{"id":38292,"date":"2026-09-25T12:56:49","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T10:56:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/laser-eye-surgery-zurich-expats\/"},"modified":"2026-10-06T12:08:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T10:08:24","slug":"laser-eye-surgery-zurich-expats","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/laser-eye-surgery-zurich-expats\/","title":{"rendered":"Laser Eye Surgery in Zurich for Expats: Insurance, Taxes, Timing and Aftercare"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.elx{max-width:1140px;margin:0 auto;padding:0 20px 50px;color:#555d60;line-height:1.65;font-size:17px}.elx h2{color:#2b337b;font-size:1.7em;line-height:1.3;margin:1.8em 0 .4em}.elx h3{color:#2b337b;font-size:1.15em;margin:1.2em 0 .4em}.elx-quote{background:#eef8fd;border-left:4px solid #00b4eb;border-radius:0 10px 10px 0;padding:22px 26px;color:#03293b;font-size:1.05em;margin:1.2em 0}.elx-stats{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(160px,1fr));gap:14px;margin:1.4em 0}.elx-stat{background:#fff;border:1px solid #e6ebf0;border-radius:10px;padding:18px 14px;text-align:center;box-shadow:0 4px 10px rgba(0,0,0,.06)}.elx-stat b{display:block;font-size:1.8em;color:#00b4eb;line-height:1.15;margin-bottom:4px}.elx-stat span{font-size:.88em}.elx-cta{background:#2b337b;color:#fff;border-radius:12px;padding:24px 28px;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:18px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:2em 0}.elx-cta p{margin:0;font-size:1.1em;font-weight:700;color:#fff}.elx-cta small{display:block;font-weight:400;opacity:.85;margin-top:4px;font-size:.82em}.elx-btn{background:#00b4eb;color:#fff!important;border-radius:999px;padding:13px 28px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none!important;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap}.elx-kontakt{display:flex;gap:18px;align-items:center;background:#fff;border:1px solid #d6e9f1;border-radius:12px;padding:20px 22px;margin:1.2em 0;flex-wrap:wrap}.elx-kontakt .ini{width:64px;height:64px;border-radius:50%;background:#03293b;color:#fff;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-weight:700;font-size:1.3em;flex:none}.elx table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:1em 0;font-size:.95em}.elx th,.elx td{text-align:left;padding:10px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e6ebf0;vertical-align:top}.elx th{color:#03293b;font-weight:700}.elx-byline{font-size:.92em;color:#555d60;margin:1em 0 0}<\/style>\n<div class=\"elx\">\n<div class=\"elx-quote\">EyeLaser Zurich is a surgeon-led private clinic in the old town (Strehlgasse 33, near Rennweg). Consultations and surgery are in English; Dr. Victor Derhartunian has personally performed around 25,000 refractive procedures. This page covers what is different for expats: Swiss insurance, the tax deduction that applies from 2027, timing around travel, and how aftercare works if you leave the country.<\/div>\n<p class=\"elx-byline\">Medically reviewed by <a href=\"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/about-dr-victor-derhartunian\/\">Dr. med. univ. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS<\/a> \u00b7 Ophthalmologist \u00b7 Last updated: 25 September 2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"elx-stats\">\n<div class=\"elx-stat\"><b>25,000<\/b><span>refractive procedures, all performed by the surgeon himself<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"elx-stat\"><b>CHF 1,500\u20133,300<\/b><span>fixed price per eye, depending on the procedure<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"elx-stat\"><b>4<\/b><span>check-ups in the first three months, included<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"elx-stat\"><b>10 years<\/b><span>enhancement included if ever needed<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elx-kontakt\">\n<div class=\"ini\">BM<\/div>\n<div>\n<p style=\"margin:0;font-weight:700;color:#03293b\">Bianca Martins \u2013 your contact for English-speaking patients<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0 0\">Questions about insurance letters, scheduling around travel or what to bring: message Bianca directly on <a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/41772598768?text=Hello%2C%20I%20am%20an%20expat%20in%20Zurich%20and%20would%20like%20to%20book%20a%20free%20consultation.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsApp<\/a>, email <a href=\"mailto:info@eyelaser.ch\">info@eyelaser.ch<\/a> or call <a href=\"tel:+41442219502\">+41 44 221 95 02<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Does Swiss health insurance pay for laser eye surgery?<\/h2>\n<p>Usually not. Basic insurance (KVG\/OKP) covers refractive surgery only when it is medically necessary \u2013 for example very high prescriptions above 10 dioptres, proven intolerance of glasses and contact lenses, keratoconus or injuries. In those cases the insurer decides after a medical report from us, submitted in advance.