As laser eye surgery is an elective procedure, basic insurance does not pay for it in most cases.

However, basic insurance can cover the costs if such surgery is medically necessary. The costs are covered in the following cases:

• If you are unable to wear contact lenses due to severe visual impairment (more than +/- 10 dioptres).
• If there is a significant difference in vision between your two eyes (more than +/- 3 dioptres).
• If you are not able to wear glasses or contact lenses, for health reasons.
• If you suffer from glaucoma or cataracts.

The costs of medically necessary laser eye treatment are partially covered by basic insurance. The costs of cosmetic laser eye surgery are not covered by the health insurance fund.

However, V⁠i⁠s⁠a⁠n⁠a’s Outpatient top-up insurance, which closes significant gaps in cover, does pay 90% of the cost of spectacle lenses and contact lenses (up to a maximum of CHF 200 every year under the age of 18, and every three years thereafter).

For cosmetic laser eye treatment, neither basic nor top-up insurance covers the costs. You have to pay for such treatment yourself.

However, as a V⁠i⁠s⁠a⁠n⁠a customer, you can benefit from a special rate at Swiss Visio centres, on these well-established procedures:

• Femto-LASIK/LBV: CHF 2,000 per eye instead of CHF 2,400
• SMILE: CHF 2,400 per eye instead of CHF 2,700

The reduced prices are only available to persons insured with V⁠i⁠s⁠a⁠n⁠a, but you do have to pay them yourself, in full.

Laser eye surgery permanently corrects your visual impairment by reshaping the cornea using a precise laser. This procedure refocuses the light entering the eye – thus allowing you to see clearly again, without glasses or contact lenses.

Depending on the visual impairment and characteristics of your eyes, different methods may be suitable, such as Femto-LASIK, SMILE or LBV (Laser Blended Vision), for example. All procedures are safe, pain-free (local anaesthesia using eye drops) and carried out on an outpatient basis (duration of around 30 minutes).

Shortly after the procedure, many patients already notice a significant improvement in their vision.

1. Free preliminary examination
   You can get a free consultation at one of several Swiss Visio centres. This initial consultation serves to determine whether laser eye treatment is feasible for you.
2. Detailed preliminary assessment
   During a comprehensive examination, you and the treating practitioner discuss which method is best for you. The options include Femto-LASIK, SMILE, LBV and others.
3. Laser eye surgery
   The laser eye treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis at the Swiss Visio centre of your choice and takes around 30 minutes. The procedure is painless and you can leave the practice on the same day.
4. Subsequent check-ups and aftercare
   After the surgery, there will be four check-ups, in which the results are assessed and any questions can be answered. If any subsequent correction is necessary, this can be carried out within the first twelve months.

Laser eye surgery is a good option if you want to have your visual impairment permanently corrected, so that you no longer have to wear glasses or contact lenses.

The treatment is particularly suitable in the following cases:

• Short- or far-sightedness
• Astigmatism
• Presbyopia
• Incompatibility with glasses and contact lenses

In a free preliminary examination, an expert personally determines whether the treatment is possible for you.

Not all visual impairments can be corrected with laser surgery. For such treatment, you must meet certain fundamental prerequisites. Your doctor will advise you in detail.

Here are some of the prerequisites:

• Your visual impairment must be between -10 and +5 dioptres.
• You must be at least 18 years old. From the age of 20 onwards, you also benefit from a special rate.
• Your cornea must be of a certain thickness (over 480 µm) and shape.
• Ideally, your pupil diameter should not exceed 7mm in the dark.
• You must be neither pregnant nor breastfeeding.
• You should have no other eye conditions.

The cost depends on the method chosen and the clinic and can be up to CHF 5,000 per eye. Persons insured with V⁠i⁠s⁠a⁠n⁠a are offered discounted prices by our partner, Swiss Visio:

• Femto-LASIK/LBV: CHF 2,000 per eye instead of CHF 2,400
• SMILE: CHF 2,400 per eye instead of CHF 2,700

You pay these costs yourself. They are not covered by V⁠i⁠s⁠a⁠n⁠a’s top-up insurance. In exceptional cases, where there are medical grounds for the treatment (e.g. involving cataracts), part of the treatment costs can be covered by basic insurance.

Glasses or contact lenses can be the better option in the following cases:

• Your eyesight has not yet stabilised, e.g. in young adults.
• You have an eye condition or a thin cornea that rules out laser treatment.
• You prefer a non-invasive low-cost solution.
• You are not yet sure whether a permanent correction is feasible.

Even after laser eye surgery, optical aids might be needed again later in some cases – due to age-related changes, for example. During the preliminary examination, an expert determines whether laser treatment is feasible for you, or whether it makes more sense to continue with glasses or contact lenses.