Optical Express has grown to become one of Europe’s leading providers of laser eye surgery. It operates over 200 clinics, of which 100 are specifically designated laser consultation clinics and 54 are laser treatment clinics.
With locations throughout the UK, Holland, Germany, Ireland, France and Croatia, Optical Express has carried out over one million laser eye surgery procedures worldwide. What’s more, over 99% of patients would recommend Optical Express to their friends and family.
Pros: Value for money, caring surgeons, 128 UK clinics, latest technology, dedicated aftercare
Cons: No fixed prices (talk to them for a quote)
☝ Compare clinics: See if there are any other top-rated clinics near you, and use our simple tool to receive a personalised quote.
- Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery Review
- Prices
- Treatments
- The Verdict
- Surgeon Reviews
- 1,806 Patient Reviews
1. Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery Review
I’m very happy with my laser treatment. There’s nothing to worry about – there’s no pain, and I would recommend it to anybody. The aftercare at Optical Express is also very good. I just wish i had done it years ago. – Philip Lavelle
Optical Express uses world leading technology, and their laser platform – the VISX S4IR – delivers safe, accurate and precise results. Fun fact: Optical Express is the only vision correction provider to invest in the iFS150 intraLASE in each of its clinics – the same technology that led to NASA backing laser eye surgery for astronauts in 2007.
Over 99% of Optical Express patients achieved 20/20 vision or better following treatment, according to a study carried out in June 2017.
With over 25 years’ experience in eye care, Optical Express boasts excellent surgical outcomes, and has invested £400 million in technology to offer advanced methods for vision correction.
Optical Express has 128 clinics in the UK alone – far more than any other eye surgery provider. Its locations include London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dublin, with many more situated in all corners of the country.
Here is how nearly 2,000 real customers rate Optical Express for its clinic, cost, treatments and surgeons:
| Optical Express Rating Overall | Clinic Rating | Cost Rating | Surgeon Rating | Treatments Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (4.6 out of 5) | (4.5 out of 5) | (4.8 out of 5) | (4.5 out of 5) | (4.7 out of 5) |
CQC Rating: Good
- Treating people with respect and involving them in their care
- Providing care, treatment and support that meets people’s needs
- Caring for people’s safely and protecting them from harm
- Staffing
- Quality and suitability of management
2. Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery Cost
True, it was an expensive operation, but I spent £500 a year on contact lenses and optician appointments – I see it as an investment! – Dave Reyner
(4.8 out of 5)
Laser eye surgery at Optical Express costs from just £595, or from £1,995 for lens replacement surgery. Of course, these prices depend on the treatment you choose, as well as your prescription, so you’ll want to pop in for a free consultation to get a tailored quote.
Optical Express is one of the cheapest laser eye surgery clinics in the UK. Its prices are well below average, compared to over 70 leading eye clinics and hospitals nationwide.
There are also a range of pay monthly finance options, so you can benefit from eye surgery for less than £50 a month – and it’s 0% finance for 10 month contracts.
Are there any hidden costs? No, the consultation is free, and you even get free eye tests worth £800. The only downside is not having fixed prices like at Optegra and Optimax, but at least the costs are lower at the end of the day.
Here are the prices of some of Optical Express’ popular lens and laser surgery options:
| Eye Surgery Procedure | Price (per eye) | Finance Options (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| LASEK | From £595 | £49.50 (10 months on 0% APR, £100 deposit) |
| LASIK | From £1,195 | £42.02 (for 18 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| LASEK (with iDesign) | From £1,495 | £41.69 (for 24 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| LASIK (with iDesign) | From £1,495 | £46.35 (for 24 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| Monofocal lens surgery | From £1,995 | £48.89 (for 36 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| Multifocal lens surgery | From £3,195 | £47.39 (for 72 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| Phakic IOL | From £3,395 | £47.39 (for 72 months on 11.5% APR, £500 deposit) |
| YAG | From £595 | N/A |
☛ Want a tailored quote? The only way to compare exact quotes is to see an eye expert for a check-up. These can cost up to £250, but with our simple tool, you can find out how much laser or lens surgery will cost you at Optical Express for free.
3. Laser Eye Surgery Treatments
Fantastic! I am so pleased I has the treatment – playing sports is so much easier! All the staff were very helpful, reassuring, and happy answering my questions. I’ll definitely be recommending Optical Express to everyone, their service is excellent! – Stephanie Yeadon
(4.7 out of 5)
Laser Eye Surgery
Laser eye surgery is a simple procedure that can correct your vision in a matter of minutes. Optical Express offers the most popular types: LASIK and LASEK (if you are not suitable for the surgical LASIK).
