Dún Laoghaire at a glance
- People in Dún Laoghaire
- 31,239CSO Census 2022, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
- Aged 20 to 39
- 27%8,398 people (Dublin: 31%)
- Aged 45 to 64
- 24%7,624 people (Dublin: 23%)
- To the city centre
- 20 min12 km by car, outside rush hour
- To Sandyford
- 13 min8 km by car, outside rush hour
- Laser, per eye
- €800 to €2,600Dublin price guide
Getting to the clinic from Dún Laoghaire
Most of Dublin's laser eye clinics are in the city centre and in south county Dublin around Sandyford and Carrickmines, both on the Luas Green line. From Dún Laoghaire, Sandyford is the nearer of the two by car: the city centre about 20 minutes and Sandyford about 13 minutes, outside rush hour. Dún Laoghaire's DART station runs into the city, and Sandyford is a short drive inland.
Plan on about six visits: the assessment, the treatment, the next day, about a week, and later checks at three months and a year. You can't drive yourself home after treatment. Have someone collect you or book a taxi, bring sunglasses because light will feel harsh, and leave the Luas or DART for another day.
Age and the treatment that fits
About 8,398 people in Dún Laoghaire are aged 20 to 39, the age most people have laser treatment once their prescription settles, and 7,624 are 45 to 64, when reading glasses arrive and lens replacement starts to make sense.
For everyday prescriptions, LASIK, LASEK or PRK and SMILE; for high prescriptions or thin corneas, an implantable lens.
What it costs
| Treatment | Per eye | Both eyes |
|---|---|---|
| LASIK | €1,500 to €2,600 | €3,000 to €5,200 |
| LASEK, PRK or TransPRK | €800 to €2,600 | €1,600 to €5,200 |
| SMILE | €2,600 | €5,200 |
| Implantable contact lens (ICL) | €2,900 to €3,900 | €5,800 to €7,800 |
| Lens replacement (RLE) | €2,900 to €3,700 | €5,800 to €7,400 |
Choosing a clinic
Ask who will operate and look the surgeon up on the Medical Council's register: an eye surgeon practising as a specialist should be on its Specialist Division, in ophthalmology.
Give yourself at least a week between meeting the surgeon and deciding, as the Royal College of Ophthalmologists advises, and check the deposit is refundable.
Our assessment guide lists the questions to bring.
Treatments and visits
Questions from Dún Laoghaire
Where is the nearest laser eye clinic to Dún Laoghaire?
Dublin's clinics are mostly in the city centre and around Sandyford and Carrickmines. From Dún Laoghaire, Sandyford is nearer by car, about 13 minutes outside rush hour.
How do I get home to Dún Laoghaire after laser eye surgery?
By car with someone else driving, or by taxi. You can't drive yourself, and public transport is uncomfortable with sore, light-sensitive eyes.
Does laser eye surgery cost more near Dún Laoghaire?
No. Dublin clinics charge in the same range as the rest of Ireland: €800 to €2,600 per eye for laser.
Who contacts me if I enquire from Dún Laoghaire?
One Dublin eye clinic, not five. They contact you to arrange an assessment. Nothing is booked until you say yes.