1. Optimax Laser Eye Surgery Review
Optimax is a UK specialist in laser eye treatment, lens replacement surgery, and cataract surgery. Founded in 1991, this clinic has performed over 430,000 vision corrections. It currently has 28 clinics nationwide, including London, Bristol, Birmingham and Belfast.
Here is how nearly 1,000 real customers rate Optimax for its clinic, cost, treatments and surgeons:
| Optimax Rating Overall | Clinic Rating | Cost Rating | Surgeon Rating | Treatments Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (3.9 out of 5) | (3.6 out of 5) | (3.5 out of 5) | (5 out of 5) | (4.1 out of 5) |
These ratings boil down to:
Pros: Fixed prices, free consultation, Wavefront technology, locations nationwide, NHS-trained surgeons
Cons: Poor customer service, lacking communication from surgeons, frequent delays
☝ Compare clinics: See if there are any other top-rated clinics near you, and use our simple tool to receive a personalised quote – as well as free eye tests worth £800!
2. Optimax Laser Eye Surgery Cost
“I would do this surgery again tomorrow knowing the results I have got. It was worth every penny – the best money I ever spent.” – Stephen Gerrard
(3.5 out of 5)
Laser eye surgery at Optimax costs £1,695 (per eye) for Wavefront LASEK or Wavefront IntraLase LASIK. Cataract surgery costs £2,995 (per eye), while implantable contact lenses will set you back £2,495 (per eye).
These are average prices for eye surgery in the UK – not as cheap as other high street clinics like Optical Express, but less expensive than eye hospitals like Moorfields Private.
Are there any hidden costs? No – Optimax offers free consultations, and transparent prices. Plus, there are finance options, meaning you can pay under £50 for 36 months for laser surgery, or under £70 a month for lens surgery.
Here are the prices of some of Optimax’ popular lens and laser surgery options:
| Eye Surgery Procedure | Price (per eye) | Finance Options (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Wavefront LASEK | £1,695 | £42.38 (36 months, 0% APR, £169.50 deposit) |
| Wavefront IntraLase LASIK | £1,695 | £42.38 (36 months, 0% APR, £169.50 deposit) |
| Cataract / RLE / CLE Treatment | £2,995 | £64.40 (36 months, 0% APR, £299.50 deposit) |
| ICL Treatment | £2,495 | £51.49 (36 months, 0% APR, £249.50 deposit) |
☛ Want a tailored quote? The only way to compare exact quotes is to see an eye expert for a check-up. These can cost up to £250, but with our simple tool you can find out how much laser or lens surgery will cost you for free.
3. Optimax Treatments
“I am delighted that the procedure was pain-free, and I didn’t even need any painkillers afterwards. At the weekly check-up, I was amazed to learn I had 20/20 vision – much better than predicted.” – Joan Hassell
(4.1 out of 5)
As well as traditional laser eye surgery, Optimax also offers a range of lens surgery options. Here is the full list:
- LASIK
- LASEK
- Wavefront / IntraLase®Femtosecond
- Cataract or refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery
- ICL surgery or keratoconus treatment
Aftercare
Optimax provides a free and comprehensive aftercare program to regularly check and monitor your vision at each stage of the recovery process. All aftercare costs are included in the cost of your eye surgery.
Optimax locations
Optimax offers a range of clinics nationwide. It also hosts open days, where patients are able to have a free assessment, take a tour of the clinic, and speak to specialist consultants. Optimax’s main locations are: London, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester.
4. The Verdict
I am really happy with the results. Apart from the machine not working and the long wait, the staff at this Optimax were really nice, friendly and helpful, as was Dr Patel. I would recommend this Optimax. – Tina Gibson
(3.9 out of 5)
Optimax has an average overall rating due to hit-and-miss patient care, based on nearly 9,000 independent reviews on Lasik Eyes since 2002.
Most patients we spoke to were happy with the service. However, the long waiting times and poor communication mean this clinic misses the top spots on the list of the best laser eye surgery clinics in the UK. Still, Optimax makes it into these top lists:
But is Optimax right for you? The only way to find out is to see if you’re eligible for 20/20 vision or your money back, and to get a tailored quote. That’s why we make it easy to pop in for a free consultation, have free eye tests (worth £800), and talk through your options with an eye expert.
Next steps: Our simple tool helps thousands of readers a day get closer to going glasses free:
- Find the top clinic in seconds: Answer three questions to be matched to the leading eye clinic in your area
- Check you’re eligible in minutes: Receive a quick call to check you can get surgery (we don’t share your number with anyone else)
- Book a free consultation: Talk to an expert at a clinic you can trust for a free eye test and personalised quote (with no obligation)
☛ Click here to find the best clinic near you, and get a tailored quote.
