1. Optimax Laser Eye Surgery Review
Optimax is a UK specialist in laser eye treatment, lens replacement surgery, and cataract surgery. Founded in 1991, this clinic has performed over 430,000 vision corrections. It currently has 28 clinics nationwide, including London, Bristol, Birmingham and Belfast.
Here is how nearly 1,000 real customers rate Optimax for its clinic, cost, treatments and surgeons:
| Optimax Rating Overall | Clinic Rating | Cost Rating | Surgeon Rating | Treatments Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (3.9 out of 5) | (3.6 out of 5) | (3.5 out of 5) | (5 out of 5) | (4.1 out of 5) |
These ratings boil down to:
Pros: Fixed prices, free consultation, Wavefront technology, locations nationwide, NHS-trained surgeons
Cons: Poor customer service, lacking communication from surgeons, frequent delays
☝ Compare clinics: See if there are any other top-rated clinics near you, and use our simple tool to receive a personalised quote – as well as free eye tests worth £800!
2. Optimax Laser Eye Surgery Cost
“I would do this surgery again tomorrow knowing the results I have got. It was worth every penny – the best money I ever spent.” – Stephen Gerrard
(3.5 out of 5)
Laser eye surgery at Optimax costs £1,695 (per eye) for Wavefront LASEK or Wavefront IntraLase LASIK. Cataract surgery costs £2,995 (per eye), while implantable contact lenses will set you back £2,495 (per eye).
These are average prices for eye surgery in the UK – not as cheap as other high street clinics like Optical Express, but less expensive than eye hospitals like Moorfields Private.
Are there any hidden costs? No – Optimax offers free consultations, and transparent prices. Plus, there are finance options, meaning you can pay under £50 for 36 months for laser surgery, or under £70 a month for lens surgery.
Here are the prices of some of Optimax’ popular lens and laser surgery options:
| Eye Surgery Procedure | Price (per eye) | Finance Options (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Wavefront LASEK | £1,695 | £42.38 (36 months, 0% APR, £169.50 deposit) |
| Wavefront IntraLase LASIK | £1,695 | £42.38 (36 months, 0% APR, £169.50 deposit) |
| Cataract / RLE / CLE Treatment | £2,995 | £64.40 (36 months, 0% APR, £299.50 deposit) |
| ICL Treatment | £2,495 | £51.49 (36 months, 0% APR, £249.50 deposit) |
☛ 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 for free.
3. Optimax Treatments
“I am delighted that the procedure was pain-free, and I didn’t even need any painkillers afterwards. At the weekly check-up, I was amazed to learn I had 20/20 vision – much better than predicted.” – Joan Hassell
(4.1 out of 5)
As well as traditional laser eye surgery, Optimax also offers a range of lens surgery options. Here is the full list:
- LASIK
- LASEK
- Wavefront / IntraLase®Femtosecond
- Cataract or refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery
- ICL surgery or keratoconus treatment
Aftercare
Optimax provides a free and comprehensive aftercare program to regularly check and monitor your vision at each stage of the recovery process. All aftercare costs are included in the cost of your eye surgery.
Optimax locations
Optimax offers a range of clinics nationwide. It also hosts open days, where patients are able to have a free assessment, take a tour of the clinic, and speak to specialist consultants. Optimax’s main locations are: London, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester.
4. The Verdict
I am really happy with the results. Apart from the machine not working and the long wait, the staff at this Optimax were really nice, friendly and helpful, as was Dr Patel. I would recommend this Optimax. – Tina Gibson
(3.9 out of 5)
Optimax has an average overall rating due to hit-and-miss patient care, based on nearly 9,000 independent reviews on Lasik Eyes since 2002.
Most patients we spoke to were happy with the service. However, the long waiting times and poor communication mean this clinic misses the top spots on the list of the best laser eye surgery clinics in the UK. Still, Optimax makes it into these top lists:
But is Optimax 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 closer to going glasses free:
- Find the top clinic in seconds: Answer three questions to be matched to 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 and personalised quote (with no obligation)
☛ Click here to find the best clinic near you, and get a tailored quote.
5. Optimax Surgeon Reviews
6. Optimax Patient Reviews
Stefy
I wouldn’t recommend Optimax to anyone, the customer service of the Bristol branch is shocking. They don’t keep to their appointment times and don’t even apologise for the delay plus they lied every time when we asked them how much longer we’d have to wait. 3 and a half hours later and according to them that was good because they can be worse!
Mrs King
I am due to have my eyes lasered and obviously got to have a few days off work for recovery etc. I have been told by my employers that as it is 'elective' surgery, then I will not be able to take it off as sickness absence, but must take it off in my own time - ie make the hours up/book holiday. Does anybody know the legalities of this? Thanks!
