Laser eye surgery

[AGW3]

I wonder if any of you have had this and, if so, how you have got on. Was it worth it? Any problems? I am tempted as I seem to be spending a small fortune every other year on new glasses etc. Thanks.

[Santerme]

Had it done last year

Results were and are excellent

Went for Optimax in the end as got their initial quoted price down by half and 0 per cent finance over 24 months

After care was very good indeed and had six check ups after surgery and was discharged fully after last one couple of months ago

[AGW3]

Thank you very much for your response. Could i just enquire as to what your sight problem was because I have been told that I need varifocal glasses with different strengths for each eye.

[Santerme]

Shortsighted and I wore bifocals (could not get on with varifocal)

I opted to have both eyes at 20:20, rather than going for one eye weaker than the other (which can eliminate reading glasses).

I had their full wave front treatment, which has substantially improved my night driving vision also.

All in all very happy.

I would say that my business partner had to go for a second treatment as his initial results in one eye were not as good as expected, but it was all done FOC by Optimax.

I was able to drive within a couple of days and had totally clear vision within two weeks....(the eye has to absorb a large amount of water after the procedure)

[kristymac1]

I had laser eye surgery in August 2011, I went to Optical Express in Harley Street. The surgery was quick, fairly uncomfortable for a short period of time (hours not days). My prescription was pretty bad - -7.0 in both eyes and asstigmatism in both eyes, I will need to have enhancement surgery as the results are not as good as expected (although they did explain this to me in detail before having the op), any enhancement surgery is covered under the inital cost as is all aftercare and follow up check ups - basically they wont discharge me until my vision is corrected completely. It's a pain having to have an enhancement and waiting for it - I have to wait until my vision has stabilised and it sill hasn't even after 5months. I managed to haggle down the cost a bit (although dont be fooled by the ?400 per eye adverts - that's basically for bog standard procedure) and 10months interest free credit.

Would I do it again? Yes

[ibilly99]

Had it done at Optimax in 1995 - both eyes -2.5 diopters - brilliant result and only now aged 50 do I need reading glasses. My brother and sister though have had less godd results as they had much bigger short site and -7 and -8 .My sister had problems for months and my brother only ended up having one eye done as the result was so bad. I feel a bit of guilt as I was so evangelical about my results but it wasn't comparing like with like. You have to keep your eye perfectly still and you hear the clicking of the laser and a smell similar to burning insects as the process occurs.

[MrBen]

My turn was in 2005 at Optimax on Shaftes avenue. I did a fair bit of research beforehand on various forums to get consensus on surgeons track records etc. Cost ?1200. Painless operation - the worst bit is the smell of your eyeball burning but it passes. Then... a miraculous sensation as I realised I could see what girls looked like properly from the top deck of a 185.

[ibilly99]

I should add to my experience that I'm sure things have moved on since 1995 - the best way to get advice is to ask folk with a similar prescription what was their experience. The laser cuts proportionately as to the strength I seem to remember mine was around 45 seconds where my siblings was around 2 minutes. As Me Ben says once the healing has kicked in its like the world has just become super HD .

[tarafitness]

Funnily enough I just went to get my eyes checked last week after not having them done for quite a few years.

I had my eyesight corrected by Ultralase... who I think were the first of their kind in the UK. I had it done at the Hammersmith location by a doctor Vinod Gupta... awesome guy!

Only regret was not doing it sooner.

Oh and I had them done in September 2004 and they are still better than 20/20 - woo hoo!

Ultralase also have introduced a Lifetime Care Guarantee which is very interesting... basically, if my eyesight deteriorates I can have the procedure done again for free. I'm hoping that never happens and I've no reason to believe it will given how stable my sight has been since the operation. One of the best things I have ever done!

[Sue]

I know this isn't what you're asking, but had you considered soft varifocal contact lenses?

I have monthly ones, and I find them excellent.

My vision is very good with them except in very dim lighting, when I find reading difficult, and they're really comfortable to wear and easy to maintain.

I eke them out for a lot longer than a month as when I'm not going out I slob around the house in glasses :))

I go to the Institute of Optometry to get the prescription, but I get the actual lenses cheaply off the internet (exactly the same make etc as I would get if I paid a lot more for them).

I'm interested to know with the laser surgery (I'm far too squeamish to have it done) - what happens when your vision changes as you get older? Do you have to keep on having more surgery every few years? Does it scar?

[AGW3]

First of all, thanks for all your responses. It was very useful reading on your experiences in this area.

I wouldn't mind also knowing the answer to Sue's last question "I'm interested to know with the laser surgery (I'm far too squeamish to have it done) - what happens when your vision changes as you get older? Do you have to keep on having more surgery every few years? Does it scar?".

Once again thanks.

[PeckhamRose]

I was told that the answer is yes, you will need glasses as you get older, just as I need to wear reading glasses at +1.25 on top of my +10.75 hard contact lenses. If I were to have laser eye surgery they would have to put a lens IN my eyes, and I would have to win the lottery first to be able to afford it!!

[Sue]

PeckhamRose, you may not want to do this, but if you have varifocal contact lenses you don't need reading glasses - it's brilliant not having to keep taking them on and off, and forgetting where you've put them.

I don't know whether they make varifocals for hard lenses, but they deffo do for soft lenses.

Soft lenses take a while to get used to putting in and taking out if you've been used to hard ones - my sister gave up on them - but I found it was well worth while persevering with them.

They aren't that expensive if you buy them online (you have to google for the cheapest source of the particular brand you have been prescribed) - and unlike buying varifocal glasses online there's no chance of getting them wrongly made, because they are exactly the same contact lenses as you'd pay double for elsewhere.

ETA: AND you don't get agonisingly painful bits of dust stuck behind them like you do with hard lenses :) AND there's no problem if your eyes get a bit dry eg towards the end of the day.

[PeckhamRose]

Thanks. But I'm fine. I have very cheap 1.25 glasses in every room and on the bike.

And I can't afford fancy stuff and optician says soft lenses are not for me.

[zeban]

I Really need help in deciding where to go. If money wasn't an object I'd go for Moorfields or Centre for sight but am assuming neither will be prepared to negotiate on price and my budget is ?2000. As it is it's between Ultralase Tottenham Court Road and Accuvision Fulham atm. Has anyone had any eperience of either- good and/or bad.

I was hoping to have surgery in a couple of weeks as have some time off work but at this rate I'll never make a decision! at the same time though I really want to make the right decision.

the worst case scenario for me is that I won't get 20: 20 vision the first time and I'll have to return for more surgery- I don't want that at all. Ultralase told me there's a possibilty this will happen with my prescription- about 5% of patients have to go back. Accuvision said with my prescription 0.2% have to go back. whilst that may seem the obvious choice, I felt a bit more at ease at Ultralase in terms of their customer service and after care sounds better- although maybe it's better because they have get more people back! they didn't rush through either and I felt Accuvision did abit. I've looked at online reviews but they still haven't helped me to come to my decision. Agh, Help!!!

(My prescription is - 2 and I have quite a bad astigmatism).

Can the wisdom of the forum help? Also, If anyone can recommend any other places or surgeons that I haven't considered that are not one of the high street chains and may be within my budget please do, thanks :-)