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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
From the first free consultation to the day of the procedure my treatment has been fantastic, I can now read everything clearly and my distance vision is 20/12, which is better than the normal.
After wearing contact lenses for over 35 years I had to wait for my eyes to settle down, I had thorough eye examinations each month to check if the prescription and astigmatism were changing. After 4 months the procedure could go ahead.
Mr Allamby was truly wonderful, explaining everything clearly and putting all my nerves to rest, prior to him undertaking one final eye examination before the procedure.
It is now over 1 month since the procedure and my vision is perfect.
I can fully recommend Focus Laser Vision.
I got my eyes lasered in August 2011, and am still it every day. Service, including check ups, was excellent at Focus. Unsurprisingly, I was a bit scared before-hand, but everything worked out perfectly. My eyes were about -4 with cilinders, and after the operation I got 16/20 vision (I didn’t now it could be better than 20/20!)
Since the operation, the only thing that I’ve experienced is dry eyes. But I’ve always had pretty dry eyes, so I have no clue whether it has any relation to the operation. Even if it has, I think putting in some eye drops from time to time would be a small price to pay for perfect eye sight.
The ladies at the clinic were great, very professional and personable. I only met the surgeon for a very short period, which could’ve been a bit more, but he did a great job, so lots of thanks to him as well.
I waited to write this review to see whether there were any long term side effects, but I’ve experienced none so far.
I have nothing but praise for the team at Focus. I had my surgery late in the afternoon on a Friday. Prior to the surgery, my prescription was -6.5 in my left eye and -5.5 with a slight astigmatism in my right eye. Having got home I spent a couple of hours in a darkened room but by later in the evening I was comfortable watching a TV.
But it was the next morning that was a revelation. Having been back for my check up on the Saturday morning I was told what I already suspected – namely that my vision was now excellent. 20/16 in my left eye and 20/12 in my right eye a mere 18 hours after surgery. I’ve been lucky enough to have no itchiness and no dryness. It’s been remarkable.
Many thanks to Allon Barsam – he did a remarkable job. Many thanks also to the other members of the clinical and administrative team. They were professional and friendly throughout.
I had LASIK in both eyes five years ago, for ‘blended vision’ and was delighted with the result. Two years ago when I started a degree course, I started to wear reading glasses to support my ‘distance’ eye. Ie to make both eyes reading eyes. I came to rely on them more and more until I couldn’t read without them. I was unhappy about this and remembered that Focus provide lifelong aftercare, so went back for a consultation.
It appeared my prescription had changed, which is quite rare, but it could be corrected by either more LASIK in my reading eye, or by having the Kamra inlay procedure. As I’d previously had surgery at Focus, this treatment would be at 50% of the cost for one eye only.
Everything was thoroughly explained to me from the treatment to payment, including all the aftercare.
The staff are so friendly, as well as being totally professional. Mr Allenby is an excellent surgeon who installs confidence. The surgery, equipment and waiting rooms are modern and spotless.
I really enjoy my visits for check ups and afterwards do a little shopping on Oxford St and Bond St which is about 5 minutes walk away.
I have recommended Focus to my friends and family and would recommend them to everyone.
I saw an offer for half price eye surgery and I was very undecided on whether to take advantage of it. I finally decided to phone Focus and find out more. From the first phone call I felt I was in safe hands, and I decided to go ahead and am so glad I did. The eye tests to decide whether I was suitable for this type of surgery were rigorous and if I had been found unsuitable I would have been told and Focus would not have performed the procedure. I found this very reassuring as I’m sure there are less professional clinics who would operate regardless, or maybe I’m just cynical… I met David Allamby who performed the procedure on the day of the operation and I immediately felt I was in safe hands. I was very nervous before I was taken into the operating theatre but there really wasn’t anything to fear. The procedure is painless. I can now see really well and I’m so glad I’ve been able to ditch my specs – I’ve never enjoyed wearing them and I love the freedom of not having to reach for them as I wake up. It’s quite miraculous and I spent the first few days being amazed by how well I could see.
All the staff at Focus are very professional and put you at your ease. So a big thank you to all of them and I can’t recommend Focus Vision highly enough.