Whether you’re from Bristol, born and bread, or just discovered its lushness later in life, you’ll know there’s a lot there for the eyes to feast on. Some look forward to the flock of balloons flying overhead each summer, while others enjoy losing themselves in the secret caves below Redcliffe.
Whatever you’re into, life in Bristol is richer when you go glasses free. That’s why each month, hundreds of people search for the best laser eye surgery clinics in Bristol. And until now, they were left empty handed.
As part of our investigations into the best laser eye surgery reviews in the UK, Lasik Eyes’ research team has devised the first list of its kind of the top places for eye surgery in Bristol.
To help you make the most informed decision, Lasik Eyes has used over 8,900 independent reviews left by real patients since 2002. These form the basis of our top lists to help you track down the five best laser eye surgery clinics in Bristol.
☚ Read the full list: Check out the best-rated places for laser eye surgery in Bristol below, including real customer reviews.
☛ Find your clinic: Or, to find out the top-rated clinic near you personally, use our simple tool at the top of this page.
The 5 Best Laser Eye Surgery Clinics in Bristol
The best place for laser eye surgery for you in Bristol is the one that ticks your boxes. Some people feel most reassured by patient care. Others are on the hunt for a great deal. But most of us want the best of all worlds.
And as always, our ratings look at what you told us matters most: clinic standards, surgeon communication, surgery experience, value for money, and aftercare, so you can find a happy medium in each one of these clinics.
To help you narrow your options, here is a list of the top-rated clinics in Bristol, both on and off Lasik Eyes:
| Bristol Clinic | Best for | Read reviews |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Optical Express Bristol | Customer rating | 1,805 Optical Express reviews |
| 2. Ultralase Bristol | Surgeon communication | 2,746 Ultralase reviews |
| 3. AccuVision Bristol | Value for money | 801 AccuVision reviews |
| 4. Optimax Bristol | Patient care | 891 Optimax reviews |
| 5. Bristol Eye Hospital | NHS-trained surgeons | No reviews yet |
1. Optical Express Bristol
Best for: Customer reviews
Optical Express’ Bristol branch is just one of the company’s 128 laser eye surgery clinics nationwide, making Optical Express the most popular place for eye surgery in the UK. And the reviewers on Lasik Eyes seem to agree.
Since opening in Bristol in 2003, Optical Express has been performing around 2,500 surgical procedures a year at this branch alone. As in most clinics, all patients cover the costs of their treatment, and can return home the very same day.
To receive treatment at this clinic, customers attend a free consultation with an optometrist and surgeon, who will help you decide whether surgery is appropriate for your eye prescription.
☝ Readers who use our free tool to book with Optical Express receive free eye tests worth £880.
- Average cost of surgery: £2,432
- Areas of expertise: LASIK and LASEK surgery, corneal cross-linking, cataract surgery, lens replacement
- Bristol address: 9th Floor, Castlemead, Lower Castle Street, Bristol, BS1 3AG
- CQC rating: 2018 CQC report found “good practice”
- Read customer reviews: 1,805 Optical Express reviews
2. Ultralase Bristol
Best for: Surgeon communication
The Ultralase Clifton Bristol Clinic sits by Colston Hall, and offers free consultations where you can ask any questions about the treatment options available to you. You can always inquire whether the surgeons at the Bristol clinic – Dr Ayoubi and Dr Mughal – would be on hand to meet with you.
As you would expect, Ultralase provides patients with all the information they need pre-surgery, and, of course, all the necessary medication – usually eye drops – afterwards. It’s natural to feel nervous before laser eye surgery, and Lasik Eyes reviewers at the Bristol branch appreciate the attention the clinic staff provide.
According to the 2011 CQC report, customers found their treatment “good”, and the Ultralase staff “professional”. That means not rushing anyone into making a decision, and communicating clearly what you can expect during and after surgery. That said, this inspection is, of course, now out of date.
- Average cost of surgery: £3,298
- Areas of expertise: LASIK and LASEK surgery, cataract surgery, lens replacement
- Bristol address: 10 Elmdale Road, Tyndale Park, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1SL
- CQC rating: Report archived since 2013; London clinic rated “Good”
- Read customer reviews: 2,746 Ultralase reviews
3. AccuVision Bristol
Best for: Value for money
Based at the Amar Shah Optometrist on Cotham Hill, this AccuVision clinic claims to be able to treat all manner of eye issues that its Bristol residents may develop. Usually, this branch is only open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so it’s worth trying to book in advance.
There’s really little in the price different between Optical Express and AccuVision. Although Optical Express’ starting prices are lower, the patients who left reviews on Lasik Eyes revealed they ended up paying around the same end price for treatment. Both offer some of the lowest quotes in eye surgery, in addition to a range of interest-free finance options.
As is standard practice, AccuVision also guarantees an experienced eye surgeon in the room with you when discussing your treatment routes, so you know what to expect at surgery.
