1. Review of Advanced Vision Care
Advanced Vision Care (AVC) is an independent surgeon-led clinic founded in 2003 by Mr Pillai on Harley Street, London. With no affiliation with any manufacturers, you should be able to count on treatment that’s best suited to your needs.
AVC’s Medical Director and lead surgeon, Mr Pillai, has nearly three decades of ophthalmic experience and is one of the few surgeons to have fellowships for both refractive laser surgery and cornea treatment. Patients even enjoy the benefit of speaking to Mr Pillai during the initial consultation, and can look forward to a stress-free aftercare plan, including any retreatment if necessary.
What makes AVC different? This clinic prides itself on being able to treat any eye prescription using a wide mix of treatments, meaning it may just be able to help you, even if other clinics have turned your down. Its patients also give this clinic the thumbs up, leaving hundreds of positive reviews on our site over the years.
- AVC tailors treatments to its customers’ specific visual needs.
- You can receive eye care from a small team of eye experts, each with 25 years of experience.
- Laser and non-laser treatments sit under one roof, for customer convenience.
Is there anything else I should know? As you’d expect, cutting-edge eye surgery on Harley Street comes at a price, and this time it’s higher on average than you’ll find at some of the other top-rated eye clinics dotted around the UK. And unless you happen to live in central London, there may not be a clinic near you.
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2. Treatments
Advanced Vision Care specialises in laser as well as non-laser vision correction treatments, including all the usual suspects: LASIK, LASEK, implantable contact lenses (ICL surgery), lens replacement surgery, cataract surgery and keratoconus treatment.
- Advanced Wavefront LASIK / LASEK – Highly accurate laser surgery for those with thin eye surfaces or active lifestyles.
- Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK) – Therapy for treating long-term eye conditions.
- Implantable Contact Lens (EVO Visian ICL) – Suitable for patients with complex eye prescriptions, thin corneas or dry eyes.
- Lens Replacement (Refractive Lens Exchange) – Eye surgery for those over 40 with a reading prescription.
- Cataract Surgery – Removes cloudy lenses, and replaces them with artificial clear ones.
- Corneal Implants – Reshape irregular eye shapes to make contact lenses more comfortable.
As is standard with eye surgery clinics, all AVC treatments come with a 12 month aftercare package, which includes: regular check-ups, 24-hour eye expert support line, and post-op medication for the first month.
In the unlikely event that you require eye surgery enhancement, any laser fine tuning or YAG laser capsule thickening removal (following cataract treatment) is available at no extra cost.
3. Technology
Advanced Vision Care was the first clinic in the UK to house the complete Alcon Refractive Suite, which it claims is the safest non-laser technology in the country. It creates a personalised treatment plan that starts with a Verion Image Guided system in your first consultation, and continues throughout the surgery with devices that ensure superior visualisation.
The laser eye surgery treatment is also advanced. The femtosecond Intralase 5F Laser works blade-free by using pulses of harmless light to create a corneal flap, and the Bausch Teneo 317 Excimer Laser takes just 3 to 5 seconds to correct your vision.
What’s more, the highly accurate Advanced Wavefront technology is included in all laser treatments as standard, and an Eye Tracking System tracks eye movements, so you don’t need to worry about blinking during the procedure.
4. Advanced Vision Care Prices
AVC has some of the most reasonable payment options out there. It’s not the cheapest – high street clinics such as Optical Express and Ultralase take the crown for cost – but the free consultation, fixed prices, and flexible interest free finances all help their treatments work around you.
Is it worth paying more? Of course, that’s for you to decide. But to give you an idea of the prices, laser eye surgery at AVC costs £2,100 (per eye), compared to well-reviewed alternatives such as Optical Express and AccuVision which come in at around half that on average.
| Eye Surgery Procedure | Price (per eye) | Finance Options (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Wavefront LASIK | £2,100 | £66.67 (24 months, 0% APR) |
| Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK) | £2,100 | £66.67 (24 months, 0% APR) |
| ICL Surgery (Simple Lens) | £3,450 – £3,750 | £122.22 – £138.89 (18 months, 0% APR) |
| ICL Surgery (Specialist Lens) | £4,150 | £161.11 (18 months, 0% APR) |
| Monofocal lens surgery | £3,150 – £3,450 | £105.56 – 122.22 (18 months, 0% APR) |
| Multifocal lens surgery | £3,750 – £4,050 | £138.89 – £155.56 (18 months, 0% APR) |
| Keratoconus Treatment | £2,150 – £2,450 | £91.67 – £108.33 (18 months, 0% APR) |
Are there finance options?
