Advanced Vision Care

The laser procedure was something of which I had never heard, therefore didn’t know what to expect. When I attended the surgery the nurses and staff could not have been more helpful in explaining each step and putting me at ease. The procedure was quick and not at all painful. I had blurry vision for a couple of days but it cleared quickly and I was back at work within 3 days.
The whole procedure has been amazingly simple and the care and attention by the staff at the clinic has been second to none.

The Clear Lens Extraction was more daunting but the staff were very attentive and explained each step. I spent 2 ½ hours in the surgery, most of that time was before the procedure, having the drops and anaesthetic to make sure the eye was prepared.
The actual procedure was surreal; it didn’t feel as if it was actually happening to me as it wasn’t painful at all.

I went home on the train afterwards and returned the next day for the check up. I felt a little hazy the day after the procedure but it was not as if I had had anything major done, it didn’t feel painful and the vision improved daily. I was able to go back to work within the week.
The whole experience was amazing; the staff are without exception excellent, it does change your life.

I found the whole experience very professional especially on the day of treatment brilliant planning to have a big waiting room in which both patients waiting to have surgery and also patients who had just had surgery were all sitting together.

It was very calming when you could see patients coming back into the room looking and feeling on top of the world because the could see and sharing with waiting patients their experience. I think this calmed me more than the valium I had taken. And of course I did the same when I returned it was just amazing-The results + the day.

Everyone is very friendly and knowledgeable, and take the time to explain everything clearly and answer questions.

The procedure was over quickly and was relatively painless. Everything was explained at every stage, and you feel at ease.

Thoroughly recommend !

Best looking staff in Harley Street.

Total service excellent.

Everyone is very friendly and knowledgeable, and take the time to explain everything and answer questions.

The procedure was over quickly and was relatively painless. Everything was explained at every stage and you feel at ease.

Thoroughly recommend!

Having suffered with extremely poor eyesight since early childhood , from the stigma of wearing very thick spectacles to the comparative “comfort and ease” were short lived owing the constant purchasing, sterilizing, irritation and occasional splitting or loss of a lens.

I decided to have a consultation with Advance VisionCare. After which I agreed to undergo Clear Lens Extraction (CLE) treatment which just as there staff had assured me was a simple, quick and painless operation, which took approximately six minutes per eye. This has improved my vision and eradicated the spectacle and contact lens problems and after all these years has enabled me to take my driving test.

Many thanks to all at Advance VisionCare.

I had my 6 week post-operative check up with Mr Pillai last week. I have 20:20 vision and a zero prescription – it doesn’t get any better than that. My original prescription was -7.5 in both eyes, I had worn glasses or contacts since the age of 8. As I entered my early forties my eyes became increasingly intolerant to my lenses (which I had been wearing since the age of 16) and I started to seriously consider laser eye surgery. Wearing glasses permanently was just not an option.

I had thought about laser surgery on and off through my thirties but was keen to get either a personal or professional recommendation. Neither seemed to be forthcoming, so I did not pursue it. Mr Pillai and AVC were recommended to me by a friend of a friend who is an optometrist. I contacted the clinic, received the information pack and duly made an appointment for my initial consultation. A trouble free and friendly process.

I had an extensive assessment with the optometrist and followed by a dilated pupil examination and discussion with Mr Pillai. I had done very little independent research at this stage so I was probably did not take advantage of the fact that I could have asked Mr Pillai many questions, probably not the right way to do it. However, he thoroughly explained the procedure, my prescription and the sort of result I could expect. I left feeling sufficiently confident to book the surgery for the following week. Your pupils remain dilated for several hours following the examination – I found this the most uncomfortable element of the whole process. It was a bright sunny day which did not help. The light sensitivity was so intense that my partner had to walk me to his office to sit in a darkish corner for a couple of hours – I also felt a bit disorientated and nauseous. It wore off completely after about 4 hours.

You are given a couple of documents that you are required to sign prior to surgery. One details a fairly comprehensive list of the possible complications; this was a useful starting point for me for my own independent research. In the week between the initial consultation and the surgery I did a huge amount of research, mainly online. I read the clinic’s Healthcare Commission Report, many discussion forums, websites of competing clinics, articles in professional publications, articles on the laser technology itself etc etc Over the course of the week I progressed from feeling quite anxious and wondering what I had done to feeling quite calm and reassured that I had picked a highly experienced surgeon, a well managed clinic and the most up to date and reliable equipment.

I had my surgery at 9am on a Saturday morning. The welcome at the clinic was warm and reassuring. I did feel a little anxious – only natural, I think. I had decided not to have the valium which is offered – I was concerned that I would feel woozy and unwell afterwards. Mr Pillai, was keen however that I have it and I did. There were no after effects and I was not aware of it affecting me at the time. I had a few outstanding questions prior to surgery which Mr Pillai answered fully.

