View Full Version : Laser Eye Surgey
Has anyone had it done? or know of anyone who has had it done? If so, where's the best place to have it done.
Please tell me there's no horror stories with it, as i'm thinking of having it done!
For those who wear glasses would you consider it yourself?
I wear contacts and specs. I would definately have it if I could afford it.
I was watching a program the other day and a guy was talking about having it done. Apparantly they cut the eyeball to make a flap then laser the retina. Something like that. Doesn't sound very nice.
I presume that there will be a coucil for laser eye surgery, like there is for cosmetic surgery (could come under the same thing). Its basically a list of all qualified, approved and recommended cosmetic surgeons in the country so you know you won't get a cowboy doing the job.
apparantly opticial express is the leading one in europe, and they have branches in all the main cities. it's £395 an eye, a lot i know but it's worth every penny if i get full eyesight again.
i have glasses, and i hate it, they're such an inconvienance, like i cant wear sunglasses, or i have to put my glasses on every five seconds to look clealry into the distance
I know it's bad of me but i'm very self concious, and hate wearing glasses as i feel they make me feel ugly, if i was to get my sight corrected, and not having to wear glasses i'd feel so much better in myself, and you can't put a price on hapiness!
I hate wearing my glasses too for the same reason.
£395 is less that what I thought it was. I'd be concerned about ending up blind or having irreversible damage to my eyes if something went wrong.
I hate wearing my glasses too for the same reason.
£395 is less that what I thought it was. I'd be concerned about ending up blind or having irreversible damage to my eyes if something went wrong.
i think it's pretty much guaranteed to be a safe procedure now, so many people are having it done, and there aren't any horror stories, so it's worth it really!
the reason its so cheap with opticial express is becuase they have so many people go to them for it, so they can afford to charge less. independant places charge more, as they dont get many clients and need to make up for it by charging more.
Has anyone had it done? or know of anyone who has had it done? If so, where's the best place to have it done.
Please tell me there's no horror stories with it, as i'm thinking of having it done!
For those who wear glasses would you consider it yourself?
I would consider having it done but even at that price it is still a lot of money for me to spend on myself.. I can think of better ways to spend it.. I don't mind wearing glasses, you can get glasses now for 49 euro and they last 2 years so it is not a big expense
I know someone who had it done and said it was the best thing they ever did
I wear glasses, well contact lenses these days, apart from the days I cant be bothered to wear them :p
I would have it done. Once my parents were talking about it, as if I wasnt there.
My only concern is when is the right time to have it done? Cos my eyes are getting worse all the time, the last time they changed they jumped a whole - figure in less than 6 months!! So is it best to wait until your eyes are really changing any more? Or okay do have it done no matter what?
http://www.lasikdisaster.com/
Remember, you only have one pair of eyes
i seriously couldnt even consider getting this done
i have a major fear of eyes either mine or anyone elses.
Ive been made to watch someone getting this done on tv...............:eek: :eek: :eek: eeeewww i just couldnt
I wouldnt get it done myself, im scared of anything in my eyes ornear my eyes, plus knowing my luck it would end up wrong and id not be able to see my kiddies growing up!
my sister has though and is really pleased with results! Although you may get there and it may be more than£395 per eye, she went thinking it would be wat she saw on tv and it wasnt it was a hell of a lot more!
I know somebody who had it done in Scotland, she had the "Gucci" works done, whatever that means and paid £2000. However, she went home after surgery, slept for 2 hours and woke up to perfect sight, no problems, no pain etc. She used to spend this kind of money on new frames every year, so she is happy for this now one-off payment. Needs to wear sunglasses now when the sun is out, that is all. I would be too scared to have it done, tbh, I need reading glasses but am ok otherwise.
di marco
17-07-2008, 21:19
i have glasses but i dont wear them very often, only when i really need to use them, ive started getting contacts too. id like to have it done but id be too scared that id turn out blind so id rather have the expense of contact lenses or wear my glasses occassionally (even though i hate wearing them) than to have the risk of going blind
Pinkbanana
17-07-2008, 22:09
I know two people who have had laser surgery and both are very happy with the result. Think it cost them both over a grand though. Infact I think it cost one of them around 2k.
I wear contacts, the 24/7 monthly type. I wouldn't consider this surgery personally at the moment because I think its still early days, it hasn't been around that long, and we dont fully know the long term effects of it, if any. Also I'm a complete chicken!!! :lol:
.:SpIcYsPy:.
