Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

How are you all post surgury? Vision still good, with no complications?

I've only just started researching, but after wearing contacts for twenty years, I want something done about it!!

Abdabz

Funny how the doctors who perform the laser eye surgery and all the opticians in the world wear glasses

boxst

Mine have been done for 1.5 years and everything is still fine. I wouldn't expect any problems until 5 years plus, so you might want to check back then (assuming I can still read here of course ).

Steve

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Steve,

Thanks for the advice, after very little diliberation, I had my eyes done yesterday at Optimax in Croydon with Dr Hoe.

Very impressed with the friendly staff, and the environment which put me at ease.

I only concern was after the first eye was lasered and I wanted it to be over. The second eye took less than a minute in reality, but felt like an hour!!

Sore, watery eyes yesterday, but not as bad as getting an eyelash or grit under my old hard contact lenese. This morning, other than the odd ache lasting around a minute, they are pretty much normal.

Vision feels a little bit cloudy around the edges, but I had a high prescription, over -5 in each eye, so I was warned it would take a little longer to settle.

Check up later this morning, but I expect all to be fine!!

Thanks again for the advice, it was a contributing factor to me having this done, which already feels like a new lease of life!! Also it'a amzing that when you mention you want to do it, hwo many people have had it done. I didn't realise I knew 10 people who had similar treatments!

Andy

fitzscoob

Hi Andy

Good news! Have to say I have been back and forth thinking about this for a while now.

What was the cost if you dont mind, or does the cost vary depending on your initial prescription?

For all those that have had eye surgery - how is your night vision, do you get halos around lights at night?

The only reason I ask is that my ex's sister had a bit of a bungled job done on her eyes and she was told that halo's around lights at night (car break lights etc) was normal..

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

If you have lasik with wavefront, apparently your night vision can take up to 6 months to return. I've spoken a few people and night vision returns gradually, and was as good as before with 2 to 3 months.

Sign up to various suppliers, and you will be emailed offers every now and again.

The Lasik with Wavefront, which is the most expensive option at Optimax, should cost £3,570. I got an email offer of £1785, with 12 months interest free credit. £180 yesterday (£10 to book the consultation), with 12 monthly payments of £132.91.

Bear in mind that although the cost options made it very viable, laser surgury is something I've been thinking about for 15 years, with a proper look at the options over a year ago. I've worn glasses since I was eight (28 years) and contacts since 15 (21 years)!!

If you want consultantion and treatment the same day, book over the phone as this can't be done on the internet.

I felt like I was in safe hands throughout the whole process!!

Good luck, whichever way you go with your eyes!! Try to avoid reading too much about the physical aspect of the procedure, as that can freak you out! That put me off for a little bit!!!

StickyMicky

OMG

austinwrx

i have asked my opticians- know them for 20 years.

funnily enough, they wear glasses and they say no.

a close/best friend is a doctor- specialising in nuclear physics or something to do with brains.

he says no.

basically because the risk factor is too high- as you've only got one set of eyes.

secondly the procedure isn't old enough to get enough old data back to know if it really works.

however I do still fancy it doing- but got to weight up the fact with lenses/glasses I am 20/20 perfect.

one friend had it done and then came mountain biking with us the same day(we meet on a weeknight-through the year) wore his shades all night- but he just didn't want to miss the cycling !

he thinks its been great

StickyMicky

Must admit, i was in for my yearly eye check a few weeks back, it is part of my contact lens plan, my usuall optician was not in, and i got this new Harold Shipman lookalike instead.

I have asked my regular optician about the laser surgery a few times, as i keep meaning to get it done, and they almost never comment on it properlly, probably because i would be cancelling my contact lens plan?

Anyway the new stand in bloke was pretty chatty, so i asked him, and he said that basically, he would never ever use one of these "cheap" companies that you see advertised, and that the best place for me would be some place in Sunderland (bit of a drive)

They are also a bit more expensive, but he said he would not suggest anywhere else, no matter how glitzy the advertisements were.

StickyMicky

Just remembered that he also said this place would have your eye examined by the actual bloke who would be doing the surgery, rather then having somebody examine the eye, write it down and pass the info on ?

Not sure if this is common place or not?

Bonehead

2 years ago I used to be -18 in both eyes. In otherwords VERY shortsighted.
First thing on a morning I'm 6/6(Or 20/20) and as the day progress there's a slight deteroration, but it's still very very good.
I've had Intra-Ocular Lenses in both eyes, T-Cut (Sorts out Astigmatism) and a touch of Laser on my right eye.
I've had it all done through Optimax in Hull and in London.

Cant recomend it enough. Do your homework about the different procedures and firms if you fancy it. Also, if you can do your homework on the surgeon.

PM me if anyone wants any specific advice

RobinSherwood

I had been considering this for quite a few years. My dad is a consultant and had always said that I shouldn't have it done until there was a enough clear evidence that the risk of any long term complications were minimal.

Finally earlier this year he was satisfied enough to suggest I consider it though he was only happy if I had it done at Moorefields Eye Hospital, so he found out the best person there for me and I booked an appointment. I had the operation in March this year.

It turned out I had to have Lasek rather than Lasik due to my corneas so the recovery time was longer and more uncomfortable. On the one hand it was much worse than expected and I ended up being completely off work for two weeks and couldn't read properly for nearly a month, however once it was all over and done with I have better than 20/20 vision so I don't regret it one bit and it was reassuring to be seen by the same doctor both before and after who carried out the procedure.

Overall then recommended even with a longer recovery period.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Mine was taken by one person (who was more take more care than my sight test at D&A, a fortnight before) and explained why my prescription had changed in that time!!

The surgeon carrying out the work, double checked those prescriptions with me, which effectively meant I had two eye tests in the space of a hour.

