Around 100 refractive surgery clinics have opened in the UK since Optician first began surveying the market in 2001, and there are now at least 24 clinics in Ireland compared to only nine in 2003.
Optician's 10th annual survey of the sector identified 147 clinics in the UK. Three out of four premises are private clinics or private hospitals and nearly one in four are located in optical practices. Fewer than one in 10 are in NHS hospitals.
Almost all clinics offer Lasik and Lasek, the most common treatments, but recent years have seen a trend towards intraocular procedures such as phakic intraocular lenses and clear lens extraction. Most providers now offer non-laser treatments, although often only in selected locations.
The distinction between refractive surgery and general ophthalmic surgery providers has become blurred as more private clinics and hospitals have introduced these techniques alongside cataract and other ophthalmic procedures.
Charges quoted differ widely between clinics and price differentials have increased since the surveys began. This year the highest charge quoted for Lasik was £2,300 per eye at a Harley Street clinic, nearly six times the cost of the lowest. The minimum charge quoted has remained at £395 for the past six years.
Average total charges per patient across all types of treatment range from £1,350 to £5,000 this year.
Asked what they consider to be the most significant developments over the past 10 years, most clinics cite clinical advances, improved technology and better outcomes as having a positive effect on the sector. Commercial developments such as competition on price are seen as negative.
? See pages 28-35 for the full results of the survey and a directory of clinics that took part this year