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Advanced Vision Care

745 Reviews

great clinic ...Read more

1. Review of Advanced Vision Care

Advanced Vision Care (AVC) is an independent surgeon-led clinic founded in 2003 by Mr Pillai on Harley Street, London. With no affiliation with any manufacturers, you should be able to count on treatment that’s best suited to your needs.

AVC’s Medical Director and lead surgeon, Mr Pillai, has nearly three decades of ophthalmic experience and is one of the few surgeons to have fellowships for both refractive laser surgery and cornea treatment. Patients even enjoy the benefit of speaking to Mr Pillai during the initial consultation, and can look forward to a stress-free aftercare plan, including any retreatment if necessary.

What makes AVC different? This clinic prides itself on being able to treat any eye prescription using a wide mix of treatments, meaning it may just be able to help you, even if other clinics have turned your down. Its patients also give this clinic the thumbs up, leaving hundreds of positive reviews on our site over the years.

  • AVC tailors treatments to its customers’ specific visual needs.
  • You can receive eye care from a small team of eye experts, each with 25 years of experience.
  • Laser and non-laser treatments sit under one roof, for customer convenience.

Is there anything else I should know? As you’d expect, cutting-edge eye surgery on Harley Street comes at a price, and this time it’s higher on average than you’ll find at some of the other top-rated eye clinics dotted around the UK. And unless you happen to live in central London, there may not be a clinic near you.


Compare clinics: See if there are any other top-rated clinics near you, and use our simple tool to receive a personalised quote.


2. Treatments

Advanced Vision Care specialises in laser as well as non-laser vision correction treatments, including all the usual suspects: LASIK, LASEK, implantable contact lenses (ICL surgery), lens replacement surgery, cataract surgery and keratoconus treatment.

  • Advanced Wavefront LASIK / LASEK – Highly accurate laser surgery for those with thin eye surfaces or active lifestyles.
  • Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK) – Therapy for treating long-term eye conditions.
  • Implantable Contact Lens (EVO Visian ICL) – Suitable for patients with complex eye prescriptions, thin corneas or dry eyes.
  • Lens Replacement (Refractive Lens Exchange) – Eye surgery for those over 40 with a reading prescription.
  • Cataract Surgery – Removes cloudy lenses, and replaces them with artificial clear ones.
  • Corneal Implants – Reshape irregular eye shapes to make contact lenses more comfortable.

As is standard with eye surgery clinics, all AVC treatments come with a 12 month aftercare package, which includes: regular check-ups, 24-hour eye expert support line, and post-op medication for the first month.

In the unlikely event that you require eye surgery enhancement, any laser fine tuning or YAG laser capsule thickening removal (following cataract treatment) is available at no extra cost.


3. Technology

Advanced Vision Care was the first clinic in the UK to house the complete Alcon Refractive Suite, which it claims is the safest non-laser technology in the country. It creates a personalised treatment plan that starts with a Verion Image Guided system in your first consultation, and continues throughout the surgery with devices that ensure superior visualisation.

The laser eye surgery treatment is also advanced. The femtosecond Intralase 5F Laser works blade-free by using pulses of harmless light to create a corneal flap, and the Bausch Teneo 317 Excimer Laser takes just 3 to 5 seconds to correct your vision.

What’s more, the highly accurate Advanced Wavefront technology is included in all laser treatments as standard, and an Eye Tracking System tracks eye movements, so you don’t need to worry about blinking during the procedure.


4. Advanced Vision Care Prices

AVC has some of the most reasonable payment options out there. It’s not the cheapest – high street clinics such as Optical Express and Ultralase take the crown for cost – but the free consultation, fixed prices, and flexible interest free finances all help their treatments work around you.

Is it worth paying more? Of course, that’s for you to decide. But to give you an idea of the prices, laser eye surgery at AVC costs £2,100 (per eye), compared to well-reviewed alternatives such as Optical Express and AccuVision which come in at around half that on average.