All measurements were double checked and fine tuned by the person carrying out the surgury.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

To be fair, if you worry to much about the long term effect or the procedure being relatively new, you won't have it done for another 10 or 20 years, by which time you'll need bifocals!!

Funny private opticians that make money from contact lenses, contact lense solutions, glasses, etc, etc, but not laser treatment! The chain ones which offer laser, will recommend it, but I guess it depends how cynical you are!

Apparently Optimax turn away 20% of patients as they are not suitable, but in that case I would have gone to Moorfields as well for a second opinion!

I know it's easy to be put off by companies like Optimax who have the adverts and deals on price, but they are the ones who have carried out the most in the UK.

ScottishRayman

Best thing I ever done - kept getting small eye infections due to playing football/on motorbike and using contact lenses for these activities was a poor option. Got Lasik treatment on both eyes - treatement took 20 mins max to do which included checks etc afterwards and that was 4 years ago. Immense difference both for me and my partner who got hers done at same time. Mines was cheaper as I was only -1.75 and -1.5 eye reading. Optical Express did ours and since about 10 friends have followed suit.

R 14NS R

had mine done on tuesday, had the original consultation at optimax last tuesday, quoted £3600, negotiated down to £2200, they did the usual 'we can only do this if you pay a deposit now' so i said well i ll take the chance, spoke to andy tang on here who sent me a voucher for £1800. they said that the voucher was not in my name, so i said, if they would do that price with 0% apr i would leave the deposit now. afetr speaking to the manager agreed so i am paying £1795, over 12 months.

as i said, had it done on tuesday, was sitting in the chair for about 10 mins, got the train home, train back the next day for a check up and for them to remove the bandage contact lenses. as soon as they took them out i could see better than before with my glasses.

i have drops i put in 6 times a day for the first week, and another check up next week, but really really impressed and would highly recommend it.

yoza

Excellent.

Paying for your eyesight on drip, that doesnt sound right.

You and others should get it free, simple as that.

Norman D. Landings

I still don't quite understand how 10 years ago I paid £500 per eye at Optimax in Leeds, albeit for PRK, and yet people are paying upwards of 3K today.

boxst

Different machines, different technology which hasn't quite reached the mass levels to make it so cheap: It is getting there though. I had femtosecond lasik and wavefront, which means the cut is done with a laser and the cornea evened out to stop dazzle at night.

The list price of what I had was about £1500 an eye I think but Optimax did a deal down to £1100.

Steve

Leslie

Isn't there a risk factor involved with it though?

Les

boxst

If that question is to me ... the traditional method is to use a knife which takes longer to heal and has (slightly) more danger. Both methods require a cut to be made in the cornea that has to be placed back correctly and will take sometime to heal. It is possible (although extremely unlikely) to have scar tissue and other complications related to the cut.

PRK is less invasive as it just softens the cornea but has a longer and more painful recovery time. You also can't correct the possibility of nightime dazzle.

Steve

Leslie

Thanks, I don't know much about it but seem to remember seeing that there was a bit of a risk involved in the operation.

Les

Power Junkie

iTrader: (1)

I have had mine done for nearly 4 years now, would I do it again, Hell yeah!

biglad58

iTrader: (3)

Had mine done about 6 months back, painless op but for a few hours after i was like a baby cos the stinging sensation was quite bad, had a night of darkness listening to the radio, got up the next morning and just stared out the back garden. The difference is amazing, now have better than 20/20 vision with no problems yet. Looking at the prices people are paying i think i should have haggled a bit £3900 i paid from Ultralase in B-ham.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Six weeks on and I can't help but wish I had it done sooner!!!

The right eye healed much quicker than the left eye, so my brain had to deal with better vision in my right eye, while the left eye was a little weaker. The left eye has caught up and for the first time ever (even with contacts/glasses), I can read the bottom line of the eye check!!!

Borat_Drives_A_Scooby

Can someone do a brief conclusion to this thread as to where is the best place to get this done and company etc, which is the best method to have and what is the cost involved per eye.

I am in the North West, these days i can`t see my **** mags too well, with new eyesight i will get to known busty babs a whole lot better.

Nurse Gladys

I was unlucky enough to be born will appaling eyesight - so short sighted I was the youngest person at the time to be trialled with contact lenses on the NHS - my glasses were so heavy I had permanent headaches....not to mention the cruel name calling kids.....

I was -18.5 & -19, so as you can see, pretty bad.

Two years ago I was lucky enough to have a fantastic operation (or rather two) on the NHS to replace the lenses in my eyes and restore my sight to 20 - 20 vision.

It was a fascinating op which I was awake for throughout and has made a huge difference to my life.

However, as mentioned more than once above - most doctors, opticians & eye surgeons wear glasses..... I asked if firstly this laser surgery would be an option and was told due to the severity of my short sightedness it would do very little.

More importantly they pointed out that the long term effects of it were not known as it had not yet been around for 20 years - in short I was told it was best avoided AT ALL COSTS!

We know three people who have had it done, and all three have had recurring problems, one of them had to have it done again - doesn't really fill you with confidence!

If you choose this route, and only you can decide, good luck!!

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Given the all clear in November 2009, so I should go back for an annual check up.

Everything is paid off now, and my eyes are mine!

Still am very grateful for Steve documenting his experiences as that convinced me I was doing the right thing.

Forgot to say that the haloing at night slowly went away, but no issues with night driving after a couple of months.

I'm hoping that the reading glasses are a decade away yet!

boxst

I'm glad that things are continuing to go well. I will still list this as one of the best things I ever did. I hated wearing glasses and being able to see the clock at night across the room was a revelation.

Steve

Leslie

I would not want to have my eyes messed about with unless it was a last ditch affair!

Les