Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery, Cataract Surgery, Lens Replacement, & Opticians: Manchester

I have just had laser eye surgery with Optical Express. From the first consultation to the final product I have nothing but respect for all the hard work the team have done. They made the whole process move very swiftly but also put me at ease when I had questions / concerns. The team at OE including Usman and the surgeon have done an excellent job and I would thoroughly recommend going there should you wish to have laser eye surgery. I know it’s a scary feeling having it done but honestly you are in an out within a couple of minutes. Thanks again for everything! Craig

I had an ocular lens replaced which had an issue 10 years after it was originally placed. Optical Express in Manchester have been marvelous throughout my procedure. They arranged my transport and overnight stay and provided a map to get me from the train station to the clinic. All the staff were friendly and couldn’t do enough to put me at ease and talk me through every step of the process. Usman did my pre op checks and answered any questions I had. Smashing lad and very professional. Mr Aasheet Desai did the surgery and has done a fantastic job. He did explain all the possible outcomes and I felt confident and assured he would fix my problem. I’ve had my post op checks and everything is spot on. Less than 24 hours post surgery and I can see quite clearly and have no discomfort at all. I understand my vision will continue to improve in the coming weeks and months. Overall I’m over the moon with my results. Again, many thanks to all the staff.

Booked for both eyes, I had my procedure in less than a month with a Blue Light card discount. The operation was finished in 5 minutes with no pain, slight discomfort and a speedy recovery. I could see clearly within 2-3 days and have had no dryness since, 1 month on. I read plenty of these reviews before my surgery and am pleased I wasn’t deterred. Extremely pleased.

My visit was very good. Both reception people were pro-active and helpful and the optometrist himself was excellent: both thorough and explained the changes in my eyesight. The reason for not 5 stars is because of the shockingly bad treatment I have had from Optical Express up to this time which is the subject of a formal complaint at the moment.

The staff at St Johns St Manchester branch couldn’t be more helpful or more knowledgeable. Thank you. However, as for the past however long I can remember, they are badly let down by a clunky and unreliable IT system wasting their time and losing patient data. It’s taken me 5 weeks to get new spectacles almost solely because of IT- related communication problems.

To anyone reading this, please, don't use Optical Express. A pushy sales pitch from the Manchester team is followed by a £500 deposit and then cancelled surgery (twice) with flimsy excuses. Upon my first visit to the clinic, I explained that time was of the essense as I was leaving the UK in early August. Nevertheless, they twice cancelled my eye surgery at very short notice, offering me an appointment weeks later that they knew I could not attend. At that point, I lost faith in them completely and told them I would find another eye surgeon only for them to tell me it was my fault for cancelling and therefore they would not refund my £500 deposit. In fact, the previously friendly receptionist spitefully took delight in telling me that. Fortunately, I hadn't signed a contract with them so they had no basis to keep the money. It's apparent to me that the £500 is the commission for what is effectively a 'sales' office for eye surgery that you are better off seeking directly from a surgeon, hence their determination to keep hold of it at all costs. Most importantly though, after their 2nd cancellation, I spoke directly with an eye surgeon at Manchester Royal Eye hospital who told me that the lenses they had recommended (multi-focal IOL's) had a far higher incidence of halos and loss of contrast than Optical Express mentioned and I should go for a different option given my prescription. I learned far more in a 15-minute conversation with him than in the almost 3 hours I wasted at the Optical Express clinic in St. John's st. Manchester. I really feel as though I have dodged a bullet. Find another company; you can't rely on Optical Express to either a) be honest, b) give you the right advice about what is a major change to your vision, or c) give you your money back if THEY cancel your surgery. Their reply to my review below speaks volumes of their attitude. Instead of apologising for messing me around, they have tried to blame me. I would add in response to their reply, I was certainly not told enough by their sales team about the halos and about loss of contrast I might face. Finally, I did end up having a fantastic surgery experience with Mr Brahma at the Manchester Eye Hospital.