ONE of the region's largest private health groups has pulled out of laser eye surgery.

After treating about 750 patients during the past five years the Bupa hospital group has discontinued laser eye surgery at their Washington site.

Bupa, which is competing against a number of specialist eye laser providers in the region, insists the decision was taken because the hospital had seen higher demand for other treatments.

The private hospital group said that in a small number of cases the laser eye surgery has not been as successful as had been hoped for.

The Bupa spokeswoman said: "Laser eye surgery has been available in the past at Washington and over the course of about five years about 750 patients have had the operation.

"In a small number of cases the surgery has not been as successful as would have been hoped for. We are working with the patients who are not happy to resolve their concerns."

The spokeswoman added: "We no longer offer laser eye surgery because we have seen higher demand for other treatment, so it is not available at the hospital now."

In a survey carried out by The Northern Echo last month, four North-East law firms said they had been approached by patients who have had laser eye surgery.

In May, the medical journal, Ophthalmology, said the failure rate for laser eye surgery was one in ten, not the one in 100 that many clinics claimed.

Optimax, one of the biggest laser eye surgery providers in the region, plans to offer a revolutionary new service within 12 months.

The treatment involves implanting a thin lens between the eye's natural lens and the iris to permanently correct sight problems such as severe long and short-sightedness.

The 30-minute procedure, costing about £995 per eye will initially only be available in London before it is introduced to all 11 clinics in the UK.

Optimax stoutly defends the safety record of laser eye surgery.

The company's website says: "No surgical procedure is 100 per cent risk free and you should be aware of potential problems.

"Serious complications are rare but do happen in all laser surgery establishments throughout the world."