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
LINDA MORDAUNT
I have found it very helpful to be able to telephone with queries post op. My eyesight is extremely good; I have some dryness in the eyes but the gel is helping. as I had cataracts in both eyes I had expected that I might have problems after the operation but I am delighted with the results and cannot speak too highly of the care I have received.
Julie Brennan
I was very pleased with the Service AVC gave me, they were extremely Informative which was Important to me at the time to know everything that was going on. I never had a prolong wait, appointments were always on time. The aftercare has been excellent which I feel is Important AVC seem to care. I am 3 months on now from having my treatment and Im so pleased with the outcome. The aftercare is good as I need th have regular APTS to see how my eyes are Improving. I chat to people I dont even know and tell them Ive had Laser correction and would highly recommend AVC.
Paul
Had wave-front LASIK 2 weeks ago and am utterly amazed at my quality of vision. I was driving standard straight after surgery, very clear vision the next day and vitually 20/20 after 1 week. Now absolutely perfect. No problems with night vision, dryness, close up work, computer work - infact no problems at all! I found the treatment painless - if a little uncomfortable, the staff excellent and, as I say, the result incredible. I was -6.5, not as bad as some I've read on this site, but still virtually blind without glasses. I will recommend AVC to anyone who asks me. I went to a few other places for consultations, but frankly they didnt compare for professionalism, honesty and in giving the impression that your well-being, not your credit card, are really what matter. Everything is explained, every question answered - both by the surgeon and the docs/optimicians. I was a fairly complex case - thin corneas, largish pupils - but Mr Pillai assured me completely that he knew what he was doing, and that he could overcome any difficulties. Clearly, he was right. Feel free to email me if you want to ask any questions.
Lord Jobling
I was particularly impressed by the thoroughness of my initial consultation; an inconsistency between my spectacle prescription and actual measured condition was checked three times! (and by different people). I was greatly reassured by this, and by the care and attention given to me, bearing in mind that at that stage I had not made a commitment to continue. On the treatment day (I was fortunate to have this only three days after the initial consultation) I was treated wonderfully, I felt little discomfort, and enjoyed first class vision immediately following the procedure. One thing did come as a suprise, that is after about 2 hrs my eyes are running so much, even with eyes shut, that it took quite an effort of will to actually open them, let alone to put drops in! I guess it was just the brightness... All settled well & by the evening I was able to enjoy a first class meal and, of course, a few celebratory drinks!
Anne Collins
I am so happy about my laser treatment. The staff are exceptional! & very professional. I would have no worries in recommending Advance VisionCare to anyone. If they would like me to speak to others about their work I would gladly assist as best I can. Many thanks to the lovely staff.
Victoria Moss
I was very pleased with the results after having the surgery. All the nurses, surgeons etc were excellent and made me feel welcome and relaxed everytime. I would recommend this to anybody.
Mrs J Brewer
The standard of service was excellent and everything was explained thoroughly. In addition the surgery was quick, pain free, and the results have been outstanding. The optician at my aftercare centre has expressed that my results are one of the best that he has seen. Dr Pillai also performed my husband's and best friend's two years ago so I already had an immense ampount of faith in him but this has certainly been significantly increased.
Philip Chandler
The treatment was not painful, (as I feared it might be). More somewhat uncomfortable but the care taken was exemplorary. When my vision was found to be somewhat less than perfect, nothing was too much trouble to investigate. Mr Pillai remained confident that time was all that was needed and indeed he was right! My eye sight is now perfect. Thank you for everything.
sarbijit Mander
At the 6-week stage, I’m delighted by the results. Advance Vision Care staff have been excellent throughout - all my questions/concerns have been addressed thoroughly, and I have had great treatment at every stage of the process.
Debbie McAlister
Delight-the success of the treatment has changed the quality of our lives-‘my family.’ I better acuity of vision than before the treatment using prescriptive glasses and hard contact lenses. The inconvenience of contact lens care, problems wearing lenses whilst suffering from hay fever allergies and four young children breaking my prescriptive glasses has been removed from ‘our’ lives. The service provided in all fields is unquestionable excellent in support emotionally and the providing of information. Although I needed much emotional reassurance due to the fear of my sight being possibly adversely affected, the fantastic results the treatment has over taken these concerns
