Best Laser Eye Surgery in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Whether you’re keen to lose yourself hiking in the Lost Valley on Bidean nam Bian, or climb the great Aonach Eagach, life gets a lot more interesting in Scotland once you go glasses free.

Wherever you live in Scotland, you won’t find more well-reviewed laser eye surgery clinics than in Glasgow and Edinburgh. After London, Glasgow is the UK’s most sought-after destination for eye surgery, with Edinburgh coming in eighth place. Luckily, both cities cater for the demand, with popular clinics such as Optical Express in both places.

And it’s good to know you can stay close to home because your (eye) doctor’s orders probably won’t include a five-hour train ride from London post surgery. So, what’s the best place for laser eye surgery in Glasgow and Edinburgh? Of course, the right eye clinic for you will depend on your budget, address, and the surgeons you feel most comfortable with.

To help you find the right best laser eye surgery in Scotland for you, Lasik Eyes has used over 8,900 independent patient reviews since 2002. Wherever we have reviews, these inform our lists of the best laser eye surgery clinics in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Otherwise, we use CQC ratings and objective.

☚ Read the full list: Check out the best-rated places for laser eye surgery in Glasgow and Edinburgh below, including real customer reviews.

☛ Find your clinic: Or, to find out the top-rated clinic near you personally, use our simple tool at the top of this page.

Laser Eye Surgery Glasgow

1. Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery Glasgow

Five-star customer reviews

Based on nearly 2,000 independent reviews, Optical Express is the top-rated laser eye surgery clinic in the UK on Lasik Eyes. This clinic combines some of the cheapest laser eye surgery prices with caring surgeons (in the words of former patients), and cutting-edge lasers.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has no rating for Optical Express’ Glasgow clinic – this independent body tends not to review clinic branches. However, existing CQC reports find “good practice” in other UK branches of Optical Express.

A central eye clinic

Located in the heart of Glasgow, Optical Express sits on the corner of St Vincent Street and West Campbell Street. That makes it one of the most centrally located laser eye surgery clinics in Glasgow.

There are car parks within short walking distance, bus stops dotted along St Vincent Street, and, of course, it’s easy to get to Glasgow Central Station.

Experts in laser eye surgery and lens replacement surgery

The clinic provides laser eye surgery, lens surgery and cataract surgery, in addition to free consultations, diagnostic assessments, and eye tests. Here are the main eye care services at Optical Express in Glasgow:

• Laser eye surgery consultation
• Eye examination
• LASIK surgery
• LASEK surgery
• Cataract surgery
• Dry eye assessment
• Diabetic screening assessment

In addition to performing the most common types of laser eye and lens replacement surgery, Optical Express’ Glasgow clinic is able to assess patients for dry eyes, diabetic screening, age-related macular degeneration, glaucomas, and keratoconus.

☝ Readers who use our free tool to book with Optical Express receive free eye tests worth £880.

• Average cost of surgery: £2,432
• Areas of expertise: LASIK and LASEK surgery, corneal cross-linking, cataract surgery, lens replacement
• Glasgow address: 200 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5RQ
• Read customer reviews: 1,805 Optical Express reviews

Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery Edinburgh

There are also three Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery Clinics in Edinburgh:

• Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, 34B, 6 Lady Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5PB
• Unit 41, Gyle Shopping Centre, Gyle Ave, Edinburgh EH12 9JT
• 23 Shandwick Pl, Edinburgh EH2 4RG

That way, you can always visit the one that’s most convenient to you.

2. Ultralase Glasgow

A choice of eye treatments

Ultralase Glasgow boasts a fairly central location, right by the O2 Academy. After surgery, many patients like to rest, but you can always look forward to seeing some of your favourite artists perform, glasses free, once you feel ready.

Now co-owned by Optimax, Ultralase offers a range of vision correction treatments. And at the Glasgow eye clinic, you’ll find the most common eye surgeries:

• LASIK
• LASEK
• Wavefront (included in your treatment)
• Lens replacement surgery
• Implantable contact lenses
• Cataract removal

Experienced surgeon: Dr Samuel Malcolm

Ultralase patients in Glasgow will receive treatment from Dr Malcolm Samuel, a registered ophthalmologist, with certification in laser refractive surgery from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO). Dr Samuel has now performed over 26,000 eye surgeries, and has worked with Optimax and Ultralase since 1999.

