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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.
Our Testimonials
I read practically all the reviews on this website before making my decision to go with optical express. Futhermore I was familiar with them having used them in the past for my contacts and glasses. So I had my lasik/wavefront surgery on the 27th september 2006 and will give my honest account of the procedure and my progress since then.
Background:
My left eye was -1.50 and my right eye was -2.00. One of my colleagues commented that I was going to do laser surgery for “only that” and I thought why should i wait until it was -18! So if you are thinking you will wait until it's worse – forget it! Do it now!
The day:
Staff were very friendly despite the centre being very busy that morning (i had a 10 am appointment and probably 5 people had done their eyes before me and more pouring in!) I felt really good especially seeing that other people had the faith to do it at the same place that i chose.
The procedure:
They wiped around my eyes with alcohol to clean the area and dropped a few anaesthetic solutions in both my eyes, then covered my left eye and laid me down on the flat chair. The surgeon “wheeled” me under the machine, taped my eye lids and asked me to look up at the red light. He the put a clamp around my eye which was very uncomfortable but bearable and NOT painful. He then cut the flap on my cornea which definitely did not hurt because my eye was numb and asked me to look at the red dot. He kept saying it over and over so I got a bit scared that i wasnt loking at the right spot but he calmed me down and eventually (after a few seconds) I got it right. I spelt something burning like singed hair but only for a few seconds. He then pasted down the flap and covered my eye (i had asked previously what are the chances of something going wrong with the incision and the surgeon said 1 in 400 – good enough for me!). Although I felt a bit anxious over getting things right for the left eye, we successfully repeated the same procedure and all was over in about 10 minutes. I opened my eyes a bit and through the solutions in my eyes i was able to see (which confirmed that i was at least not blind!)
The aftermath:
Funnily enough none of the reviews I read mentioned the burning pain I would feel for an hour after the procedure. I was placed in a room with a couple others and we all felt the burning (like plenty onions in your eyes). So I kept my eyes closed and endured my pain. I was scared to open it when I was called by the surgeon for a check up but i managed to open it and the pain actually subsided a bit. He said that the flap had a little wrinkle which he straightened out after numbing the eye again and then i was given some solutions and instructions and told to sleep for 5 hours and come back the next day.
The after aftermath:
I went home (and yes you need someone to take you home – i thought i could do it on my own but i couldn't), slept for 5 hours et voila no more burning. My eyes felt gritty though which is normal. The next day i couldnt feel anymore grittiness but my eyes were a tiny bit sensitive to too much light. Off to the opticians the next day and all was declared perfect – 20/20. During the following week my eyesite kept getting blurry off and on – sometimes in the right, sometimes in the left. Also sometimes I would get a white film over the eye. I was worried I tell you. I thought – “oh GOD something's gone wrong! and kept keeping myself calm by saying dont panic they said this would happen. But you can't help all the thoughts that go through your mind – would my eyesite deteriorate?, would i be able to do the surgery again? Also I was getting headaches! My eyes would hurt, then my head! Worrying I tell you! But when i went for my 1 week checkup and told the optician she said everything i experienced was in fact very normal nd regarding the headaches, they were being caused by the dryness of the tear duct (who would have thought!). So I had to double up on the eye drops or just take it as often as i can. I have done this for the past 2 weeks and i am feeling great! Absolutely wonderful! I am looking at everyone and everything. My confidence has risen- i can look people in the eyes and not see blurry faces. I get up on mornings and i can see the time on the Breakfast program! No more scrambling for glasses! By the way my vision is now 15/20!
My advice:
Do the eye surgery. Do not be afraid. Millions are doing it and feeling so much better about themselves.
Company: Optical Express
Consultation: Watford Branch
Surgery: Milton Keynes
Surgeon: Mr Waseem Aziz
It’s been 3 weeks since my surgery and I’ll try to give you an honest account of my experiences. I had the initial consultation back in June at the Watford branch, and not knowing what to expect, or what should have happened I undertook the tests and was informed that I was suitable for LASIK Wavefront. £200 deposit was paid and I was scheduled to have the surgery in September.
This is where it all goes wrong. Some may think it’s trivial, but a whole series of administrative errors from the Watford Branch made the pre-op build up a nightmare. Things like letters about surgery date changes (to the same date and time), cancellation of surgery on two occasions etc made me question how the company was being run.
