Europe
Vision Correction in Europe: What Consumers in Germany, Spain and the UK and Ireland Think
Findings from STAAR Surgical’s survey of 3,000 glasses and contact lens wearers in Germany, Spain and the UK and Ireland.
In STAAR Surgical’s Future of Refractive Surgery survey of 3,000 glasses and contact lens wearers in Germany, Spain and the UK and Ireland, demand for freedom from glasses and contact lenses runs well ahead of openness to laser. Across the region, 52% are not open to laser vision correction,1 and 77% of German and Spanish respondents are interested in an alternative. More than half of respondents in Europe would prefer a reversible procedure (51%).
| 3,000 | 52% | 77% | 51% |
| glasses and contact lens wearers in Germany, Spain and the UK and Ireland | are not open to laser vision correction1 | of German and Spanish respondents are interested in an alternative to laser2 | Would prefer a reversible procedure |
1 Sentiment splits are each category’s share of total selections in the multi-select laser sentiment question (“What do you think of Laser Vision Correction Surgery? Select all that apply”). Because the question is multi-select, shares reflect selections rather than respondents. 2Question was not asked in UK / Ireland survey. Source: STAAR Consumer Survey, Germany and Spain (n=1,000 each, Mar 2026), UK + Ireland (n=1,000, Mar 2025).
THREE MARKETS · 3,000 VOICES
Germany · Spain · UK and Ireland
Who took part in the European survey?
STAAR Surgical surveyed 3,000 adults who wear glasses and/or contact lenses: 1,000 each in Germany and Spain (March 2026) and 1,000 in the UK and Ireland (March 2025; 900 UK, 100 Ireland). 51% of respondents were female, and 87% were aged 21-45.
Source: STAAR Consumer Survey, Europe Combined Summary (n=3,000), Germany/Spain fieldwork Mar 2026 and UK + Ireland Mar 2025.
How do European consumers feel about laser eye surgery?
Most want to be free of glasses and contact lenses, but far fewer are open to laser. 88% of Spanish, 71% of German and 52% of UK and Irish respondents say that, in an ideal world, they would be free of glasses and contacts.
Yet across the three markets, 52% are not open to laser vision correction, 24% are undecided and 24% are open.¹ In every European market surveyed, more consumers are not open to laser than open.2
In Every European Market Surveyed, More Consumers Are Not Open To Laser Than Open
In each European market, more of the laser sentiment is not open than open.
Table: In Every European Market Surveyed, More Consumers Are Not Open To Laser Than Open
| Market | Not open to laser | Undecided | Open to Laser |
| Europe Combined | 52% | 24% | 24% |
| Germany | 53% | 30% | 17% |
| Spain | 48% | 28% | 24% |
| UK/Ireland | 48% | 12% | 40% |
1 Sentiment splits are each category’s share of total selections in the multi-select laser sentiment question (“What do you think of Laser Vision Correction Surgery? Select all that apply”). Because the question is multi-select, shares reflect selections rather than respondents. The UK + Ireland question set offered different answer options from the 2026 German and Spanish surveys; its 48 / 12 / 40 split is the published full-cohort figure.
2 The UK + Ireland sample was limited to contact lens wearers with at least one eye at 6.0D or higher. Comparisons involving UK + Ireland sentiment figures should be read with this screening difference in mind.
Source: STAAR Consumer Survey, Germany and Spain (n=1,000 each, Mar 2026), UK + Ireland (n=1,000, Mar 2025). Shares of total selections in the multi-select laser sentiment question.
What holds European consumers back from vision correction surgery?
Across Europe, concerns about safety or potential complications tie with cost as the top barriers (68% each). Cost leads in Germany (67%) and Spain (72%), while safety leads in the UK and
Ireland (74%). A lack of information about available options holds back 49% of respondents across the region: 50% in Germany, 52% in Spain and 46% in the UK and Ireland.
Top Barriers to Refractive Surgery: Cost, Safety, Fear
Cost leads in Germany and Spain; safety leads in the UK and Ireland (74%).
Table: Top Barriers to Refractive Surgery: Cost, Safety, Fear
Percentages are respondents scoring the factor 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale:
| Barrier | Europe | Germany | Spain | UK/Ireland |
| Cost of procedure | 68% | 67% | 72% | 64% |
| Concerns about safety or potential complications | 68% | 65% | 65% | 74% |
| Fear of undergoing the treatment or surgery | 59% | 62% | 68% | 48% |
| Uncertainty about long-term outcomes | 64% | 62% | 65% | n/a |
| Difficulty justifying the expense | 53% | 56% | 49% | 54% |
| Lack of information about available options | 49% | 50% | 52% | 46% |
Source: STAAR Consumer Survey.
How open are European consumers to alternatives to laser correction, and how aware are they of ICL?
Across respondents in Europe, interest in an alternative to laser is high: 82% in Spain and 72% in Germany (the question was not fielded in UK and Ireland). More than half (51%) of European respondents would prefer a reversible procedure, including 60% of Spanish, 54% of German and 40% of UK and Irish respondents.
Awareness of alternatives to laser vision correction is low in Europe: 22% of respondents are aware of the implantable Collamer lens (ICL) unaided, including 19% in Germany, 27% in Spain and 20% in the UK and Ireland.
Openness to Alternatives
Among those asked in Europe (Germany and Spain for this survey), 77% of respondents are interested in an alternative to laser. Across the region (including Germany, Spain, and UK and Ireland), more than half would prefer a reversible procedure. Awareness of alternatives to laser vision correction in the region is low: 22% are aware of ICL unaided.
Table: Openness to Alternatives
| Measure | Europe | Germany | Spain | UK/Ireland |
| Aware of ICL (unaided procedure awareness)1 | 22% | 19% | 27% | 20% |
| Would prefer a reversible procedure | 51% | 54% | 60% | 40% |
| Interested in an alternative to laser2 | 77% | 72% | 82% | n/a |
Source: STAAR Consumer Survey. 1. Unaided multi-select. 2. Question not fielded in the UK + Ireland.
How is the refractive surgery market changing in Europe?
Laser-based procedure volumes across Europe have declined since 2018, according to Market Scope. Worldwide, phakic IOLs grew from 3.4% of all refractive procedures in 2015 to 15.4% in 2025 (Market Scope).
Sources: Market Scope, 2025 Refractive Surgery Market Report.
Explore the European country findings
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| Germany: Country Findings | Spain: Country Findings | UK and Ireland: Country Findings | Global Findings: Key Findings and FAQ |
About the research
The Future of Refractive Surgery is a consumer survey sponsored by STAAR Surgical among 7,800 current glasses and/or contact lens wearers aged 21-65 in seven markets: the United States (n=1,800), the United Kingdom and Ireland, Germany, Spain, China, Japan and South Korea (n=1,000 each). Fieldwork ran from March 2025 to May 2026. The European surveys were fielded in March 2026 (Germany, Spain) and March 2025 (UK and Ireland). Procedure-mix figures are from Market Scope.
Suggested citation: STAAR Surgical. The Future of Refractive Surgery: Europe Findings. 2026. staar.com/future-of-refractive-surgery/europe
Published [Month 2026]
Last updated [date]
[MLR Project Number]