Laser Eye Surgery Cost Cutting Tips

Avs_2

So I have read that the results using Wavelight guided and Wavelight optimised/custom (via the Allegretto Laser) are pretty much the same which is why the clinic I have booked with use only guided for 99% of their patients who dont have an abnormal condition.

Anyone out there with some knowlenge who can confirm or disagree with this ?

GirlAboutTown

Seen lots of interesting info on here, thanks to all.

Few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer - apologies if answers are already on the thread, there's a lot of posts to plough through!

I'm based in London, and have had a consultation with Optical Express (Shaftesbury Ave) and have ones booked with Ultralase (Tott Ct Rd) and Optimax (Liverpool St)... but am now thinking about Moorfields Eye Hospital. any feedback on those clinics is much appreciated.

Optical Express seemed pretty good (although I don't like their pricing policy of charging more for a worse prescription even if it's using the same technique). They told me that because of my strong astigmatism I need their most expensive technique (Wavefront?), and that they have the most advanced laser technique and only other people that do is Moorfields... is this true?

Moorfields - I'm guessing that its the best as it has the surgeons that get sent really tricky eye cases from elsewhere - anyone got a review/ comment on them?

I know Moorfields is more expensive, but frankly I'm ok with paying morefor the best (as long as they are better!) as you only get one set of eyes.

Thanks
GAT

vinto

Had my consultation with optical express in novenmber and was pleased to get them down to 1500 from an initial 2200 for surgery by acccepting a cancelation date a few days after. Fortunately my mum noticed that i clouldnt get surgery as was breastfeeding phoned the branch who said oops optician didnt read my from properly but he had clarified with him that as soon as i stopped feeding i could get it even a day or two after as it was the steriods that i would be given was the problem. So they agreed to keep my deposit secure my offer of 1500 and they would provide me with free contact lenses in the time being. V concerned when i picked up my contacts and very little improvemnet of what my eyes are - completely different perscription than my original lenses -alarm bells!!they agreed give me my original perscription but now 6 months down the line im still feeding and have just found out they completely lied as to the reason why u dont get laser when feeding and once i stop it will be a few months to let my hormones balance out whilst i phone every month to get the trial pack lenses they send out so contact lenses care!!! I should really get my deposit back and go elsewhere shouldnt i?

Teeoff

Hi Vinto,

I am a keen golfer but not a particularly good one! Been thinking about laser eye surgery for a while and saw some good prices on TV. Saw Padraig Harrington advertising Optical Express and thought that's the place for me to try. Well what liars they turned out to be. During the consultation last week, which took ages, they tried to get me to sign up before I had completed the tests. I mentioned the Padraig Harrington ad and said a hoped to improve my golf too. They said their surgery could do it for me too.

Then they told me the cost - £3,250 for my eyes durrr - how do you get from £395 to £3,250??? By lying of course. it get's worse, I found out in the paper this week that Optical Express did not even treat Padriag harrington, it was some clinic in Ireland called the Wellington. They've had to pull the ad because they have been lying to millions of people about what they can actually do.

So it's no surprise to me that they cocked up your advice too! I'm now looking at other clinics that i can trust. Golf is important but i'm not risking my eyes to a bunch of liars!
my mate at work told me to try accuvision - am checking thekm out next week - fingers crossed.

gushy

I just had a consultation with Optical Express and was quoted £2500 for the surgery (I have a -2.5 prescription in both eyes) or £2000 is I wanted the traditional mechanical flap creation rather than the laser one.

Having looked on here I've now requested information from Optimax, Accuvision etc. So hopefully I'll get the price down, I noticed as mentioned by another user here that on ebay there are tons of £300-£500 off vouchers for the different places that you can pick up for a few pence.

I'm confused as to whether all the places offer the same surgery, they all seem to use the same terms yet Optical Express told me that only 1 hospital in London and themselves have the licence for the technology they use.

Avs_2

Hi Gushy,
what Optical Express meant was that only themselves and Moorfields use the same Laser (VISX).
Through my research, the laser is pretty good and consistent.
I myself am booked in for surgery at Focus Clinic in London. They use a different laser, but with equally as impressive results (Allegretto Wavelight) and so far would recommend them on their consultation professionalism, sensible prices (£2300 Lasik, laser flap, -4.5 & -2.5 shortsightedness), non-pressure selling technique, thourough knowledge, and great reputation).

I will let you know how my surgery goes in a few days if it helps. Fingers crossed !!

In the meantime, do as much research as you can, and also keep in mind it is not all about the laser, but about the actual surgeon as well

Avs_2

Hi again.
Just wanted to say that my surgery at Focus Laser Vision in London was a cplete success. The process itself was short and uncomfortable as I suspected, but there was no pain. The next few hours at home were also uncomfortable as expected as well, but after that things were really good.
The next day at the check-up, my eyesight was as good as they were when I had specs on (20/15) so apart from the normal dry eyes for a few weeks, things are almost perfect.
Dr Allamby was very professional and confident as were the whole team at Focus, so I would recommend these guys to anyone...much better than the sales pitch I received from the optical express consultation.

All the best for anyone else thinging about surgery and do try to give Focus a lookup for a consultation...their prices for me were a little less than the optical express quote as well the laser used gives just as good results as the Optical express ones if not better.

phague

Hello,

I am considering having laser eye surgery done, but cant afford it yet, even on interest free.

Does anyone know of any opticians that would put normal sunglass lenses into prescription sunglass frames, please? I have Police frames, so dont really want to start looking for an other frames, when I like these ones!

Thanks in advance.

MattOsprey

Hi all,
I am trying to find out if anyone actually gets laser eye surgery for £395 per eye?
My wife is -1.25 in each eye, her prescription has been the same for years, she has no astigmatism as far as I can remember (can't find her prescription at the moment, will obviously get a new one when a decision is made).
What do you think the price from Optimax should be for thi case? What surgery is recommended?

I inderstand that we will need to get proper clarification from the professionals, but we don't want to drive 3 hours to be told prices that are way above advertised.

Thanks for your help.
Matt

[Deleted User]

Hi all

I choose Focus Laser Vision in London for my treatment and throughly recommend them for quality of service and, maybe surprisingly for a private clinic,their prices were much better than some other providers too.

If anyone should choose to gowith them please let me know as they operate a useful referral scheme too!