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
Jessica Grinsted
Overall, excellent service and I am thrilled with the results-being able to wake up and see is a miracle I never thought I’d experience. Although it meant travelling to London from Newcastle, I am confident that after researching other surgeries I made the right choice with Advance VisionCare. Thank you !
Scott Cottingham
From the first time I spoke to someone at Advance VisionCare I knew I was going to be looked after. In the past I had been to other clinics but never gone ahead. I signed up with Advance VisionCare straight away. The treatment was less scary than I thought and within a few hours I was out with friends for a meal. I was able to drive within 48 hours. And within a week my vision is amazing. And getting better every day. Treated myself to a very expensive pair of sunglasses as well ? as someone who has worn glasses since a child I would say to anyone go for it.
Vicky Jacobs
Excellent-all options and procedures were explained clearly. Every member of staff dealt with seemed highly competent.
Tim Burrell
I was quite nervous about laser surgery, but meeting Mr Pillai I was put at ease immediately. I knew and felt that the whole service was going to be excellent. The personal approach of Advance VisionCare is what sold me, particularly the fact that Mr Pillai undertook the initial consultation. Every question after treatment was answered and I felt at all times that all staff were extremely competent and caring.
Julie Calaghan
I had LASIK Wavefront carried out by Mr Pillai 18 months ago. I had my final post of check on Wednesday which I am pleased to say I still have 20/20 vision. It took me four years to pluck up the courage to have treatment and I can now honestly say it was the best thing I have ever done. It completely changed my life, I now have the confidence to play sports with my children without the fear that my glasses could come off or even worse getting them knocked off by my 4 year old (which happened on a number of occasions). Not only that I feel much more confident in myself. I would like to say a big thank you to advance visioncare for the treatment and the aftercare I received.
Janine Owen
This was the most important decision of my life so far and it was something I had considered for years. When I decided that I was going to go for it this years I started asking around and came across someone who had already been with Advance VisionCare. He had nothing but praise and said it was the best decision he had made and everything was excellent... I made the initial call to AVC and within 5-10 minutes it was booked, I mean everything consultation, hotel, surgery and all the after-care I did not have to do anything which was great. The staff were amazing, kept me well informed. The surgery was great “no pain” at all and I could see without my glasses instantly. Definitely the best decision and goal achieved-no glasses and lenses. Thank you.
Lynn Stone
From the original consultation, to day of treatment, 1st and 2nd after-care appointment I have received excellent service throughout. At every stage, of surgery Mr Pillai and his team, explained the whole process and out my fears or worries at ease. My overall experience of Advance VisionCare has been excellent. I would recommend to my family and friends.
Jemma Weekes
All staff are extremely professional and at the same time friendly and approachable. Very impressed at Mr Pillai and I like the fact that we meet with the Surgeon before treatment and he sees us several times after. Am very happy at the overall experience!
Gitesh Jayantilal Chauhan
From start to finish the service was excellent and all questions were answered to clear up any enquiries. What was explained with regards to explanations happened in the same way i.e. procedures, visit, etc. From my experience the people guiding me knew what they were doing and made feel comfortable in proceeding with the operation. Suffering with slight dryness in eyes, but this was explained. Currently taking drops and this is helping with the problem. Thanks to Lela for all her help and Mr Pillai for operation and consultation was very professional.
Jason Harrison
Excellent package. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend and have done already. Best decision I’ve made in a long time