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
Anne
Following on from 30/3/02 I have now had my second check up and my eyes are now +0.25 from -3.00 (left eye) and -1.25 (right eye). An excellent result.
Jan
See previous e-mail re damage to cornea from contact lenses. Went back to Finchley road on 17/5/02 and saw Mr Ayoubi again -v please with how eyes had healed especially right one. Decided to do PRk on right eye see how it goes and then do left in 3 months if everything ok. Said more chance of halos etc due to scar on cornea. Had it done could see quite well after 2 days but vision fluctuated - took lens out of glasses and wore them for work & driving. Suddenly on Sunday 26/5/02 realised I could see properly even reading was getting better - could have been longsighted due to age (45) Now it is Monday drove to work with only normal sunglasses and working without any glasses now. Appointment to see Mr Ayoubi on Wednesday to check eye but everything seem great. Treatment at Clinic was great by allstaff and I recommend them
Kaye
Written the day after surgery. I went for a consultation at both Boots and Optimax. Boots came across as more professional - the Optimax receptionists are very casual and unprofessional and the girl who ran my tests came across as casual - saying that they did do one more test than Boots. I was told by both companies that my eyes were good for surgery, -3.25 and -5.00 so I decided there was little point in spending an extra £1500 with Boots for the same thing - Optimax have a special of £999 currently. I saw Dr Manek Patel who put me at ease through the 10 min per eye surgery which I can describe as uncomfortable only. I'm a bit hazy today but overall I can see as well as with my contacts. Very happy...
Teresa
Had PRK on my right eye on 29/05/02 - treated by Dr Mathen. He explained everything extremely thoroughly and was very pleasant, as were all of the staff. All appointments were on time, one was ten mins early and the waiting area is very relaxing - although could do with a radio on upstairs as well as downstairs just to 'kill' the nervous silences! (Manchester clinic). Treatment appears to be a success so far - no pain, just mild discomfort on way home and next day. The actual laser process wasn't painful in any way, again just a little uncomfortable but as previous comments have said, no worse than having a check up at the dentist. So far so good. Go for a check up on 12th June so will update then. Basically i am very very pleased so far and would recommend Optimax to anyone. Very professional in my opinion! Weird getting your vision back after 18 years though! Feel free to e mail for further info/advice.
John S
I had PRK on my left eye in 1996. I had about -7.5 myopia, and they corrected for -6.02. (Presumably the .02 is so that their statistics don't get too badly messed up if anything goes wrong!). The (sound) idea was to leave me -1.5 to allow good reading vision in that eye. I seem to remember that the laser was stopped during the op. and I noticed that the light I was supposed to be looking at moved significantly, maybe because it was difficult to see it with all the tears that were flooding my eye. Eye healed very well and quickly with almost no pain, but after about a week I noticed that light sources at night were producing an irregular flare pattern, indicating a 'decentred ablation' which happens when the eye moves during the op. (Optimax have never admitted to this and say it's because of my 'irregular healing', but on the corneal map you can see it's off-centre by about 1.75mm. and I have 'induced astigmatism' of about +2.5). After 6 months the result was stable. I can see OK in bright sunlight, but night vision is really messed up. Optimax have been sympathetic, but despite promises, never really suggested a strategy to correct the problem. Luckily a high street optician recommended a gas-permeable contact lens which is only slightly more rigid than normal (not more expensive either) and smoothes out the cornea. So at night I can wear this to get 20/20 vision with no flare. The right eye is still untreated -8.00, so normally I wear a regular contact in this eye and nothing in the left eye and despite what they say, I have no problems caused by difference in image size in the two eyes. Also as I'm over 40, I do 'monovision' which means the right contact focuses for reading and the left eye is for distance.
In general I'm still glad I had the op. I can see some TV without correction and I'm waiting for the day when a reliable method of correcting my now-irregular cornea is available. The most promising method seems to involve first moulding a collagen lens to the cornea and simply retreating as on a normal eye. 'Custom ablation' using a flying-spot scanner doesn't seem to work. Either way I won't have the right eye done until the left is 20/20. I can't blame Optimax as they were pioneers and warned me of all the risks, although I think they were understated. On the consent form you more or less sign away your eyesight.
