Optical Express has grown to become one of Europe’s leading providers of laser eye surgery. It operates over 200 clinics, of which 100 are specifically designated laser consultation clinics and 54 are laser treatment clinics.
With locations throughout the UK, Holland, Germany, Ireland, France and Croatia, Optical Express has carried out over one million laser eye surgery procedures worldwide. What’s more, over 99% of patients would recommend Optical Express to their friends and family.
Pros: Value for money, caring surgeons, 128 UK clinics, latest technology, dedicated aftercare
Cons: No fixed prices (talk to them for a quote)
☝ Compare clinics: See if there are any other top-rated clinics near you, and use our simple tool to receive a personalised quote.
- Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery Review
- Prices
- Treatments
- The Verdict
- Surgeon Reviews
- 1,806 Patient Reviews
1. Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery Review
I’m very happy with my laser treatment. There’s nothing to worry about – there’s no pain, and I would recommend it to anybody. The aftercare at Optical Express is also very good. I just wish i had done it years ago. – Philip Lavelle
Optical Express uses world leading technology, and their laser platform – the VISX S4IR – delivers safe, accurate and precise results. Fun fact: Optical Express is the only vision correction provider to invest in the iFS150 intraLASE in each of its clinics – the same technology that led to NASA backing laser eye surgery for astronauts in 2007.
Over 99% of Optical Express patients achieved 20/20 vision or better following treatment, according to a study carried out in June 2017.
With over 25 years’ experience in eye care, Optical Express boasts excellent surgical outcomes, and has invested £400 million in technology to offer advanced methods for vision correction.
Optical Express has 128 clinics in the UK alone – far more than any other eye surgery provider. Its locations include London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dublin, with many more situated in all corners of the country.
Here is how nearly 2,000 real customers rate Optical Express for its clinic, cost, treatments and surgeons:
| Optical Express Rating Overall | Clinic Rating | Cost Rating | Surgeon Rating | Treatments Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (4.6 out of 5) | (4.5 out of 5) | (4.8 out of 5) | (4.5 out of 5) | (4.7 out of 5) |
CQC Rating: Good
- Treating people with respect and involving them in their care
- Providing care, treatment and support that meets people’s needs
- Caring for people’s safely and protecting them from harm
- Staffing
- Quality and suitability of management
2. Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery Cost
True, it was an expensive operation, but I spent £500 a year on contact lenses and optician appointments – I see it as an investment! – Dave Reyner
(4.8 out of 5)
Laser eye surgery at Optical Express costs from just £595, or from £1,995 for lens replacement surgery. Of course, these prices depend on the treatment you choose, as well as your prescription, so you’ll want to pop in for a free consultation to get a tailored quote.
Optical Express is one of the cheapest laser eye surgery clinics in the UK. Its prices are well below average, compared to over 70 leading eye clinics and hospitals nationwide.
There are also a range of pay monthly finance options, so you can benefit from eye surgery for less than £50 a month – and it’s 0% finance for 10 month contracts.
Are there any hidden costs? No, the consultation is free, and you even get free eye tests worth £800. The only downside is not having fixed prices like at Optegra and Optimax, but at least the costs are lower at the end of the day.
Here are the prices of some of Optical Express’ popular lens and laser surgery options:
| Eye Surgery Procedure | Price (per eye) | Finance Options (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| LASEK | From £595 | £49.50 (10 months on 0% APR, £100 deposit) |
| LASIK | From £1,195 | £42.02 (for 18 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| LASEK (with iDesign) | From £1,495 | £41.69 (for 24 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| LASIK (with iDesign) | From £1,495 | £46.35 (for 24 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| Monofocal lens surgery | From £1,995 | £48.89 (for 36 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| Multifocal lens surgery | From £3,195 | £47.39 (for 72 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| Phakic IOL | From £3,395 | £47.39 (for 72 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| YAG | From £595 | N/A |
☛ Want a tailored quote? The only way to compare exact quotes is to see an eye expert for a check-up. These can cost up to £250, but with our simple tool, you can find out how much laser or lens surgery will cost you at Optical Express for free.
