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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
Both eyes -2.50
I went to the Leeds branch on the 21st of July for bi-lateral lasek its the best thing I have ever done, Dr Samuel is fantastic he went through everything very slowly and explained all the risks and recovery period making sure I had understood. I have been waiting to post anything on the web site until I had my monthly check up. Just had it on the 26th of Auguts 20/20 vision.
I had the contact lenses put in so help ease the pain because I am a wimp you dont have to have these it does mean going back 3 days after surgery but hey anything to lessen what ever the pain might be, the day I had it done I followed the instructions and took the pain killers 1/2 hour after having the treament , I was very sensitive to light on the way home and was glad my partner came with me to drive me home no real pain though just a dull ache.
I got home and went straight to bed hwere it was dark and quiet, my eyes started to water quite badly at this stage and continued to do so for the next 36 hours I ensured I took the sleeping tablets and I had an excellent nights sleep. Thursday after I travelled back and had the lenses out and at that stage I had driving standard vision. Still sensitive to light though. But it was sunny so I could use sunglasses without gettiong any strange looks. I got quite a few a week later when it was very overcast and started to rain and I still kept them on. The sensitivity to light went on for a couple of weeks but by the end of the week my eyes in general were fine although for the first 2 weeks I struggled to do to much work on the PC, but I was warned about this. The glare seemed to hurt my eyes they also had a tendancy to feel tired quicker at the end of some days my vision was a bit bulrred but again all these things had been explained so I didn’t feel the need to panic. The longer recovery period suited me fine as the risks are less than that of Lasik, would recomend any one to go to the Leeds clinic.
Dr Samuel is fantastic I ended up at Leeds because they couldn’t fit me at Manchester which was nearer but I am so glad I went there, all the staff are very good and very efficient. All my appointments were on time I just wish I had gone a month later then I could have got it cheaper as I could have gone with some one else and got the 2 for 1 offer.
After much deliberating over the epiflap surgery, i was finally convinced to go for it after the birth of my son. At 4 months the floor was wearing my glasses more than me!
My consultation was on July 25th 2003 and i went staright in for the surgery afterwards as did my mother.
I can honestley say i felt no pain or discomfort during the procedure, afterwards both my eyes and my mothers were weepy and quite light sensitive.
I took 2 painkillers and went to bed.
Our consultant recommended the contact lense bandages – these made our eyes feel quite gritty, but upon removal everything was very clear and the dry eye feeling soon disappeared.
All in all its the best thing we’ve ever done, and a big thank you to all the staff at Birmingham Optimax for your help and guidance!
Had my first check up yesterday, was told I had 20/20 vision and the eyes were healing very well, the whole experience of LASEK went very well for me
Original Eyes:
Left -1.75
Right -2.5
8mm pupils
I had LASEK performed by Dr. Anwar at the Glasgow branch. My overall impression of Optimax and Dr. Anwar was that they are very capable and professional. However i did get the feeling of a `conveyor belt`. Of course, since Optimax are probably the cheapest surgery, i`m not suprised things were slightly `too efficient`.
As for the surgery itself, it was a bit nerve-wracking, and certainly more serious than a trip to the dentists (i`ve seen some people equate the two).
About 20 mins after leaving the surgery the pain started to kick in…proper pain – teeth clenching stuff! It lasted all evening, until the sleeping pills knocked me out. My eyes were gritty and watery for the next couple of days. I was also VERY light sensitive. Any chinks of light made me squeal like Gizmo from The Gremlins (Bright light, bright light!) :-)
Dr. Anwar didn`t used bandage contact lenses on me (some docs prefer not to), so that may be why i had a lot of pain (then again, im might just be a wimp!)
Anyway, 3 months on and i now have 20/20 vision. I don`t have any haloes or nightvision problems. In fact, glare and starbursts have improved 1000% compared to my glasses.
Even though i`m very happy, and have had a great outcome, i`d never recommend Laser Eye Surgery to just anyone. That`s because it`s not suited to just everyone. I have large pupils, and therefore ran the risk of having night-vision problems. I weighed up the risks, took measures to stack the odds in my favour, gambled, and won.
My advice is research this thoroughly, and really educate yourself about the factors involved. Good places to start would be www.usaeyes.org and alt.lasik-eyes on usenet.
Good luck!
Left eye – Sph -2.50
Right eye – Sph -2.50
Had LASEK (EPIFLAP) treatment done to both eyes at Croydon last Wednesday (20th Aug) by Dr Ho. As expected I was nervous but Dr Ho made me feel very reassured. The actual operation was over in no time at all and was completely painless. As soon as the first drops go in, everything goes blurred. I couldn’t feel the Epithelium being removed just saw it, but Dr Ho was very good in explaining what was happening. Don’t worry if you move your eye, I did, and the laser stopped as promised!
The Epithelium was replaced and a bandage lense put in place and that was it.
I agree with Michelle about afterwards with the nurse. She told me a few times what to take and when but it just wasn’t going in! In the end she wrote it down for me!
.
I didn’t have any patches and could see reasonably well enough to walk around. After a couple of hours though, the eyes do get very uncomfortable. I can’t call it pain exactly, just very gritty and constantly streaming with tears. I was extremely sensitive to light and had to be indoors, curtains pulled with sunglasses on! I lasted for 5 hours before taking the sleeping tablet and I simply slept through the pain! The next morning the grittiness had subsided considerably and my vision was almost the same as when I used to wear contacts. The bandage lenses make everything misty but not bad enough not prevent you seeing. I was still sensitive to light the next day, but nowhere near as bad as the previous day.
I had my check up last Saturday and had the bandage lenses removed. The grittiness went instantly and the vision became totally clear. I now have 20/20 vision but this does slightly fluctuate every day at the moment. I still can’t believe how good my vision is without contacts. The halo effect at nighttime is no worse than with contacts, in fact it appears to be slightly better.
I know everyone says it, but it really does change your life.