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
David
I had bilateral Wavefront Lasik in the Shaftsbury Ave clinic on 16/2/05 performed by Mr. Wayne Crewe-Brown. I have to say I would recommend it to anyone – Mr. Crewe-Brown, the Optical Express team at the clinic and the service were superb in every respect. I opted for Wavefront due to having slightly large pupils and wanting to eliminate as much downside risk as possible, albeit a small risk anyway. I was particularly impressed with Wavefront as it confirmed the right prescription for me (there had been differences from my existing glasses to the manual examination) – but you just can’t argue with a computer-guided laser for accuracy which tallied to my glasses. The procedure was mildly uncomfortable; no pain at all and everything is explained as it happens. I breathed through my mouth so I didn’t have any sense of smell. My eye test showed 20/20 15mins after procedure – although it was like looking through water. Afterwards I headed back to my hotel with a mate of mine. Kept my eyes closed and took about 3-4 hrs to settle down and was seeing reasonably well. The next morning (+14 hrs) I was seeing very well with a slight halo effect around bright lights but this has settled down. No grittiness or other issues to report yet. Went back for my 24 hr check and was much better than 20/20 – could read the bottom line on the chart. There was some slight inflammation which required me to go back today and see a surgeon who was quite happy and bumped up my steroid drops to a stronger version. Flew back home this afternoon with no problems. Back next week for a check up and hopefully all will continue to be going great. I’m London based for 1-2 days a week out of Dublin. Highly recommend the whole thing for anyone coming over from Ireland – it’s a cinch, very convenient and the sheer experience of the team as a result of the volumes being done every day in London is very reassuring. Note: they also provide the surgery in Belfast. Thumbs up all round!
Peter Koski
Absolutely amazing!! Everything has been really good, and I feel like being given a new life of freedom!!
sarah o’connor
First class treatment. I felt like a valued cutomer which is rare in this day and age is rare
Katie
WOW - Have it done!! I was -3.75 in both eyes with a slight astigmatism in both eyes. As I do contact sports, the only option for me was LASEK and I ended up having bilateral wavefront LASEK under the care of Dr. Eve at Newcastle on 16/2. I was fine up until I walked into the clinic and the nerves kicked in. When they had finished the last few measurements and the valium was offered I jumped at the chance. The lasering itself was strange as although no pain could be felt, the sensation of pressure when my eye was being prepared and finished could be felt. There was little smell and it was over very quickly. The thing I wasn't prepared for was the shakes afterwards. I was shaking uncontrolabley and the nurses said it was quite common as the adrenalin kicks in when the procedure has finished. Although I couldn't see clearly, I could see the fire escape sign at the bottom of the corridor so I knew it had worked already, I would have only seen a green blob before. The pain on the way home was unreal when the anesthetic wore off and I was soooo light sensitive you wouldn't believe, but I put in the emergency pain drops and took some oral pain killers and went straight to bed. I woke up at 4ish in the morning to go to toilet. I didn't realise until I was going back to bed that I could see and the pain had gone!! I woke again at 8ish and I could see! The vision was a bit blurred and seemed to vary between the eyes, but I had none of the pain/gritty feeling others had reported. I went for my aftercare on Saturday (19/2 - 3 days post op) and they were amazed at how well I have healed. My lenses were taken out and I could see 20/20. I know I have harped on, but it is so worth it - get it done, it will change you life, it has changed mine already!! A big thank you to all at Newcatle especially the nurse who held my hand throughout my procedure (I'm sorry I can't remember your name). Thank you Optical Express!!
Belinda McGregor
I had lasik eye surgery a month ago now and am so pleased with the results that I wish I had done it sooner. I was very impressed by the care and attention shown by all the Optical Express staff, especially Darci and Chris. My thanks goes to all the staff at Optical Express who, I am sure, will change the lives of many people who wear spectacles.
Caroline Bowman
I had lasek surgery done on 01/02/05 at the newcastle clinic. Everyone there was very helpful and explained exactly what was going to happen. My appointment was for two o clock but there had been some problems on the morning so they were running late and it was about 4.45 when i went in for my surgery. I didnt have a very strong prescription so only needed the laser on for 17 seconds on each eye. The surgery itself was a bit strange though didnt hurt because even though you cant feel anything you can see what they are doing to you. I came out and felt ok then on the way home my eyes started to feel quite uncomfortable and by 7 o clock that night i couldnt open them and they were streaming with water. This lasted till about 11 o clock the next morning and since then everything has been fine. At my 4 day check up and 2 week one they said everything was fine and healing like it should be. I got one letter wrong on the bottom line of the letters you have to read. It was well worth the money and i am glad i had the surgery done.
Mark Tait
Amazing results to go from not being able to see very much to having 20-20 vision in 3 minutes. Fantastic and would recommend to anyone suitable for surgery
david heston
my dad and i were treated in belfast branch. the service given was excellent. we both felt relaxed and comfortable prior to surgery. surgery was excellent. we both felt the benefits within 24 hours. i had to wear glasses all the time prior to surgery. i feel like a new person. special thanks to lisa and anjanette for their wonderful customer service towards us both.
Sharon Hargreaves
I found the results amazing i wish I had had it done years ago, it was worth every penny!
sonia duggan
I had lazer treatment in Optical Express Belfast should have had it done years ago .No trouble at all would advise every one to have it done .The staff were helpfull at all times.