3. Laser Eye Surgery Treatments
Fantastic! I am so pleased I has the treatment – playing sports is so much easier! All the staff were very helpful, reassuring, and happy answering my questions. I’ll definitely be recommending Optical Express to everyone, their service is excellent! – Stephanie Yeadon
(4.7 out of 5)
Laser Eye Surgery
Laser eye surgery is a simple procedure that can correct your vision in a matter of minutes. Optical Express offers the most popular types: LASIK and LASEK (if you are not suitable for the surgical LASIK).
In both treatments, a cool beam advanced laser reshapes the cornea (the surface of your eye). Optical Express uses a technology called iDesign, which is based on Wavefront technology and takes thousands of eye measurements to produce the best results.
Lens Replacement
Optical Express has 20 years’ experience in lens replacement surgery. This surgery is a popular treatment for people with long distance vision, short distance vision, and even cataracts.
An eye consultant can help you decide which surgery best suits your needs:
- Refractive lens exchange (RLE) – This surgery replaces the natural lens with a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL) implant.
- Phakic IOL – This type of IOL is an alternative to laser eye surgery for patients with strong prescriptions.
- YAG laser treatment – YAG laser capsulotomy is a non-invasive procedure used to treat refractive former lens exchange patients whose vision starts to fade over the years.
Cataract Surgery
Optical Express performs the highest number of cataract surgeries – after the NHS, according to its website.
Cataracts are small, blurry patches on your eyes, giving you cloudy vision. Cataract surgery involves removing your damaged lens, and replacing it with a premium synthetic one for sharper near and distance vision.
Aftercare
Optical Express custom-fits its aftercare plan to every patient. This plan includes any medication that will aid the healing process, optometrist-led follow-up appointments, and an out-of-hours medical helpline.
Patients receive 12 months’ continued care as standard, and Optical Express recommends annual examinations to maintain your eye health.
Safety Record
All surgical procedures carry a degree of risk. However, laser eye surgery has an impressive success rate, and is the most popular elective surgery in the world.
99.2% of patients achieved at least 20|20 vision following surgery at Optical Express, based on a study of 190,231 Optical Express patients with the most common prescriptions. That’s why this eye clinic promises 20|20 vision or your money back.
Just be aware that the risks increase the more complicated the surgery. Optical Express will provide a screening service to check whether you are suitable for surgical treatment.
4. The Verdict
I can highly recommend Optical Express. They are very professional, and the procedure was pain free. The best thing now is I can see very well without glasses – and it was only done 3 weeks ago. – Elaine Gibson
(4.6 out of 5)
Optical Express is the best voted place for laser and lens replacement surgery, based on nearly 9,000 independent reviews on Lasik Eyes since 2002. With hard-to-beat prices, leading technology, and fully qualified surgeons, this clinic tops the list of best laser eye surgery clinics in the UK, as well as taking the crown for:
- Best eye surgery in London
- Best eye surgery in Scotland
- Best eye surgery in Manchester
- Best eye surgery in Bristol
But is it right for you? The only way to find out is to see if you’re eligible for 20/20 vision or your money back, and to get a tailored quote. That’s why we make it easy to pop in for a free consultation, have free eye tests (worth £800), and talk through your options with an eye expert.
Next steps: Our simple tool helps thousands of readers a day get one step closer to 20/20 sight:
- Find the top clinic in seconds: Answer three questions to be matched with the leading eye clinic in your area
- Check you’re eligible in minutes: Receive a quick call to check you can get surgery (we don’t share your number with anyone else)
- Book a free consultation: Talk to an expert at a clinic you can trust for a free eye test (worth £800) and personalised quote (with no obligation)
☛ Click here to find the best clinic near you, and receive a tailored quote.