You are then taken into the laser suite, fully gowned – glasses removed for the last time! Mr Pillai, the laser technician and two nurses await you. The laser suite is quite aggressively air conditioned and I found it quite chilly. You lie down and the laser is positioned above you.

Anaesthetic drops are applied to your eyes and the eye clamp attached. I didn’t really feel this at all and you have no sensation of your eyes being clamped back. Your eye and the surrounding area is cleaned. The suction cap is applied to your eye. Pressure is applied, and the flap is cut. This is the bit I liked the least – more to do with what was going on in my head “eek my eye is being cut” rather than any physical sensation. Mr Pillai talks to you all the time and tells you what is going on. The creation of the flap took less than 30 seconds. The flap is then turned back and your vision goes blurry. You then have to keep your head very still and the laser goes to work – 50 seconds in all for my prescription. The laser is applied in bursts about 4 in all and the technician counts down the time so you know how long there is to go. This part of the experience is a bit surreal – you have to look straight ahead at a pattern of lights – red and green – it’s a bit like a combination of a child’s spirograph and a laser show at a Fatboy Slim gig. There was a slight smell like when you singe your hair and with the first eye I could see a faint whisper of “smoke” rising up from the eye that was being lasered. Very surreal! The flap is then smoothed back into place and the bandage contact lens put in. Then it is the same process with the second eye. This time I couldn’t see anything as I think a patch had been taped over the done eye.

When I sat up I could see. It was a little hazy, but I could see my partner in the room next door, watching. I then rested with a cup of tea and after about 20 minutes Mr Pillai tested my eyes which were already at driving standard (not that I drove at that stage). We then went back to the hotel, which is comfortable, and rested for a few hours. I had no after effects whatsoever; no redness, no itchiness, no burning, no watering – in fact my eyes had not felt so comfortable in a long time. We went out and had a nice lunch and I just spent the time gazing around – saying “I can see that….” Or “I can see this…”. It was so exciting. I felt well enough to go to a football match in the evening – it was brilliant even though we lost!

For the first week following surgery you are provided with anti-inflammatory and anti-biotic eyedrops which you use 4 times a day. During the course of Sunday my eyesight became a little blurrier. I was not worried as I had read during my research that the drops can cause the bandage lens to blur. As my surgery was on a Saturday I was wearing the bandage lens longer than might otherwise have been the case. At my check 24 check up on the Monday Mr Pillai removed the bandage lens and my vision improved dramatically. I was 98% of my best corrected vision at that stage. One week later I was -0.3 in one eye and -0.1 in the other and today I am 0.0 in both! It is a miracle.

I do have some dryness in my eyes now, particularly first thing in the morning and increasingly in the evening. Artificial tear drops help with that and it should improve. My very nearsight is blurred – having been able to see things clearly a couple of inches away I now cannot – but I can see to read, use the PC and I can see for miles and miles.

I cannot recommend AVC and Mr Pillai highly enough. He is a very jovial, yet highly professional man. He is able to put you immediately at ease. His staff are friendly, welcoming and make you feel like an individual – not like another cheque to be processed. Thank you to all at AVC.

I had my 6 week post op check up with Mr Pillai yesterday. I had 20/20 vision and a zero prescription-it doesn’t get any better than that. My original prescription was -7.5 in both eyes, I had worn glasses or contact lenses (which I had been wearing since I was 16) and I started to seriously consider laser eye surgery. Wearing glasses permanently was just not an option.

I had thought about laser surgery on and off through my thirties but was keen to get either a personal professional recommendation. Neither seemed to be forthcoming, so I did not pursue it. Mr Pillai and Advance VisionCare were recommended to be my friend of a friend who is a optometrist. I contacted the clinic, received the information pack and duly made an appointment for my initial consultation. A trouble free and friendly process.

I had an extensive assessment with the optometrist and followed by a dilated pupil examination and discussion with Mr Pillai. I had done very little independent research at this stage so I was probably did not take advantage of the fact that I could of asked Mr Pillai many questions, probably not the right way to do it. However, he thoroughly explained the procedure, my prescription and the sort of results I could expect. I left feeling sufficiently confident to book surgery the following week. Your pupils remain dilated for several hours following the examination- I found this the most uncomfortable element of the whole process. It was a bright sunny day which did not help. The light sensitivity was so intense that my partner had to walk me to his office to sit in a darkish corner for a couple of hours- I also felt a bit disorientated and nauseous. It wore off completely after 4 hours.

You are given a couple of documents that you are require to sigh prior to surgery. One details a fairly comprehensive list of possible complication; this was a useful starting point for me for my own independent research. In the week between the initial consultation and the surgery I did a huge amount of research, mainly online. I read the clinics Healthcare Commission report, many discussion forums, websites and competing clinic, articles in professional publications, articles on the laser technology itself etc etc. Over the course of the week I progressed from feeling quite anxious and wondering what I had done to feeling quite calm and reassured that I had picked a highly experienced Surgeon, a well managed clinic and the most up to date and reliable equipment.