17-07-2008, 23:20
I been wearing glasses since I was 11 and seriously had no taste in glasses till about 2 years ago haha.. I only had 2 pairs of glasses before then but hey I was young :p
I like glasses as it allows me to acessorise etc. and when I don't feel like wearing glasses I just wear contact lenses if I am going out. :)
Right now, I am not considering it.. Who knows in a few years though?
Chloe O'brien
17-07-2008, 23:48
I would have it done if I could be put to sleep while the op is being performed but you are awake the whole time. I have a major phobia about my eyes as I have had bad eyesight since I was young and I had to go to them checked around 3 times a year, and I had to have eye drops put in everytime so I hate anything going in my eyes that's why I don't wear contacts. I just stick to my specs.
I would have it done if I could be put to sleep while the op is being performed but you are awake the whole time. I have a major phobia about my eyes as I have had bad eyesight since I was young and I had to go to them checked around 3 times a year, and I had to have eye drops put in everytime so I hate anything going in my eyes that's why I don't wear contacts. I just stick to my specs.
contacts just scare me why would anyone want to stick their finger in their eye every morning???????
contacts just scare me why would anyone want to stick their finger in their eye every morning???????
:lol: Lol it isnt that bad
Chloe O'brien
18-07-2008, 00:10
I knew a girl who wore contacts and she used to keep them in a tub of solution beside her bed. One night she woke up thinking she had reached for a drink of water beside her bed and drank the soloution and swallowed the contact lenses.
contacts just scare me why would anyone want to stick their finger in their eye every morning???????
The lenses just sit on the surface of the eyeball. You don't touch your eye directly when you put them in.
It's easy when after a couple of gos getting them in.
I knew a girl who wore contacts and she used to keep them in a tub of solution beside her bed. One night she woke up thinking she had reached for a drink of water beside her bed and drank the soloution and swallowed the contact lenses.
:eek: Omg!!!! does she not have a lid for the cases?
And ewww!
JustJodi
18-07-2008, 00:24
I would have it done if I could be put to sleep while the op is being performed but you are awake the whole time. I have a major phobia about my eyes as I have had bad eyesight since I was young and I had to go to them checked around 3 times a year, and I had to have eye drops put in everytime so I hate anything going in my eyes that's why I don't wear contacts. I just stick to my specs.
contacts just scare me why would anyone want to stick their finger in their eye every morning???????
Luna my dear I am with u, I have worn glasses since I was 12 yrs old I am now in my late 50's,, I wanted contacts for years and years but too chicken poo poo cos of the same thing u said :lol:
JustJodi
18-07-2008, 00:26
Also I'm a complete chicken!!! :lol:
PinkBanana move over lemme sit on the CHICKEN POO POO COUCH WITH YOU AND LUNA,,,:rotfl:
Chloe O'brien
18-07-2008, 00:27
I knew a girl who wore contacts and she used to keep them in a tub of solution beside her bed. One night she woke up thinking she had reached for a drink of water beside her bed and drank the soloution and swallowed the contact lenses.
:eek: Omg!!!! does she not have a lid for the cases?
And ewww!
I have no idea I just remember her telling me at a youth club we used to hang out at.
JustJodi
18-07-2008, 00:33
Bry my daughter in law had both of her eyes done, I think she had them done in 1999 and has had no problems ..I think she spent 3 thousand dollars on both eyes,,,she sure has one hell of a sunglasses collection now LOL
As for me I would dearly love to have the operation however I do not really want to mess around with my eyes since I am already deaf, I would be afraid if one of the doctors had to sneeze during the operation :eek: ok truth be told I just do not want to be deaf and blind:nono:
I would be afraid if one of the doctors had to sneeze during the operation :eek:
:eek: I hadn't thought about that. One slip and you could be permanently blind.
If you do decide to go for it Bryan, ask them what their success rate is and if anybody had any complications during or after the procedure. Also ask how long they have been practising in opthalmology (I presume they will be opthalmologists) and how long they have been doing laser eye surgery.
I think i'm going to wait a while, as £800 is a lot, even when i do have all this government loans coming in. If i wait until after uni and save up I'll feel like i've earnt the right to have my eyes done. By which time more time will have passed and we'll all know more about the safety of it.
i'm getting my eyes done this Tuesday! just shy of 2 grand :ninja:
parkerman
17-01-2009, 10:53
I've only just seen this thread...
I had my eyes lasered about 18 months ago. It was one of the best things I ever did.
It's been brilliant. I had worn glasses since I was 11 and then contact lenses for about 20 years. I now have perfect 20/20 vision (in fact my right eye is better than 20!) and it's wonderful. As soon as I came out of the room where I had the operation I could see better. I had a bit of discomfort in the sense that my eyes watered a lot for about an hour, but after that there was no problem at all.
