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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
Sarah (daughter): As a mother and daughter who both had very short sight, we felt increasingly limited by what we could do when relying on glasses and contacts. I went first by phoning Focus and getting a meeting organised for the same day – the clinic was of a very high standard and everyone was friendly and professional. I was in no doubt that this was the right decision and the right clinic. Within a few weeks, the operation had been completed by the fantastic Mr. Allamby, and mum’s procedure followed shortly after. We were put at ease and guided through the whole process. I would say the process was a little uncomfortable – just because I’d never experienced anything like it. But any pain dissipated quickly and I have never looked back. It’s been brilliant.
Denise (mother): It’s been exactly a year now since I had the treatment and I still can’t believe how wonderful and freeing life is without glasses.
I was a bit wary about having it done at sixty two but the staff assured me people in their seventies have it done.
The procedure was surprisingly completely painless and quick.
I feel very lucky that I had the absolute top man – Mr Allamby- to carry out the procedure.
His team were all so helpful and professional at all times.
After becoming irritated by my worsening eyesight and ever increasing dependency on reading glasses, I began to research the options. Blended Vision seemed to me to be the best treatment available, though I did feel anxious about the procedure, particularly as I did not personally know anyone who’d taken this route.
It felt especially important therefore to find the best clinic with the most experienced surgeons, and that is how, after many hours, days and weeks of reading everything I could find, I ended up making an appointment at Focus. By this time, my husband had become interested in my findings and decided that he’d like to come along too.
From the moment we arrived at the clinic, we were overwhelmed by the professional, attentive and friendly manner of the staff. They felt like a cohesive team who delight in achieving great results. We felt that the preliminary examinations were so thorough and that we were in very safe hands.
On the day of the procedure, we were again treated spectacularly well, and although I felt a little nervous, the staff eased those nerves. There was some very minor discomfort for an hour or two after the treatment, but by the evening, my husband and I were laughing happily as we sat reading our menus in a restaurant… without glasses!
For the first month or so I did find that by the end of the day my eyes felt really tired, and I did get some dryness.
It is now about 3 months since then, and my sight is superb. I can read, text, write, type and see near and far. My husband has had a similar success.
We’re both so grateful to Focus and would not hesitate for a moment in recommending the clinic and this procedure to others.
It is now six months after my Z-Lasik treatment at Focus and I went from -8.00 to better than 20/20 vision. The surgery has changed myself completely and I consider it one of the best investments I have made in myself!
The staff at Focus have been very friendly and professional every step of the way. The fact that Focus is an independent clinic means that the service feel very personal and that you see the same people throughout the consultation, surgery and aftercare.
The staff took a lot of time to explain the details of the procedure and answer all my questions. I also found it important that they were very honest about the expected results and potential side effects. In my case the consultation showed that my cornea was thinner than most people’s and that re-treatment might not be possible if there was still a slight under-correction after the first treatment. I really appreciated that this was mentioned and I am not sure if every clinic would have communicated this prior to the procedure.
The treatment itself is a bit uncomfortable, but not painful at all. The discomfort comes from the pressure that is put on your eye whilst the flap is created. The good thing is that this part is over in a matter of seconds. In the surgery room I felt in very safe hand with David Allamby and his team. They were very reassuring and explained what they were doing at all times.
All in all, I would highly recommend Focus to anyone considering eye laser treatment. You may be able to find cheaper treatment elsewhere, but in the end you get what you pay for. With Focus you get personal treatment from the best people in their field. Personally, I would not settle for less when it comes to my eyes.
In one word, “Brilliant!”
Definitely recommend Focus to family and friends. Very professional from stage 1 to finish. Also top surgeons, that know what they are doing when it comes to laser eye surgery.
If in doubt, don’t be, visit FOCUS!
I’m extremely satisfied with the treatment I received at Focus. All the staff were very helpful and attentive and made sure I was 100% confident with the procedure. The treatment itself is completely pain-free.
I cannot expresss how much life changed since I had the treatment and stopped wearing glasses and contact lenses. Even though it’s almost 2 months since I had the treatment, I still wake up every morning with the feeling that I have to put my glasses on only to remember that I don’t need them anymore. It’s priceless.
I totally recommend this clinic.
Thank you Mr David Allamby, Emma Delgado and everyone at Focus Clinic for helping me improve my life.