He specialises in LASIK, LASEK, and cross-corneal linking treatment, as well as helping to correct eye conditions such as keracotonus and ectasia. When not seeing patients, Dr Malcolm runs the Dry Eye Clinics in Leeds, Birmingham and London, and speaks at laser eye surgery conferences nationwide.

Clinic in easy reach

Just off the M8, the Ultralase Glasgow clinic boasts good transport links. For the initial consultation and any aftercare check-ups, it’s good to know there’s a nearby multi-storey car park. But for the day of treatment, public transport will be a better option.

Ultralase in Glasgow is just a five minute walk from Charing Cross station, and accessible by buses numbered 15, 17, 77, 369 and 833 to Garnet Street.

• Average cost of surgery: £3,298
• Areas of expertise: LASIK and LASEK surgery, cataract surgery, lens replacement
• Edinburgh address: 103 Waterloo St, Glasgow G2 7BW
• Read customer reviews: 2,746 Ultralase reviews

3. Optimax Laser Eye Clinics Glasgow

One of the UK’s leading laser eye specialists

After Optical Express, Optimax has the largest number of laser eye surgery clinics in the UK, including one in Glasgow. As at every other Optimax Laser Eye Clinic, the Glasgow branch strives to combine clinical expertise with advanced laser technology.

In the words of the Clinic Manager: “Clinical excellence and patient satisfaction are at the heart of what we do”. That’s why Optimax invests in state-of-the-art lasers, with a focus on results.

Convenience comes first

The Optimax Glasgow clinic sits in the beautiful Charing Cross Mansions, at the junction of Sauchiehall Street and North Street. With decent transport links to Charing Cross station, this clinic is easy to reach from the West, East and North of the city.

Plus, it’s not just open the usual Monday to Friday hours (8am to 6pm), but also on Saturdays (8am to 6pm) and Sundays (9am to 12pm).

So, how do patients rate Optimax?

Despite enjoying a reputation as a leading laser eye surgery clinic since 1991, Optimax only receives a four-star rating on average from nearly 1,000 independent reviews on Lasik Eyes. Whilst most comments praise the eye care, most complaints relate to waiting times and poor communication.

• Average cost of eye surgery: £2,687, pay monthly finance options
• Areas of expertise: LASIK and LASEK surgery, Wavefront LASIK and LASEK, ICL surgery, cataract surgery
• Glasgow address: 18 St George’s Rd, Glasgow G3 6UJ
• Read customer reviews: 891 Optimax reviews

Laser eye surgery Edinburgh

1. Laser Vision Scotland

Expertise in eye care

Laser Vision Scotland is a private eye surgery provider that goes by the slogan “the eye care experts”. Whilst there are no CQC reports available to speak for this clinic, it claims to focus on the safety of all patients at this hospital environment.

Sadly, we do not have any user-generated reviews of Laser Vision Scotland on Lasik Eyes, so it’s best to arrange a meeting with the clinic directly to get a better idea of the fit.

Experienced surgeons

Based at the Edinburgh clinic is its founder and head surgeon, Jonathan J Ross. He specialises in both laser eye surgery and cataract surgery, and performs around 2,000 eye surgeries each year in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Mr Ross joins a team of surgeons who have performed over 20,000 eye surgeries over 40 years collectively. Among these is Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Sanjay Mantry, who is the go-to for keratoconus treatment, with over 10,000 eye operations under his belt.

Clear prices

Laser Vision Scotland offers transparent price lists for the most common laser treatments. That way, you’ll be able to compare the costs with other clinics. And if you do, you’ll see this clinic has pricier quotes than some of its rivals.

As with most eye clinics in the UK, the initial consultation is free and ophthalmologist-led. But unlike at clinics such as Optical Express and Optegra, follow-up appointments to discuss the treatment options cost £100 for laser eye surgery, and £160 for lens replacement surgery.

Laser eye surgery costs also start at £1,450 per eye – compare that with Optical Express’ starting price of £595, and the average cost of laser eye surgery in the UK at £1,125 per eye.