Yes, AVC has partnered with Hitachi Finance to offer flexible payment plans, meaning you can pay the full cost of eye surgery in bite-size monthly installments.
For example, you could pay for laser eye surgery in chunks of £66.67 a month for two years interest free, or £33.59 for 60 months at 9.9% APR. That’s generous – most clinics require 11% APR, and only the first year at 0% interest.
Does medical insurance cover the surgery costs at AVC?
Yes, AVC is an accredited provider of ophthalmic surgery for many of the UK’s leading insurance companies, including:
- Allianz
- AVIVA
- AXA PPP
- BUPA and BUPA International
- Cigna
- Simply Health
As always, you’ll need to confirm how you would like to pay before booking your surgery, both with your chosen clinic and your medical insurer.
Read more: Laser eye surgery costs explained
5. AVC Review: The Verdict
Advanced Vision Care consistently receives a five-star rating from hundreds of patients, which is why this clinic makes it to our list of the best laser eye surgery clinics in the UK.
With in-depth consultations providing an honest assessment of whether eye surgery is right for you, Advanced Vision Care also takes the prize for being one of the top places for laser eye surgery in London.
☝ Is Advanced Vision Care for you? To see if there is a better reviewed laser eye surgery clinic near you, just hit here to use our simple quote tool, and get a tailored quote from a clinic you can trust.
Surgeons
Advanced Vision Care Reviews
al kirk
great clinic
MRS ANNE BROWN
Having worn glasses and contact lens for many years, my new lenses have given me such freedom and I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to have this procedure.
ANNA WALFORD
I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND ADVANCE VISIONCARE FOR LASER EYE TREATMENT. FROM THE INITIAL CONSULTATION TO AFTERCARE RECEIEVED I WAS VERY HAPPY. PAWEL WAS ESPECIALLY GOOD AT EXPLAINING EVERYTHING AND MAKING ME FEEL AT EASE WITH PROCEEDURE. THANKS TO EVERYONE AT ADVANCE VISIONCARE! MY TREK TO EVEREST WAS GREAT WITH NO GLASSES!
ZITA CURRIE
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO MR. PILLAI, PAWEL MARCINKOWSKI, AND EVERYONE ELSE AT THE CLINIC. ON THE 19TH SEPT 09 I HAD LASIK WITH THE WAVE-FRONT TECHNOLOGY. I WAS SICK OF WEARING CONTACT LENSES AND GLASSES, AND MY EYES WERE GETTING DRIER AND DRIER. I HAD MY CONSULTATION ON THE FRIDAY, SURGERY ON THE SATURDAY, STAYED IN THE HOTEL OVERNIGHT AND WENT BACK IN FOR THE AFTER-CARE APPOINTMENT ON THE SUNDAY. THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WAS EXCEPTIONAL FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, HOTEL AND SURGERY ITSELF. EVERYTHING WAS EXPLAINED TO ME AND I WAS REASSURED ABOUT THE CONCERNS I HAD. I HAD GREATLY IMPROVED VISION INSTANTLY WHICH HAS GOT BETTER AND BETTER. MY SIGHT IS PERFECT AND JUST AS GOOD AS IT WAS WITH CONTACT LENSES, AND I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER WITH THE RESULTS. THERE WAS NOTHING UNPLEASANT ABOUT THE SURGERY, I COULDN’T SEE OR FEEL ANYTHING, AND MY PARTNER WATCHED IT ALL ON THE TV SCREEN FROM OUTSIDE THE GLASS AND HE WAS AMAZED AND AS EXCITED AS I WAS. I HAVE HAD NO PAIN OR PROBLEMS, FOLLOWING THE CLINIC’S INSTRUCTIONS TO A ‘TEE’. I HAD NO NIGHT GLARE, LIGHT SENSITIVITY AND DRYNESS HAS NOT BEEN ANYWHERE NEAR AS BAD AS I WAS IMAGINING EVEN WITH ONE OF MY EYES TAKING A LITTLE LONGER TO GET BACK TO NORMAL THAN THE OTHER. THE SURGERY HAS MADE IT A LOT EASIER FOR ME TO GO STRAIGHT FROM WORK TO TRAINING FOR THE WHOLE EVENING WITHOUT ‘FAFFING’ AROUND WITH CONTACTS AND LUBRICANTS. BUT I WILL FEEL THE REAL BENEFITS NEXT YEAR WHEN I IMMIGRATE TO AUSTRALIA AND WILL BE ABLE TO SWIM, SNORKEL AND SURF TO MY HEART’S CONTENT. I TOOK MY TIME TO RESEARCH THE SURGERY AND MR. PILLAI, AS I ONLY WANTED THE BEST TREATMENT AND SURGEON TOUCHING MY EYES, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND GOT THE BEST. I WOULD RECOMMEND ADVANCE VISIONCARE TO ANYONE CONSIDERING EYE SURGERY. I HAD EVERY CONFIDENCE IN THEM RIGHT FROM THE START FROM MY INITIAL TELEPHONE CONTACT, WHICH WAS REINFORCED WHEN I MET THE STAFF AT THE CONSULTATION.
