Medically reviewed by Dr. med. univ. Victor Derhartunian, FEBOOphthalmologist · Last updated: 16 September 2026
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The whole calculation: what a procedure really costs
Do not compare the price of the laser, compare the price of the treatment. That includes every appointment, the journey to each of them and the time you spend.
| Item | Zurich, fixed price | Abroad, worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Procedure, both eyes | included (CHF 3’000 to 6’600 depending on method) | the quoted price; check whether it is per eye or for both |
| Full pre-assessment | CHF 300, credited against treatment | often included, sometimes only on site after you arrive |
| Checks day 1, week 1, month 1, month 3 | included, in Zurich | day 1 usually on site; the rest to be arranged and paid for at home |
| Medication, protective goggles, bandage lens | included | frequently an extra item |
| Correction if needed | up to ten years without extra cost, with an annual check | check the conditions and the location; usually only at the operating clinic |
| Travel and accommodation | train or tram; from anywhere in Switzerland in a day | flights, a hotel for at least two nights, often separately for assessment and surgery |
| Time off | one to two days | travel days plus recovery on site |
| Contact if problems arise | the surgeon’s mobile number, around the clock | clarify beforehand: who, how and in which language |
An example: if an offer for both eyes is CHF 2’000 below the Zurich price, two flights, two or three hotel nights, the checks at home and two extra travel days often leave a few hundred francs of difference. That can be worth it; it should be a conscious decision.
Why aftercare is the real difference
A laser procedure takes 15 to 20 minutes. The treatment takes three months. During this time we check whether the cornea heals as planned, whether the drops work, whether the eye is dry and whether the result becomes stable. Anyone who flies home after the procedure loses exactly this care, or has to organise it again at home, with a doctor who does not know the procedure.
Day 1
Vision test, cornea, flap or bandage lens. Almost every clinic offers this check on site.
Week 1
Removing the bandage lens, healing of the surface, adjusting the drops. After Trans-PRK the most important appointment.
Month 1
A first statement on stability, treating dryness, clearing sport.
Month 3
Assessing the final result. If a disturbing residual error remains, this is when a fine-tuning is decided.
What to measure every offer against, wherever it is
Ask for the name and the experience of the surgeon. With us Dr. Derhartunian performs the pre-assessment and the procedure personally.
A centre with one procedure recommends one procedure. Ask what happens if your cornea does not allow the first one.
Pre-assessment, medication, all four checks, correction with conditions and duration. In writing, before you travel.
Serious offers plan at least the check-up the next day, better the first week. Surgery on the day of arrival without a prior full assessment is a warning sign.
Phone number, language, response time. And: who covers the cost and the organisation if further treatment becomes necessary?
About one in ten enquirers leaves our pre-assessment without a surgery date. A centre that treats everyone is not a good sign, in Zurich or anywhere else.
What the Swiss setting means
Fixed price and receipts
One price per method, in writing, without surcharges after the pre-assessment. You receive receipts that supplementary insurance and the tax office accept.
Checks in Zurich
All eight appointments in one place, with the same person and the same devices. Measurements can be compared over years.
Availability
After the procedure you have the surgeon’s mobile number, including at weekends. Real emergencies are rare; the availability is part of the treatment nonetheless.
Correction
Up to ten years after the procedure without extra cost, provided you attend the annual check. You do not have to board a plane for it.
Further reading
all prices · how to spot a good clinic · correction after surgery elsewhere · the day of surgery
Frequently asked questions about laser eye surgery abroad
Is laser eye surgery abroad worse?
No, not as a rule. There are excellent centres abroad with the same technology as in Switzerland. The difference is rarely the laser, it is aftercare, availability and how comparable the offer is. That is exactly what to check.
Why is it cheaper abroad?
Mainly because of location costs: wages, rent, insurance and regulation are more expensive in Switzerland. Part of the difference, however, is scope: what is inside the Zurich fixed price is sometimes an extra item elsewhere.
How many check-ups do I need after surgery?
The next day, after one week, after one month and after three months, then once a year. The first four are medically important and belong to the treatment. With us they take place in Zurich and are included in the fixed price.
Can I have surgery abroad and the checks in Zurich?
Checks yes, we are glad to examine you. But responsibility for the result and for corrections stays with the operating clinic, and their guarantee usually applies only on site. Clarify this in writing before you travel.
What happens if a complication occurs after I return?
You then need an ophthalmologist quickly who knows the procedure. With us you receive the surgeon’s mobile number; with surgery abroad you have to organise that route in advance.
Does health insurance pay abroad?
Basic insurance does not cover refractive laser surgery, neither in Switzerland nor abroad. Supplementary insurances decide by their own terms, some only for treatment in Switzerland. Ask beforehand.
Can I deduct the cost from tax?
Medical costs you bear yourself are deductible above a threshold of net income. The Swiss federal tax circular 11a names laser eye surgery explicitly from the 2027 tax period. Whether treatment abroad is treated the same is up to the tax authority; keep all receipts. More under laser eye surgery and tax.
When is going abroad still a good choice?
If you are there anyway for longer, have family or a trusted ophthalmologist on site and aftercare is therefore secured. Then the sums can work. Anyone flying out and back only for the procedure should do the maths carefully.
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