Eye Surgery ProcedurePrice (per eye)Finance Options (per month)
Advanced Wavefront LASIK£2,100£66.67
(24 months, 0% APR)
Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK)£2,100£66.67
(24 months, 0% APR)
ICL Surgery (Simple Lens)£3,450 – £3,750£122.22 – £138.89
(18 months, 0% APR)
ICL Surgery (Specialist Lens)£4,150£161.11
(18 months, 0% APR)
Monofocal lens surgery£3,150 – £3,450£105.56 – 122.22
(18 months, 0% APR)
Multifocal lens surgery£3,750 – £4,050£138.89 – £155.56
(18 months, 0% APR)
Keratoconus Treatment£2,150 – £2,450£91.67 – £108.33
(18 months, 0% APR)

Are there finance options?

Yes, AVC has partnered with Hitachi Finance to offer flexible payment plans, meaning you can pay the full cost of eye surgery in bite-size monthly installments.

For example, you could pay for laser eye surgery in chunks of £66.67 a month for two years interest free, or £33.59 for 60 months at 9.9% APR. That’s generous – most clinics require 11% APR, and only the first year at 0% interest.

Does medical insurance cover the surgery costs at AVC?

Yes, AVC is an accredited provider of ophthalmic surgery for many of the UK’s leading insurance companies, including:

  • Allianz
  • AVIVA
  • AXA PPP
  • BUPA and BUPA International
  • Cigna
  • Simply Health

As always, you’ll need to confirm how you would like to pay before booking your surgery, both with your chosen clinic and your medical insurer.

Read more: Laser eye surgery costs explained


5. AVC Review: The Verdict

Advanced Vision Care consistently receives a five-star rating from hundreds of patients, which is why this clinic makes it to our list of the best laser eye surgery clinics in the UK.

With in-depth consultations providing an honest assessment of whether eye surgery is right for you, Advanced Vision Care also takes the prize for being one of the top places for laser eye surgery in London.


Is Advanced Vision Care for you? To see if there is a better reviewed laser eye surgery clinic near you, just hit here to use our simple quote tool, and get a tailored quote from a clinic you can trust.


Surgeons

Advanced Vision Care Reviews

RatingDate

al kirk

17 Feb 2020
No Rating

great clinic

03 Sep 2003

As an optometrist I am probably more discerning about my eyesight than others, so when my best friend Sam (also an optom.) referred me to Mr Pillai I was a little apprehensive. However, as Sam noted she had seen much of Mr Pillai's work and it was always spot on. She was right - almost 2 weeks after my surgery (originally -2.75 R&L) I can see 6/4 unaided. My mum came with me to the surgery and watched (too much Your Life in Their Hands in the 80's) and I had lots of support from family and friends. Sam came to the 1 day check-up with me and she gave the thumbs up straight away. The staff have been fantastic - all extremely professional and friendly and I would recommend the clinic and wavefront Zyoptik to my friends, colleagues and patients.

03 Sep 2003

I've considered eye laser surgery for 10-15 years, my vision being -7.75 in both eyes. I have always had reservations regarding eye laser surgery and was confused by the amount of laser clinics stating that they were better than the next, and just put the whole thing to the back of my mind. This was until a recent visit to my optician Brian Tompkins of Tompkins Knight & Son in Northampton, who recommended AVC. As the information was given to me by someone whom I know and trust, I thought it must be worth following it up. At my consultation visit with the AVC team in Harley Street, it was found that I would be suitable for the most recent treatment, 'wavefront' technology. During my visit I was impressed to actually meet the surgeon, Mr Pillai who further put my mind at ease. The professional, friendly and yet personal attitude towards the whole surgery process left me feeling 100% confident that I could trust AVC with my eyes. On the day, the surgery only took minutes to complete each eye. There were no surprises as everything had already been discussed. I was amazed to notice a massive improvement almost instantly. I have been back to AVC for my 1 day & 1 week check up, everything is great 20/20 vision and all that! I am now looking forward to having my 6 week check up with my optician and being able to read the letters on his chart!!!! Would I recommend AVC, of course I would. Firstly you can be referred by your own optician (and if you can't, tell them about it!), secondly the professional advice was made very clear and consise, all questions regarding eye laser surgery were answered. The pre / post surgery and on-going after care service was second to none. If you are thinking of eye laser surgery, consider giving Advanced VisionCare a call.

