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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
1,553 reviews written between 2002 and 2021. 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.
No reviews match these filters.
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Wavefront Lasik, Optical Express, Milton Keynes, Weds 29th March 2006.
THE PROCEDURE
I was petrified about having my eyes clamped open Clockwork Orange style. In reality, they basicly taped my eyelashes open with some medical masking tape stuff & I couldn't feel a thing coz of the numbing eye-drops.
The worst bit for me was the pressure on the eyeball when the flap was being cut. It wasn't painful, but wasn't entirely pleasant.
Yes, there was a burning smell, I was aware of it, but it didn't bother me.3 WEEKS LATER
At 4 days & 10 days my vision was 20/20 in the left eye, but still -0.75 astigmatism in the right eye. As there was no change in those 6 days, I'm not very optimistic that my right eye will improve any more.
Because my right eye is my dominant eye, the fact that it's blurred is REALLY annoying me, & I can't appreciate the fact that my left eye is 20/20 coz overall, my vision is still blurred.
I'm having trouble opening my right eye in the mornings, it's really heavy & I really have to force my brain to get it to open… don't know what's going on there??I'm not saying my experience was negative, I'm definately happier & more confident not having to rely on glasses.
This site is full of success stories… I'd really like to hear from people in a similar situation to me… I can't be the only one!!!
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Mt treatment was as pain-free and unintimidating as you can imagine. The after effects of the surgery was a feeling not disimilar to having a very long swim in a chlorinated swimming pool. Grittiness sounds a bit severe. I have had a heart attack two years ago that ended up with me having stents implanted under local anasthetic (me wide awake during the whole procedure!!) So the laser treatment did not bother me in the slightest. It's all over in a few minutes anyway so don't bother getting worked up about it! For me personally, the consultation was worse than the surgery, so if you didn't mind that, and don't mind eye-drops, proceed with confidence. Oh yeah, the vision afterwards really does defy belief, its like looking through a clean window in perfect focus. FANTASTIC!!!!
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LASEK surgery yesterday 18/04/06, in Reading. All went well and painless. I will return of the contact lenses out on Friday when I will write further. No streaming eyes and so far, 24 hours later, no gritty eyes either. dDo not waste time thinking about it. Just go for it.
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I have had my eye surgery at Newcastle branch of Optical Express on 7th April and all I can say is “Fantastic”. They were very specific and checked all kinds of things before advising me if i could actually have the surgery in the first place.
I was fully explained every procedure and what would happen on the day of surgery.
The day of surgery my appointment was at 11.30am I have numerous tests again to check my eyes were still ok and 10 mins in the theatre I was done!! I could see staright away just my eyes were watering a bit but we came out of the opticians and went for lunch!!!!
My eyes got a bit tyred a little later but 2 hours of shut eye and I was as good as new!!!
I went back the following day for chekcup all ok and then 1 week later and my vision was 20-20!!
I was nervous before having this done but the staff put me at ease and answered all my questions. If you are thinking about it go with Optical Express they are the best! -
Four days in from having standard LASEK peformed at the Manchester branch by Mr Khan. Obviously, my recovery is still ongoing but I thought I'd let everyone know what I think so far.
First off, let's get my only gripe out of the way. For anyone considering Optical Express, forget the £395 price they put about. My price was £695 per eye. You may be lucky, but don't bank on it. Nonetheless, £695 is still on the low-end of the price range so I was happy.
Now on to the good stuff. I attended my consultation, where I was seen by Alain. Like all other Manchester Optical Express staff I have seen subsequently, Alain was friendly, approachable and staunchly professional. After a thorough examination of my eyes, he said that I was a good candidate for standard LASEK. I asked about Wavefront, but he intimated that for a -2.00 (both eyes) prescription, the extra expense probably wasn't really worth it.
He also explained that as my pupils are slightly larger than normal (7mm as opposed to 6mm) that I may stand the risk of hazing. However, he then told me (which corresponded to my own investigation) that at such a small prescription it was unlikely to cause any problems.
I then asked why I was better off with LASEK instead of LASIK, and he told me about the pros and cons of each procedure. Basically, because of my pupils, and the fact that I play rugby, the flap could be something of an issue. I also believe he mentioned that LASEK was the main procedure performed at Manchester.
The one sticking point was that I had a small lump in my left eye. On closer inspection, this proved to be a very slightly infected tear duct. They packed me off with some chloramphenicol which completely sorted that out. As a result though, I had to wait just over a month for my surgery.
That surgery was performed on Friday 14th April by Mr Khan, as mentioned above. Once again, Mr Khan and his entire surgery team exuded the friendly professional confidence of people who have been doing what they do for many years. I couldn't have asked for better.
The procedure itself was unusual, to say the least, but I wouldn't say I felt any real pain during it. The most uncomfortable stage was having the 'eyelid-stretchers' removed. At each step through the procedure, what was happeneing was explained to me, and my girlfriend viewing the proceedings with a queasy stomach from the viewing booth, seeing exactly what Mr Khan was seeing. There was no pain, however, and it was over in about 15 minutes.
After the surgery, my vision was slightly like a 70s porn film – as if vaseline had been smeared on my eyes. I was given a very clear and concise talk about what I needed to do post-op by a member of the surgery team. I have been given a cocktail of eye-drops to take, from artificial tears to steroids, and they're all going in fine.
Post-op, I've felt, once again, no real pain as I would describe it. I appreciate that I may be a lucky one, but my eyes don't seem to have minded that much. In fact, my left eye seems to have been caught off guard and is winning the healing race by a margin. The right eye has been a little uncomfortable at times, but is bearing up well. My sight is unquestionably better in my left at the moment, which can be a little disconcerting, but I'm sure the right is catching up.
In summation, I'll say that I've read a lot of questions about Optical Express along the lines of 'But they're cheap, surely they skimp somewhere?'. Well, having never used another clinic (obviously :)), I can't make a comparison, but I can't feasibly think of any way in which I'd improve Optical Express Manchester.
The staff were absolutely first-class, enjoyed a bit of banter, but during the procedure were consummately professional. The equipment, which I believe to be the B&L Technolas 217z, is hailed by B&L as 'the world's leading excimer laser for personalized vision correction'.
I may write another report on how my eyes are shaping up. One thing I would say to people recommended LASEK, bear in mind that it does take time for all your sight to come back. I was lucky in that the day after I had it done, my left eye was working pretty well. However, I may well have at least another week before it is perfect (touch wood :)
All in all, the Manchester Optical Express has guided me through this possibly traumatic experience admirably. I'd have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone (even if I didn't £100 cashback for each person I recommend) :) If you can avoid the slightly 'marketing-speak' approach of the parent company, then you'll be very happy.