Laser Eye Surgery

[fearisthekey]

i went to a harley street optic dude for possible kerataconis, he advised me against laser eye surgery, until failure rates came down.
I want it asap though, if only to make out Laxie's pic better.

Do you wear contact lenses?

I work for a company that makes Keratoconic lenses so its an area of interest.

I'm having the contacts made just now, Sheriff, mostly to correct the problem if possible, otherwise it's surgery (eek!)
The specialist is always stern with me about the consequences of not getting it fixed, like bad, but uncorrectable vision, apparently
Early days of contacts were fun, kept falling off my eyes!
Laser vision a no no

[brummieboy]

The missus had hers done (and she's still with me before the inevitable jokes start ), and she said it was the best decision she's ever made.

Think she had hers done at Optimax, and she got a buy one, get one free offer (they even did her eyes whilst she waited).  Cost about £500 in total I think.

She had pretty bad eyesight before then, and usually wore glasses and occasionally contacts (but she wasn't keen on them).  Without glasses, she couldn't read the time on the bedside clock for example.  This was one thing she hated, as well as having to wear glasses or contacts when she did any sport.

Despite the scare stories, I don't think anyone has ever been blinded by laser surgery (not in the UK, and not with the technologies used in the UK).  The worse case is that it doesn't improve your eyes enough for you to be able to go without glasses - so in effect, you waste your money, time and a some pain.

When Michelle asked people about getting hers done, most just said they were fine in a few days, back to driving, etc.  No one mentioned that it hurts.  For a day and bit she was in pain (and they give you pain killers and stuff to help you sleep through it).  After that the pain goes, and it's a bit uncomfortable for a number of weeks (gritty eyes, and they give you drops to use to help keep your eyes moist and comfortable).

However, after all that her eyes were fine.  20-20 vision now, and she has no regrets (other than she can see me properly now).  I'm not sure, but her vision was something like -5 in each eye (or maybe -6, if that makes any sense - I might have it completely wrong).  If you want to speak to her about, send me a PM and you can have a chat with her about it.

I've sent you a PM, thanks.

[brummieboy]

If you were considering it, you might like to try Ultralase in Edgbaston, Birmingham.  I had a consultation there including all the testing and at the end of it they said I wasn't suitable as my prescription was just a little to high.  Tends to suggest they're not money grabbing will treat anybody types.

Thanks for the advice, how much was the consultation ?

[brummieboy]

Thanks to everyone who responded, will definately research it more over the next few weeks, got my old optician to send me my records, also got a bad astigmatism so wasn't sure if laser surgery was possible but will check it out.

[richmagpies]

About 5 years ago after about 15 years of contact lenses and glasses, I needed new sets of both and decided that as it was gonna cost me best part of £500 for the glasses and lenses I decided to get the laser treatment. it cost me about a grand and was best thing I ever did! little things like being able to go swimming and see what you are doing, get drunk and not worry about trying to take lenses out (or finding them the next morning), play footy and head the ball without worrying the lenses will fall out. Makes all the difference! 

[Acidmouse]

Anyone have experience of Laser aye in Yorkshire/Leeds, wife interesting and prefer to take a recommendation before ringing around.

[fearisthekey]

About 5 years ago after about 15 years of contact lenses and glasses, I needed new sets of both and decided that as it was gonna cost me best part of £500 for the glasses and lenses I decided to get the laser treatment. it cost me about a grand and was best thing I ever did! little things like being able to go swimming and see what you are doing, get drunk and not worry about trying to take lenses out (or finding them the next morning), play footy and head the ball without worrying the lenses will fall out. Makes all the difference! 

If I'm getting drunk, having terrible vision the next morning is normally a blessing...

[boldie]

The surgery itself does not hurt, but the clamp they use to hold your eye open hurts like hell when they clamp it to your eye!!!!

and this is why I won't get it done...I hated my car being clamped..NOONE puts a clamp on my eye though...yuck!

[richmagpies]

If you do get it done, get some decent wrap around shades to wear afterwards. Why? The morning I got mine done in February was one of those real bright sunny winter days. Being led across the road to a cab by my girlfriend, we walked between some stationery cars at traffic lights when one of them squirted its windscreen wash right over its roof and straight into my face, splashing my sun glasses    I dread to think what would have happened had I got it in my eyes and I'd rubbed them or needed to wash the stuff out 

[M3boy]

Thanks to everyone who responded, will definately research it more over the next few weeks, got my old optician to send me my records, also got a bad astigmatism so wasn't sure if laser surgery was possible but will check it out.

My astigmatism was REAL bad, so you should be ok

I also remember the night times, the sky was orange to me from the street lights - the halo's were HUGE! lol Thankfully it subsides rather quickly

[Woodsey]

As always these things come with a minor word of caution. My job is related to medicine and I know a surgeon who does these ops all the time and wears glasses himself. He would not have the op himself because the long term effects are not yet known ie If there are any side effects that may emerge say 20+ years after having the op.

[Laxie]

Bump.  Kicking this around atm and figure things may have changed a bit in the 5 years since this thread started.  Anyone have anything new to add?  Good places to go, best pricing, tips, etc...cheers!

[Simon Galloway]

I had it done about 4 years ago.  Definitely don't do the discount "rusty scalpel+YTS trainee" option.  Laser mapping + thinnest possible laser option available.  I think they got me for about £3k all told, sure I got upsold a little bit along the way, but you only get one pair of eyes...  They wouldn't discount it a penny but they did offer 0% on it.

The op was pretty much painless and when I sat up, I could see with incredible clarity.  When the eye drops wore off, I wasn't too pleased, but slept off the soreness and was fine thereafter, with somewhere between 1-2 grades better than 20:20

Now for the rub.  In your 20's I'd recommend it (in fact, I even have some vouchers to recommend it with...  )  When you get to your mid 40's (however long that is away) people's eye muscles tend to weaken and reading glasses are required - laser surgery won't prevent that.  So the later you leave it in life, the less amount of time you can expect to be glasses-free.

[Laxie]

It's because I'm 41 that I'm kind of against the idea of spending silly full package money on it.  They've the £395 an eye Lasik option and I had kind of decided if they were willing to do that, then I'd go for it. 

I've leather eyes as it is, thanks to a bad habit of wearing my contacts with a week or two at a stretch (sleep with them in).  I hate waking up and not being able to see.  Also have a pretty high threshold for pain, so a bit of discomfort for a week or two won't be an issue as long as I can see after it.  If they want a couple grand for all the new fangled stuff, I figured I'm almost too old to really bother with it at this point.

[BulldozerD]

When I had it done about 6 years ago my mum had it done too, so don't fret about age.
The cost quoted of say £395 however is not usually how much it would cost as it was explained to me that it depends on your eyesight, shape etc. In fact me and mum had different treatments that cost slightly different, mine was more expensive but I recovered quicker.

Best thing to do is go for one of those free consultations so that you know where you stand, I went to Optimax on the headrow in Leeds and I am really glad I had it done as I was as blind as a bat, mum was happy with it too even though she knew she would need reading glasses anyway