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
June Bridge
The procedure was really well explained. Staff at the practice were patient and professional-nothing was too much trouble for them. I am really happy with the results of this treatment, its wonderful not to have to wear glasses for swimming etc. It took me a couple of days to stop automatically reaching for my glasses in the morning when I woke up!!!
Mark
I will shortly be having Lasek treatment at Advance Vision Care. Can somebody please let me know about there experience of Lasek at either this clinic or any other.
Samantha Nagel
Before I underwent LASEK surgerey I had a prescription of -9.50 in each eye. I hated wearing glasses & lived in contact lenses which I knew would one day have to end. I tried several years ago to have them lasered by Ultralase but was told my corneas were too think & thought that was out. The friend recommended Dr Pillai, so I thought why not, I have nothing to loose. After under going the test and being told I was suitable, Dr Pillai asked what I was expecting from the procedure-my aim was to be able to function without glasses but happy to wear them for driving and reading as the lenses would be too thick. Dr Pillai told me he hoped to get my eyes to driving standard. The following day I came in for the procedure and after undergoing the laser surgerey of 40 seconds per eye and being tested 5 minutes afterwards I was at driving standards. On my return 4 days later, I was one line off 20/20 vision & then 10 days after surgerey, Dr Pillai tested my eyes again & I now have a prescription of zero! I can not believe that someone with such a high prescription can achieve these results. I know I have been lucky with the aftercare as I haven’t had any discomfort at all. So if you do not want to wear glasses, don’t mind administering eye drops, then I would recommend Dr Pillai & his team to you-he really can achieve the impossible.
Mair Phillips
I found the whole experience better than ever expected, I was impressed with the level of care I was given. My regret is although my distance vision is noticeably better, my ability to read small print as in reading books, newspapers and mobile phone is not as good as I had hoped. It is now five weeks after my treatment I’m reserving my final judgment with at least 8 weeks after. I hope for more improvement soon. Thank you.
Robert Davenport
Dr Pillai and his team provided an excellent service. I felt well informed and confident throughout the pre-op and on the operating day itself. I felt I was also given all the facts, risks, and information. The surgerey was effortless and I especially appreciated “are you ok” phone call at home, the evening of the surgerey. I had a bad experience at Optical Express ( I see often)-but I would give Dr Pillai and Advance VisionCare 10/10
Julie Thomas
I had Lasek treatment and wavefront. The results are really good and still improving when I am tired my eyes ( feel a bit dryer than normal which I sort out with “gel” tears). It’s so great to wake up in the morning to see the clock! Also I am now horse riding without glasses which is fantastic. My driving vision was OK on the fourth day after surgerey. Also my friends say I look 10 years younger!
Mrs Deana Philpotts
Having received a very cursory examination at Optical Express, how pleased & relieved was , that I choose Advance VisionCare for another consultation. The consultation was as thorough and professional as it could be. I had no qualms about having treatment by Advance VisionCare and I felt I was in the best possible hands. The whole team were extremely professional and it was reassuring to have the continuity and commitment of one surgeon with one of the best reputations in the UK. My results have been superb which has been more reassuring due to my previous high prescription (-8.25 & astigmatism) I would have no hesitation in recommending Mr Pillai and his team to anyone considering laser surgerey.
Sally England
Polite, friendly and informative. The results exceeded my expectations. No need for reading glasses since the procedure.
Angela Jarvis
I had Lasek Wavefront treatment for -4.5 and -5.5 distance prescription with -1.5 and -2.5 astigmatism. I was (and still am) delighted with the attention received at Advance Visioncare. Although I have dry-eye to contend with in my left eye (probably due to many years of contact lens wear) I feel I have receieved excellent treatment and advice throughout. I am looking forward to being suitable for CK after 6 months and if so, will be so chuffed!
Elaine Nicholson
Truly wonderful! The only thing 2 would add is that for me preciously it would have been helpful to have been advised to wear in addition to sunglasses after the op, a baseball cap for additional protection re light sensitivity. For me, the sunglasses were not quite enough. However, the light sensitivity that I experienced only lasted for 1 day, after which 2 started to wonder of eyes without glasses. Thank you Mr Pillai and his staff for making my life so much better!