5. Optical Express Surgeons
Mr Mehul Damani
MBBS, MS, DOMS, DNB, FRCS
Mr Luca Antico
MD
Mr Manek Patel
MD, RCOph
Mr Dimitri Kazakos
MD, MRCOphth
Dr Mohammed Shabbar Kazmi
MBBS, FRCS(Opth)
Mr Jonathan Carr
MD MA(Cantab) FRCOphth
Doctor Jan Venter
MD
Mr Khalid Khan
MBBS FRCS FRCOphth
Mr Jacobus Pauw
MBChB MMedOphth FCSOphth
Mr Sanjay Mantry
FRCOphth FRCS FRCS
Mr Andre Oberholster
MBChb MMedOphth
Mr Stefan Klopper
MBChB FCS
Mr Waseem Aziz
MB ChB FRCS
Mr Alex George
FRCOphth, FRCS MS, DOMS, DNB
6. Optical Express Reviews
michael
Can anyone tell me why the cost increases with prescription? I can' see why, if it's the same laser taking the same time. Is it really as simple as a marketing dodge? either way, i'm voting with my wallet and going elsewhere.
jayne clarke
I am booked in for wavefront treatment at Bristol on 3rd November, my prescription in both eyes is -8.00. I f anyone with as high a prescription has had the surgery please let me know your views. It would also be a good idea if it was compulsory to put your precription as you have all these good reports but no mention of their prescriptions.
Adam Gale
No ratings yet, as I am going through the process as we speak! First went to Optical Express in Southampton about 8/9 months ago, but had to cancel the booking as I was sent at very short notice to the Gulf. Bit of a drama getting my cash back, took lots of phone calls, which left me a little concerned about how the overall experience would be. It would appear that the admin is still not perfect, but not many companies are - I have also found out that some of the comments on these sites can be taken with a pinch of salt and should be viewed from a more realistic perspective. Whilst some people no doubt have poor experiences, if you want horror stories go to the US sites where they are able to operate completely unregulated! I also found out that the delay in operations (they say you can wait for up to three hours) is because of the way they set up the rooms and lasers, and that the cancellations from January at Southampton were due to a failed Air Conditioning Unit - what people didn't mention was that Optical Express paid for them all to be seen at Reading instead, so whilst it was inconvenient, it was not quite the drama that some felt it was! So, here we are again. Phoned up and booked an appointment, and I was reminded by post, phone, mobile and text message, which was pretty impressive! Turned up early, and went through the assessment procedure again (taking two goes with the "puff in yer eye" machine because I anticipate the "puff" and tense my eyeballs....!) So, we go through all the same stuff (which actually I was quite chuffed with because it gave me a little more confidence that they were not simply going to take previous readings), and the price comes out as the same as before! This time, I decide to go for wavefront, as I have spoken to US Military people who have had this done and were raving about it. I asked how fast it could be done, and was told that as they do the surgery for one fortnight a month, and the paperwork for the rest, I was able to book anytime from Monday onwards. So, I called some debts in, and the appointment is now booked for Tuesday at Southampton - 6 days from appointment to operation! There were people actually being "done" whilst I was there, and I heard no screaming, and there were no paramedics rushing up the stairs, so confidence levels are pretty good.... So, money paid, appointment booked, my glasses (which are on the point of collapse) only have to last 120 hours, and we'll see how my Optical Express experience goes. I can't wait.....