In both treatments, a cool beam advanced laser reshapes the cornea (the surface of your eye). Optical Express uses a technology called iDesign, which is based on Wavefront technology and takes thousands of eye measurements to produce the best results.
Lens Replacement
Optical Express has 20 years’ experience in lens replacement surgery. This surgery is a popular treatment for people with long distance vision, short distance vision, and even cataracts.
An eye consultant can help you decide which surgery best suits your needs:
- Refractive lens exchange (RLE) – This surgery replaces the natural lens with a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL) implant.
- Phakic IOL – This type of IOL is an alternative to laser eye surgery for patients with strong prescriptions.
- YAG laser treatment – YAG laser capsulotomy is a non-invasive procedure used to treat refractive former lens exchange patients whose vision starts to fade over the years.
Cataract Surgery
Optical Express performs the highest number of cataract surgeries – after the NHS, according to its website.
Cataracts are small, blurry patches on your eyes, giving you cloudy vision. Cataract surgery involves removing your damaged lens, and replacing it with a premium synthetic one for sharper near and distance vision.
Aftercare
Optical Express custom-fits its aftercare plan to every patient. This plan includes any medication that will aid the healing process, optometrist-led follow-up appointments, and an out-of-hours medical helpline.
Patients receive 12 months’ continued care as standard, and Optical Express recommends annual examinations to maintain your eye health.
Safety Record
All surgical procedures carry a degree of risk. However, laser eye surgery has an impressive success rate, and is the most popular elective surgery in the world.
99.2% of patients achieved at least 20|20 vision following surgery at Optical Express, based on a study of 190,231 Optical Express patients with the most common prescriptions. That’s why this eye clinic promises 20|20 vision or your money back.
Just be aware that the risks increase the more complicated the surgery. Optical Express will provide a screening service to check whether you are suitable for surgical treatment.
4. The Verdict
I can highly recommend Optical Express. They are very professional, and the procedure was pain free. The best thing now is I can see very well without glasses – and it was only done 3 weeks ago. – Elaine Gibson
(4.6 out of 5)
Optical Express is the best voted place for laser and lens replacement surgery, based on nearly 9,000 independent reviews on Lasik Eyes since 2002. With hard-to-beat prices, leading technology, and fully qualified surgeons, this clinic tops the list of best laser eye surgery clinics in the UK, as well as taking the crown for:
- Best eye surgery in London
- Best eye surgery in Scotland
- Best eye surgery in Manchester
- Best eye surgery in Bristol
But is it right for you? The only way to find out is to see if you’re eligible for 20/20 vision or your money back, and to get a tailored quote. That’s why we make it easy to pop in for a free consultation, have free eye tests (worth £800), and talk through your options with an eye expert.
Next steps: Our simple tool helps thousands of readers a day get one step closer to 20/20 sight:
- Find the top clinic in seconds: Answer three questions to be matched with the leading eye clinic in your area
- Check you’re eligible in minutes: Receive a quick call to check you can get surgery (we don’t share your number with anyone else)
- Book a free consultation: Talk to an expert at a clinic you can trust for a free eye test (worth £800) and personalised quote (with no obligation)
☛ Click here to find the best clinic near you, and receive a tailored quote.
5. Optical Express Surgeons
Mr Mehul Damani
MBBS, MS, DOMS, DNB, FRCS
Mr Luca Antico
MD
Mr Manek Patel
MD, RCOph
Mr Dimitri Kazakos
MD, MRCOphth
Dr Mohammed Shabbar Kazmi
MBBS, FRCS(Opth)
Mr Jonathan Carr
MD MA(Cantab) FRCOphth
Doctor Jan Venter
MD
Mr Khalid Khan
MBBS FRCS FRCOphth
Mr Jacobus Pauw
MBChB MMedOphth FCSOphth
Mr Sanjay Mantry
FRCOphth FRCS FRCS
Mr Andre Oberholster
MBChb MMedOphth
Mr Stefan Klopper
MBChB FCS
Mr Waseem Aziz
MB ChB FRCS
Mr Alex George
FRCOphth, FRCS MS, DOMS, DNB
6. Optical Express Reviews
William Lawson
I’m very pleased with my eyesight 3 months after treatment,my vision is excellent and still improving.
I have been worried with a sight halo effect which i noticed at night, especially when my eyes are dry and tired, but this week this has disappeared in one eye and generally my vision is settling down.
Make sure you rest your eyes, ask the staff at the clinic to reassure you and don’t worry.
The end results are worth waiting for.
Emily Redford
Having worn glasses for 17 of my 19 years, and having problems when wearing contact lenses, I decided to go ahead with laser eye surgery.
