Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

I am considering, or at least looking into, laser eye surgery. I wanted to know if anyone here has had it done or otherwise has any information about it?

How was the process of getting done, how much consultation takes place? How long does the actual surgery take and what has it been like now that you have had it done?

Cheers

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

A colleague had one eye done many years ago and was unable to drive at night after that... he kept seeing "stars" caused by streetlights and oncoming headlights. He eventually surrendered his driving licence.

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

I had it done Jan 2010 at my local Optimax, near me there's a Optimax, Ultralase, and Optical express, so I suggest get on their spam mail list and sooner or later you'll get an offer that's very good, I got Intralase Wavefront LASIK treatment from Optimax 9at the time the best treatment available i think) 1/2 price with 12 months interest free credit, the all do different deals now and again, some also do open days where you can look round, ask questions etc.

I didn't go to an open day but made an appointment on the phone for an initial consultation, where they first check your eyes to see if you're suitable, if you are, the explain the different procedures, cost advantages, disadvantages etc of each one. I seem to remember that took an hour or so, then the end of the week or maybe following week I was treated.

the one I chose for example meant you got done Friday morning, rest weekend, back to work Monday! Not everyone is suitable for all treatments though, so the ones with longer healing time may be only option.

Spent more time in the waiting room than being treated! From what I remember day of surgery they did more checks, make me sign waiver that if it all goes horribly wrong and I'm blind, I can sue etc, then was treated, which took 10 mins maybe? horrible smell as eye is being burned, sat in dark room for 30 mins I think, then put on sunglasses and was taken home!

Sat morning, had check up, all was fine.

spent next few weeks/months taking various eye drops, first few days 3 lots, anti biotics, moisturising eye drops, and pain killers, then ant biotics and moisturing for a week or so, then took moisturising ones for a couple of months I think?

in next 2 or 3 months I think i had 2 check ups before being discharged.

Best few grand I've ever spent, when you think about how much you spend on glass/contacts. Although remember, as I was told when I was at the consultation, as you get older your eye may naturally deteriorate, so sooner or later I may need to get reading glasses, but they said off the shelf ones would most likely be fine.

Recently I had an eye test, at a different optician, rather than where they did surgery, and optician said they had done an excellent job, eye sight was perfect. Not everyone gets 20/20 vision after, but pretty close.

Any more questions, ask away


re the above post, my sister in law says she has trouble driving at night, she had the cheapest treatment done, I have no trouble driving at night,

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

Yeah. I am aware that the natural age problems will occur but at 25 I should have a nice long time to enjoy sight without glasses barring any other medical problems such as diabetes or, indeed, death.

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

Has your prescription changed at all over last few years, as it needs to be stable, otherwise as you say, you may as well enjoy the benefits for a long time.

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

Changed last year, stable this year. Nothing drastic over the last few years

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

I had the same treatment.

Laser to cut the flap and ablate the tissue.

Best 2.5k I ever spent. I have no issues with aberrations since having it done but some people do.....less people report issues if they have the flap cut with the laser than the microtome, Wavefront also seems to help reduce the aberrations.

Admars is right, if you get on their email list they start to send you offers when the local clinic is having a slow period. I haggled too and got them down from 4.5 to 2.5.

You really can't feel the procedure and afterwards I was just on Paracetamol for a day, I didn't even need the anaesthetic eye drops.

Had it done on the Thursday PM, returned on the Friday to have the protective contacts removed and was back at work Friday PM.

It's been 3 years and my vision is as good as it was the day after they did it. I hope it lasts many years.

HTH :)

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

4.5 to 2.5?

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

Never had it done and never would.

Would you really want someone medically UNQUALIFIED shining a laser in your eyes?

I certainly wouldn't

Nice to hear the success stories on here, but Google the failures too!

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

why do you think they're unqualified? They are medically qualified specialist surgeons carrying out the procedure.

Yes there are some failures, my sister in law had to get one eye redone as it wasn't successful first time, she's the only person I know who has had problems with it. The technology and success rate improves all the time. yes it's important to do research, and read about the good and bad ones, but check the date, and the method used.

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

I have considered having my eyes done but I always come to the same conclusion - You only get one pair of eyes, if they screw it up you are kind of, well screwed.

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

There are charlatans about.Best to do research about who to go to especially if going private.;)

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

Have to go private. NHS won't do it for simply being short sighted. Optical Express is very likely to be who I go for...

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

Had eye laser surgery with Optical Express to correct astigmatism and crappy vision. Proceedure was ok, drops in, cut flap, burning laser smell, click noise of laser etc etc, but obviously can't feel a thing due to drops. Eyes were a bit light sensitive after, but I prob made it worse as I went shopping straight after instead of going home (had it done at Bluewater) lol.
I went for a consultation with Optimax in London, but decided not to go with them as I felt they were a bit pushy on the hard sell. That said, they gave exactly the same the same advice/diagnosis as Optical Express (I just didn't like the hard sell).
Vision excellent now (been about 6+ years I think) and best thing I ever done as hated contacts drying my eyes and glasses just a pain in the ar*e.
I choose the most expensive treatment there was as it is also the one with the best results (i.e. custom wavefront and laser flap cut rather than mechanical cut).
All the major providers (Optimax, Ultralase & Optical Express) use fully qualified eye surgeons, so there is no worries about using them and the scare stories are in the main bullsh*t (of course things can go wrong with any proceedure and I expect for some people they have).
If you elect to go to Bodgit & Scarper eye clinic because it is half the price, then you can have no complaints if it did go wrong! I will do anyones eyes in my workshop with the mig welder, a mirror and a an old microwave for £500 an eye if anyone interested LOL

Re: Laser Eye Surgery - Anyone had it?
 

Cheers for the stories. I was pretty decided before hand to be honest but wanted to flush out positive experiences to calm my nerves.

So how long after the op did your eyesight improve?