Good luck on Tuesday, Bryan, I'm sure you won't regret it. I haven't for one second.
I've only just seen this thread...
I had my eyes lasered about 18 months ago. It was one of the best things I ever did.
It's been brilliant. I had worn glasses since I was 11 and then contact lenses for about 20 years. I now have perfect 20/20 vision (in fact my right eye is better than 20!) and it's wonderful. As soon as I came out of the room where I had the operation I could see better. I had a bit of discomfort in the sense that my eyes watered a lot for about an hour, but after that there was no problem at all.
Good luck on Tuesday, Bryan, I'm sure you won't regret it. I haven't for one second.
thanks parkerman! great to hear that there's sucessful stories to come from it! did you go with Optical Express or..?
parkerman
17-01-2009, 10:58
I went to Ultralase. But I'm sure they're all much the same.
I went to Ultralase. But I'm sure they're all much the same.
yeah it's a lot of money but more than worth it! it'll make me feel a hell of a lot better about myself. they asked if i wanted LASEK aswell, but that would have cost an extra grand. As it is, she says the one i'm having is just as good for someone my age with fairly healthy eyes.
parkerman
17-01-2009, 11:05
Yes, I couldn't really understand the difference between all the different variations they were suggesting. I asked them what they thought would be best (I'm very trusting they wouldn't just say the dearest!) and I went along with that. I can't remember which actual treatment it was now.
I shall report back after Tuesday how it all went and IF i can see! :lol:
Good luck - I would love to be brave enough to do it!
If it works well for you that might just be the incentive I need...
Good luck - I would love to be brave enough to do it!
If it works well for you that might just be the incentive I need...
apparantly it's has a 99% sucess rate, and that 1% are cured and treated easily with some free aftercare treatment
.:SpIcYsPy:.
17-01-2009, 12:03
Good luck Bryan, hope all goes well.. It sounds to me like it will :D xx
di marco
17-01-2009, 12:18
hope it all goes well, im sure it will :)
Ooo good luck, hope it goes well :)
I would love to brave enough to do this
parkerman
17-01-2009, 13:16
There's nothing to it, Abbie. It doesn't hurt at all.
di marco
17-01-2009, 13:22
There's nothing to it, Abbie. It doesn't hurt at all.
id like to be brave enough to do it too. its not the hurting that im worried about, just scared of it going wrong!
yeah but dont they like hold your eyes open?
parkerman
17-01-2009, 17:47
Yes, but it doesn't hurt.
di marco
17-01-2009, 20:41
are you awake when they do it? i hate people doing things to my eyes lol! :rolleyes:
are you awake when they do it? i hate people doing things to my eyes lol! :rolleyes:
Im like that
But then theres money to think of as well
di marco
17-01-2009, 20:47
are you awake when they do it? i hate people doing things to my eyes lol! :rolleyes:
Im like that
But then theres money to think of as well
well yeh even if i didnt mind people touching my eyes i wouldnt be able to afford it lol! but id probably kept trying to close my eyes lol! thats what i always end up doing when people have to do anything to my eyes!
Same
I would love to have it done but I get too worried
di marco
17-01-2009, 21:04
Same
I would love to have it done but I get too worried
yeh id love to have it done as id love to see properly, but even though i know most of the time it goes ok, im scared that ill be the one that ends up being blinded by it or something
Hope it all goes well. I'm sure it will, most of these operations are fine, its only ever when things go wrong that you hear about it, but never the successes.
parkerman
18-01-2009, 09:54
are you awake when they do it? i hate people doing things to my eyes lol! :rolleyes:
Of course you're awake when they do it.The whole thing takes less than two minutes and you don't feel anything.
di marco
18-01-2009, 10:55
are you awake when they do it? i hate people doing things to my eyes lol! :rolleyes:
Of course you're awake when they do it.The whole thing takes less than two minutes and you don't feel anything.
i thought you probably were but just wanted to check. do they actually touch your eyes at all? (i mean i know the laser will touch your eye but would a person touch your eye/near your eye?)
parkerman
18-01-2009, 11:02
No, no-one actually touches your eye. You lie back and they aim a laser at each eye in turn. You must keep your eye open of course while they do it but it only takes a few seconds.
di marco
18-01-2009, 11:05
No, no-one actually touches your eye. You lie back and they aim a laser at each eye in turn. You must keep your eye open of course while they do it but it only takes a few seconds.
oh good cos i hate people touching my eyes!
