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
L Homewood
All of the staff were very helpful and were able to answer all my questions. I was never left waiting or wandering what was going on –every part of the process was clearly explained. Now I can look forward to my wedding day without having to wear glasses!
Mary Gleave
I am extremely happy with the service, support and advice I have been given. It is never an easy decision to trust a part of your body, particularly your eyes, to someone, but I felt in very safe and professional hands. Someone was on hand before my treatment, during and after for any queries or answers to my questions. I can not recommend Advance Visioncare enough. Mary Gleave
meghan gault
Everything has been fantastic from start to finish, customer service and aftercare has been great. The whole surgeries were fantastic when I was (very!) late for my surgery due to unforeseen circumstances but they waited for me and gave me all the time I needed to prepare. I was never rushed. The only thing i would add is it would have been helpful to be told a little more about what to expect/what is “normal” after surgery as i was worried it hadn’t worked well between my 1st & post op appts. Only to be told that my vision was progressing well and would get better. Thanks to everyone !
Dr Sue Roberts
I’m very pleased to have achieved perfect long distance vision through the replacement of my natural lens with an artificial multifocal lens. It was a difficult decision to have this surgery, as my lenses did not have cataracts and were healthy. Advance Visioncare were good at explaining the compromises in having multifocal lenses implanted, and my expectations have been met. Near vision is good in the right eye, but its taking time to getting used to. Haloes around lights at night are not that much worse than with my old varifocal glasses. Advance Visioncare have looked after me very well, and I would recommend this treatment. Dr. Sue Roberts.
Lindsey Campbell
I was booked in for Lasik however once on the operating table it was decided that I would need Lasek instead as my eye socket was too small therefore not allowing the suction to work properly. The procedure was explained well by Mr Pillai however i was not quite prepare for the longer healing time post-op and spent the next three days not being able to see or focus properly. However by day 5-10 post op it was an incredible improvement daily ending up with 20/20 vision. I am now keen to have Conductive Keratoplasty so that i don’t have to even wear reading glasses. Everyone I know that is short sighted have been told by me “don’t waste anymore time..get to Mr Pillai”!
Mrs Lynn Allen
The whole experience has been fantastic! The treatment and the aftercare were second to none. I had my consultation in March/2009. My prescription was OS (left Eye)-11.50 D and the OD (Right Eye) -8.75 D with +2.25 Add. I had to wear my glasses all the time from getting up in the morning to going to be at night time. I hated my glasses at this stage as they were ugly + thick lenses. In May/2009 I had my treatment for Clear Lens Extraction (CLE) with multifocal lenses. The treatment went smoothly. This has given me confidence in a new beginning. I feel wonderful dressing with more confidence. I can drive, read, knitting + sewing (this was difficult before the treatment). I am receiving compliments about my appearance which makes me happy. On the whole, I am one very happy lady. This for me has been a life changing Experience. I would like to thank you everyone at Advance VisionCare for the great service provided from start to finish and to Mr.Helgason who gave me the opportunity to enjoy life in full. I would highly recommend Advance VisionCare to anyone thinking of getting rid of glasses and contact lenses.
Michael Medley
I found Advance Visioncare on the Website. I came for consultation and opted for CLE (Clear Lens Exchange) with Monovision. The right eye worked perfectly. It was later when the left eye was done but the result was not as expected. The response when Advance Visioncare found out that it hadn’t worked was excellent. Within a short time the problem was corrected and I no longer need to use glasses for the first time in 30 years. First class treatment service and staff.
Rita Abbie
I researched this procedure on the internet very thoroughly as I was extremely nervous. Once I decided this was for me –everything went ahead so smoothly. All staff at Advance VisionCare and at Colindale was so professional and considerate. Thanks to Advance VisionCare I now have perfect sigh both for distance and for reading. Never before in my life have I had such vision, and I have nothing but respect and gratitude for all the staff.
Mary Gleave
I am extremely happy with the service, support and advice I have been given. It is never an easy decision to trust a part of your body, particularly your eyes, to someone, but I felt in very safe and professional hands. Someone was on hand before my treatment, during and after for any queries or answers to my questions. I can not recommend Advance Visioncare enough. Mary Gleave.
Adam Blakemore
I’d been thinking of having laser surgery for several years before now and had decided now was the time to do it. The service throughout, from my consultation through to my aftercare has been professional and highly attentive. I was given plenty of opportunity to raise any concerns and has never made to feel my questions were daft (even if they where). The day of surgery was surprisingly relaxing and everything felt as if it was completely normal and routine. Which I suppose it is really. My eyes are healing fantastically, i could see pretty clearly immediately after surgery and its been getting clear ever since. Not having to worry about contacts anymore is worth every penny.
