1. Optimax Laser Eye Surgery Review
Optimax is a UK specialist in laser eye treatment, lens replacement surgery, and cataract surgery. Founded in 1991, this clinic has performed over 430,000 vision corrections. It currently has 28 clinics nationwide, including London, Bristol, Birmingham and Belfast.
Here is how nearly 1,000 real customers rate Optimax for its clinic, cost, treatments and surgeons:
| Optimax Rating Overall | Clinic Rating | Cost Rating | Surgeon Rating | Treatments Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (3.9 out of 5) | (3.6 out of 5) | (3.5 out of 5) | (5 out of 5) | (4.1 out of 5) |
These ratings boil down to:
Pros: Fixed prices, free consultation, Wavefront technology, locations nationwide, NHS-trained surgeons
Cons: Poor customer service, lacking communication from surgeons, frequent delays
☝ Compare clinics: See if there are any other top-rated clinics near you, and use our simple tool to receive a personalised quote – as well as free eye tests worth £800!
2. Optimax Laser Eye Surgery Cost
“I would do this surgery again tomorrow knowing the results I have got. It was worth every penny – the best money I ever spent.” – Stephen Gerrard
(3.5 out of 5)
Laser eye surgery at Optimax costs £1,695 (per eye) for Wavefront LASEK or Wavefront IntraLase LASIK. Cataract surgery costs £2,995 (per eye), while implantable contact lenses will set you back £2,495 (per eye).
These are average prices for eye surgery in the UK – not as cheap as other high street clinics like Optical Express, but less expensive than eye hospitals like Moorfields Private.
Are there any hidden costs? No – Optimax offers free consultations, and transparent prices. Plus, there are finance options, meaning you can pay under £50 for 36 months for laser surgery, or under £70 a month for lens surgery.
Here are the prices of some of Optimax’ popular lens and laser surgery options:
| Eye Surgery Procedure | Price (per eye) | Finance Options (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Wavefront LASEK | £1,695 | £42.38 (36 months, 0% APR, £169.50 deposit) |
| Wavefront IntraLase LASIK | £1,695 | £42.38 (36 months, 0% APR, £169.50 deposit) |
| Cataract / RLE / CLE Treatment | £2,995 | £64.40 (36 months, 0% APR, £299.50 deposit) |
| ICL Treatment | £2,495 | £51.49 (36 months, 0% APR, £249.50 deposit) |
☛ 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 for free.
3. Optimax Treatments
“I am delighted that the procedure was pain-free, and I didn’t even need any painkillers afterwards. At the weekly check-up, I was amazed to learn I had 20/20 vision – much better than predicted.” – Joan Hassell
(4.1 out of 5)
As well as traditional laser eye surgery, Optimax also offers a range of lens surgery options. Here is the full list:
- LASIK
- LASEK
- Wavefront / IntraLase®Femtosecond
- Cataract or refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery
- ICL surgery or keratoconus treatment
Aftercare
Optimax provides a free and comprehensive aftercare program to regularly check and monitor your vision at each stage of the recovery process. All aftercare costs are included in the cost of your eye surgery.
Optimax locations
Optimax offers a range of clinics nationwide. It also hosts open days, where patients are able to have a free assessment, take a tour of the clinic, and speak to specialist consultants. Optimax’s main locations are: London, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester.
4. The Verdict
I am really happy with the results. Apart from the machine not working and the long wait, the staff at this Optimax were really nice, friendly and helpful, as was Dr Patel. I would recommend this Optimax. – Tina Gibson
(3.9 out of 5)
Optimax has an average overall rating due to hit-and-miss patient care, based on nearly 9,000 independent reviews on Lasik Eyes since 2002.
Most patients we spoke to were happy with the service. However, the long waiting times and poor communication mean this clinic misses the top spots on the list of the best laser eye surgery clinics in the UK. Still, Optimax makes it into these top lists:
But is Optimax 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 closer to going glasses free:
- Find the top clinic in seconds: Answer three questions to be matched to 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 and personalised quote (with no obligation)
☛ Click here to find the best clinic near you, and get a tailored quote.
5. Optimax Surgeon Reviews
6. Optimax Patient Reviews
Julia Dawkins
lens replacement went well. Following that I needed remediation treatment on one eye – lazer treatment. I was asked back a total of 8 times to review my eyes but was not explained anything about what or why I should have dry eyes. treat ment for that was hardly explained and I returned many ties without any further treatment scheduled, nor with any explanation of how they would proceed. after a year almost to the day I was given lazer remediation treatment. On the day all the proper tests were carried out before the treatment. However I overheard that my data had crashed to computer which instructed the lazer what to do. Finally after 3 and a half hours someone came to me and said they had solved their”little ” problem and work would now commence. I was really scared by the time I sat in the chair for my eye to be lazered (!) and had to say to the doctor that I just had to trust his expertise that he would not proceed if anything was wrong.
Terrible after care service and lack of information. I wrote complaining to them on March1st (I think) and still have had only an acknowledgement, but no reply to my complaiint. Outrageous! Would not reccommend to anyone.
Gary King
Had my left eye done with PRK on 24/6/02 at the Edinburgh clinic.Staff very friendly and informative,the surgeon talked me through the whole operation.A little pain for about an hour after the op(a painkiller and an hours sleep took care of that!).Was driving the next morning and could already see an improvement in my sight.Had my first check up on 27/6/02 and optician was surprised to find my eye almost healed and my sight now 6/6!Had second check up on 12/7/02 and eye is fully healed.Get my right eye done on 19/7/02 - hope it is as easy as the left.I would highly recommend the clinic so far.
Saeed Mughal
Following on from the post on 10/06/2002 I went for my 3 month checkup. Both eyes are now perfect(not long or short sighted), 20/20.