18 Sep 2003

i had my eyes done a couple of weeks ago and am very happy with the results. i had -1.75 in both eyes and now have better than 20/20 in both. I would recommend advance vision care to anyone that is considering the surgery. The procedure and possible complications were explained thoroughly and while i was very nervous about the operation it was no problem having it done.

18 Sep 2003

I'd been wearing glasses since I was 7 and never been able to get used to lenses. I always hated glasses - apart from the vanity aspect(!), I found sport a real problem and had practically given up swimming because I hated not being able to see properly in the pool. Even with glasses, my night vision was poor and borderline for driving. I had been thinking about laser eye treatment for about a year and looked at all the research and info on a number of clinics. After reading a 'Which' report I decided not to go to one of the high street clinics and discovered Advance Visioncare. I went for the initial assessment and was very impressed with the professionalism, the thoroughness, the individual attention I received and the feeling that I was, to them, a valued individual as well as a client for whom they were providing a service, rather than just a wallet on legs! I was found to be suitable - and was amazed that they believed they could correct my astigmatism and poor night vision as well as my short-sightedness. They have an excellent counsellor to go through the whole procedure with you and provided me with as much information as I could have needed, including a CV for Mr Pillai which showed his excellent record. They were also at the end of the phone afterwards if I had any further queries. I was not put under any pressure to make an appointment for the treatment and took my time going through all the iinformation. I then decided to go ahead and had the surgery 3 weeks ago. The treatment was exactly as I had expected as it had been very thoroughly explained. I didn't even feel the need to take the valium beforehand because I was feeling quite calm! I didn't feel any real discomfort at all - the worst bit was having to wear a protective lens in each eye for 24 hours afterwards! The staff, including Mr Pillai, were all wonderful - very attentive and couldn't have done more for me. I had as much time as I needed to recover afterwards before leaving the clinic. On the way home, I was astounded at what I could see - pretty much everything! Atthe week check-up I had 20:20 vision - and my night vision is amazing! I find reading very small print is still a little difficult but it's improving every day. The fact that I can type this sitting 2-3 feet from my screen is fab! I feel like a new woman! I would strongly recomment Advance Visioncare. It's worth paying a bit more than some of the high street clinics to get that level of care and service. I think they are excellent.

22 Sep 2003

All the staff were very helpful and exhibited a wide knowledge of the procedure. All questions asked were answered in great detail and i never felt rushed or presurred during my consultations. The surgery itself was quick and painless and I had the utmost confidence in the surgeon, Mr. Pilail. For such a potentially distressing procedure, I felt as though I was in very safe hands.

01 Oct 2003

I had lasik surgery performed by Mr Pillai last month.My eyesight was very poor-5,00 in both eyes.I was fed up with wearing glasses and contact lenses.Then I came across an advertisment in a newspaper about Advance Visioncare.Right from the first consultation I have received excellent service from everyone.Staff working there is very profesional ,caring and friendly.It changed my life completely ,I can actually see better now than I did when wearing glasses.I would recommend Mr Pillai to anyone.He is a wonderful surgeon which you can trust totally. I think this is the best place to have laser treatment.

