Quality and governance bodies
As the UK's number one provider of laser eye surgery, our commitment to patient care is backed up by our membership of a number of industry governing bodies.
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Our treatment clinics in England are inspected by the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care which is responsible for enforcing government regulatory standards. See the CQC website for their judgements about our compliance with national standards. Click here for current clinic ratings.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS)
In Scotland, our treatment clinics are regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland whose purpose is to ensure better quality health and social care for everyone in Scotland. Click here for current clinic ratings.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW)
In Wales, our treatment clinics are regulated by the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. The independent inspectorate and regulator of healthcare in Wales.
The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)
Our treatment clinics in Northern Ireland are regulated by The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority – the independent body responsible for monitoring and inspecting the availability and quality of health and social care services in Northern Ireland.
General Optical Council (GOC)
Optical Express is fully registered with the GOC, the regulatory body for optical professions in the UK. We adhere to their strict standards of treatment and care.
The Eye Laser Association (ELA)
The ELA was established in 2003, with Optical Express as a founding member. Its purpose was to establish a code of best practice within the industry which ensured that all patients of member clinics were treated to the highest clinical standards. Although currently inactive, the ELA could play a future role in the growth and development of the refractive industry while ensuring that clinical standards are maintained and patient care remains at the forefront.
The Optical Confederation (OC)
Optical Express are members of the OC. Our clinicians and clinics follow the OC Multidisciplinary Standards for Refractive Surgery
Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO)
Many of our surgeons are members of the RCO.
General Medical Council (GMC)
All Optical Express surgeons are fully registered and approved by the General Medical Council.
International Medical Advisory Board (IMAB)
The IMAB provides our surgeons with continuous education, ensuring we stay at the forefront of eye surgery advancement and research.
The Ireland Medical Council / Comhairle na nDocht ir Leighis (IMC)
All Optical Express surgeons based in Ireland are registered with the IMC, assuring the quality of and guidance on professional standards of ethical conducts.
The Optician Board of Ireland (Bord na Radharcmhastoiri)
Every Optical Express surgeon working in Ireland is a member of this statutory authority, which regulates the registration and practice of optometrists and dispensing opticians.
Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI)
The AOI provides a supervisory and ethical environment for optometrists. All Optical Express optometrists in Ireland adhere to the guidelines issued by this professional body.
The Federation of (Ophthalmic and Dispensing) Opticians
As the leading national association for eye care providers, FODO is supporting opticians in care settings. Annually, FODO members provide more than 18 million eye examinations and other eye care services across the UK.
Further information
Optical Express teams comply with and exceed the standards for refractive surgery published by the organisations FODO, ABDO, ACLM and FMO in June 2017. These standards, available here, are designed to ensure that you receive the highest quality of care in all aspects of your treatment, including your initial assessment with our optometrists, your discussions with our ophthalmic surgeon, the procedure itself and the aftercare we provide for you.
If you would like any further information about these standards and how they affect the services we provide, please contact:
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