ALISON HUGHES
I had worn glasses/contact lenses for over 30 years and I couldn’t see anything without them. Now, thanks to Advance Visioncare I wake up in the morning and can see the alarm clock! It’s a miracle! Everyone was very helpful and friendly, especially at the Surgery Centre when apprehension started to appear. The procedure was virtually painless and the results apparent straight away. I still find it hard to believe that I don’t have to worry about putting in contact lenses every day. It certainly is a life changing experience and one which I would recommend. Thank you to Mr. Pillai and his team. You are all wonderful. Alison Hughes.
HELEN BENNETT
I came to Advance VisionCare on the recommendation of a friend. I was apprehensive but should not have been. My experience of the whole process was outstanding. The staff are professional, caring and I had total trust in them. I had LASIK WAVEFRONT and now have 20:20 vision - The day I had the surgery now counts as one of the happiest day of my life.
HANS CROCKETT
I FOUND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WARM, REASSURING AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL. EVERY IMPORTANT QUESTION AHEAD OF THE LASIK PROCEDURE WAS ANTICIPATED AND CLEARLY RESPONDED TO. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR EVERY QUESTION REGARDING RECOVERY TIME AND AFTER – TREATMENT CARE.
I AM ALSO VERY PLEASED WITH THE FREQVENCY AND DETAIL OF FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS. I HAVE ALREADY RECOMMENDED ADVANCE VISIONCARE TO A COLLEAGUE AND TO A FRIEND.
OVERALL, AN EXCELLENT EXPIERENCE – ALL I COULD HOPE FOR GIVEN THE SENSITIVITY AND IMPORTANCE OF MY EYES AND EYESIGHT.
KAREN THOMAS
MY EXPERIENCE WITH ADVANCE VISIONCARE HAS BEEN EXCELLENT. ALL THE STAFF WERE VERY ATTENTIVE AND PROFESSIONAL IN THEIR TREATMENT OF MY CASE. EVERYTHING WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THOROUGHLY, SO THAT I COMPLETELY AWARE OF THE ENTIRE PROCEDURE. NOTHING WAS PUSHED ON ME, AND ALL MY QUESTIONS WERE THOUGHTFULLY ANSWERED. ALL OF MY EYE EXAMINATIONS WERE VERY THOROUGH, AND BOTH PAWEL AND MR. PILLAI MADE ME FEEL VERY CONFIDENT AND AT EASE IN THEIR CARE. I HAD BEEN TOLD PREVIOUSLY THAT I WASN’T ABLE TO HAVE LASER EYE TREATMENT DUE TO NYSTAGMA. HOWEVER MR PILLAI CARRIED OUT TESTS ON MY CONDITION, AND RE-ASSURED ME THAT IF HE COVERED ONE EYE WHILST TREATING THE OTHER ONE IT WOULD BE FINE I FELT CONFIDENT THAT MR. PILLAI WOULDN’T CARRY OUT THE PROCEDURE UNLESS HE WAS 100% SURE OF IT’S SUCCESS, AS HE HAD TOLD ME OF CASES WHERE HE HAD TO TURN CLIENTS AWAY BECAUSE THEY WEREN’T SUITABLE.
NASHRIN PATEL
GENERALLY THE SERVICE WAS VERY GOOD AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF STAFF WERE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. I CAME HERE THROUGH RECOMMENDATION AND WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND TO OTHERS.
EMMA RIDDELL
I had worn glasses for 25+ years, my initial consultation took place on the 27th Oct 09 (which was very thorough) by 4th Dec 09 both eyes were treated. I knew that laser surgery was not an option as I was very short sighted, I had implantable contact lenses done and am thrilled with the results. My vision is now clearer that it was with contact lenses/glasses. I would highly recommend this treatment to family and friends
Susan Goss
I was put at ease from the first moment. It was good to meet Mr Pillai at the consultation and to see where the surgery would take place. Very impressive in all aspects; before, during and after. I have already recommended them to friends and relatives.
