Why UK and Ireland Patients Travel abroad to Prague for Lens Replacement Surgery?

11. 3. 2026

In recent years, more and more patients from the UK and Ireland have started travelling abroad for medical procedures. One of the most popular treatments is lens replacement surgery abroad, especially in European destinations like Prague.

So why are so many people choosing Prague instead of having the Refractive Lens Exchange and Cataract surgery in the UK? Below are the main reasons why thousands of patients travel to the Czech Republic every year for vision correction surgery.

1. The Price Difference Is Significant

The biggest reason many patients consider lens replacement surgery abroad is the price. In the UK, the cost of lens replacement surgery typically ranges between:

£5,000 – £9,000 per eye

This means many patients may pay £8,000 – £14,000 for both eyes.

In Prague, the same procedure is significantly more affordable. At Beauty in Prague, prices start from: £875 per eye (€950 per eye).

Despite the lower cost, patients receive treatment in modern European eye clinics with advanced technology and experienced eye surgeons. This is why many patients from the UK and Ireland are now considering lens replacement surgery abroad as a more affordable alternative to private clinics in the UK.

Lens Replacement Surgery Price Comparison

Location	Price per eye
UK	£4,000 – £7,000
Prague	from £875

2. Experienced Eye Surgeons

The Czech Republic has a long tradition in ophthalmology and eye surgery. Many eye surgeons in Prague have:

performed tens of thousands of procedures
extensive experience with modern intraocular lenses
access to advanced diagnostic equipment

Our Experienced Refractive and Cataract Surgeons in Prague

Dr Andrea Janeková, M.D., FEBO, FEBOS-CR
Dr Andrea Janeková is an internationally recognised refractive and cataract surgeon who has performed more than 12,000 intraocular surgeries. In 2026, she was named among the TOP 50 doctors in the Czech Republic by Forbes for her contribution to modern ophthalmology.

Doc. MUDr. Jiří Pašta, CSc., FEBO
Professor Jiří Pašta is one of the most experienced ophthalmic surgeons in the Czech Republic, with more than 30,000 cataract surgeries performed. He previously led the Eye Clinic at the Central Military Hospital in Prague and is active in several international ophthalmology societies.

Dr. Radan Zugar MD
Dr Radan Zugar is a senior ophthalmic surgeon specialising in cataract surgery and retinal treatment. He performs over 1,000 cataract surgeries per year and has extensive experience with modern intraocular lens implantation.

For international patients, it is reassuring to know that the procedure performed during lens replacement surgery is based on the same technique used in cataract surgery, which is one of the most common and safest surgical procedures worldwide.

3. Prague Is Easy to Reach From the UK

Another major advantage is the short travel time. Many patients searching online for lens replacement surgery abroad compare destinations such as Turkey, Poland and the Czech Republic. Prague is located in the heart of Europe and is easily accessible from the UK and Ireland.

Typical flight times:

London → Prague: about 1 hour 45 minutes
Manchester → Prague: about 2 hours
Dublin → Prague: about 2 hours 30 minutes

This makes Prague one of the closest medical tourism destinations for UK patients. Many patients combine the procedure with a short stay in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

4. No Long Waiting Lists

In many countries, patients can face long waiting lists for eye surgery.

Private clinics abroad can often offer faster appointment availability, allowing patients to schedule surgery much sooner.

For people struggling with:

reading glasses
multifocal glasses
worsening presbyopia

lens replacement surgery can offer a long-term solution for clearer vision.

5. A Complete Medical Tourism Experience

Many international patients appreciate that their trip can be organised in advance.

At Beauty in Prague, the procedure usually includes:

consultation with experienced eye surgeons
surgery in a modern Prague eye clinic
assistance for international patients
help with accommodation and travel logistics

The typical stay in Prague is around 4 days, allowing time for the procedure and follow-up examination before travelling home.

What Is Lens Replacement Surgery?

Lens replacement surgery, also known as Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), is a vision correction procedure where the natural lens of the eye is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens. Lens replacement surgery uses the same surgical technique as cataract surgery, one of the most commonly performed procedures in ophthalmology.

It can help correct: