Laser Eye Treatment

Who here has had laser eye treatment? I'm contemplating having it done myself, I'm now 24 and my eye sight doesn't seem to be changing anymore so now seems a good a time as any.

I don't mind wearing glasses, I actually quite like it cause they really suit me but it would be easier without them (especially when watching TV in bed!) and glasses cost a fair amount each time you buy them, laser treatment would be cheaper in the long run. Not to mention the summer time, I'd no longer have a need for prescription sunglasses, yay!

My sister had it done with Optimax many years ago so I'm contemplating going with them.

If you've had it done, who did you have it done with and what are your thoughts and opinions?

Talk to Tumble, he's had it!

I'm seriously considering it in a few years once my eyes have settled down. I've worn contacts for the last 10 years.

I've not had it, but will probably get it done in a few years. Currently wear contacts/glasses and it's getting to the point where it would be nice to not have them any more.

I'm 26 now and my prescription hasn't changed for a while, my optician says that now is probably a good time for me to get it done before I need glasses again as I get older ;)

However, when I have it done I will make sure I get a reputable company to do it rather than the cheapest(I've heard some horror stories about the cheap places). If you trust your optician, I'd ask them for a recommendation and their opinion. I've been going to my optician for about 20 years so I trust her opinion and she's always given impartial advice even when it meant less money for her.

Oh man, girls in glasses are normally so nice (I mean fashionable glasses, not bottle tops) my girlfriend wears contacts and glasses on occasion and she looks great both ways.

I can see why it would make you feel different and slightly ill at ease but I think the right glasses for the right person look great, better even than no glasses. After all look at the sunglasses trend there is now.

But some girls look hot in glasses, or maybe its just me.

I've had it.

It was one of the best things I've ever done, and I'd reccomend it.
The experience of the surgery itself was horriffic. Most people say it doesn't hurt, and the laser itself doesn't. The only part which did was attaching the vacuum ring to the eye, which for me was agony.
I would second the advice to go with an expensive place. Most of the cheaper ones have extra charges (which can be several hundred) for follow-up exams or eyedrops (you need several types for a while after the surgery), and the more expensive places have more expensive, more modern laser machines.

George, I'm not sure if you were referring to me but I'm not a girl! :lol:

TeePee, thanks for the info. Where did you get yours done if you don't mind me asking? I don't usually like putting things in my eyes and I always jump when the optician does that air blowing thingymajig but ah well.

I went through Boots eye clinic, but they closed a year later.

It's an ordeal, but you have to be relaistic about it, it only lasts an hour and you go home and sleep the rest of the day because you're so fatigued, and when you wake up your vision is almost perfect. It will still improve a little as it heals.

I had it at Ultralase in Manchester, last October, and I completely agree with Teepee. It's not pleasant, but definitely worth it. I'm very happy with the results, and the riciulously high level of care I've received.

I'm 22 and my prescription hadn't changed for 5 years, however I kept breaking glasses, and I didn't like wearing contacts due to my irregular sleep patterns/insomnia.

I was contemplating having this done but went back to the optician for one last try at contacts due to the large cost. I've always been a very bad lens wearer. However he trialled me on Acuvue Oasys and I can't believe how good they've been for me. All thoughts of surgery evaporated especially with the possibility of night glare, and imperfect results. My contacts have given me safe, perfect vision for minimal cost and they are the first lens I've ever been able to consider wearing for more than 24 hours solid. Not only that I've had them in for a week [night and day] and they've felt good as new. This is a revelation for me as I've always had extremely sensitive eyes.

Laser surgery is great no doubt about it, I'm just playing devil's advocate and giving my point of view in the hope that it might make you consider both sides of the argument.

I went to a place called The Centre For Sight, in East Grinstead. They have a website - www.centreforsight.com and they are the business. None of this vacuum cup nonsense to make the flap - they cut it with a laser instead of a blade. It freaked me out while I was on the table and I was nearly ill BUT the results were instant, and I was so busy reading everything in sight that I forgot about my discomfort - I was also drugged up to the eyeballs on diazapam.... which was nice.

The worst bit about it was paying - it weren't cheap - about £2100 per eye BUT the aftercare is amazing, and that includes all your medication and follow ups.

In hindsight, it really has been the most worthwhile and valuable thing I've ever done - I can do my job better for it, because I don't smack my glasses on the insides of copiers anymore, and tbh the best bit about it is being able to sleep ANYWHERE... you wouldn't have thought it, but the ability to just have a snooze on a bus or train or on the boat is an amazing liberty without having to worry about gumming yer eyes up cos you've got your lenses in or you've nowhere to put your glasses down. Brilliant.

Not for everyone, but if your eyes are suitable for correction, I'd say go for it :)



PS: I've got a video of mine being done... it's a right eye opener.. bu-dum..tisssh

had it done! at 21 it was great i was so blind best thing evea!

Sorry guys, I hate to be the only one to disagree but NO!

Have a friend who had it and it went wrong, her vision worsened as a result of the procedure. And she had a very nasty infection which could very easily have blinded her permenantly. Consider the risks, it is an operation, they surgically open up the area in front of your cornea. Then use a laser to reshape your lens. If it goes wrong, you are in trouble. OK I admit, there is only a small chance of it going wrong, but do you really want to take a chance with your eyesight?

Some those laser machines run Windows, would you trust Bill Gates with your eyes? :)

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Originally Posted by jamin

Sorry guys, I hate to be the only one to disagree but NO!

Have a friend who had it and it went wrong, her vision worsened as a result of the procedure. And she had a very nasty infection which could very easily have blinded her permenantly. Consider the risks, it is an operation, they surgically open up the area in front of your cornea. Then use a laser to reshape your lens. If it goes wrong, you are in trouble. OK I admit, there is only a small chance of it going wrong, but do you really want to take a chance with your eyesight?

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he's right but their is that SMALL chance it will **** up your vision. They made my sign saying if my vision messed up i cant sue. but i was well aware of the risks and i researched it. And i was willing to take the risk. Luckily everything went good. :mrgreen:

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Originally Posted by Whalefish

Some those laser machines run Windows, would you trust Bill Gates with your eyes? :)

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Way to go putting everyone on this forum off having the surgery :P

My girlfriend has sent off for some information. The booklet says from as little as £400 per eye. I know it's something she really wants done and as soon as we have the cash I'm sure she'll go ahead with it.

I've decided to go ahead with it myself, I'm going to get in touch with Optimax (Birmingham) to make enquiries. I'll let you all know how it goes. :)

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Originally Posted by Parm

I've decided to go ahead with it myself, I'm going to get in touch with Optimax (Birmingham) to make enquiries. I'll let you all know how it goes. :)

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Good luck Parm, let me know what happens.

I would seriously consider the surgery once I earn enough to afford it. I would be prepared to pay more for a top place, it's not worth risking my eye sight for the sake of a few £1000.

IIRC you'll be banned from driving at night in Germany if you have laser eye surgery....
Something to do with nightvision/glare

*update*

The Laser Treatment was sidelined for a short while but I've now booked it and I'm set to go under the laser on August 13th! I had originally planned on going with Optimax, but having read some stories online, I was off put. I'm aware that most online stories are usually bad (rarely do people bother to post if they've had good experiences) but I just didn't want to risk it with my eyes.

As a result, I got in touch with the local optician in the village where I live and she recommended a private consultant. I'm now booked with him to have the treatment. I tend to suffer from having very light sensitive eyes too and apparantly the newest form of laser treatment, wavefront, helps slightly ease sensitivity to light. It's costing me £900 per eye, but it'll be worth it I'm sure in the long run.

The added bonus of doing it this way is that I always deal with the same guy and all my after treatments are at my local optician which is just around the corner! I'll let you all know how I get on a few days after I've had it done. Eeeek, I don't like things going in my eye so I'm pretty nervous!

I've been tempted by ultralase - http://my.ultralase-eye-surgery.co.uk/100/wavefront.htm

They also do the laser flap cutting which Tumble had..

Pricey, but I think worth it in the long run :)

You can get treatment to shoot lasers from your eyes?! Holy c**p sign me up :)

roffle@rox0r :)

hmm, it is something I've thought about on occasion - I have a friend who had it done, he can see fine now.

But I'm a very un-trusting individual, and tbh don't really know if I like the idea of anyone poking lasers about in my eye!

If I had a guarantee it would work, I would definitely do it - but the same could be said for almost anyone I guess!

Can anyone in a few sentances explain the difference between lasik and lasek.

I think the quickest way is to read up on possibly the ultralase site?

this is something I am considering when I have the money(looking at about £1000 per eye).
Didn't realise that the flap in your eye is cut with a blade. They'd have to securley strap me down to stop me from moving when you see that blade coming towards your eye.

The cutting of the flap isn't the worst part. The worst bit is where they use a clap thing to suck out the front of your eyeball.. THEN they cut the flap. You don't even see the blade coming :)

I got mine done in Optical Express in Glasgow - the people there, and the aftercare back in NI has been amazing. It all went fine, got the wavefront to reduce the chance of night glare. Slightly regressed a bit tho, down to -0.5, which is annoying, and I have to wear glasses to drive in the dark. Still glad I got it done, just wish it was perfect!!

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Originally Posted by starbuck

this is something I am considering when I have the money(looking at about £1000 per eye).
Didn't realise that the flap in your eye is cut with a blade. They'd have to securley strap me down to stop me from moving when you see that blade coming towards your eye.

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Check out the video - http://tumble.krisl.net/files/eyes1.wmv

The flap is cut with the laser. It fires to a precise focal point where it creates a bubble of air beneath the cornea. It does this a shedload of times so all the bubbles join up and then cuts round just inside the field where it's been firing to make the flap. It has the advantage of being less uncomfortable (by a looooong way), a smoother cut (helps loads for the final outcome) and heals quicker, which has obvious benefits. :)

I'd love laser surgery. However my optician is not really for it. Not because he is a money grabbing thief (i have been with him since very young!) how many opticians do you see with glasses or contact lenses? My eyes are quite bad. I am sure its cos I look at computer screens all day! LOL!

My missus had her eyes done last month with Ultralase. At a charity function, we won in an auction a laser eye treatment package for £1200. After consultation, she was allowed to the latest type (I think it was called Ultra Lasik pro, or something like that), which would have cost £3200+.

I just saw this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iLxls0RlJk0&feature=dir

I have never heard of this before and no one seems to have mentioned it. Anyone ever known anyone
that has tried it. I wonder how long it lasts and how rapid the deterioration is, so when would you
wear your glasses again etc.

looks really interesting

Big day tomorrow! Getting lasered tomorrow morning in Birmingham! *gulp*

Wish me luck.

Eep

http://www.joystiq.com/media/2006/05...sion_laser.jpg

Good luck :mrgreen:

How did it go?

After 2 days I could count a gnat's nuts at 20 paces, nearly, so I expect you can see like a hawk now.

he's too busy counting the pixels on the screen to actually see what you have typed Bruce

He won't need pixels now. Not with 'laser-vision' burning the images directly out of the cables.

He's probably now got X-Ray vision, so he's scouring the local bus-stops to stare at busty wenches in their bras. We'll never see him again.

Hope it went well Parm!

Only just came across this thread.
Opinion amongst ophthalmologists on laser refractive surgery is divided - half of them think its great, the other half wouldn't go anywhere near it.

I hope it has gone well.

Reporting in!

The surgery itself wasn't so bad, clamp the eyes open, put loads of drops in and then zap 'em! It was over before I knew it. The downside was the after effects. Got home and my eyes were sore, real sore. For a few days they felt really really gritty and dry, like having sand in your eyes. Had to take 14 eye drops a day too and I don't like things in my eyes!

Anyhow, the grittiness has passed and it's not uncomfortable anymore. Unfortunately, the eyes are still healing and I still can't see too well! Everything is quite fuzzy and I get a headache when looking at things for too long so I'm bored from not being able to do much.

I've got another check-up on Wednesday and here's hoping my vision clears up a bit more before then. My sister has Lasik on her eyes many years ago, one of her eyes was crystal clear after 3 days, the other took nearly 3 months before becoming completely clear. I'm hopeful I won't have to wait that long!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kumagoro

I just saw this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iLxls0RlJk0&feature=dir

I have never heard of this before and no one seems to have mentioned it. Anyone ever known anyone
that has tried it. I wonder how long it lasts and how rapid the deterioration is, so when would you
wear your glasses again etc.

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I've got a friend who used it a couple years ago. From what I've gathered, it'll last for the day (I don't mean 24h), so your eyesight will deteriorate during a late night out. And if a night out seriously cut into your sleeping hours, then it may also affect the following day. So it's best for people with a regular lifestyle. And there is also the disadvantage comfort wise - they are designed to reshape your cornea for a number of hours, not for maximum comfort. That said, it's great for people worried about more permanent solutions, and I am not sure if the concern about eye infection is any more warranted than any other lens solutions.

Price wise things may be different now (going by Skynews), but I was pretty certain that they cost quite a bit more than regular lenses.

She recently went with laser treatment though, and has no longer need for glasses/lenses.

Well Parm, it gets us all differently. My wife could see to read the name of the manufacturer of the acoustic tiles on the surgeon's ceiling while he was still doing the second eye, whereas I was essentially blind for two days. I have great vision now though and wouldn't change what I did.

Does anyone know how laser surgery copes with astigmatism? I checked the ultralase website and it said they can still do it, however, I was wondering if it increases the risk or whether they can treat the astigmatism at the same time?

Im 17 so itll be years before I can get it anyway, just wanted to know if I can look forward to perfect vision sometime in the future...

Don't worry Lanky, I was astigmatic and had -6 in each eye. The Lasik corrected my astigmatism and I had one eye corrected to -0.5 diopter and the other to 0.0. I had better than 20/20 vision after two days.

I had a colleague who was officially blind (-9.5 and -10.0 with huuuuge astigmatism) who had the surgery in one eye only (He felt he couldn't risk both) and had it corrected to no astig and -0.5. This way he could close one eye and see without glasses.

Edited to point out

That I deliberately had one eye corrected to -0.5 diopter and the other to 0.0 as this helps to correct against long sight when one gets older.

Just back from the opticians again and very pleased! My vision has improved tenfold. I have 20/20 vision in my right eye already and the left eye is just slightly off that. I really enjoyed the eye test, could even read the second line off the bottom! :mrgreen:

The optician said my eyes are still healing though, thus the slight blurred vision I'm getting. Not quite as crisp as it could be, but it's getting there. So far so good. :)

thats good to hear Parm :)

Cool, it's the success stories that make me want to get my eyes sorted, it's the cost and horror stories that put me off it!

(I get my lenses free on the NHS - or I did, I probably don't now, so my glasses have never been that expensive!)

Just like everything, you always here more of the horror stories and bad experiences rather than when everything goes to plan.

You just have to put it into context of how many operations are carried out vs. number of problems.

Glad its going well parm

Glad its going well mate.

My dad had it a couple of months ago (short sighted) It worked wonders. He couldnt see at all well for around 3 days. But after that he had near 20x20 vision.
However the doctor said it will deteriorate over about 3 years, but he could have the treatment again and so the cycle would repeat.
However my dad says that its worth paying XXX amount of money every 3 years for vision that he now has.