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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.
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10 days after having Lasek at Manchester, I am absolutely delighted with the results.
The procedure itself is painless, quick and not particularly uncomfortable. Recuperation was also pretty swift – the day after the procedure was spent indoors with the curtains shut and it was sometimes difficult to open my eyes. The following day was much better, just light sensitve in bright sunlight, and things were even better a day later. Vision is already better than when I used to wear my contact lenses and expected to improve further over the next couple of weeks.
The staff were all great on every visit, giving full answers to any questions. It's great to finally wake up in the morning and see things clearly and I would recommend anyone who is fed up wearing glasses and / or contact lenses to give it a go.
Thanks to everyone at Optical Express for their help in making this happen. -
I had lasek last November (2003). I had struggled with contacts for the last few years and decided to go for it. When people say its life changing they are right – it really is! It's a big step to take and it's a difficult decision to make. From the consultation through to the aftercare the service and care has been superb. Today I have been discharged and I have perfect vision – that’s a good feeling.
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I had Lazek surgery to just one eye in October 2003 at the age of 46. Slightly short sighted, I had been struggling for some time with the battle between reading and distance vision, and the constant annoyance of having to take my glasses off to read. I felt it would be beneficial to me to try monovision (dominant eye for distance vision and non-dominant eye for close vision). So I had my dominant eye corrected and my non-dominant eye left as it was at -1.75. This has proved to be a good trade off, my overall vision is very good for both distance and close. Although there are certain situations where it is not perfect, such as distances of around 3-4 feet where neither eye would focus perfectly anyway (we can't expect to have it all though, can we?). I am delighted with the outcome of the surgery, I don't use glasses at all now which has made my life much easier and given me much more confidence. The surgery itself was painless and the recovery less uncomfortable than I expected. Because Lazek has a slower recovery time than Lazik I took to my bed for the first day or two and took the rest of the week off work. My vision stabilised after about a month and in less than a year the eye healed completely with no signs whatsoever of surgery taking place.
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UNCOMFORTABLE yet pain free, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. However the profesionalism of the staff and clinical team far outwieghed the 2 minutes of discomfort I had to endure. This is a cliche to say it but after 19 years of glasses and contacts I feel as if I have had a miracle performed. -6 -5.5 was my previous but now within 36 hours I have 20-20 vision.
If your considering this treatment, stop reading this and contact Optical Express in Newcastle and get it done. The best £1200.00 I have ever invested in my Life -
4 months after Lasik, with left eye short sighted to counteract need for reading glasses (monovision). I happily recommend this treatment, and Optical Express in Newcastle.
I was unsure about monovision and was given a supply of contact lenses to try out the effect. You do get some odd situations, as things are blurred if only the left eye can see them, such as actors on a stage if there is a person with a big head in front of you. I'm sure its not for everyone, but I am pleased.
The preparation and information was thorough, even my wife was impressed (she is a doctor).
I had no problems with the surgery. Afterwards I found I had no tolerance to alcohol for a couple of weeks, which I guess is the brain getting used to new sight.
So many things are so much easier, watching tv, swimming (so that's what goggles are for!), tennis, sailing. Using a computer is not the best, it tends be at an intermediate range, and I have to force the left eye to take over.
I'm pleased with the aftercare too, again I've had no problems, but its reassuring to know that someone is looking out for anything.
Considering the amount of attention I've had (and the cost of glasses) I think the price is very reasonable.
I've spoken to people who say they would only have somethng like this done in a hospital, and yes it is a bit of a production line, but I have no problem with the process, and the location is very convenient (though I resent paying Newcastle parking fees).
There are two things which I can't understand; why is there a light outside the opticians rooms which changes colour, makes the people waiting feel rather strange; and why do so many of the people who work in laser surgery wear glasses, do they not know what a good job they do?