5. Optimax Surgeon Reviews
6. Optimax Patient Reviews
Fred Parker
My first appointment with Optimax in Hove was for a brief consultation. The morning, 22nd August, of the appointment they rang and cancelled just as I was about to leave the house as the optician hadn’t turned up.
The next appointment went as planned (26 September) and then I was booked in for the full assessment on 21st October. The appointment was for 8:45 in the morning and the optician eventually rolled in at 9:30, by which time other patients (victims) had started to arrive.
I have previously had laser surgery, around twenty years ago, and also had a cataract in the right eye. It is only the right eye which needs treating.
At the end of the appointment the optician said that he would have to contact the surgeon to find out if it was going to be possible to carry out the further treatment on the eye and he would be in touch in a few days. As I was leaving I asked one of the receptionists to confirm the cost of the treatment and she said that it was £395 per eye.
After three weeks I rang to find out why I had not had any contact regarding the date of the operation. At this point the receptionist told me that if I wanted to pay the surgeon direct I could do so and not have the operation through Optimax. Amazing! This woman is sitting in Optimax, Hove, and stealing the clients away from the company as she and the surgeon have their own little scheme running.
I asked about the cost and she said that the Optimax price is £1600 per eye (so where did the £395 come from?) She also repeated that if I dealt direct with the surgeon it would be cheaper.
I am still waiting for her to ring back – 29th. November 2016!
Sally Roberts
Wow... it's now less than 24hrs after my surgery and I feel fantastic. Had my surgery at Optimax in Manchester with Dr Madhusudhan at 6pm last night. I was told about the streamy, stinging eyes by others but I haven't had anything. Just wore my sun glasses and watched a bit of TV then went to bed. I can honestly saw that I'm amazed with the surgery. I was petrified going in but all the staff at Manchester were great and the surgeon really reassuring. It was over within 5 mins and I didn't feel a thing, in fact I was amazed when the suregon said I was done... i thought he'd only just lasered my flaps to start the surgery! All you see if a twinkly red light that you focus on and you smell a bit of burning but over all I felt more uncomfortable when I had a tooth out at the dentist! Can see perfectly with just a little haze which I'm told is normal. Have had no pain what so ever and I'm ok to drive now! My prescription was -3.50 with a slight astigmatism in one eye. My research before hand told me that although with Lasik there is a few more surgical procedure to cut the flap etc... the recovery is a lot more quicker and I haven't had the slightest pain at all. Can't understand why I didn't have it sooner!
jayne b
I am considering having laser eye surgery at Optimax Manchester branch has anyone else had their eyes done at this branch?
Carol Vigneault Leslie
I had laser treatment on both my eyes on 17th September 2008 at Optimax in Aberdeen and found the actual procedure painless...but with slight discomfort during the clamping process. Found it hard to stay still but Dr Osman is brilliant and reassured me throughout the entire operation. I was fairly short-sighted with a high astigmatism. I had some blurring in the left eye up until just recently and at my last appointment Dr Osman told me that he could not believe how well my eyes have improved since the last appointment. My eyes were also quite dry but I have never had any light sensitivity. Driving during the day has not been much of a problem for me, but night time driving was definitely out! I was told that I will need a further operation in my right eye to improve on the clarity of vision as my eyes are still a fraction short-sighted. Even with these minor hiccups I am happy with how my eyes have improved steadily.......and my life is vastly changed since having the operation. I have been looked after during my check ups and find all of the staff at Optimax to be wonderful and reassuring. I used to hate having my eyes tested because I once had a bad experience during my childhood when having my vision tested....and I think having my eyes lasered to improve my vision has in fact taken care of any 'phobias' I used to have! I actually regard the staff at Optimax as friends now....and would recommend such a procedure. If I can do this....anyone can!
Tony
hi all i am due to have consultation and surgery in a few weeks with Dr Khurshid at Bristol Optimax I have read his profile and i am slightly concerned that he has only been with Optimax for less than one year and has no previous Laser eye surgery experience. has anyone else has surgery done by Dr Khurshid? if anyone can share there experiences then they will be of great help! many thanks
Sude
Am now more than 8 full days in to surgery and regret having gone in for it. In my last post I wrote it was early days, and no doubt they will tell me it still is but it feels that there has been no improvement in the left eye since immediately after the surgery. Everything is a struggle and extremely tiring. I was told the morning after surgery (Saturday) I should expect a rapid improvement and expect to be back at work by Monday. More than a week later I cannot - as a result of the uncorrected left eye which is still very blurry everything is imbalanced and I have been suffering from severe migraines. The surgeon had explained that he would not re operate due to thin corneas before surgery, I was not however told of the chances that re operation would be necessary. At the rate things are going with no sign of improvement I am left in limbo unable to live my life. The Optimax guys don't really listen and seem to think this is perfectly normal and acceptable. I hope very much that I am wrong but after having gone in for a treatment that seemed to signal full vision and return to work within days I am left having had to take 5.5 days annual leave, waste several thousand pounds, a lot of severe headaches and inability to see properly for what looks like an unlimited amount of time. There is sign up on the wall of the Croydon clinic where I met a patient with an identical issue. The sign issues a warning that abuse from patients will not be tolerated. You wonder why in a private clinic they would need a sign like that? Now I understand why.
