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!
claire
what can i say, i am amazed, in fact totally amazed, got lasik on 19th march 2004 at Glasgow optimax by Dr Anwar, b4 lasik i had approx prescription of -6 left eye -5 right and bad stigmatism both eyes. After the surgery i could not open my eyes, nothing to do with pain but the fact that the tears blinded me when i tried to open my eyes, this scared me a little cos the guy next to me after surgery had lasik b4 me and was sitting with his eyes open. I honestly found it hard to open my eyes for first couple of days, there was very little pain involved just uncomfortable was the problem. Went to my checkup the next day and was totally delighted to be told i had 2020 vision. I was told b4 op that i would more than likely have problems with my night vision because i had really big pupils but i dont have any problems at all. Please feel free to email me anyone with any questions u have or if u wish i can writ e u an email detailing everything i can think of from eye consultation at beginning to present.
Iain M
I had LASEK/Epiflap performed on me at the Finchley Road branch by Dr. Almasri on the 14th January 2004 - and here's my little story. My old prescription was -4 and -4.5 with about 1.5D of astigmatism in each eye - enough to mean the floor was a useless blur and losing my glasses rendered me mostly helpless. I'm 27 now and had been wearing them since about age 10 and contact lenses for the last few years. The contacts became less and less comfortable and eventually I was back on glasses - then I broke them last year and decided the time had come to do something about this. I went to a free consultation at Accuvision first, where it was confirmed that I had few 'higher order abberations' so there was little reason for me to persue Wavefront correction, and then onto Optimax as they offered LASEK, Accuvision didn't, and at £495 an eye - bargain! Even got the 2-4-1 offer with a friend so only £495 for both eyes... unbelievable, but there are good reasons Optimax can offer it so cheaply - best you ask them if you're wondering. I'll skip the consultation process, it's been described many times here, and the details of the op - it was quick and painless and made me laugh "oh my god I can see the roof!" No hitches and within five minuites my now-useless glasses were handed back to me and I'm back in the waiting room feeling lost. Took a good ten minuites before someone came over and said "that's it you know, you can go now" and off to home. Unlike some here I had quite a bit of pain, but that's a person-to-person thing and nothing Optimax did wrong. Was gone overnight leaving only an ache, and it took about five days before both eyes were good enough to use together without strain/ache - I'm very glad I had a friend around to take care of me as I would have been helpless without them. The vision at that point was crazy - in focus, but many many images causing a lot of blur and confusion. Those slowly faded out and moved together and it took about a month to reach 'nice' vision, and I was back at work a week after the op. It's now almost two months and my left eye is spot on - beautifully clear all the way to the horizon, tests as -0.25D and can read the 20/15 line no problem. The right has been more stubborn - tests at -0.5D and after mostly clearing got worse again, but continues to improve in the same way (shrinking multiple images) day by day - it's 20/30 now, but sometimes clears completely so that it's as clear as my left - I figure it'll just be taking a bit longer to heal clear as it's still changing and I'm fully confident it'll reach 20/20 or better, but thought I'd better get this posting done before I forget! All in all - ecstatic and doubly so for not having a LASIK flap to worry about! Thankyou Optimax, best £495 I ever spent. EVER.
Alison
It's been exactly a year since I had lasik at the Finchley Road Clinic with Dr Patel. Best decision and money very well spent.It has completely changed my life. My prescription before surgery was -0.4 in both eyes. I had the suegery done separately for each eye.Healing process went very well, no complications. Night vision OK.
Tracy Jones
My husband had epi lasek done in December 2003 in the Southampton clinic. The service was excellent and he said it's the best money he has ever spend on his eyes. I am having mine done at sometime in the near future.
Lucy
Hello all - I am due to attend Finchley Road clinic in a few weeks time for epi lasek treatment. I have been told that my consultation & treatment (if I feel brave enough to continue!)will be carried out by Dr Islam. My prescription os approx -3.75 in both eyes. Can anybody give me any help / experiences with the clinic / consultant? After reading / researching various websites I seem to be changing my mind day to day!! Any information would be most gratefully received!!
Richard
Operation was by Dr Kalagnomas in February on left eye only. It went fine. No pain, no discomfort and done on time.
pam rudd
I am thinking of having bi-lateral treatment at Liverpool, has anybody any experience of the liverpool clinic.
Anita Nicholls
Hi i am booked in for a consultation and treatment on the 3 April. My prescription is -3.25 and -3.50. I would like to hear from anyone who has had the epi-lasek treatment at the Birmingham Clinic with the similar prescription. I am at the moment very nervous about the whole thing!!!
Elle
I am considering having Lasik and have made an appointment for a consultation on Saturday. Has anyone had any dealings with Optimax in Southampton?
Louise Kenny
I had laser eye surgery perfomred on Thursday 26 of Feburary. The operation itself wasn't as bad My perscription was -3.50 and -4.00. I noticed after the surgery i could see an improvement in my eyes and was delighted. I am 19 and was so scared of something going wrong. I had very big pupils and have noticed the halos and glare at night. It something i can put up with as i have been told it will go away. I was told at the clinic the day after that I have dry eye but keep using luberication and it will go away. My biggest disappointment is that i'm have noticed that it is hard to read things up-close and the clinic told me that they over-corrected me. They said that the were hoping i would be 0 but it should settle in the next 6 weeks i so afraid I spent so much money and am now long-sighted. They said my vision will flautation over the next 6 weeks. Has anyone experienced this and have they any advice.
