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.
☝ Ask the eye experts: To see if there is a better rated laser eye surgery provider near you, just click here to use our simple quote tool, and get a tailored quote from a clinic you can trust.
Surgeons
Focus Clinics Reviews
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.
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.
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.
Kasia Nalepa
I had Z-LASIK vision correction done at FOCUS. I have to say from start to finish and the current follow up checks to date the experience and results are - without a doubt - absolutely amazing. I went from -4.00 and -3.75 with astigmatism to 20/16 vision!!! Credit to my surgeon Dr David Allamby and his professional team involved. I am over the moon with my new perfect eye sight, so glad I have had it done. I can see things again clearly that I never thought I would! If you are reading this whilst considering having the treatment, GO AND BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION at FOCUS! If you feel apprehensive (like me initially :-) - don’t worry - the team and the surgeon there are wonderful and put you completely at ease. Many thanks to everybody!!! I cannot recommend the procedure or FOCUS LASER VISION enough. Very pleased. Thank you! NEW EYES, NEW ME! :-) P.S. The price I posted reflects the same Groupon deal some other reviewers had.
DM
Focus made my experience perfect. From the initial consultation I knew this was the clinic I wanted my treatment with. The staff is professional, caring and the friendliest I have ever encountered. David Allamby my surgeon was amazing and made my treatment day smooth and relaxed. The day after treatment I could already see 20/20 which speaks for itself about the level of results focus achieve day in day out. Waking up the morning after treatment and being able to see in crystal clear clarity is going to stay with me forever! I recommend Focus highly and can’t thank them enough for giving me the vision I had always dreamed of.
Gabe
This was a truly excellent experience. The staff was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The procedure, while understandably mildly uncomfortable, was the best it could have been. The outcome was perfect, I went from -4.25 in both eyes to 20/16 vision with minimal recovery time. The price I posted (£1599) reflects the same groupon deal some other reviewers had. I had been considering it for some time so when the groupon deal (£1400 off) I snatched it up and decided it was time to get my eyes fixed. I checked reviews before I dove in (surgery through a groupon does sound suspect!) but I saw some of their great reviews and some youtube videos and went for it, which is why I've writing a review now, so other can have a similarly great experience. I also made a youtube video of my experience and the recovery process - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qs7DUYONOI
Claire Bulmer
I booked a deal through Groupon after waiting five years to make sure my vision has stabilised. I had high astigmatism and was -6.5 so pretty short-sighted. This was a massive decision but the cost reduction of £1500 spurred me on. I was hugely impressed with the level of service, the speed at which I was able to make an appointment and have the surgery and the after-care experience. My surgeon, Dr Alanby, was very thorough and all the other staff I saw during my time were very professional. I now have great vision and genuinely think it is the best thing I have ever done. I would really recommend using this clinic.
Lauren Powell
Dr. David Allamby was amazing - he answered all my questions and was very knowledgeable on the subject. He made me feel comfortable with the entire process. The day of he talked to me throughout the entire procedure letting me know what was going on. The entire thing was over in less than 10 minutes. I felt very well cared for and the results were even better then I had hoped for. My only regret is that I hadn't come to Focus Laser Vision sooner.
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.
Andrew McMullan
Great service before, during and after procedure.
