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Focus is a well renowned, prestigious specialist laser eye clinic based in the London Harley Street medical enclave. It has a reputation for treating celebrities, and claims to have a 99.7% success rate (excluding very high prescriptions).
What makes it different? This is a consultant led clinic, meaning UK-trained eye surgeons combine their advanced surgical skills with the specially selected laser systems that are 100% committed to achieving 20/20 vision.
Is there anything to look out for? Yes, check what you are comfortable paying. Focus is one of the pricier options for vision correction, and the success rate barely differs from clinics that charge half the price.
1. Focus Eye Surgery Treatments
Focus has often led the way in terms of technology advancement over the years. It was the first clinic to correct reading vision using Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) radio waves, which uses radio waves rather than lasers to reshape the eye surface (cornea). The chief surgeon, Mr David Allamby, has performed more CK procedures than any other surgeon in the world.
Mr Allamby is also the first surgeon in the U.K to pioneer and perform the first Z-Lasik Blended Vision (another treatment for reading glasses). He remains at the forefront of specialist surgeons for presbyopia in the UK, and has provided surgical training to visiting surgeons worldwide.
So what’s on offer? The standard procedures at Focus include: Z-LASIK, LASEK and PRK (all with Wavefront technology). The clinic additionally specialises in these popular lens replacement surgeries: refractive lens exchange (RLE), implantable collamer lens (ICL), cataract surgery.
2. Focus Costs
Focus is one of the most expensive places in the UK for laser eye and lens replacement surgery, along with its friends on Harley Street: the London Vision Clinic and Moorfields Private (just around the corner).
Nearly 200 patients told us they paid on average £6,200 for laser eye surgery and £6,700 for lens replacement surgery at Focus. These prices are among the highest out there, and around double what you can pay elsewhere in the UK.
Laser eye surgery costs (both eyes):
- LASIK cost: £6,500
- LASIK specialist cost: £6,000
- LASIK blended vision: £5,400
Lens and cataract surgery costs (both eyes):
- Refractive lens exchange cost: £6,500
- Cataract surgery cost: £6,500 (standard lens) – £7,500 (premium lens)
- ICL surgery cost: £7,500
Then there’s the VIP Package for £12,000, all in. Focus doesn’t reveal what’s involved in this eye-watering price tag, so we’ll go out on a limb and say you may not find great value for money here.
Are there any hidden costs?
You’ll be please to learn that the quotes above are fixed prices, meaning you should avoid some nasty surprises. These costs include a generous 10-year guarantee, and initial consultations are free.
Interest-free finance options are also available, from £179.17 per eye per month, with a £500 deposit. Other clinics, however, offer monthly payment plans for around a quarter of the price.
So is it worth paying more?
Well, it may be if you are looking for: the most up-to-date ophthalmic tech, some of the UK’s most experienced surgeons, and being treated like a king in general. Plus, all procedures use Wavefront technology as standard: a slightly pricier add-on that improves the accuracy of the laser by measuring the eye’s exact measurements.
But don’t feel pressured into paying more than you feel comfortable with. Laser eye surgery is considered a safe procedure, with over 95% of people being satisfied or very satisfied with results, according to NICE. Optical Express, for example, is so confident of achieving 20/20 vision, it has a moneyback offer if you don’t. And prices there are half what they are at Focus Clinics on average.
3. Focus Review: The Verdict
FOCUS Clinics features as one of the best places for laser eye surgery in the UK. Plus, with friendly staff and a “Good” CQC rating, it also makes its way onto the list of the 10 best laser eye surgery clinics in London.
But is it right for you? Focus Clinics does offer plenty of excellent perks for the higher price tags: cutting-edge lasers, pioneering eye surgeons, and hard-to-fault customer service. That said, your money will also fund perks no one really needs: things like the prime Harley Street location, spa-like rooms, and VIP treatment.
Anyone looking to bag a bargain eye surgery should keep looking. Well-reviewed high street clinics such as Optical Express, Ultralase and Optimax might be a better fit if that’s the case.
☝ Ask the eye experts: To see if there is a better rated laser eye surgery provider near you, just click here to use our simple quote tool, and get a tailored quote from a clinic you can trust.