I will go to my optician just to get a 2nd opinion, but I feel that my sight is very good.
This is the best investment I have made.
jan
follow up to previous e-mails. Had 2 month check up on right eye, vision better than 20/20, no haze at all. Mr Ayoubi very pleased with results, booked to have left eye done in a couple of weeks. Hope it will turn out as well as right but there is more scarring on it.
Will let you know how it goes.
Teresa
Following on from my last e mail in June, had left eye done by PRK on 3rd July, and all I can do is reiterate my previous comments. Everything went great - my actual treatment time should have been about 3pm but Dr Mathen managed to fit me in at 1pm to save a two hour wait, which was brilliant. All other appointments including aftercare have also been early. Both eyes have 20/20 vision which is fantastic and well worth the 2-3 days discomfort following treatment. Highly recommended!
Gary King
Got my right eye done with PRK on July 19th at the Edinburgh clinic.Not as easy as the left unfortunately.Very sore and itchy.Had my second examination on August 5th and optician is very pleased with the progress.Both eyes are almost completely healed and my vision is as good as it was with my glasses on.I would recommend this clinic to anyone.
Irene Growcott
I had bilateral LASIK performed on 05 August 2002. The surgeon, Dr Dan Reinstein, was excellent. He explained every step of the procedure which I found most reassuring. On the day everything went very smoothly - the first 24h afterwards spent resting and instilling hourly drops. At my 24h check-up my vision was excellent - 6/6 both eyes. 3 weeks on, for me, things continue to 'look good'. The staff have been most professional and informative and I would recommend their services to anyone considering LASIK treatment.
Rochelle
I did a lot of research before choosing Optimax as the clinic that I wanted surgery at. Optimax was both the best value and most honest about the procedure and the results out of all the clinics. I had bi-lateral LASIK 3 weeks ago and have had no problems and can see perfectly (I was -6 before). I am very pleased with the results but would still advise anyone having it done to think carefully and do a lot of research before deciding the procedure and the clinic.
Jan
I had PRK for both eyes at the Manchester Clinic in mid August. They had offer on at the time (£795 for both eyes). I didn't know this when I booked and so the saving was very pleasant surprise when I came to write out the cheque. Dr Garston did the treatment, and he and all the staff were very professional. The procedure wasn't at all painful and I was surprised that I could see afterwards, although rather blurry. They ask you to have someone to accompany you home, but as I had to have someone at home to look after my children, this wasn't possible for me. The staff were fine about walking me to the taxi rank (less than 50 metres from clinic)and I had no difficulty as taxi dropped me at the door. Driver offered to help, but in fact I could see well enough to manage. The clinic nurse told me that most people don't experience much in the way of pain after PRK, but men seem to be more affected than women. She predicted that I wouldn't experience pain and she was right. I took the painkillers first couple of days but this was really a preventative action. Didn't need the sleeping tablets as slept fine without them. Found it very difficult to get the antiseptic eye cream in my eyes when I couldn't see them up close. Eyes were sensitive to light at times and sunglasses essential wear outdoors for first week. (But then my eyes were bit like that beforehand - I used to wear reactolite glasses.) The main problem after treatment was boredom as I couldn't read or watch TV. Visits and phonecalls from friends helped, my children took some turns to amuse me, and glad I'd thought to get a couple of audio books beforehand. My vision was poor at follow up appointment 7 days after the laser treatment. I couldn't read the largest letter on the eye chart with either eye. The ophthalmologist told me that my eyes were just a bit slow in healing and that my vision would improve within a couple of days. Sure enough it did. I reckon my sight was good enough to drive at 10 days, but waited until further check up before doing so. At 14 days my eyes were -0.5 in right eye and +0.5 in left. The clinic warned of possiblity of regression. It is now about 6 weeks after laser treatment and right eye has become a bit more shortsighted, although left eye remains fine. However, I've discovered there is advantage to having a slightly shortsighted eye, as I am in my 40s and this allows me to read okay, and both eyes together are fine for distance vision. I know that if my slightly shortsighted eye were at 0.0 then I would need to wear reading glasses. So I'm hoping it stays like this as I've got the best of both worlds at the moment - not needing glasses for either shortsightedness nor reading. I'll leave another post here in some weeks to let you know if any changes. I can thoroughly recommend optimax and PRK. Although PRK takes a bit longer for recovery, please do consider it if you are thinking about LASIK. Retaining the integrity of the eyeball seems to me to be a big plus, especially in case of accident/blow to the eye in future. Good luck!
Martin
Bless me father for I had bad vision, it is less than 48 hours since I had my last LASIK treatment at Optimax in Glasgow. Doctor Berry was excellent and reassuring. The treatment mercifully brief. I was a brave boy and went without the valium pre-med (don't try this at home - take the pre-med as it will help relax your muscles on the operating table and should also help you sleep afterwards - a vital part of immediate recuperation). My eyes stung for an hour or two but within four hours of the op I was watching football on TV (wearing sunglasses, occasionally resting my eyes). Returned to clinic the following morning in absolutely no discomfort. right eye: 20/20; left eye: slightly better. Previously it was -3.5 in each eye. The result - though it's still early days - exceeds my expectations, it was excellent value for money, the staff are friendly and helpful and the whole process is relatively quick.
Julie
I had PRK treatment on both eyes on 17th Sept.Although I experience everything they said I would(not as bad as I thought).9 days later,I am still very sensitive to daylight,indoor lights are fine.I go for a check up on Saturday so I will know more then.I just wondered if anyone else has experienced this,and how long does it last.Apart from this,I am very pleased with my treatment,and I can't wait to get back to work.Please feel free to e-mail me.
