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.
☝ Compare clinics: See if there are any other top-rated clinics near you, and use our simple tool to receive a personalised quote.
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
Anthony Davis
Clear lens extraction treatment has made my life so much better. Being able to see perfectly without the aid of glasses is great and I would highly recommend it to anyone. The procedure itself was very straight forward and painless and I cannot recommend it enough. Great!
Ann-Marie Gosling
I WAS SHORT SIGHTED (-1.75) AND DESPERATELY WANTED LASER EYE TREATMENT. A NUMBER OF MY WORK COLLEAGUES HAD LASER EYE TREATMENT BUT THEY HAD RECEIVED THE TREATMENT AT HIGH STREET PLACES. I WAS PUT OFF BY THESE PLACES AS THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK SALE. AFTER SPENDING A LONG TIME DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I DECIDED ON ADVANCE VISIONCARE, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A PRE ASSESSMENT AND WAS SO IMPRESSED BY THE LEVEL OF SERVICE; I BOOKED TO HAVE THE LASER TREATMENT. ON THE DAY OF THE TREATMENT, I WAS VERY NERVOUS BUT MR PILLAI AND HIS TEAM REALLY LOOKED AFTER ME AND REASSURED ME I WOULD BE OK. EVERYONE WAS BRILLIANT AND MADE ME FEEL SO RELAXED AND THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND ADVANCE VISIONCARE TO ANYONE.
Stephen Higgs
The service provided by Advance Visioncare in second to none. The consultation was thorough and informative, at every step you are informed of what is happening and why it is happening and whether you have any questions. There is no hard sell, everyone is approachable and you get the impression they actually care about giving you the best possible result rather than lining their pockets with your cash. Meeting Mr Pillai at the consultation was a major factor in my decision to use AVC. At other clinics you have to make do with meeting a salesman or at best an optician. The actual procedure was efficient, painless and again you are constantly informed throughout. The results to date have been excellent my vision is gradually reaching 20-20, amazing. Thanks AVC!
Amna Karim
EXCELLENT SERVICE AND CARE. VERY CLEAR EXPLANATION AND ALL MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED. AFTERCARE WAS GREAT – THEY DON’T PUSH YOU OFF AT THE END OF YOUR TREATMENT. THEY WERE ALSO VERY QUICK AT ANSWERING MY QUERIES AFTER THE TREATMENT.
MR CLYDE CAMBURN
The whole process from consultation through to post-operative check ups was extremely professional. I now have 20/20 long distance vision for the first time in my life. The surgical process was quick and painless, if a little strange. I thoroughly recommend Advance Visioncare. Clyde Camburn
Simon Butler
The level of service from all members of staff and Mr Pillai was excellent and the results from my laser eye treatment are fantastic. After years of frustration with my eye sight and having to wear contact lenses and glasses I went to Advance VisionCare after carrying out research on the internet. I read the feedback from other people who had been treated by Mr Pillai and found it very useful which is why I feel it is important to comments. From the initial contact I found the staff very pleasant and very helpful. I live outside of London and therefore I went for the consultation on a Wednesday afternoon, stayed in a four star hotel overnight, paid for by Advance VisionCare, and had laser eye treatment on the Thursday. I paid for another night at the hotel so I could have my post treatment consultation with Mr Pillai. The treatment was painless and the results fantastic. I am 47 years old and thought I would probably need to wear reading glasses but not this time, that is not the case.
Alison Hughes
I had worn glasses / contact lenses for over 30 years and 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 like 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 are apparent straight away. I still find it hard to believe that I don’t have to worry about putting in contact lenses everyday. 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 :-)
Gifford Box
I had Lasik with Wavefront treatment at Advance Vision Care (AVC) on Harley Street on 11/02/10. I was incredible nervous about the procedure and wanted to feel comfortable that I understood the risks documented in various materials. All of the staff were very knowledgable and were able to talk me through the risks in detail, including the probabilty, and the implications, until I was satisfied that I understood enough. I was not pushed into having the procedure in the slightest, and was always prompted to ask questions during the assessment to ensure I was happy with the progression. After reading all of the documentation, and having the 2 hour assessment, clarifying all of my queries (I had a lot!) I was confident that this was the best team of people, and I trusted them. I was -3.00 in both eyes before the treatment and had worn contact lenses for 9 years. My Pillai was confident that he could give me 20/20 vision. One week after the treatment I revisited AVC and a prescription test returned a perfect 0 prescription in both eyes. I could see the 20/20 line on the chart with one eye, and the line above with my left. I was informed that my vision would continue to get better over the next 6 weeks, and I can confiedently say that it has. My vision is incredible, I am amazed every single day, and I'd recommend the team at AVC to anyone. The procedure itself did not hurt at all, it was simply unusual as you haven't ever experienced pressure/movement/touching of your eye before. I must stress that I did not feel any pain whatsoever. I was also amazed at the speed of the procedure - don't get me wrong, it wasn't rushed, but it doesn't take very long at all. I think I was only on the treatment bed for 8 or 9 minutes. I can't remember what the machines were called - they will be able to tell you, but I know they are state of the art, and if you are suitable for Wavefront then definitely have it. I am thoroughly impressed and grateful to the team at AVC and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone. Go and have an assessment and see what the results are. You can always walk away at that point - I'm SO glad that I didn't though ;-) (I have vouchers for £200 off the treatment if you want to send me a private msg)
Miss Kelly Stafford
My experience with Advance Visioncare has been fantastic. I was very nervous about the surgery and Pawel and Mr. Pillai made feel at ease and explained everything thoroughly, many times! During surgery, I felt very tense but everyone was talking to me constantly through the procedure, which made me feel much better. Now I can see perfectly after 4 weeks! Thank you! Kelly Stafford
MR PHILL SCOTT
I found out about Advance Visioncare through my girlfriend’s colleague (who was very impressed by the service she received). From the first contact I was very impressed with the level of service I received and every query/question I had was answered and explained (making me feel more comfortable). I was initially worried about having ICL (implantable contact lenses), but the level of professionalism I received from all the staff I dealt with, helped to relax me. The procedure was a lot less painful than I had imagined (more of a discomfort feeling) and seemed to be very quick. The aftercare I have received is extremely good. I now have 20/20 sight (from approx. -8.00) and am extremely happy. A big thank you to everyone at Advance Visioncare. Phil Scott
