Would be good to speak to a doctor/surgeon about options
I went to LVC to have a consultation for what eye surgery to get. The customer service from my patient care coordinator was brilliant and I'm sure the team here have lots of experience and expertise.
My score relates mainly to my experience with the optometrist and costs. When I was having the eye test done I found her to be quite rude as the test was taking a long time and she was placing the machine right on top of my face. She then went through the options I could have which included laser as a one-off due to my thin cornea. I didn't feel confident with her recommendation so I went to Moorfields for a second opinion.
When I went to Moorfields, the first person I saw was my surgeon. The optometrist there, also did the eye test the old fashioned way which was much quicker. My surgeon then showed me all the scans and explained what treatments would be available. They said they hoped no one had told me laser was an option considering how thin my cornea was. I told them that I was offered this, and they were not happy considering the risks. It then dawned on me that I hadn't spoken with a doctor at LVC considering the costs at both are similar at the same stage of assessment.
I'm definitely not one to say that a doctor or surgeon has to be the one to discuss the options as maybe LVC do things differently and their optometrists are qualified to do this. However, when you hear from another surgeon that a treatment shouldn't have been offered, that does lower your confidence in the centre. This was the main reason why I decided not go ahead with LVC.
Svar från London Vision Clinic
Dear L C,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback, and I’m glad to hear that you found the support from your Patient Care Coordinator to be so positive. I’m very sorry that your experience during the testing left you feeling uncomfortable — that is never the impression we want any patient to leave with.
At London Vision Clinic, our initial screening appointment is a comprehensive three-hour assessment carried out by a highly qualified Optometrist. This involves multiple advanced diagnostic scans that are not widely available in other clinics, and these can sometimes take longer or feel different to a more traditional refraction-only eye test. The purpose is always to gather the most precise and detailed data possible so that our surgeons can make an informed, personalised suitability decision.
Regarding the conversation around treatment options: both ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) and a one-time-only LASER procedure were discussed to ensure you had the full range of possibilities. Your scans showed sufficient corneal tissue and tomography for laser to be considered — but only as a one-off procedure with the understanding that top-up spectacles may be required later. At the same time, we also explained that ICLs would likely provide the highest degree of spectacle independence, and therefore were the preferred option. I’m sorry if this felt unclear or was not communicated in a way that gave you confidence.
To reassure you, no patient proceeds to treatment at London Vision Clinic based solely on an Optometrist’s assessment. Every patient has a dedicated one-to-one consent appointment with one of our Consultant Surgeons, who reviews all imaging personally, discusses risks in detail, and makes the final suitability decision. We appreciate that hearing a different professional opinion elsewhere can understandably lower confidence, and I’m sorry this was the case for you.
Although you chose not to continue your journey with us, we sincerely wish you the very best with your ongoing care. We value your feedback and will use it to ensure every patient feels supported, informed, and comfortable throughout their visit.
Best wishes,
London Vision Clinic