Our Testimonials
190 reviews written between 2003 and 2020. Sorted by newest first.
Treatments are as each reviewer wrote them. Reviews that don't mention laser or lens surgery only show under All treatments.
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From first contact to treatment completion, the service provided by Focus Laser Vision has been exceptional. I had considered laser correction for a number of years, but couldn’t quite pluck up the courage to go ahead as I was unwilling to entrust the care of my eyes to what I would describe as “conveyor belt clinics” This however changed when i saw an article in the telegraph regarding the revolutionary Z-lasik procedure utilised by Focus, and the more personal service they appeared to offer under the care of Mr Mearza and Allemby (qualified and respected opthalmologists). I subsequently booked an initial consultation and was taken through a very comprehensive range of tests and was informed i was suitable for the Z-lasik procedure. I was then (based upon my prescription) given the cost of surgery and available dates. No pressure was placed on me to sign “there and then” and I left to consider my options.
After reviewing the pros and cons, and feeling reassured after a couple of days consideration, I recontacted Focus and booked my procedure for the 10th of June. Treatment day eventually came and on the day of the procedure Mr. Mearza (my allocated surgeon) had a further consultation with me to double check my prescription. He then took me through the procedure itself and left me feeling reassured that I was in confident and competent hands. Another member of the team then saw me prior to the procedure and took me through a very thorough aftercare regime and the medicines i was required to take. Within minutes I was then taken through to a waiting area outside of the main treatment room where I was required to don a fetching pair of blue shoe covers and a blue hair net.
The actual treatment was somewhat of a blur as it was over so quickly. The laser procedure itself (both the cutting of the flap and the ablation of the cornea to the correct prescription) was totally painless (anesthetic eye drops are applied), however i will admit that i found the device which places pressure on the eye during the flap cutting process to be uncomfortable. However, the discomfort in both eyes lasted for a matter of 30 seconds each eye and was bearable. Immediately after the procedure I was amazed that I could instantly see the time on the clock in the treatment room (although admittedly my vision was cloudy at this point) I was then taken to a recovery room where I rested my eyes for 30 minutes before being seen by Mr Mearza again for a post treatment consultation. I then left the clinic shortly after feeling no ill effects.
Approximately 2 hours after the operation my eyes became very watery which lasted about 1 hour, they then became irritable for a further hour (feeling of grit in the eye) and then dry for about an hour after that. However. around six hours after the procedure i felt no ill effects whatsoever, and was well enough to go out for a couple of drinks and a meal with my wife. Over a 2 hour period my eyesight then rapidly improved and I was absolutely amazed at the clarity and quality of my vision so shortly after the procedure. In fact i drove my wife to the point of insanity reading everything i could see at distance!
The morning after the procedure i woke up with no pain or discomfort whatsoever, and my vision much to my amazement was razor sharp. I then re attended Focus for a 24 hour check up with Mr Mearza and I was astounded I could read the bottom line of the eye chart (better than 20/20 vision) I was left reassured that everything had gone as planned and I was already healing well.
This is basically my experience to date, and I am due back for a further check in a weeks time.
Overall what can I say? In many ways I wish I’d gone through the procedure years ago, however I’m also glad I’ve waited to be treated using the Z-lasik process by a very professional team. I cannot praise Mr Mearza and the rest of the staff at Focus highly enough. If you’ve thought long and hard about treatment then consider Focus if you want a thorough, personal and professional service.
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Dr Allamby was great on the day of surgery…He is a real expert as are the other staff around him. Along with a brilliant laser, the day of the surgery was a great success. A few hours of discomfort afterwards is expected, but by the next day I was back at the eyesight I had with specs before the surgery – 20/15.
Brilliant and successful work by all at Focus Laser Vision.
I have now gone overboard and own 3 pairs of sunglasses….I had better calm down a bit !!! -
everything was wonderful, particularly Mr Mearza :-)
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I was very nervous and anxious before going in for the surgery. However, the entire team were incredibly professional and supportive throughout the entire process, and I soon felt calm and safe. I would thoroughly recommend any service they provide.
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I found the clinic to be very professional and helpful, they explained every thing in detail and were very patient.
The service was quick and very efficent.
I would recommend this clinic and eye laser surgey to any one who is think about it.