28 Oct 2003

I had considered having laser surgery on my eyes for some time but it was only when an optometrist recommended Advance Visioncare to me that I finally made enquiries. I was around -9 in both eyes, so I thought it was unlikely that they could do anything. However, I was beginning to have problems with contact lenses, having worn them for 33 years, so I went along for an initial consultation. The staff and equipment at the surgery were impressive and the consultation was really thorough. My eyes proved perverse in every way - corneas thin, pupils large and prescription high - but the surgeon, Mr Pillai, assessed me as suitable for Lasek treatment. After some deliberation, and a purblind return journey with my pupils stubbornly dilated, I decided to go ahead with the surgery. This entailed more thorough pre-operative assessments. On the day of the operation, I was further reassured on discovering that the patient due to go in before me was an optometrist. He emerged exclaiming over his now perfect vision and asked me if he could observe my treatment, along with his whole, medically qualified family. Bemused and distracted, I consented but immediately regretted this as, on going through the glass door to the operating room, I heard him comment that the surgeon had less experience with this procedure, so it would be interesting to watch! The treatment proved painless, however, and I could immediately see a bit further than before, although it was not the Damascene experience produced by Lasik treatment. I had intended to return to work three days later but this was not possible, as I was still very sensitive to light and experiencing a scratching sensation in one eye. Dr Jenkins was patient and accessible when I began to panic and, on returning to have the bandage contact lenses removed, Mr Pilai put another lens in my scratchy eye. This became smeared by the eye gel I had to apply at night, so I went back to work looking and seeing squint-eyed, but I had been given Viscotears by this stage and they proved to be a balm for my sore eyes. Then the blurred contact lens was removed and, a week after the operation, everything began to ease up. Almost five months after treatment, my vision is much improved, at -2.5 in one eye and -1.5 in the other. After so long in the clouds of myopia, this seems miraculous, and I still catch myself going to take my contact lenses out. If, like me, your pupils stay dilated for a long time, you should take someone along with you to assessments, to act as a guide afterwards. It would also be a good idea to read the instructions for the drops you need to put into your eyes after the operation before you have undergone it, as your vision may be affected. With Lasek treatment, you do need to allow for a bit more time to recover but the results are really worthwhile and I strongly recommend Advance Visioncare for its thorough pre-operative assessments and post-operative care. Margery Gretton

07 Nov 2003

I had Lasik nearly two years ago in London with Mr Pillai. I was -2.50 in both eyes and needed to wear contact lenses all the time. Even though contacts became a way of life, it was inconvenient to have to take them out at night and put them back in, in the morning! I was very nervous before having it done, but felt totally confident with Mr Pillai as he is such an experienced and confident surgeon. The whole procedure was very quick and pain free from start to finish (the only thing I noticed was some pressure on my eyes.) I wish I had it done sooner, and couldn't thank the surgeon or nurses enough. Within a few hours I was driving as I had healed quickly! My vision is better than 20/20 and I must admit I feel quite sorry for people who have to mess around with contact lenses or wear glasses! If anyone has any questions, please feel free to e-mail me.

26 Nov 2003

I had been considering lasik for several years but never really did anything about it. I booked a consultation at Ultralase, however I did not feel very comfortable with talking to someone different each time and not seeing the surgeon until the day of the operation. I had an appointment at my opticians, and he advised that if he was going to have surgery Mr Pillai was the only surgeon he would allow to do it. I rang straight away and spoke to Angela, who was really friendly and professional answering all my questions - and there were many! Dr Jenkins carried out my assessment and explained everything very clearly, covering all the risks. I then saw Mr Pillai, who recommended Wavefront to correct my -2.00 vision. During the time of my consultation and surgery day I carried out alot of research, and I have to say majored on what could go wrong! In the end I was terrified, however on telephoning the clinic both Tracey and Mr Pillai were reassuring, and so I turned up for my surgery appointment! Mr Pillai knowing how anxious was spent time with me prior to surgery. I have to say the surgery was absolutely painless, the smell was a little like a horse being hot shod and was all over in what seemed minutes! The only slight discomfort I felt was pressure of the suction cap on the left eye and some of the drops stung afterwards. I could see well the night of the surgery and watched a little television, and drove 2 days later. At my week check up Mr Pillai advised that my vision was 6/4 amazing! I still go to take my lenses out. I cannot thank Tracey and Mr Pillai enough for spending so much time with me the day before and the day of the surgery. The customer care provided by the clinic is second to none and I agree with my optician Mr Pillai is the best.

21 Dec 2003

I had surgery five weeks ago for vision of -3.5 in each eye . I had worn gas permable contact lenses for more than 20 yrs and only wish this excellent treatment had been available sooner. The treatment at the clinic is totally professional,full details of the procedure including possible complications are given and the whole consultation and asessment process is very efficient. At present I have 6/6 vision and no longer rely on lenses or glasses. I had a smooth operation and an excellent result


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