The True Price of Cheap Laser Eye Surgery

Let’s face it, we all love a bargain. Whether it’s a great deal on a package holiday or a buy-one-get-one-free offer on our favourite grocery product; however, when it comes to something as important as our health, should we really be offering to compromise treatment for the sake of a cheap deal?

Moreover, how many times have you thought you were savvy by opting for the cheaper version of a product, only to find out that it’s cheaper for a reason? Well, the same can also be true of Laser Eye Surgery.

While the cost of your treatment is undoubtedly a huge consideration, it should never be the only consideration.

The Varying Cost of Laser Eye Surgery

If you’ve been browsing the vast sea of Laser Eye Surgery providers available, you have probably noticed that prices can vary quite significantly. In fact, you may well find prices ranging from as little as £595 per eye to around £6,000 – and anywhere in between! But unlike buying groceries, shopping around for Laser Eye Surgery can be a complex task that requires a little more research and understanding of the procedure.

Laser Eye Surgery is considered one of the safest surgical procedures in the world. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that every procedure still comes with an element of risk. Of course, some things do help to minimise this risk and ensure the best possible outcomes. These include:

Rigorous Screening and Quality Consultations

The initial consultation is the cornerstone of any successful procedure. This appointment allows your doctor to familiarise themselves not only with your prescription but also with the health of your eyes and your overall health. This is essential for determining your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery.

For this reason, it is often possible to tell the overall quality of a clinic by the quality of their consultation process. Unfortunately, a 2014 investigation by Which? found that one in three high street providers have poor quality consultations with some even failing to properly explain the risks associated with Laser Eye Surgery.

The same investigation found that independent clinics, smaller chains and hospital-based providers scored the best across all criteria. Here at London Vision Clinic, we’re proud to have one of the most extensive and rigorous screening consultations in the sector. During this consultation, we perform a wide range of tests and examinations. This helps us to accurately assess your prescription and suitability to determine the best treatment for you.

The Expertise and Experience of the Surgeons

While the UK Laser Eye Surgery sector is one of the most advanced in the world, relatively loose regulations remain around its practice. This means that some surgeons do not have significant experience or specialist training in Laser Eye Surgery.

At London Vision Clinic, we often see patients who have received bad advice or treatment elsewhere. For this reason, many specialist Laser Eye Surgeons continue to lobby for the tightening of regulations in the sector.

Thankfully, we are proud to be home to several experienced and highly-trained surgeons with a track record of providing excellent treatment outcomes. From our founder, Professor Dan Reinstein – one of the most experienced and respected Laser Eye Surgeons – to his hand-picked and highly-trained colleague, Mr Glenn Carp, our team is uniquely experienced and highly qualified to address a huge range of vision problems.

Staff Knowledge and Customer Service

While customer service might not seem like the most important consideration when choosing a Laser Eye Surgery clinic, it truly can make all the difference to your overall experience. Not only can knowledgeable and friendly clinic staff help to make sure you leave every clinic visit with a smile on your face, but they are also essential in making you feel comfortable and confident in your decisions.

Unfortunately, offering Laser Eye Surgery at such low prices usually means that many chain providers have to treat such high levels of patients in order to be profitable. As a result, they usually have to compromise on this area of their service. This can even mean resorting to high-pressure sales tactics and a generalised approach to close sales.

In contrast, independent clinics have a much higher staff-to-patient ratio. Not only does this mean our clients feel valued and listened to, but it also means we offer a more personalised and enjoyable experience, from start to finish.

The Risk of Post-Operative Complications

Although complications occur in less than 5% of patients (and serious complications are even rarer), your provider should always discuss the potential risks of Laser Eye Surgery with you.

Common side effects of Laser Eye Surgery include dry eyes and night vision disturbances. However, these are usually easily managed with the help of artificial tears (eye drops), and by wearing glasses at night. Furthermore, they most often resolve themselves within a matter of months.

Severe loss of vision is very rare, and going blind—even in just one eye—as stated by our very own Prof Reinstein, is nearly as rare of an occurrence as being struck by lightning. In most cases, patients can be back to work and their regular lives in a matter of days. Furthermore, adequate planning to find a clinic with experienced surgeons, excellent service, and a passion to always put its patients first, will help to ensure your Laser Eye Surgery is quick, smooth, and pain-free (in every sense of the word).

Choosing the Right Clinic

Many of these precautions are left down to the individual practice to employ. Therefore, it is essential to understand how to recognise a suitable and qualified practice. When choosing a Laser Eye Surgery provider, be sure to consider:

• The qualifications of the surgeon (you can use our checklist, here);
• The quality of the pre-operative examination;
• The aftercare regime for your recommended treatment;
• Whether you have access to your surgeon post-treatment;
• How the clinic and surgeons manage the risks of the surgery.

If you would like to learn more about the treatments available at London Vision Clinic or would simply like to learn more about the procedure, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators. Alternatively, Book a Consultation today to start your journey to clear, glasses-free vision.