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 Procedure | Price (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
Sue
Treated with wavefront lasik 3 weeks ago by the excellent Mr Pillai in Harley Street. What can I say? Exceeded all my expectations - from -7.00 in both eyes with a good degree of astigmatism and night-time myopia to 20/20 vision (and improved night vision!). Vision has settled remarkably quickly and the consultation, treatment and aftercare have been thorough. After previously approaching other providers, what a relief to be examined thoroughly by the surgeon I would be entrusting my sight to! The inclusive overnight stay in a lovely hotel was much appreciated and my aftercare appointments are local, a godsend for those of us not living in the big city! If you're debating the cost, I'll stick with the old adage that you get what you pay for. I've received excellent care from a highly qualified Consultant Refractive Surgeon and his team and I am delighted with the results.
Carole Kouki
I visited several Eye Laser Centres and found that at Advance VisionCare, I was kept extremely well-informed and felt like a valued patient and not merely a number. It was this caring attitude that convinced me to opt for Advance VisionCare. The clinic charge nurse and the doctor were lovely. The procedure itself was surprisingly painless. I was extremely nervous and apprehensive on the day of the procedure only to find I didn't feel a thing. The nurse and doctor spoke to me during the whole procedure, explaining each step before it happend, which went a long way to helping me feel more relaxed. Is till have more aftercare to come but I trust them completely to do the very best for me. Thank You.
Julie Breenan
After being short-sighted for 20 years, I felt this treatment would totally change my life. My eyes have held me back so much over the years. Hopefully now I can go skiing, do watersports, apply make up, silly things for normal people but it will make such a difference to my life. The treatment was pain free and to me a miracle to be able to see again.
Kamal Moukeiber
Excellent, life changing experience. Being able to watch the procedure done on someone else was very reassuring and key in the decision. Outstanding team! Very professional and experienced."
Paula Goad
From wearing contact lenses and glasses for 15 years this is the best thing I have ever done. I have perfect vision thanks to Advance VisionCare. Everyone at the clinic are very helpful and caring, they really put you at ease and look after you. I would recommend laser treatment to anyone who wishes not to wear glasses etc anymore. I would definitely recommend Harley Street.
Anthony Stone
I was concerned at first with going through the treatment but I am very pleased with the results and the care I have received. After care service was excellent and extra appointments were made available when requested. I have no hesitation in recommending Advance VisionCare. The staff have been very reassuring with regular communication as to my progress. It shows that age is no barrier to this treatment."
Neil Ray
Went to Advance Visioncare at 77 Harley Street London over 8 weeks ago now and can report that am delighted with results going from -8 short-sightedness and contact lenses for too many years to pretty much perfect vision (apart from reading glasses). Pre and after care excellent, all very well explained beforehand so no surprises. Would not hesitate to recommend to anyone.
Petrina
Having had conducted a lot of research into refractive eye surgery and various surgeries / surgeons, I decided to travel from Northern Scotland to Advance Visioncare in London. I wanted to attend a clinic which a) offered wavefront diagnostic to see suitability for wavefront treatment, b) attend a clinic where I would know who the surgeon would be performing the procedure (and who had performed a large number of successful treatments previously)and c) a place that was recommended highly by others. Advance Visioncare fulfilled all these requirements and as I wanted to give myself the best chance of a successful outcome (despite inconvenience in location) I decided to travel down for the surgery. The staff at Advance Visioncare have been nothing short of excellent so far and the screening tests prior to the surgery were extremely thorough and professional. I was impressed that Dr Pillai was involved prior to the surgery day, assessing suitability for Lasik himself. I was a relatively low risk candidate having a low prescription (~-2.0 or so on each eye and mild astigmatism), smallish pupils, plenty of cornea etc.Although it is only 12 days after my wavefront treatment (which is painless by the way), I have to say that I'm concerned that although I can make the 20/20 line and therefore am categorised as "perfect", everything is somewhat blurry, both at a distance and close up (distinctly lower quality of vision that what I had with glasses previously). At my 1 week check-up one eye was about -0.5 and the other -0.25 (not sure about astigmatism) which seemed like a pretty good result to me in terms of prescription so I can't understand why the blurriness persists. Some writing and images (especially noticeable on the TV, alarm clocks etc has 2 images, one above the other) and the full moon last night looked like an elongated egg with 1 eye. I haven't had any significant problems though with glare, halos, dry eyes etc. I'm maintaining a positive outlook as perhaps I just need to give the eyes longer to settle (but no significant change over the past week). I'll post an update and award a star rating at a later date.
Neha Shah
I was v. pleased with the service I received at Advance VisionCare. I had tried a couple of years ago to have laser surgery (elsewhere) but was refused (without consultation) because I am a diabetic. Dr Pillai took great care & researched thoroughly, including consulting various Dr's in different countries before commencing any treatment. I knew then I was in safe hands. The service was nothing but brilliant.
Dr A Arora
Excellent & Professional service. The procedure was quick & painless with everything explained at all stages of the treatment. I would not have recommended the procedure to my own family member if i did not have faith in the staff & the procedure.