• Average cost of surgery: £2,900
• Areas of expertise: LASIK and LASEK surgery, cataract surgery, lens replacement
• Edinburgh address: Spire Shawfair Park Hospital, 10 Easter Shawfair, Danderhall, Dalkeith EH22 1FE
• Read customer reviews: None submitted on Lasik Eyes yet

Laser Vision Scotland also has a Glasgow address. Mr Mantry leads operations at BMI Ross Hall in the Southside as well as at Glasgow Nuffield Hospital.

2. Spire Murrayfield Eye Hospital

A well-located eye hospital

The Spire Murrayfield Eye Hospital – which also goes by the longer name of Spire Edinburgh Hospitals Laser Eye Surgery and Treatment Clinic – sits within each reach of Edinburgh city centre.

It specialises in a range of eye treatments – from laser eye surgery to cataract surgery. Here are some of the main vision issues this centre can help correct:

• Cataract surgery
• Corneal cross-linking for keratoconus
• YAG laser capsulotomy
• Refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Dry eye treatment
• Squint surgery
• Glaucoma

If you’re not yet sure which treatment would be right for you, you can always book an appointment with an ophthalmologist to test your eye health, and talk through your options.

GMC-approved surgeons

All Murrayfield Eye Hospital surgeons feature on the General Medical Council (GMC) register, a stamp of surgical qualification. Plus, you can look forward to the same consultant assessing and treating you.

It’s natural to feel nervous on the day of surgery. Many patients say they appreciate receiving attention from the same team – your eye surgeon and trained nursing staff – to help them cope with nerves.

Good CQC ratings for care

According to the latest CQC report from 2017, the Spire Murrayfield Hospital “requires improvement” for its safety procedures, though it’s marked “good” for housing effective and caring staff.

While that rating may seem alarming, it’s usually a reflection of administrative procedures – not that they aren’t important. On the plus side, this eye hospital follows national healthcare guidelines set by the GMC.

• Average cost of surgery: £2,900
• Areas of expertise: LASIK and LASEK surgery, cataract surgery, lens replacement
• Edinburgh address: Spire Edinburgh Hospitals, 122 Corstorphine Rd, Edinburgh EH12 6UD
• Read customer reviews: None submitted on Lasik Eyes yet

How Much Does Laser Eye Surgery Cost in Scotland?

Laser eye surgery costs are in most cases the same, whether you visit a clinic in Scotland, or that same clinic in London. According the nearly 9,000 customer reviews on Lasik Eyes, eye surgery costs on average between £1,195 and £2,875 per eye in the UK, depending on your individual eye prescription, and the clinic and surgeon you choose.

There are a few exceptions, such as Optegra, where the London branches charge 10% more, but overall, eye surgery is not cheaper like for like in Glasgow or Edinburgh than London. The main reason for travelling to London would be if you have complex eye conditions or extremely high prescriptions, not to save on costs. In any case, an eye expert will be able to diagnose and advise at a consultation.

In general, high street clinics such as Optical Express and Ultralase offer the cheapest eye surgery, including free initial consultations. With 128 clinics UK-wide, clearly it’s easier for Optical Express to offer the same quality for less, compared with one-off private practices like Laser Vision Scotland.

Find the Best Eye Surgery for You in Scotland

Wherever you live in Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh are the main places you’ll find reputable laser eye surgery. It’s always good to know you don’t have to hunt down the best laser eye surgery in London.

What’s more, some of the leading eye clinics – such as Optical Express and Laser Vision Scotland – have branches in both cities. If you would like to book a free consultation with a specialist ophthalmologist at a top-rated laser eye surgery clinic near you, just use our clinic-finder tool at the top of the page.

Find a top-rated clinic near you in seconds, check your eligibility in minutes, and get a free tailored quote for your surgery in just three steps:

1. Compare clinics: Answer three questions to be matched with the leading eye clinics in your corner of London (or elsewhere).
2. Book a free consultation: Find out if you’re eligible for surgery over the phone, and get tested for free with an eye consultant or surgeon (worth £800).
3. Receive a personalised quote: Get a clear idea of what laser eye surgery would really cost you.

☝ To take the next step in getting 20/20 vision, use our tool here to find the best clinic for you in Scotland.