Laser Eye Surgery Cost Cutting Tips

mutley74

Avs wrote: »

Hi,
I have -4.25 and -2.5 eyesight, very small astigmatism and assume my pupil size is around average.
Need Lasik with interalase and wavefront(or equivalent)

Should I go for the Visx laser (Op Express) or the Allegretto Wavelight(Focus Clinics, London) ?

(Research on the surgeons show they have great reveiews and experience, so no differentiation there really)


Thanks

Go for consultation with each and find out which is the most experienced surgeon from both. Gather any data if you can and compare (not easy thing to do). Ask to speak to each surgeon directly if you can for an opinion. See what cost and aftercare service and then make up your mind.

I can only say Optical Express are very experienced and provide a comprehensive aftercare, which i now understand is for life. I had no problems with them. Also they dont hard sell say compared to Ultralase. But that is from my experience and opinion.

I cant comment on Focus clinic as i never heard of them.

But no 1 choice is getting the best surgeon you can!

littlerat

Is there actually much difference between the big companies? After reading about their procedures etc, the only difference I can find is price!

Currently looking between Optical Express, Optimax and Ultralase - 1st 2 have similar prices, Ultralase seem much more expensive, but not actually sure what I'd be paying for so much! The basic price there's a £600 difference per eye for what I'd be looking at.

mutley74

littlerat wrote: »

Is there actually much difference between the big companies? After reading about their procedures etc, the only difference I can find is price!

.

From my experience when i was researching all the big players for my eyes, major differences are:
-cost
-quality and experience of surgeon and his results
-aftercare
-availability of clinical staff
-some clinics did not have intralase (laser cut) as option when i was getting my eyes done

littlerat

mutley74 wrote: »

From my experience when i was researching all the big players for my eyes, major differences are:
-cost
-quality and experience of surgeon and his results
-aftercare
-availability of clinical staff
-some clinics did not have intralase (laser cut) as option when i was getting my eyes done

Hmmm I've been reading a lot though, most have similar results (although measure differently), all the surgeons seem to be competent, and I'm only looking at places that do wavefront and intralase anyway (I think a blade in a person's hand always has such an element of human error, 1 slip and they've cut your eyeball in half ).

Even between the lasers, ultimately they all do the same job, all have good results.

Anyway I've moving further towards Optical Express, about average cost (ok cheaper than ultralase) and seem... professional.

memphisbelle

Had my right eye done last wednesday,optical Express, having my left one done tomorrow tue,up to now brillint result, brill service and staff,can't fault them,and eyesight in right eye better than i could have imagined, and getting better every day.:T

littlerat

I've got a Optical Express consultation tomorrow morning (had a cancellation!), just wondering how successfully people have haggled over price? I'm presuming you can haggle?!

fairlysure

I'm quite thrilled, I went for a consultation at Optimax a few weeks ago and was waiting on booking an appointment when yesterday I got a text offering me the full package for 1600 pounds (I'm not sure if I need all the bells and whistles but hey, its actually cheaper than the cheapest option if that makes sense).
Had no idea Optimax do this, just thought I would add it to the thread in case anyone is looking to save some money, might be worth going for a consultation and waiting for a bit to see if there are any deals about.

booza_2

Avs wrote: »

Hi,
I have -4.25 and -2.5 eyesight, very small astigmatism and assume my pupil size is around average.
Need Lasik with interalase and wavefront(or equivalent)

Should I go for the Visx laser (Op Express) or the Allegretto Wavelight(Focus Clinics, London) ?

(Research on the surgeons show they have great reveiews and experience, so no differentiation there really)


Thanks

What decision did you come to? I am too choosing between Optical Express and Focus Clincs. I am not sure what the Alegretto Wavelight laser is that you were referring to at Focus, because as far as I'm aware Focus offer Z Lasik treatment via the Ziemer laser. I thought the Focus treatment would be more expensive as the Z Laser is supposed to be superior and the newest and most accurate laser about, but the £300 discount Focus are currently offering makes this the cheaper option. However I am now considering Optimax now as it is so much cheaper...only £2500 as opposed to £3500 for the others. What did you decide in the end?

Many thanks,
Susie

mutley74

booza wrote: »

the Z Laser is supposed to be superior and the newest and most accurate laser about, but the £300 discount Focus are currently offering makes this the cheaper option. However I am now considering Optimax now as it is so much cheaper...only £2500 as opposed to £3500 for the others. What did you decide in the end?

Many thanks,
Susie

Please try and go for consideration of surgeon experience of eye surgery and if possible some idea of his data outcome as a guide. A professional very experienced surgeon is far better with any equipment than a surgeon who has little experience even with a better laser IMHO.

Avs_2

Hi Susie,
I am as yet undecided...I have a consultation with Focus in London on the 22nd and may well decide for sure after that.
I assume the laser you are talking about is the same that I was talking about, just by another name - it is referred to as 'the safest laser' and it runs at '400mhz' etc, etc - is that the one ?

One other question I have for them which you maybe can answer - if they are as good as their referrals and reviews and pretty cheap, whilst using the latest laser, then why do they not have multiple clinics up and down the country as I assume any growing and successful business would achieve ?

Mutley74, I agree that the surgeon's experience is paramount, but when I review each one, they go through a detailed history and career and the number of operations they have completed (in the thousands) - so for me it is not easy to distinguish which surgeon is better in these cases as they all come across as being really good....the only differential is the laser, the clinic and the price......even googling the surgeons leave doesnt help....what can I do ?

thanks
Avs