LASIK eye surgery in Kent and Medway: NHS Wait vs Private Cost
If you need a lasik eye surgery in Kent and Medway, here's the typical NHS waiting time versus what it costs to go private — updated for 2026.
NHS Wait (Kent and Medway)
37 wks
Typical referral-to-treatment wait for Ophthalmology in this ICB.
Private Self-Pay
£1,000–£2,200
Typical UK self-pay range. Usually treated within 2–3 weeks.
How long is the NHS wait for a lasik eye surgery in Kent and Medway?
In Kent and Medway, the typical NHS waiting time for ophthalmology procedures such as lasik eye surgery is around 37 weeks from referral to treatment. Waits vary by hospital within the region and change month to month — and under NHS Right to Choose you can ask to be referred to a faster provider elsewhere in England at no cost.
What does a private lasik eye surgery cost?
Going private for a lasik eye surgery in the UK typically costs between £1,000 and £2,200, with an average around £1,600. Self-pay patients are usually seen within 2–3 weeks, compared with the 37-week NHS wait in Kent and Medway — a saving of roughly 34 weeks.
Other procedures in Kent and Medway
Hip replacement in Kent and MedwayKnee replacement in Kent and MedwayShoulder replacement in Kent and MedwayKnee arthroscopy in Kent and MedwayMeniscus repair in Kent and MedwayCarpal tunnel release in Kent and Medway
Source: NHS England RTT data (2026) and typical UK self-pay fees. Figures are indicative ranges for guidance only.