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
Stefy
I wouldn’t recommend Optimax to anyone, the customer service of the Bristol branch is shocking. They don’t keep to their appointment times and don’t even apologise for the delay plus they lied every time when we asked them how much longer we’d have to wait. 3 and a half hours later and according to them that was good because they can be worse!
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.
Paul Tupper
I had Laser treatment in the early 1990’s I was pleased with the result as it cured my Myopia and I had clear distance vision something I’d never had before, However when I got to my early 50’s I needed reading glasses that was no surprise as I had been told this would happen however I needed to revert to wearing spectacles again for distance vision as my vision had become long sited. Ok I had 8 good years of non aid d distance vision however I now have the rest of my life with impaired distance vision. Also since the procedure I have suffered with painful dry eyes. On balance had I known about the distance vision problem I would not have had the procedure done.
Ana
I just did my surgery at Optimax Glasgow (it’s not on the list of clinics to feedback). Excellent customer service, everything was explained very well. They gave me a nice discount as they are flexible and open to negotiation. The surgeon, Dr Tariq Saboor, made an excellent job in my eyes. No pain at all, just a little discomfort. I give Optimax Glasgow, Dr Saboor and his staff, 5 stars, they couldnt be better. The miopy on my right eye didnt reach 0, but I must wait at least 2 months until eye get settled. Anyway, I can always make another surgery for free as they offer a lifetime guarantee. Excellent clinic.
Robert
I had my surgery done in January this year in ipswich Optimax branch.
My surgeon was Mr Smorawski from London.
Best think I’ve ever done (I’ve done some bad things in my life…)
i felt safe and confident in Doctors hands.
ana
I made my surgery (wavefront intralase lasik) in optimax glasgow. Excellent clinic and surgeon (dr tariq saboor). I strongly recommend.
Aileen Bendall
I had LASIK with Optimax (aka Ultralase) in May 2016 and they have ruined my eyes.
I was encouraged by Optimax to have this surgery and told I was an excellent candidate. I had nine weeks of blurred vision, lost my sight for five days and have been left with extremely painful eyes and poor sight. I have corneal neuralgia from damaged nerves in my eyes. This pain NEVER goes away and has changed my life. I believe that I wasn’t suitable for this surgery and that I should have been turned away. The aftercare from Optimax is appalling and they are not helping me.
Please do your research before having any surgery on your eyes as there are many many people like me. This industry is unregulated and seen as cosmetic.
Hannah Gillespie
I’ll make it clear I never had treatment…by optimax anyway. I had everything booked, however on the day of the surgeon consultation I was turned away for apparently having dry eyes, something which I have never been diagnosed with and still haven’t.
My review isn’t to criticise the actual surgery, it’s to explain how I was treated after I was turned away. I have eczema and always have, which makes my skin very dry, however it is quite controlled currently. The surgeon quickly decided not to go ahead, and stated even if he was to do it in the future it would be the version that would take much longer to heal. This was devastating to me, as someone who thought they were only a week away from life changing surgery, also with my skin only a year ago I was hospitalised and have seen my skin as something which is ruining my life, this only seemed to confirm it. The staff at Glasgow were nice in dealing with me being so upset but I was definitely made to feel like a part of a convener belt by the surgeon himself.
To add insult to injury very soon after I received an email telling me I had cancelled my surgery and suggesting I book it again. When I responded, still upset and furious for them suggesting that I cancelled something I had wanted for years it was claimed I was diagnosed as having dry eyes, which I don’t.
The happy ending is I am now 10 days post op and so happy with the results achieved by Optical Express. I mentioned several times my skin condition and was checked over a few times before my surgery and no issues were spotted. I have also had no issues with dry eyes since the surgery and although of course I have eye drops provided my healing I have been told is better than expected.
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.
Fred Parker
My first appointment with Optimax in Hove was for a brief consultation. The morning, 22nd August, of the appointment they rang and cancelled just as I was about to leave the house as the optician hadn’t turned up.
The next appointment went as planned (26 September) and then I was booked in for the full assessment on 21st October. The appointment was for 8:45 in the morning and the optician eventually rolled in at 9:30, by which time other patients (victims) had started to arrive.
I have previously had laser surgery, around twenty years ago, and also had a cataract in the right eye. It is only the right eye which needs treating.
At the end of the appointment the optician said that he would have to contact the surgeon to find out if it was going to be possible to carry out the further treatment on the eye and he would be in touch in a few days. As I was leaving I asked one of the receptionists to confirm the cost of the treatment and she said that it was £395 per eye.
After three weeks I rang to find out why I had not had any contact regarding the date of the operation. At this point the receptionist told me that if I wanted to pay the surgeon direct I could do so and not have the operation through Optimax. Amazing! This woman is sitting in Optimax, Hove, and stealing the clients away from the company as she and the surgeon have their own little scheme running.
I asked about the cost and she said that the Optimax price is £1600 per eye (so where did the £395 come from?) She also repeated that if I dealt direct with the surgeon it would be cheaper.
I am still waiting for her to ring back – 29th. November 2016!
John Flynn
I had both eyes done at Optimax in Manchester over 20 years ago. I was supposed to return for aftercare treatment but each time I phoned they told me they could not make an appointment for me as the computers were out of action. I never received the after treatment I was promised. They kept telling me their computers were down. I would like my eyes done again but don’t think I would go back there.