Sude
It is still early days - I had my treatment 2 days ago exactly but I am suffering from headaches and a large amount of blur in the left eye which is seeing far worse than the right. I am very concerned but am told that this is acceptable at this stage. Reading is hard for any length of time. Most daily tasks are very difficult and I will not be able to go to work for at least another couple of days. I am able to be with a compute monitor only a short time before it become intolerable. However vision shows marked improvement in right eye - can identify number plate across the road but only with right or both eyes not the left.
Joan Hassell
Am 68 and had surgery on Dec 2nd ’08. Delighted that the procedure was painfree and didn’t even need any painkillers afterwards. At the weekly check-up amazed that I had 20/20 vision. Much better than predicted. It is now two weeks on and apart from slight glare all is well. Wearing sunglasses completely cancels the glare.
I am a keen tennis player so will be very keen to see how the monovision affects my co-ordination!
Paul Lane
Nightmare.
It’s a hard sell from the outset.
A statistic I have never seen for any clinic is how many people do they say cannot have the treatment after the assessment???
I have found out since my treatment, through various means, research and eye examinations by independent opticians, that I was never a suitable candidate for this treatment.
As a result of the treatment, I have the halo affect at night, I have double vision, I cannot see clearly either close up or at long distance, I have dry and sore eyes.
Add to this the fact that I cannot use corrective lenses to make it any better and it is a complete disaster.
Me eyesight is worse in every way than it was before the treatment. Before the treatment, I was able to wear glasses or contact lenses that would correct my vision perfectly…
You may ask then, why did I go ahead with the treatment? I have asked myself the same question… The only answer I can give is that the clinic made it appear that the chances of an outcome anything short of perfect was just about unheard of. Saying that I was a good candidate and that the success rate was almost 100% for people with my type of eyes.
I was short sighted with a prescription of about -6.5 in each eye.
I had no astigmatisms.
On my three follow up exams, after months 1, 2 and 3, , I was refused access to the surgeon who performed the operation. I was taken to a separate area of the clinic into a normal eye exam room. I complained of the issues I have listed above. The consultant who carried out the eye tests said that my eyes would settle down in time. He gave me a basic sight test, with a chart, and because I could make out the line at 20/20 vision, he passed the test and stated that I had 20/20 vision. This despite the fact that I repeatedly told him that although I could make out the letters, I could see a shadow on each one. I also told him about the halo affect and again he told me that it goes away in time.
Well it’s was 3 years ago and if anything my sight is getting worse.
I know people who have had a good experience with corrective treatment, but in all cases they have had a prescription of under -3.
My advice to anyone, don’t do it, you can’t reverse it and if, think to yourself what if, just what if it doesn’t work… Do the research and read the forums from people for whom it hasn’t worked… there is no guarantee and the clinic will make you sign away any right you have to gain recompense.
The clinic have your money, they give you a basic sight test and tell you it’ll be ok in a few months… they don’t give a damn…
SHARON TAYLOR
I HAVE FOUND THE TREATMENT TO BE EXCELLENT THE SURGEON DR HOE WAS BRILLIANT EXPLAINING EVERY PART OF THE PROCEDURE AS HE WAS OPERATING HE PUT ME AT EASE THE AFTER CARE NURSES WERE ALSO FANTASTIC EXPLAINING ANY QUESTIONS OR FEARS I HAD IT WAS WELL WORTH HAVING THE TREATMENT
Liz
I had Lasik with Intralase and Wavefront and I must admit that the results are great but I paid 3,540 for this procedure in Aberdeen and looking at this website it seems that I have paid more than anyone else. I was surprised at the price especially when after I’d consulted with the doctor the nurse then took me straight upstairs without even speaking with the doctor to discuss prices??? Was not at all convinced by their pricing strategy when it was broken down. Where do they get these figures from? They definitely have a set price regardless of your prescription no matter what they say and I think a price depending on what city you’re in!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it’s ridiculous that because Aberdeen is seen as the oil capital of the world that they feel justified in charging more than the rest of the UK. I would like to hear from anyone else in Aberdeen on the prices they paid.
