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
cheryl bradshaw
as recently as monday 8th august i had lasik at manchester i was petrified at the thougtht of opening my cornea for the laser to go through never again, i have recommended to so many of my family and friends absolutely briliant i could see within 4 hours and yes your eyes are watery and want to go to sleep but it is not uncomfortable everyone was brill and my follow up at leeds was very good I NOW HAVE EYES I CAN SEE THROUGH WETHER IT IS LONG DISTANCE OR FINALLY READING A BOOK IN A QUIET MOMENT THANKYOU THANKYOU
lisa
its been almost 2 years since my surgery at the glasgow branch. its still the best thing i ever did,if you are thinking about it, don't, just do it!!!
Jacqueline
After reading Lynne's comment I felt quite relieved that I'm not the only one who, after Lasek, still cannot see properly. I had LASEK 4 weeks ago and my vision is still very blurry at distance. My eyes were -5.00 in both and are now -1 and -0.5 which is obviously much better but not good enough to drive! My right eye is 6/20 and my left is 6/7.5. I have very dry eyes and have to use Blink every 1/2 hour and Viscotears every 2 hours. The optician does not appear worried and says my eyes are still healing and to give it time - she gave me glasses today cause I need my car!!!! I did not anticipate that 4 weeks post op I would still be wearing glasses. I have a nasty feeling that I'm going to have to do it all again in October. I have to say, though, that Optical Express in Edinburgh and Glasgow have been excellent and the staff are great.
REBECCA NICHOLSON
HAD MY SURGERY IN BIRMINGHAM 1 MONTH AGO, EXCELLENT SERVICE. SLIGHTLY PAINFUL FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS, AND FEELS LIKE GRIT IS IN YOUR EYE. BUT WOULD DEFINATELY RECCOMMEND TO ANYONE AS NOW I HAVE VISION THAN IS BETTER THAN 20/20, OVERALL EXTREMELY HAPPY.
jane
Had Lasik 8 days ago at shafetsbury ave london, was very very nervous but the staff were very understanding and reassuring.That evening could see 20/20!I now have dry eyes towards the end of the day but very pleased with how it went! Just wish i had done it along time ago!!
Patt Edmonds-Brown
The staff at Bristol were all very friendly, professional and helpful. I had lasik treatment on both eyes for short sightedness and I also had an astigmtism. The treatment corrected everything perfectly and I don't even need glasses for reading either. I would recommend anyone thinking of having surgery to not think twice, I only wish I had done it earlier. It was absolutely painless before, during and after.
Lesley Molloy
Had lasik surgery on the 18th of August at 2.30pm by 9.00pm was seeing for the first time in ages wont pretend those few hours were not uncomfortable but bearable for the great gift of sight had surgery at optical express in milton keynes staff were great friendly and professional would recommend it to anyone dont wait a minute longer
Kirsten Henry
I had LASIK correction performed by Mr Crewe-Brown at the Shaftesbury Ave clinic on 18 August and I am amazed at the results. I was -6.25 in both eyes and the following day I had 20:20 vision. The procedure itself was not the most pleasant thing ever but the surgeon and nursing team and were very friendly and put me at ease. I had very little discomfort - about 20 minutes of watery eyes - which stopped after the surgeon put drops in my eyes before I left the clinic. Since then I have had no problems and my eyes are only dry when I wake up in the morning. I paid £695 per eye but I think this is relatively cheap considering the benefits I will enjoy, and is also cheaper than the other quotes I obtained. I do wonder if anyone actually ends up paying only £395 per eye though!
Shazad Zeb
I had surgery at the Birmingham branch.I was short sighted and now i am better than 20/20. Its changed my life totaly I could do most of the sports,swimming -best thing Ive ever had done! The staff were very friendly and reassuring-Thankyou I will recommend this to anyone who needs glasses-GO for it.
Patt Edmonds-Brown
I had Lasik surgery on 10 August in Bristol. Everything has been carried out so professionally. The staff are both friendly and helpful. I have had no problems whatsoever. Definately no pain during or after the treatment. Very slight discomfort that's all. I could see clearly straight after surgery and haven't looked back since!! I was also needing reading glasses with my contact lenses but at present I don;t need them either. My only regret is that I didn't have it done years ago. Go on go for it!
