Focus is a well renowned, prestigious specialist laser eye clinic based in the London Harley Street medical enclave. It has a reputation for treating celebrities, and claims to have a 99.7% success rate (excluding very high prescriptions).
What makes it different? This is a consultant led clinic, meaning UK-trained eye surgeons combine their advanced surgical skills with the specially selected laser systems that are 100% committed to achieving 20/20 vision.
Is there anything to look out for? Yes, check what you are comfortable paying. Focus is one of the pricier options for vision correction, and the success rate barely differs from clinics that charge half the price.
1. Focus Eye Surgery Treatments
Focus has often led the way in terms of technology advancement over the years. It was the first clinic to correct reading vision using Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) radio waves, which uses radio waves rather than lasers to reshape the eye surface (cornea). The chief surgeon, Mr David Allamby, has performed more CK procedures than any other surgeon in the world.
Mr Allamby is also the first surgeon in the U.K to pioneer and perform the first Z-Lasik Blended Vision (another treatment for reading glasses). He remains at the forefront of specialist surgeons for presbyopia in the UK, and has provided surgical training to visiting surgeons worldwide.
So what’s on offer? The standard procedures at Focus include: Z-LASIK, LASEK and PRK (all with Wavefront technology). The clinic additionally specialises in these popular lens replacement surgeries: refractive lens exchange (RLE), implantable collamer lens (ICL), cataract surgery.
2. Focus Costs
Focus is one of the most expensive places in the UK for laser eye and lens replacement surgery, along with its friends on Harley Street: the London Vision Clinic and Moorfields Private (just around the corner).
Nearly 200 patients told us they paid on average £6,200 for laser eye surgery and £6,700 for lens replacement surgery at Focus. These prices are among the highest out there, and around double what you can pay elsewhere in the UK.
Laser eye surgery costs (both eyes):
- LASIK cost: £6,500
- LASIK specialist cost: £6,000
- LASIK blended vision: £5,400
Lens and cataract surgery costs (both eyes):
- Refractive lens exchange cost: £6,500
- Cataract surgery cost: £6,500 (standard lens) – £7,500 (premium lens)
- ICL surgery cost: £7,500
Then there’s the VIP Package for £12,000, all in. Focus doesn’t reveal what’s involved in this eye-watering price tag, so we’ll go out on a limb and say you may not find great value for money here.
Are there any hidden costs?
You’ll be please to learn that the quotes above are fixed prices, meaning you should avoid some nasty surprises. These costs include a generous 10-year guarantee, and initial consultations are free.
Interest-free finance options are also available, from £179.17 per eye per month, with a £500 deposit. Other clinics, however, offer monthly payment plans for around a quarter of the price.
So is it worth paying more?
Well, it may be if you are looking for: the most up-to-date ophthalmic tech, some of the UK’s most experienced surgeons, and being treated like a king in general. Plus, all procedures use Wavefront technology as standard: a slightly pricier add-on that improves the accuracy of the laser by measuring the eye’s exact measurements.
But don’t feel pressured into paying more than you feel comfortable with. Laser eye surgery is considered a safe procedure, with over 95% of people being satisfied or very satisfied with results, according to NICE. Optical Express, for example, is so confident of achieving 20/20 vision, it has a moneyback offer if you don’t. And prices there are half what they are at Focus Clinics on average.
3. Focus Review: The Verdict
FOCUS Clinics features as one of the best places for laser eye surgery in the UK. Plus, with friendly staff and a “Good” CQC rating, it also makes its way onto the list of the 10 best laser eye surgery clinics in London.
But is it right for you? Focus Clinics does offer plenty of excellent perks for the higher price tags: cutting-edge lasers, pioneering eye surgeons, and hard-to-fault customer service. That said, your money will also fund perks no one really needs: things like the prime Harley Street location, spa-like rooms, and VIP treatment.
Anyone looking to bag a bargain eye surgery should keep looking. Well-reviewed high street clinics such as Optical Express, Ultralase and Optimax might be a better fit if that’s the case.
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Surgeons
Focus Clinics Reviews
Alvinos
Focus have some of the most advanced technology at their disposal. I felt they understood my concerns from the outset and did not try to pretend there are no risks to surgery like some larger clinics. The staff and surgeon was upfront about the risks, including those specific to my situation. The result of my surgery was excellent and I would highly recommend Focus.
Nick Philippou
Very very happy with results. I am a 48 year old man and can now read without any assistance.
Andrew McMullan
Great service before, during and after procedure.
Kati
I had a prescriptions of -7.25 & -7.5 with astigmatism and have now 20/20 vision. The recovery was a bit longer than I expected and I may need reading glasses in a few years due to my age, but the surgery was well worth the end result. I had suffered years of problems with contact lenses and had developed sensitivity to most contact lens solutions. It has been amazing waking up with perfect vision and having no more hassle logging the lenses and liquids around. I would like to thank all of the staff at Focus Laser vision, but most of all surgeon Ali Mearza and the all the customer service staff, especially Paula Cole, who was very professional and essential with my aftercare. Thank you to you all.
Stefan
What a fantastic experience...been mulling this over for a long time and finally decided to get it over with. I can hardly say this was even uncomfortable, certainly not painful. The team make you completely at ease, and the results are undeniable, absolutely fantastic. Perfect vision now. I can wholeheartedly recommend FOCUS! Mr. Allamby was absolutely brilliant and I can't fault the pre-op or aftercare. would recommend to anyone.
Chris Wilkinson
Everyone at Focus could not have been more helpful and reassuring. The operation went extremely well and the results have beyond my expectations. I would recommend Focus to anyone and only wish I had my eyes done years ago
Roel
I got my eyes lasered in August 2011, and am still it every day. Service, including check ups, was excellent at Focus. Unsurprisingly, I was a bit scared before-hand, but everything worked out perfectly. My eyes were about -4 with cilinders, and after the operation I got 16/20 vision (I didn't now it could be better than 20/20!) Since the operation, the only thing that I've experienced is dry eyes. But I've always had pretty dry eyes, so I have no clue whether it has any relation to the operation. Even if it has, I think putting in some eye drops from time to time would be a small price to pay for perfect eye sight. The ladies at the clinic were great, very professional and personable. I only met the surgeon for a very short period, which could've been a bit more, but he did a great job, so lots of thanks to him as well. I waited to write this review to see whether there were any long term side effects, but I've experienced none so far.
Keith Holloway
I had a CK procudure on my left eye nearly 2 years ago and have returned to the clinic several times during this period for further treatment, including laser. My eye is almost the same after all this time no improvement, lots of discomfort, inconvenience and financial loss for no gain.
Rebecca Templeman
I was not expecting to be in pain for the day of the operation, but other than that I am absolutely thrilled with the entire experience, pre-op, op and post-op. I am over the moon with the results the operation has had.
Daniel Busso
Great results, the next day I had better than 20/20 vision. I had a couple of consultations and Focus seemed like the most professional place. The clinic itself is a lot more luxurious than Optical Express for example, which looked like a glorified opticians.
Im amazingly happy with it!