Dosesnt it take 15 seconds per eye?
Had it done yesterday and it didn't hurt at all! the laser bit has a peice of cake - 16 seconds per eye. the bit before when they cut your eye is a bit scary, as it sucks your eye in, goes dark for 5 seconds and vibrates, but it's fine honestly.
when i left they told me to go home and rest, but it didnt hurt and i wasnt tired so i just relaxed with my eyes closed and listened to friends.
this morning i woke up with good vision, but a tiny bit blurred, i went for my day 1 consultation, and they took our my bandage contact lenses, and as soon as they went out my vision was perfect -20/20 vision. i'm out tonight - hitting oceana - never thought i'd be up and about again so soon!
the only annoying thing is i have to keep putting eye drops in my eyes all the time, and i'm not good at it, so half the time they run down my face and it takes a few drops to get them in!
but yeah - i recommend it to anyone - it's painless, simple and produces maximum results!!!! everyone go for it, honestly!
Aww thats really good, glad it went well
Cutting your eye sounds werid!
Aww thats really good, glad it went well
Cutting your eye sounds werid!
they have to cut a flap out of your eye so the laser can penetrate your eye. sounds worse than it actually is!!!
:eek: still sounds bad to me, did that bit hurt?
:eek: still sounds bad to me, did that bit hurt?
no was just a bit scary for five seconds, but at the end of the day its a ten second experience for a lifetime of sight
di marco
22-01-2009, 11:23
Had it done yesterday and it didn't hurt at all! the laser bit has a peice of cake - 16 seconds per eye. the bit before when they cut your eye is a bit scary, as it sucks your eye in, goes dark for 5 seconds and vibrates, but it's fine honestly.
when i left they told me to go home and rest, but it didnt hurt and i wasnt tired so i just relaxed with my eyes closed and listened to friends.
this morning i woke up with good vision, but a tiny bit blurred, i went for my day 1 consultation, and they took our my bandage contact lenses, and as soon as they went out my vision was perfect -20/20 vision. i'm out tonight - hitting oceana - never thought i'd be up and about again so soon!
the only annoying thing is i have to keep putting eye drops in my eyes all the time, and i'm not good at it, so half the time they run down my face and it takes a few drops to get them in!
but yeah - i recommend it to anyone - it's painless, simple and produces maximum results!!!! everyone go for it, honestly!
glad it went well bryan :)
the cutting part sounds really scary, i hate people touching my eye! and theres no way id ever be able to get eye drops in my eye either!
parkerman
22-01-2009, 16:43
Well done, Bryan. I'm sure everything will be ok from now on.
There is a procedure which you can have done (which I had done) so that they don't touch your eye at all, the cutting is done by laser as well and you don't feel a thing. Of course, it is a bit more expensive but worth it if you really can't stand the thought of having your eye touched.
I wouldn't worry too much about the eye drops. I wasn't very good at it either, most of the liquid ran down my face but it didn't seem to make much difference!
di marco
22-01-2009, 16:47
There is a procedure which you can have done (which I had done) so that they don't touch your eye at all, the cutting is done by laser as well and you don't feel a thing. Of course, it is a bit more expensive but worth it if you really can't stand the thought of having your eye touched.
oh thats good to know! cos theres no way they would be able to touch my eye to cut it lol they would probably end up slicing down my face after i moved out of the way! :rolleyes:
Actaully that reminds me my biology had it done but cos of the way his eyes were one eye is for short distance and the other for long!
parkerman
24-01-2009, 08:15
Yes, I was offered that treatment, but it would have cost me an extra £2000 so I declined the kind offer. My treatment's been ok as it was.
di marco
24-01-2009, 10:55
can anyone have it done ie do you have to be like really almost blind or can it just be anyone who wears glasses (if that makes sense)?
I think that as long as your vision can be corrected, you can have it done. Not sure where the limit is if you have really bad eye sight. I dare say it also depends on the reason for your poor vision.
parkerman
24-01-2009, 13:16
can anyone have it done ie do you have to be like really almost blind or can it just be anyone who wears glasses (if that makes sense)?
Well, I'm proof you don't have to be almost blind!
As Perdy says, it's anyone whose vision can be corrected.
di marco
24-01-2009, 14:48
can anyone have it done ie do you have to be like really almost blind or can it just be anyone who wears glasses (if that makes sense)?
Well, I'm proof you don't have to be almost blind!
As Perdy says, it's anyone whose vision can be corrected.
oh right thanks :)
Right that is it - I have just emailed to arrange a consultation!