Chrissie Booth
Well so far so good! After 18 years of wearing hard contact lenses, much soul searching, reading and research I have finally decided to take the plunge. Optical Express in Leeds is my obvious choice as they are my usual opticians and therefore have all my history. I went for my consultation on 1st November with Hannah who was lovely. Very informative and thorough and basically just fab. Sharmina my laser councellor was equally as lovely, answered all my questions, put my mind at rest and is there whenever I need her. Anyway, two hours later and after many eyeball numbing pupil dilating tests I was deemed fit and healthy and suitable for Lasek eye surgey. To be honest I was hoping for Lasik (less pain/recovery time?) however I was just happy that I was a suitable candidate. The Wavefront was explained to me and that is the procedure I have decided to go with. There was no hard sell or even gentle persuasion, it was entirely my decision even though at £1495 per eye (OUCH!!!) it is rather expensive. What the hell, what price can you put on your eyesight?! My surgery is booked for 8th December - I am very excited but obviously nervous (whether the nerves are due to actually having my eyes lasered or spending so much money in one go I am not so sure!) I am hoping to make it to my office christmas party on 14th - fingers crossed!!! My surgeon is Jacobus Pauw who, as luck would have it, used to work with a friend of mine at the Leeds Boots Laser Eye Clinic (small world and all that!) so I have it on very good authority that I am in the best hands. That said, bviously first hand experience is always the best therefore if any of you out there have had Mr Pauw as your surgeon your comments/experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! I will be back, watch this space.................
Jules Greenough
6.5 Month Update: After having Lasik Wavefront performed at Birmingham OE (June '06), I will hopefully be having enhancement surgery on my right eye due to it regressing to -1.0 and the left eye -0.50 which will not be treated. Pre op prescription was only -3.00 in both eyes and unfortunately I am one of the 2% it hasnt worked for! OE have been fantastic and have monitored eyesight thoroughly (at my local Manchester branch) and thankfully, i will not be returning to Birmingham for the enhancement surgery. A big thank you to Giles Turner for his continuted help. As you can imagine, i have been extremely worried since June '06, and have had to 'give in' and wear glasses for driving - which slightly defeats the object of having the laser treatment in the first place, but I have been reassured that i WILL have the eyesight i want in the next few months.
dora
I am following up my previous comments. I had surgery in July. Now need retreatment due to astigmatism (caused by surgery?). If anybody has had a retreatment please please could you post a comment on how it was and what the recovery time was like compared to the first time. I had Lasik and apparently they can still relift the flap seven months later? thanks. nb. for people thinking of having treatment for a first time, go for it. I have not regretted it in any way. I can manage without glasses or lenses (before surgery I wouldn't even have crossed a room without), therefore if there was a flood or disaster and I had no lenses I would not be able to find my children and die instantly etc. haven't used glasses since and I am still legal to drive etc. but life is a bit blurry at times.
Laure
BRISTOL Will have my treatment in few days with Mr Andre Oberhoulste and I will like to know if anyone had the treatment with him. and what they feedback are ? Many thanks
Jeanette
Please do not use these people, this was the worse mistake of my entire life. Not only did I sit around and wait for 3 hours before I saw anyone with a medical degree (I hope) and the doctor spoke very poor English, I ended up walking away when I found out that they mixed up my file and that I actually couldn't have it done (which does happen for some people). I had to pay upfront a month in advance and it has been 4 weeks and I still haven't got my money back. I get excused "we sent it to the wrong place" or "its on the way". Lucky I didn't trust them with my eye sight! The customer care is appauling (even for British standard) and I have been told I would get a call back but this never happens. I went to the Shaftsbury Ave clinic. Laser eye surgery is fantastic if it works for you, but don't try these people! Pay the extra and get proper care! I can not stress this enough.
Erin
I have an appointment with Optical Express in Reading tomorrow. I have a -2.25 in both eyes. Has anyone had similar and if so what the cost was?
Laure
WAVEFRONT LASEK Hi Am going to my alomost 2 weeks after treatment and I am experiencing DOUBLE VISION. Healing looks like will be very long for me. I am working on computer and am off work since almost 2 weeks and I really donot know what to do: going back at wrok with double vision/ blurred or statying home whihc is not good for my employer. I would like to know if anyone is experiencing the same DOUBLE VISION and how it wenr....etc. I have a 17'' screen at home and I need to stand up to see what I am typing !!!
