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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.
Our Testimonials
Went to finchley road on 22/3/02 hopefully for PRK as only mild shortsight – -1.75 & – 2.25 with astigmatism. Unfortunately unable to have treatment as discovered i had corneal neovascularization in both eyes probably caused by contact lenses (blood vessels on cornea) and also eyes not recoved from wearing gas permeable lenses (be warned may take longer than the recommended 3 weeks)I am going back in 2 months to see if possible to have it done then. My surgeon Mr Ayoubi very nice but had not treated anyone with this condition before so very wary. Very happy with clinic and all staff very friendly. If anyone has also had this condition pls e-mail me.
I am attending Birmingham for my consultation today, I had a bad experience on the phone line to optimax initially but once I had booked the procedure I rang back for some advice and Lisa was excellent with replies to all my questions – I have opted for the prk epi-flap consultation and all being well both eyes will be sorted today. My only concern for this procedure is the recovery time as I have 2 small children and cant really be off my feet for too long. I will update as soon as I can on the Drs name and procedure
I has LASIK procedure carried out on both eyes yesterday (18/03/02) at Optimax in Manchester. My prescription was R -5.5 L -4.5.
I attended for the first check up this morning and my vision is now 20/20 (R 0.0, L -0.5) There is still some very slight inflamation in the left eye and my vision is expected to improve further as this subsides.
As you can probably imagine I am absolutely over the moon.
Both the procedure and the initial consultation were carried out by Dr Jean Philippe Colliac. This gentleman is French. His English whilst OK is not brilliant and establishing the necessary reassuring dialogue was not really possible. My final result however is testimony to his expertise.
Six of us were treated on the same morning, all returning together for day 1 aftercare. Apart from one poor guy who had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic drops the other folks experiences were the same as mine.
You can read loads of stuff on this site and elsewhere about the details of the LASIK procedure but my summary would be it’s no worse than your average trip to the dentist.
If you are reading this then I can assume you are researching the subject with a view to undergoing the procedure for yourself. My recommendation is that you do research the issues thoroughly but always remember that human nature tends to dictate that the bad news will travel faster than the good. I believe this to be especially true on the net.
Come to you own decision in your own time, if you decide to proceed I wish you the best possible outcome.
I have just had another check-up (Thursday 14th March)and I have been told that I am still zero in my left eye and +0.25 in my right with minimal haze. To be honest, I cannot tell that my right eye is slightly long sighted and have never noticed the haze – it all seems OK to me!
Anyway, everything is fine and I don’t need to go back for 6 months!
I went on holiday earlier this month and it was brilliant to not have to fiddle about with prescription sunglasses/normal sunglasses/normal glasses/contact lenses. I went scuba diving with no problems whatsoever and with no worries about my contact lenses popping out whilst 30 metres down!!!
I still belive having PRK surgery is the best thing I ever did.
When I decided to have my eyes treated I wasn’t expecting miracles. I just wanted to be able to see the TV properly in the evening, and stop ignoring people in the street!
I went to Optimax in Newcastle to have PRK, and I can’t fault the service – or results! I can now see amazingly well and would recommend anyone to go for it. YES I was nervous – in fact I think after reading all the comments on this web page and hearing other horror stories it was probably the bravest thing I’ve ever done sitting there under that laser. YES there is pain, in fact a lot of pain for a week afterwards, but it’s worth it. One tip – make sure you get at least a week off work afterwards if you’re getting bi-lateral surgey like me. Expect to spend a lot of time lying in the dark, unable to do anything for a while! Good luck!