I had surgery at 9am on Saturday morning. The welcome at the clinic was warm and reassuring. I did feel anxious-only natural, I think. I had decided not to have the valium which is offered-I was concerned that I would feel woozy and unwell afterwards. Mr Pillai, was keen however that I have it and I did. There were no after effects and I was not aware of it affecting mat at the time. I had a few outstanding questions prior to surgery which Mr Pillai answered fully.

You are then taken into the laser suite, fully gowned-glasses removed for the last time! Mr Pillai, the laser technician and two nurses await you. The laser suite is quite aggressively air conditioned and I found it quite chilly. You lie down and the laser is positioned above you.

Anaesthetic drops are applied to your eyes and the eye clamp is attached. I didn’t feel this at all and you have no sensation of your eyes being clamped back. Your eye and the surrounding area is cleaned. The suction cap is applied to your eye. Pressure is applied, and the flap is cut. This is the cleaned. The suction cap is applied to your eye. Pressure is applied, and the flap is cut. This is the bit I liked the least-more to do with what was going on in my head “eek my eye is being cut” rather than any physical sensation. Mr Pillai talks to you all the time and tells you what is going on. The creation of the flap took less than 30 seconds. The flap is the turned back and your vision goes blurry. You have to keep your head very still and the laser goes to work-50 seconds in all for my prescription. The laser is applied in burst about 4 in all and the technician counts down the time so you know how long there is o go. This part of the experience is a bit surreal-you have to look straight ahead at a pattern of light –red and green-it’s a bit like a combination of a child’s spinorgarh and a laser show at a fat boy slim gig. There was a slight smell like when you singe your hair and with the first eye I could see a faint whisper of “smoke” rising up from the eye that was lasered. Very surreal! The flap is then smoothed back in place and the bandage contact lens put in. Then the same process with the second eye. This tome I couldn’t see anything as I think a patch had been taped over the done eye.

When I sat up I could see. It was a little hazy, but I could see my partner in the next door, watching. I then rested with a cup of tea and after about 20 minutes Mr Pillai tested my eyes which were already at driving standard (not that I drove at this stage). We then went back to the hotel, which is comfortable and rested for a few hours. I had no after effects whatsoever; no redness, no itchiness, no burning, no watering-in fact my eyes had not felt so comfortable in along time. We went out and had a nice lunch and I just spent the time gazing around-saying “I can see that…” or “I can see this…” It was so exciting. I felt well enough to go to a football match in the evening- it was brilliant even though lost!
For the first week following surgery you are provided with anti-inflammatory and anti-biotic eyedrops which you use 4 times a day. During the course of Sunday, my eyesight became a little blurrier. I was not worried as I had read during my research that the drops can cause the bandage lens to blur. As my surgery was on a Saturday I was wearing the bandage lens longer than might otherwise have been the case. At my check 24 check up on the Monday Mr Pillai removed the bandage lens and my vision improved dramatically. I was 98% of my best corrected vision at that stage. One week later I was -0.3 in one eye and -0.1 in the other and today I am 0.0 in both! It is a miracle.
I do have some dryness in my eyes now, particularly first thing in the morning and increasingly in the evening. Artificial tear drops help with that and it should improve. My very nearsight is blurred – having been able to see things clearly a couple of inches away I now cannot – but I can see to read, use the PC and I can see for miles and miles.I cannot recommend AVC and Mr Pillai highly enough. He is a very jovial, yet highly professional man. He is able to put you immediately at ease. His staff are friendly, welcoming and make you feel like an individual – not like another cheque to be processed.

The Service was outstanding. I did have complication in my right eye which Dr Pillai dealt with and monitored every week. My left eye went more smoothly, they took extra precautions due to my experience in my right eye and no complication accrued.
My prescription was -12.50 in both eyes, NOW I HAVE 20:20 VISION.
Everyone that works for Advance VisionCare is very friendly and professional. They cater to all your concerns and needs regarding your eyes.

Staff were very caring and reassuring especially on treatment day. Mr Pillai saw I was anxious during the first consultation and was very open and honest about the risks, reminded me this is a elective surgery and that I should not go ahead if I had lots of doubts. I had time to ask all my questions and never felt rushed or pressured (a marked difference from high Street laser clinics).

The treatment itself was so quick, painless and easy I was amazed-much better than I expected. The valium really took the edge off my nerves on the day, and I was complete trust in Mr Pillai’s skills.

At my one week check up he showed me what I used to be able to see on the chart (past the “E”) and what I could see post surgery. I got outside and cried with happiness, I was so overwhelmed!
Thank you. AVC-best money I ever spent!