My Optical Express LASIK Review: Experience, Recovery & Results

I had LASIK with Optical Express in 2023, after my brother had the same procedure the year before and told me straight how it went — good and bad. I'd worn glasses for years and had put off laser eye surgery for a long time, mainly because I wanted to be sure I was choosing the right provider before committing.

Why Optical Express

Experience, reputation and the technology used were what mattered most to me. I read reviews, spoke to people who'd actually had it done — including my brother — and went into the consultation with a clear idea of what I wanted to know.

Surgery and recovery

Staff talked me through everything beforehand and I felt comfortable at each stage. The procedure itself took less than 15 minutes. I went straight home and rested, as advised. By the next day my vision was already clear, and my follow-up check confirmed everything was normal.

What surprised me most was how fast ordinary things changed — checking my phone, watching TV, driving — all different within a day or two of not reaching for glasses first.

The results

Three years on, I haven't needed glasses or contacts since. That's the part that's stayed life-changing rather than just being a nice initial result.

Would I recommend it?

Yes. Consultation, surgery and aftercare all matched what I was told to expect going in, and the result has held up.

If you're weighing up whether it's actually worth doing, I've written a separate, more direct breakdown here: [Is Laser Eye Surgery Worth It?]

If you want to reduce the cost, you can request an Optical Express referral code through this site. Since my own surgery in 2023, I've passed on referral codes to more than 70 people looking to do the same.

What Other Patients Say

"The first week after LASEK wasn't much fun — eyes were really sensitive and vision was a bit blurry. By the 3rd or 4th week things started getting noticeably better. I'm around 8 months on now and can't complain. Vision is excellent and I haven't touched my glasses since."
— Patient A, LASEK, 2025

"The LASIK has been brilliant. The procedure was over so quickly I genuinely couldn't believe it. My eyesight was already much better by the evening and the next morning I could see across the room without reaching for glasses. Had some dry eyes for a few weeks, but that's about it."
— Patient B, LASIK, 2024

"I went for the iDesign LASIK option because of my prescription and astigmatism. Recovery was easier than expected and the results have been spot on. Night driving was the one thing I was worried about beforehand, but I've had no major issues."
— Patient C, Advanced LASIK (iDesign), 2025

"My distance vision is now very good and I no longer need glasses for driving or watching television. I do still use reading glasses as expected, but that was never a concern for me. The recovery was much easier than I anticipated."
— Patient D, Monofocal Lens Replacement, 2024

"The first few weeks were a little strange — my eyes needed time to adjust and I noticed some halos around lights at night. That gradually settled down. Now I barely think about my eyesight anymore. Looking back, I wish I'd had it done sooner."
— Patient E, Multifocal Lens Replacement, 2025

Last updated: October 2026