Let me know know Bry if it isn't all sweetness and light!
I went for my consultation on Saturday, I was told that I was suitable and that the cost would be £2800 for both eyes.
I was asked to sign paperwork when I was unable to read it (they put eye drops in your eyes that prevent you from focusing for a few hours) and stupidly I did.
This morning I am really having second thoughts - my eyes have been sore and dry since saturday and the eye drops and I am really concerned because I know that these are common side effects of the treatment itself and I don't think that I would find it easy to manage the symptoms - I get very bad migraines that are agravated by sore eyes.
I have made an appointment for the treatment on Friday 13th, and when I called today to ask about cancelling it I was told that the deposit of £200 was not refundable. I was not told this when I booked - I was just told that I could cancel the surgery at anytime, but at no time was I told the deposit was non-refundable.
This is really making me think twice about letting optical express anywhere near my eyes - I feel that they have been somewhat dishonest, and I would now rather lose £200 than trust then with my eyes.
I have now called back again and spoken to the manager about the lack of discussion of possible negative out-comes, the paperwork being signed when it was not possible for me to be able to read it and the deposit now being 'non-refundable'.
I have now cancelled and got my money back.
I know - I am a wuss!
I am glad you managed to get it sorted without a financial penalty. Optical Express were wrong to make you sign papers when they know you can't see and not telling you all the facts before you put pen to paper :angry: I don't think you are a wuss, you are sensible. Trust your instincts, they will rarely let you down. I think you are brave :)
moonstorm
09-02-2009, 13:37
Go Trinity - Well done for sticking up for your rights - You certainally not a wus!!!
parkerman
09-02-2009, 13:39
Although I would certainly recommend laser eye treatment to anyone following my own very successful operation, I do think you were right to pull out. The way Optical Express treated you seems very bad.
I had mine done by Ultralase and they explained everything to me step by step, gave me time to think before signing anything and even recommended I speak to an independent opthalmologist before going ahead with the treatment. Do you have an Ultralase clinic near you?
Thanks Parkerman, I don't know about Ultralase - but there is probably one near as I live in the central belt of Scotland not to far from either Edinburgh or Glasgow.
I think that I will put it on the back burner for now and discuss it with my hubby when he comes home from the states - he was fine with me spending the money, but I hadn't discussed the actual surgery with him before I booked it up either.
The thing that worried me the most was when I phoned up and spoke about some of the things that were worrying me the chap at optical express was making it sould like no I wouldn't get dry eyes, my night time vision would be better than it is now and that I would definately not need to wear glasses afterwards. To me that is the best case senario, and although it is very possible that the outcome would have been best case, I feel that possible negative outcomes should also be discussed.
I also read some internet horror stories that put me off, too!
And I am a wuss, I am just not a doormat type of wuss!
parkerman
09-02-2009, 13:56
As I said my treatment was perfect and my night time vision has improved greatly and I didn't get dry eyes. However, I was most definitely told about what might go wrong. Ultralase explained it all to me, including the possible adverse effects. They also made it clear to me that I would still need glasses for reading.
Like I say, in my opinion it was one of the best things I have ever done. I have been short sighted and had to wear glasses or contact lenses since the age of 11, but now I have 20/20 vision (in fact it's 20/21!) and I have no problems about driving at night as I did even with glasses or contact lenses.
But there does seem to be a big difference in the way Optical Express and Ultralase operate.
This may sound a stupid question, but is laser eye surgery a permanent fix? Is there a chance that your sight could deteroriate, even slightly, during the course of your life?
If your prescription isn't stable then it could deteriorate again.
If you are over 40 then there is the likelihood that you reading sight will deteriorate due to age affecting the muscles that focus the lens and this cannot be corrected by laser eye surgery.
For some people it will be a permanent fix for short sight, for some others it will not be.
parkerman
10-02-2009, 11:57
I've thought of something else about Ultralase. About 18 months after I'd had the treatment they contacted me to say they had a new procedure which could correct my vision even more so that I would not need to wear glasses for reading either. They offered me a free consultation so I went along. Once again they explained everything fully to me, how it worked what the risks were, what the downside as well as the upside was.
At the end they told me to go away and think about it and if I wanted the treatment I should book another appointment but if I didn't they wouldn't pressurise me and wouldn't contact me again.
I decide it really wasn't worth the extra £2000 so I didn't go back, but, as they said, they haven't contacted me again or tried to persuade me.
It seems Ultralase are much better at their public relations than Optical Express!:thumbsup:
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.