Short answer: In Australia, the published prices for ICL (implantable contact lens) surgery that we found in October 2026 ranged from about $4,350 to $7,500 per eye. Prices aren’t always comparable, because some clinics quote a figure that doesn’t include the anaesthetist, who then bills you separately. At Focus Vision in Brisbane, ICL surgery is $7,000 per eye, including the anaesthetist, the lens, the day hospital, your assessments and 12 months of follow-up. Prescribed medications and eye drops are extra. Medicare doesn’t cover ICL surgery done to correct a glasses prescription.
An implantable contact lens, often called a permanent contact lens, is a thin lens placed inside the eye in front of your natural lens. It is often recommended for high prescriptions or corneas that are too thin for laser. This guide explains what ICL surgery costs, what a quote should include, and how to compare prices fairly.
How much does ICL surgery cost in Australia?
Many Australian clinics don’t publish an ICL price at all. Of the clinics that did in October 2026, the dated prices ranged from about $4,350 to $7,500 per eye. Some older or undated pages quoted lower figures.
The headline number only tells part of the story. Quotes differ in what they include, most importantly:
- the anaesthetist’s fee, which some clinics add on top
- the lens itself, and whether a toric lens for astigmatism costs more
- the day hospital or theatre fee
- pre-operative measurements and follow-up visits
So the useful comparison is the total you will pay for each eye, not the advertised price.
What’s included at Focus Vision
ICL surgery at Focus Vision is $7,000 per eye. That price includes:
- your pre-operative assessments and eye measurements, including lens sizing
- the implantable contact lens, selected for your prescription and eye size
- the surgery by a fellowship-trained corneal surgeon
- the accredited day hospital and theatre
- the anaesthetist
- follow-up appointments for 12 months
- laser fine-tuning, if your surgeon judges it worthwhile, free for two years under our enhancement policy
Prescribed medications and eye drops are bought separately. The price doesn’t rise with your prescription. The paid specialist surgeon consultation fee is deducted from the surgery price if you go ahead. Full details are on our costs page.
Why it matters whether the anaesthetist is included
ICL surgery is performed in a day hospital, with a specialist anaesthetist giving sedation so you stay relaxed and comfortable. The anaesthetist is a separate doctor, and in many practices they bill you directly.
Some clinics’ published ICL prices don’t include that fee. For example, some clinics charge $7,500 per eye plus the anaesthetist, who in the published examples we found added about $500 per eye. That makes the real cost about $8,000 per eye, or $16,000 for both eyes.
You also can’t usually claim that fee back from Medicare. Medicare generally pays for anaesthesia only when it is given for a service that has a Medicare item (MBS note TN.10.2), and ICL surgery to correct a glasses prescription has no Medicare item.
At Focus Vision the anaesthetist’s fee is part of the $7,000 per eye, so there is no separate bill.
Why does ICL cost more than laser eye surgery?
Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea with a laser. ICL surgery places a lens inside the eye, which brings costs that laser doesn’t have:
- The lens. Each ICL is selected for the power and size your eye needs.
- The operating theatre. The lens is placed through a small incision in a sterile theatre in a day hospital.
- The anaesthetist. ICL surgery is done with sedation from a specialist anaesthetist; LASIK and PRK usually aren’t.
- More measurements. The space inside your eye must be measured precisely to choose the lens size.
| Procedure at Focus Vision | Price per eye | Interest-free plan |
|---|---|---|
| ICL, including the anaesthetist | $7,000 | from $68 a week |
| Refractive lens exchange, including the anaesthetist | $6,000 | from $58 a week |
| LASIK and Ray Tracing LASIK | $4,250 | from $41 a week |
| CLEAR lenticule extraction | $4,250 | from $41 a week |
| TransPRK | $3,500 | from $34 a week |
For many people with high prescriptions, the choice between ICL and laser is made on clinical grounds, not price. Our guide to ICL versus laser eye surgery for high prescriptions explains when each suits.
Does Medicare or private health insurance cover ICL?
Medicare: no, when the surgery corrects a glasses prescription. The Medicare items for inserting a lens exclude “surgery performed to correct a refractive error” (MBS item 42701). As above, the anaesthetic then generally has no Medicare rebate either.
Private health insurance: generally no. Hospital cover usually doesn’t pay where Medicare doesn’t. The laser eye surgery benefits that a few funds offer are written for laser procedures, and some exclude lens implants outright; Bupa’s Gold Ultimate statement, for example, excludes “lens implants for eye correction” (privatehealth.gov.au). See which health funds cover laser eye surgery, and check with your own fund.
Paying for ICL surgery
At Focus Vision you can pay upfront or spread the cost over 24 months with an interest-free payment plan, from $68 a week per eye. When you compare that with years of contact lenses and glasses, many people find an ICL good value over time.
Questions to ask when comparing ICL quotes
- Is the price per eye or for both eyes?
- Does it include the anaesthetist? If not, what is their fee?
- Does it include the lens, and does a toric lens for astigmatism cost more?
- Does it include the day hospital or theatre fee?
- Are the pre-operative measurements and the surgeon consultation included or deducted?
- How long are follow-up visits included for?
- What happens if you need a fine-tuning treatment later?
- Which medications and eye drops will you need to buy?
Is ICL right for you?
An ICL can suit people with high short-sightedness or long-sightedness, astigmatism, or corneas that are too thin for laser. The lens can be removed or exchanged by a surgeon if needed (STAAR Surgical). Like any surgery inside the eye it has risks, including cataract formation over the years and a slow loss of the cornea’s endothelial cells, which is why ICL patients have regular check-ups for life. Our guide Are implantable contact lenses safe? covers the evidence.
To find out whether an ICL suits your eyes, and exactly what it would cost you, book a free optometrist assessment.
References
- Australian Government. MBS Online, item 42701 (intraocular lens insertion). health.gov.au; item 42702 (lens extraction and insertion). health.gov.au
- Australian Government. MBS Online, note TN.10.2 (anaesthesia in connection with an eligible service). health.gov.au
- Bupa. Gold Ultimate Health Cover, Private Health Information Statement. privatehealth.gov.au
- STAAR Surgical. EVO ICL. evo.staar.com