Celebrities Who Have Had Laser Eye Surgery
Given the high prevalence of refractive errors such as short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that the popularity of Laser Eye Surgery has been on an upward trajectory for decades. But you might not have ever stopped to consider which of your favourite celebrities have gone through with the life-changing procedure.
In this article, we’re taking a look at some of the famous faces who have opted for Laser Eye Surgery – including a few who opted for treatment at our very own London Vision Clinic. But most importantly, we’ll be reiterating the fact that Laser Eye Surgery is not just for the rich and famous.
So, without any further ado, let’s take a deep dive into some of the most well-known celebrities who have been under the laser.
A Star Treatment?
Countless celebrities have turned to laser treatment to do away with their glasses or contact lenses. Many celebs have been vocal about their treatment and how it has helped to change their lives for the better. These include:
Elton John
Despite being long known for his love of an eccentric pair of glasses (and other costumes, for that matter), Elton John actually underwent Laser Eye Surgery way back in 2002 (the same year the doors to the London Vision Clinic were opened).
Of course, with a collection of over 4,000 glitzy frames, the pop superstar is still often seen sporting glasses. Well, he has to maintain his trademark look!
Brad Pitt
Known as one of the most sought-after Hollywood stars, Brad Pitt has been an icon of film since his break-out roles in the 90s. Of course, he was rarely spotted sporting glasses either on or off camera – reportedly at the expense of his vision.
Eventually, Pitt is thought to have gotten fed up with not recognising those around him and opted for Laser Eye Surgery in 2010.
Nicole Kidman
As another of Hollywood’s sweethearts, Nicole Kidman has been no stranger to red-carpet events over the years. But unbeknown to most of her fans and reporters, Kidman had been struggling with blurry vision for years. In fact, Kidman reported herself that she was almost legally blind!
Thankfully, that all changed when she decided to have Laser Eye Surgery before the 2003 Academy Awards – at which she won her first Oscar!
Sir Richard Branson
He’s known as one of the world’s wealthiest businessmen, whose entrepreneurial pursuits started with a mail-order record company and has now blossomed into an interest in around 400 companies.
Now in his 70s, Branson has long been known for his bold business moves – a trait that may well have pushed him to get Laser Eye Surgery. He once stated that two of the most impactful things he’s done for his health are ensuring he wakes up at 5 am every day to practice some form of exercise, and having Laser Eye Surgery.
Tiger Woods
As one of the world’s most well-known sportsmen, former number-one golfer Tiger Woods has been heavily reliant on his vision over the years. But Woods’ eyesight didn’t used to be as impressive as you might imagine. In fact, according to reports, Woods relied on contact lenses to achieve 20/15 vision until he finally decided to have LASIK in 1999! He went on to win 15 major golf championships.
Denise Van Outen
Denise Van Outen is a household name in the UK and even across the pond. Her success as an actor, singer, dancer, and presenter has seen her star in West End and Broadway productions, and make countless television appearances. But she has also been a vocal advocate for Laser Eye Surgery.
Having undergone the procedure around a decade ago to correct her short-sightedness, she has declared she only wishes she had done it sooner.
Star Treatment at the London Vision Clinic
Of course, as one of the leading Laser Eye Surgery clinics in the UK, we have welcomed a fair share of famous faces into our Harley Street clinic…
Bonnie Tyler
Famed for her distinctive powerful, husky voice, Bonnie Tyler is a true 70s icon, boasting hits such as ‘Holding Our for A Hero’ and ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ – Bonnie decided she wasn’t going to put up with a total eclipse of her vision.
After years of putting up with poor eyesight which made it difficult to read lyrics or get ready for a show, a friend suggested Tyler visit our founder and expert surgeon Professor Dan Reinstein at London Vision Clinic.
“A friend suggested I see Professor Dan Reinstein. I went to his London clinic for four hours of tests to see if there was a reason I shouldn’t have the surgery – if I’d had underlying eye disease, for example. I was given the all-clear and was operated on the following morning.”
Bonnie had two conditions treated during her visit to the clinic – hyperopia (long-sightedness) and presbyopia (ageing eyes) – and she was thrilled with the results!
Carol Vorderman
Carol Vorderman, known affectionately to millions as “Vorders”, stole our hearts by showing off her wicked arithmetic skills on Countdown where she was a common fixture for 26 years. Since leaving the show in 2008, Vorders has helped to promote the importance of maths in schools, written books, and presented television and radio shows.
But by 2012, Vorderman was getting tired of her new-found need for glasses – a result of presbyopia. Thankfully, she was eligible for PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision, which was performed right here at our Harley Street clinic. And, if her tweets at the time are anything to go on, she was thrilled with the results:
“This is my first tweet without wearing glasses ever. I am sooo happy. Op went like a dream. I am a very happy girl…
“Dan Reinstein invented the blended vision technique. He is quite frankly a sax playing genius.”
Lorraine Kelly
Lorraine Kelly is arguably the UK’s Queen of daytime television. Having presented a range of hit TV shows including Good Morning Britain, This Morning, and featuring on daytime favourite Loose Women and, of course, Lorraine, Kelly is a well-known feature of many people’s day. With her brightness and easygoing manner with guests, you might never have guessed that Lorraine has faced challenges with her vision.
As Lorraine told the Daily Mail in a 2013 interview, she first had Laser Eye Surgery to treat her distance vision in 2003. Unfortunately, some years later, the effects of presbyopia began to set in, leaving her reliant on reading glasses.
“Experts didn’t think it was possible to correct but Professor Dan Reinstein, a surgeon at the London Vision Clinic, developed a laser procedure… I was an ideal candidate. I only needed one eye adjusting, which took about a minute.”
And Kelly was delighted with the outcome: “I got all I wanted – to be able to read without my specs.”
And many more!
The gleaming reputation of our clinic, surgeons and staff has made London Vision Clinic one of the go-to providers for celebrities looking to ditch the glasses or contact lenses. But we’re far from just a clinic for the rich and famous.
While continuing to contribute to the improvement of the industry, we are also passionate about making Laser Eye Surgery as accessible as possible. That’s why we offer finance options to help you spread the cost of your treatment, making it more affordable to finally possess the vision you deserve.
To learn more about Laser Eye Surgery at London Vision Clinic, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators or Book a Consultation today.