Also I think people like to exaggerate their claims for improved vision, saying things like 'I now have 20/20 vision' when they don't say what their night vision is like. Probably a lot of people who claim 20/20 vision shouldn't be driving at night. This is a new problem which didn't arise before corneal correction procedures.
Saeed Mughal
Consultation- mid March with Dr ALMASRI. Prsc: L -2.5, R -2.25 with astigmatism. Recommended PRK (epi-flap).
Surgery 21/4/02. Went for Bilat op. Fast & easy procedure. Applied bandage contact lens (u need to request this). Only pain suffered was when the bandage contact lens were removed, I was very light sensitive. I recommend to take somebody with you when getting bandage lens removed.
During the first 5 weeks the vision fluctuated but last 2 weeks it has stabilised. Went for check-up on Sat (8/6/02). Success!! L&R -0.25 with no astigmatism! I have another checkup in 2 months.
Genrally, with PRK you will need patience as the healing does take time, but I would recommend PRK over LASIK (in my opinion). Any q's pls email.
Phil Totten
PRK treatment - A testimony of laser eye surgery
The Consultation
Thursday April 18th 2002
Somerset Eye Clinic
Somerset Place
Glasgow
My full experience can be found at www.LASIK-eyes.co.uk/reviews/pt.htm
Please visit this site to follow my progress.
Simon Bannister
This is a follow up report to the one I posted in March when the LASIK procedure was initially performed.
After a couple of weeks had passed I became aware that my vision in low light conditions was not as good as in daylight. This appears as "ghosting" or almost double vision when watching TV etc. I find myself screwing up my eyes to see more clearly and usually end up with a headache (and presumably bad wrinkles in the future!). Driving at night on badly lit roads is distinctly dodgy!
At the first 6 week check I was told that this may be due to the "smoothing" of my eye contour with the laser around where the actual correction had taken place.
At the last 6 week check my prescription had worsened from -0.25 both eyes to -0.5 in both eyes. The explanation now is that this is due to how my eyes have healed from the initial procedure. They think that the poor lowlight vision is simply down to being under corrected. I'm going back again in another 6 weeks. If the prescription has stabilised at -0.5 then they have offered a second LASIK procedure so as to "fine tune" things closer to zero.
I'm not too bothered about the situation but would love to get a second opinion just to confirm what Optimax say before I go under the knife again. Trouble is where do you go? Am thinking of calling in to my friendly local optician for a standard eye test. If he finds that I am in fact -0.5 then I will get some glasses made up (using my old frames which luckily I have kept) just to confirm to myself that this does sort things out.
Anyone with similar experiences or any comments/suggestions please feel free to eamil me.
Gary King
Had my left eye done with PRK on 24/6/02 at the Edinburgh clinic.Staff very friendly and informative,the surgeon talked me through the whole operation.A little pain for about an hour after the op(a painkiller and an hours sleep took care of that!).Was driving the next morning and could already see an improvement in my sight.Had my first check up on 27/6/02 and optician was surprised to find my eye almost healed and my sight now 6/6!Had second check up on 12/7/02 and eye is fully healed.Get my right eye done on 19/7/02 - hope it is as easy as the left.I would highly recommend the clinic so far.
Richard Naish
I had PRK with Optimax in Birmingham in 1999 on one eye but didn't go back for the second since it was so painful for two days afterwards. I was -3.75 pre-op and am now +1.25. I guess that means I got over-lasered! The surgeon didn't inspire me with confidence at the time, and kept on having to restart the laser when my eye moved out of position. I was meant to be looking at a red spot, however I couldn't see if after a while due to blurring. I imagine they use tracking lasers nowadays. I am now considering LASIK for the other eye, but not at Optimax. Optimax are cheap compared to others, so think about it.