The results of the surgery are fantastic. I could not have asked for anything better. The procedure was pain free and i felt no pain afterwards. The staff on the surgery team were really helpful and very professional as were all the staff at the Rosen eye clinic where i have had my aftercare appointments. I would recommend the procedure to anyone.
pauline brocklehurst
I am very pleased with the laser treatment but disapointed that i haven`t got 20/20 vision, but it was what i was told at the start that i may still need reading glasses in poor light and small print.
CONSULTATION Manchester cross street.
SURGERY Maxi Manchester
robert davis
Very weird experience whilst being treated – not painful but really odd. Afterwards though, it was brilliant. Whilst sat in recovery room 2 minutes after treatment i could already notice a real improvement in my vision. Two hours afterwards it was amazing.
Consultation store Manchester cross street.
surgery at maxi Manchester.
edmund taylor
The surgery was painless and very quick. I was in and out of the clinic within 2 hours! post-treatment was exellent. After a few days my wision was exellent-no blurriness or halo-effect at night.
DEFINTLEY WORTH THE MONEY.
Claire Shearer
Well I had Lasek surgery yesterday and it was a breeze….i was so completely worked up about the whole thing and there was no reason to be, i suppose it was fear of the unknown. The op wasn’t painful, just a little bizarre, luckily i couldn’t see what was going on. I came out shaking with adrenalin but could see better than before immediately…that wouldn’t be hard considering i couldn’t see more than a foot in front of me before…i was pretty much blind needing glasses or contacts at all times!!!
After the op i was waiting for the anaesthetic to wear off and the pain to kick in but it never happened….at least it hasn’t so far…touch wood!! I was all prepared to go through moderate to extreme pain for 3 days but I have been absolutely fine!!
Had my 1 day post op today and the optician asked me to rate the pain on a scale of 1-10 (10 being as if nothing has happened, 1 being agony) I rated it a 9!!! He said this is the lowest pain score he’s ever seen for the 1 day post op and i can also see better than expected already!! Just about hugged him when he said i’m 20/20 already and can drive if i want! WOOOOHOOO!!!
I couldn’t sleep last night because i was so excited, kept turning the light on to have a peek at what i could see! This seems to good to be true and hopefully it will stay that way. This is gonna be the best Christmas ever….what an amazing present to myself new eyes!
If anyone reading this has bad eyesight I would totally recommend it, it’s life changing. I was scared stiff and would never have done it if it wasn’t for my fab cousin Jenny (laser councillor at Optical express Cameron Toll) persuading me and Gordon my boyfriend telling me everything would be ok and putting up with my stress…i’m a total wimp!!
If anyone would like to contact me for info then i’d be happy to help as I’ve noticed a lack of information regarding Lasek. email claire_shearer2000 at hotmail.com
Thanks so much Optical Express…I feel like this is a miracle!!
susan ryan
excellent now have better than 20/20 vision
nopain on surgery some pain about 1 hour later but fixed with pain killers
Alan Lazenby
Lasik eye surgery is a modern miracle.
Optical Express did all they said they would in the brochure, with good and treated patients with great respect.
natalie
I had my eyes done yesterday, (10/10/07)wavefront – lasik and i have got to say WOW!! My appointment was in the morning in the cambridge optical express clinic and i was feeling just a touch nervous but my mind was put to rest with friendly staff who made me feel very comfortable and relaxed.
I had some re-tests done on my eyes as my consultation tests were 4 months old and they wanted to make sure all was fine. I was then taken upstairs to the laser clinic and waited for about half and hour with the comfort of relaxing music and tea/coffee/water facilities to take advantage of. The surgeon had spoken to me before I went in just to reasure me and if i needed more questions answered. My time had come to go in and have my eyes done and the surgeon and staff took me through EVERYTHING that they were doing and going to do. There was slight discomfort that lasted for about a minute in each eye and then it was all over. I couldnt believe it was done in such a short space of time, and when I got off the chair I could see a difference even though my vision was slightly blurred. I was then taken into a dimmed room and was made sure i was comfortable and was given my “goody bag” with all my drops and night goggles in. I went home and had minor discomfort(felt like i had grit in my eyes but eye drops sorted that out)(and you get a good supply of them too.) The next day when i had my follow up appointment I was amazed at how different everything looked after wearing glasses for 11 years!!!! I was even more suprised that i didnt have no discomfort with my eyes after 24 hours of having it done. I would recommend having laser eye surgery done, especially at the clinic in Cambridge as all the staff there is fantastic.
mrs j mclaughlin
Quick painless excellent results wish i had it done years ago. (RAF Halton )