Mr R
I had Lasik surgery on both eyes on the 22nd January 2005 and am very pleased with the results. One thing that I was unhappy with was the service/reception team at the Croydon surgery. There were a couple of times when the surgeons assistants, wearing scrubs, would exit the fire door next to reception, leave it ajar, and stand there smoking. You could smell the smoke! They would then re-enter the reception put their cigs away and then head straight for the surgery room. They did not appear to wash their hands or freshen up! The reception staff made occasional slip ups with mentioning private client details with a clear voice that could be heard across the reception area. My surgeon was great though, so it's not all bad news. I would recommend anyone to have the surgery on their eyes. But maybe look at a different location. I wish that I would have had it done years ago.
Mark
Thinking of having LASEK at Southampton Optimax. ANYONE have any stories/experiences?. Also I work in a hospital dealing often with patients with MRSA infections - anyone know of any problems going back to work with these patients after surgery?? Thanks
Julie
Has anyone had Lasek surgery - i've been told that I can't get lasik surgery, just wanted to know any views on Lasek as i'm still unsure...
Rebecca Wood
I had Epi-Lasek done to both eyes on 21/12/04 by Dr G Mathen at Manchester Surgery. The procedure itself was painless, I thought that I may start panicking but I was totally relaxed throughout, in fact having your teeth cleaned at the dentist is a lot worser. My Husband came in with me (not usual procedure) but was unable to hold my hand so instead watched by eyes on a TV monitor. After the procedure I could read about 5 lines down on the eye chart (before I could not see any). I felt fine afterwards but about half an hour afterwards my eyes felt really heavy and I had to close them then they began constantly streaming. The pain was not too bad more of a stinging sensation. I went straight to bed when I got home and just slept. The following day I could only open my eyes for a couple of seconds at a time so I stayed in bed all day. I went back xmas eve to have my bandage lenses taken out. I found that my right eye was very good but my left eye was all blurry vision and I could not see any of the chart. I was not worried about this though because I knew that this could happen and they need time to recover. When I went back for my 3 week check-up I was told I now have better than 20-20 vision. It is a miracle!!! My prescription before was Left -2.00 Right -1.75. I would recommend this treatment to anyone. Mr Ambrose (owner of Optimax) gave me a special half price offer - so thank you for making it so affordable! Thankyou to everyone at Optimax especially Dr Mathen. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions. P.S keep checking e-bay for special rates under vision/glasses/lenses category.
tim
Has anyone had the implantable contact lense (ICL) treatment from optimax? They're the only people who offer the service in this country, i'm worried about the long term effects of laser surgery and as this treatment is potentially reversable i'm more inclined to prefer it.
gabrielle
Had bilateral Lasik last wednesday with Dr Hynes at the Manchester clinic. My eyes were uncomfortable for about 2 hours afterwards but it was bareable, I now have near on perfect sight. After wearing glasses for the past 16 years, being able to see the alarm clock in a morning is great... no more squinting. I would definately recommend this proceedure, as did many of my friends to me.
gabrielle
Hi. I had bi-lateral Lasik at Manchester yesterday with Dr Hynes. I was not looking forward to the proceedure at all but can say it was worth the 5 or so minutes of discomfort ( so far anyway!). As soon as I sat up I could see relatively clearly but had trouble keeping my eyes open, this passed about 2 hours later. The gritty feeling lasted until about 5pm ( i had the op at 1pm) but I have felt ok since. I keep getting blurring which I believe is normal, however I went back today and they said I have better than 20/20 vision, although I have found my eyes are not used to working together to focus on small text, on reading the info again this is normal and should clear up in the next week or so. The plastic lenses they give you to sleep in are very attractive....... not!! I must say though I woke up in the night with one in my hand and the other missing, I must have had a strange dream !! On the whole I definately recommend the Lasik proceedure although be ready for the burning smell which isnt very nice. When I went back today I was a little dissapointed that I didnt see Dr Hynes, just and opthamologist checked my vision, I will hopefully see him when I go back next week. Good luck if you are considering it !
Emma
I contacted Optimax for info on the implantable contact lenses and was told (by email, no consultation) that LASIK was best for me. I was asked for my phone number which I emailed to them. I received a call at a bad time and asked them to call back. I then rang them back the next day as they had not called me and was told they would ring me straight back. There has now been no contact from them for over a month. They may be fantastic at eye surgery, they may not, who knows, but I am afraid I would not entrust my valuable eyesight to people who fail so miserably on the administration side. Very disappointing.
Kelly
Had lasek at Birmingham clinic yesterday. All went well. I was in agony yesterday after anaesthetic wore off so stayed in bed all day. Woke up this morning and eyes were very sticky and had problems getting them open to put drops in. After I applied the drops they were fine, no pain and have been able to read newspaper and attempted to watch a bit of tv but had to keep closing my eyes. Eyes are very red at the moment but it's clearing up. I am able to see clearly and am glad I had it done.