Finally on the day of surgery at Milton Keynes, I re-took the check up. I had more detailed tests, tests which were not undertaken at Watford, literature given to me that I never received at Watford (about what the eye drops were and what they would do). It was all together a much more professional experience than at Watford, and I subsequently learned that Watford should have done all this, but never did.
The result was that, when the surgeon crossed checked the Watford results against the Milton Keynes results, there was a huge discrepancy, so much so that he cancelled the surgery. I was told to phone Watford to re-book the initial consultation, hugely disappointing, but grateful the surgeon was taking the cautious side.
I called Watford, and asked whether I could use the next day post op slot I had pre-booked there to have the tests re done. Imagine my horror when I was told there would be no trained staff or surgeon available – what if my procedure had taken place and I had turned up for the post op check up and there was no one there !
Watford then clamed that my surgery could take place, as they had simply not bothered to put all my test results onto the computer system, so it was skewing the results. They said they would put them on the system, and I should return to Milton Keynes and proceed with the surgery. However, returning to Milton Keynes, the surgeon was still not satisfied with Watford’s data. I lost all confidence in Watford so asked for the consultation to be redone at Milton Keynes.
So, administrative errors – trivial? Maybe, but when you are having someone operate on your eyes and paying £2200 for the surgery, you want everything right first time.
As for the surgery, I have to admit Milton Keynes were ultra professional. I got accurate results, far more thorough consultation and pre-op check up’s and the whole team were thorough and knew what they were doing.
The Lasik procedure was uncomfortable (the pressure to create the flap), but not painful. However, the anaesthetic wore off very quickly and I experienced quite severe pain and hyper light sensitivity for about 2 hours after the op, but the pain subsided as quickly as it came. By the time I was home and slept for 3 hours (I really recommend this), I opened my eyes for the first time and was amazed.
My recovery was excellent, no bloodiness or bruising of the eye, but I have experienced very dry eyes first thing in the morning for about 2 weeks post op. That is already much better, and regular use of moisturising drops really helps. I literally had one day where my vision went distorted as the eye healed, and have had better than 20:20 vision since then.
The summary – go for it ! Follow the aftercare rigorously, and use moisturising drops all the time, even if you don’t think your eyes are dry. Mr Waseem Aziz is an excellent surgeon, and so are the staff at Milton Ketynes, but my advice is avoid Watford branch at all costs !
I had my surgery on Oct 7th and needless to say, I was very apprehensive about letting someone point a laser directly into my eyes having spent many years being told that this practice was not advisable. I can honestly say that at no point during the procedure was there any real pain, it was merely a discomfort. After the procedure, which took about 10 mins for both eyes, my short vision was excellent, although a little cloudy due to the administration of eye drops immediately after the surgery. Apparently, the anti inflammitory drops are a steroid & these affect your vision whilst taking them. This caused my distance vision to be slightly blurred which is a little off putting but I have been reassured that this will improve over time once I cease the medication. While my eyesight is not 100% yet, I hope over the next week it will improve & overall, I am delighted with the results so far. I could never have typed this out without my glasses on prior to the surgery. My advice, if you can afford it, DO IT!!!! What price do you place on good unaided eyesight :o).
I was really nervous about having the proceedure but was reassured by the staff at both the stockton and newcastle branches. the surgery was quick. I was in and out in 30 minutes. My eyes felt gritty and itchy afterwards but the next day my eyes were fine. I could see immediately after the surgery, my right eye was a little blurry but again the next day i was fine. I now have clear vision for the first time in 13 years! Thankyou
Had Wavefront Lasik surgery at the Oxford branch on 6th October. Have to say, was fairly calm before hand due to reading many good reviews across this site, but that still doesn't prepare you for somebody cutting into your eye! It is, however, over very, very quickly. My eyes were very sore afterwards and couldn't bear to open my eyes for the next 4 or 5 hours. After a sleep in the afternoon though I felt a lot better, although still couldn't focus very well on anything.
Following day had the first checkup and vision was better than driving standard, but my vision is noticably fluctuating. Optician said that this is quite normal and should get better over the following week. My vision is most definately better than previously without glasses, but I'd obviously still like it to get better. I do find the vision is much better once I've used the eye drops, so I assume the fluctation is down to the dryness.
My vision before hand was a -1.25 and -1.75 with astigmatism in both eyes (although very mild in my right eye). I am still quite impressed, but would just like it to stabalise before shouting about it! Will post another comment on here in a weeks time after next checkup.