<\/p>\n<p>Supplementary insurance (VVG) is different: many plans contribute CHF 500 to 1,000 towards laser or lens surgery. Check your policy for \u00abrefractive surgery\u00bb or \u00abAugenlasern\u00bb, or send us the policy and we will tell you what to expect. We nevertheless recommend obtaining a cost approval (Kostengutsprache) from your insurer before the procedure \u2013 we will support you with this. Cataract surgery, by contrast, is a compulsory benefit of basic insurance \u2013 you only pay for a premium lens or laser precision if you choose it.<\/p>\n<p>If you are on an international or employer health plan, ask the insurer directly. We issue invoices and medical letters in English, and we prepare the cost-approval request for you.<\/p>\n<h2>Tax deduction from the 2027 tax year<\/h2>\n<p>Since Circular No. 11a of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (26 May 2026), laser eye surgery is explicitly listed as a medical expense, alongside glasses and contact lenses. It applies from the 2027 tax period. Deductible is the part of the cost you paid yourself that exceeds the threshold: 5 % of net income for federal tax and in the canton of Zurich, 2 % in St. Gallen.<\/p>\n<p>If you are taxed at source (Quellensteuer) and do not file a Swiss tax return, ask your tax adviser whether a subsequent ordinary assessment is open to you. We provide the documents either way: fixed price per procedure, invoice, proof of payment and, on request, a medical confirmation.<\/p>\n<h2>Timing around travel and home visits<\/h2>\n<p>A laser procedure takes 15 to 20 minutes; the treatment takes three months. Eight appointments belong to it: the free initial consultation, the pre-examination, the procedure, and check-ups on day 1, in week 1, at month 1 and month 3, plus the yearly check. The day-1 check has to be in Zurich; the later ones we schedule around your travel, and if you are abroad for a while, we can coordinate a check with an ophthalmologist there.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Step<\/th>\n<th>What happens<\/th>\n<th>Cost<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Initial consultation<\/td>\n<td>20\u201330 minutes, suitability check, procedure recommendation \u2013 also as a video call<\/td>\n<td>free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pre-examination<\/td>\n<td>full diagnostic work-up; no soft contact lenses for 24 hours before \u2013 we tell you the rule for other lens types<\/td>\n<td>CHF 300, fully credited towards the treatment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Procedure<\/td>\n<td>both eyes on the same day, you go home the same day<\/td>\n<td>fixed price per eye<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Check-ups<\/td>\n<td>day 1, week 1, month 1, month 3<\/td>\n<td>included<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yearly check<\/td>\n<td>also your routine eye exam<\/td>\n<td>CHF 180<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h2>What the fixed price includes \u2013 and what it does not<\/h2>\n<p>Included per eye: the procedure with the method chosen for you, performed by Dr. Derhartunian; all check-ups in the first three months; enhancement for up to ten years if ever needed (condition: the yearly check with us). Not included: the pre-examination (CHF 300, credited), the yearly check (CHF 180), and medication and eye drops after surgery, which you collect at a pharmacy on prescription.<\/p>\n<p>Prices are in Swiss francs and do not change after the pre-examination. Six months interest-free instalments are available; longer terms run through our financing partner HeyLight with interest. Current prices: <a href=\"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/laser-eye-surgery-costs\/\">laser eye surgery costs in Zurich<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Aftercare, also from abroad<\/h2>\n<p>During the first 24 hours after surgery your surgeon can be reached around the clock. After that, your surgeon is your contact during the day, including at weekends; at night, please contact the emergency department of the hospital on duty. If something worries you while you are travelling, you call or send a photo \u2013 most questions are settled that way. For a check-up abroad we can send your file and measurements to an ophthalmologist near you.<\/p>\n<h2>Languages<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Derhartunian consults in five languages, including English. The website, the booking calendar and all documents are available in English.<\/p>\n<div class=\"elx-cta\">\n<p>Free initial consultation in English<small>In Zurich or as a video call \u2013 no obligation, no sales pressure<\/small><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"elx-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/online-appointment\/\">Book a free consultation<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EyeLaser Zurich is a surgeon-led private clinic in the old town (Strehlgasse 33, near Rennweg). Consultations and surgery are in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-38292","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38292\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}