, and you're looking at about 10 minutes per eye total.
LASEK and TransPRK can take a little longer, but not much. Most people are surprised at how fast the entire process is.
The full day: what to expect
Here’s a breakdown of how your treatment day looks:
- Step 1
- Arrival & paperwork- 15-30 mins
- Step 2
- Final checks & consent- 15- 20 mins
- Step 3
- Procedure- 20- 30 mins
- Step 4
- Rest & recovery briefing
- 20-30 mins
- Rest & recovery briefing
You’ll usually be at the clinic for about 1.5 to 2 hours from start to finish.
What about recovery time?
This depends on the procedure:
- LASIK: Most people see clearly within 24–48 hours. You can usually drive the next day.
- LASEK: Expect 3–5 days of recovery before vision sharpens.
- TransPRK: Similar to LASEK, with a bit more discomfort in the first 48 hours.
When can you go back to work?
- LASIK: 1–2 days
- LASEK/TransPRK: 3–7 days
We'll give you personalised aftercare advice so you know exactly what to do—and when.
Want to know if you’re suitable?
Take our free self-test. It’s a quick way to find out if LASIK, LASEK or TransPRK could work for you.
Find out if you are suitable for vision correction
Vision correction isn’t suitable for everyone.
The first step is to take the self test so you can find out whether you can benefit.