- Average cost of surgery: £2,361
- Areas of expertise: LASIK and LASEK surgery, cataract surgery, amblyopia (lazy eye surgery)
- Bristol address: 52 Cotham Hill, Clifton, Bristol, BS6 6JX
- CQC rating: No inspection to date
- Read customer reviews: 801 AccuVision reviews
4. Optimax Bristol
Best for: Customer care
The Optimax Laser Eye Clinic in Bristol is part of a known eye care brand that is helping correct the vision of private paying adults in the Bristol region. Between 2016 and 2017, the surgeons here performed 508 procedures, and received 1,459 for aftercare visits.
All laser eye surgery occurs using local anaesthesia – often eye drops – during one of two days per month that are available for booking surgery. To find out whether eye surgery is right for you, Optimax offers free assessments, whereby an optometrist and surgeon test your eye health. This is common practice at leading eye clinics in the UK.
Although the CQC inspection does not provide a rating of specific branches such as Optimax Bristol, it’s reassuring to see it’s demonstrating “good practice” in general.
That means you can expect the right laser protection protocols, an honest discussion of what you can achieve with treatment, as well as considering staff throughout your interaction with the clinic.
- Average cost of eye surgery: £2,687, pay monthly finance options
- Areas of expertise: LASIK and LASEK surgery, Wavefront LASIK and LASEK, ICL surgery, cataract surgery
- Bristol address: 13 Clare St, Bristol, BS1 1XH
- CQC rating: 2018 CQC report found “good practice”
- Read customer reviews: 891 Optimax reviews
5. Bristol Eye Hospital
Best for: NHS-trained surgeons
Since 2003, the Bristol Eye Hospital has been correcting the vision of residents in and around the area. It’s home to 24 eye specialists, including ophthalmologists, optometrists, and nurses.
90% of all patients are in and out the same day, according to the 2018 CQC report, but there is also the option of an overnight stay at the Gloucester Ward, or the children’s ward.
This clinic specialises in cataract surgery, and offers both private eye treatments and NHS care to patients from the South West. That said, all surgeons work for the NHS, providing vision correction Monday to Friday.
Sadly, no former patients have submitted reviews to Lasik Eyes for this eye hospital. But the NHS survey of 2,392 outpatients the Bristol Eye Hospital found that 94% of people would recommend the Bristol Eye Hospital to family and friends.
- Average cost of eye surgery: Information not available (we track this data from submitted reviews)
- Areas of expertise: LASIK and LASEK surgery, cataract surgery
- Bristol address: Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1 2LX
- CQC rating: CQC report archived since 2019; Bristol clinic deemed “Inadequate” on July 2018 inspection
- Read customer reviews: No patient reviews on Lasik Eyes yet
How Much Does Laser Eye Surgery Cost in Bristol?
The costs of laser eye surgery are similar on a clinic by clinic basis, whether you seek treatment in London or back in Bristol. According the nearly 9,000 customer reviews on Lasik Eyes, the average cost of refractive laser treatment is between £1,195 and £2,875 per eye in the UK.
Of course, Bristol does have many more affordable options than the capital, where clinics have to pay for prime Harley Street locations, and London salaries. That’s why some nationwide clinics – such as Optegra – can charge 10% more for treatment at their London branches.
However, since the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO) recommends having someone accompany you to and from the clinic, and not driving directly after treatment, many people feel more comfortable staying close to home. That’s why Lasik Eyes is making finding a well-reviewed clinic near you easier using our quote tool.
Top Tip: In general, it’s a good idea to look at average prices rather than starting prices, since the overall cost of treatment will depend on your individual eye prescription, on top of the clinic and surgeon you choose.
Can I Receive Laser Eye Surgery on the NHS in Bristol?
Perhaps you’ve been eyeing up the Bristol Eye Hospital, wondering if it’ll treat you for free. Sadly, for 95% of us, the answer will be a resounding no.
You can only receive laser eye surgery for free on the NHS if you have a medical – not cosmetic – need for treatment. Are you keen to improve your long-sightedness, short-sightedness, or astigmatism? We’re afraid you won’t get a free pass.
The only rare exceptions are for debilitating conditions – such as Parkinson’s – where you physically cannot put glasses on yourself. No matter how much you resent wearing glasses or contact lenses otherwise, sadly personal reasons don’t cut it in the eyes of the NHS.
Find the Best Eye Surgery for You in Bristol
If you would like to book a free consultation with a specialist ophthalmologist at a top-rated laser eye surgery clinic near you, just use our clinic-finder tool here.
Find a top-rated clinic near you in seconds, check your eligibility in minutes, and get a free tailored quote for your surgery in just three steps:
- Compare clinics: Answer three questions to be matched with the leading eye clinics in your corner of Bristol (or elsewhere).
- Book a free consultation: Find out if you’re eligible for surgery over the phone, and get tested for free with an eye consultant or surgeon (worth £880).
- Receive a personalised quote: Get a clear idea of what laser eye surgery would really cost you.
