Laser eye surgery

[lolsteve]

Yes I've already made a thread today but I have more trouble in my life

For my graduation present my mum has offered to pay for laser eye surgery for me which resulted in a tearful hug and mum telling me not to miss out on life because of being too careful with money. It's something I've wanted for sometime as glasses can be a pain and you have to plan with contact lenses i.e make sure you have solution, how long can you wear them would it be better to put them in later plus having to remember not to get too pissed or you'll forget to take them out

Went for a consolation with optical express who advertised at £695 per eye...quoted £3990 in the end then tried to drop the price to 3190 which is still too much as mum was thinking more 2k at most and to ask any more of her would be unappreciative

However have found online another company called optimax who quote a flat 795 per eye regardless of prescription but for another method called LASEK which apparently takes a little longer to heal.

Has anyone had or know anyone with laser eye surgery? Or know much about LASEK or Optimax? The price is affordable but don't want to cut unsafe corners with something as important as my eyes

[Eeyore]

Didnt realise you had that much of a problem steve. My eye sight has become worse in the past 2 years and its quite concerning.

I have heard of optimax... no i havent thats a fuel brand...

[Toms306]

Sure I've seen TV ad's for both of those brands. As you say though, not really something you want to skimp on! Might be better to ask your Optician what he thinks than a car forum lol.

[Ruan]

This is kinda a me personally thing... Unless your eyesight is REALLY affecting you, I would just avoid, it's not (for me...) well proven enough quite yet... It's not one of those operations which the implications of not having outweigh the advantages... I'm sure there's loads of people who've had it, but no one's had it for more than 15 years yet, we simply don't know what's around the corner...

My eyesight is shifting at the moment, I'm actually now at a point where I don't have to wear anything apart from driving at night and some computer work due to my astigmatism causing eye strain.. . But up until two years ago, I wore contact lenses for astigmatism and long sightedness, I had monthly wear ones that I could leave in overnight on occasions, not a fit and forget by any means, but good enough if you stay somewhere at short notice, you can just leave them... You've just gotta keep your glasses on you at all times and or keep a set of dailys on you for if anything happens.. Just be sensible, mine being torics were obscenely expensive at like 32 quid a box of 3... On average I'd use 2 pairs a month, generally I'd end up losing one or something happening, people who know me know I'm clumsy and forgetful, for me to only lose 1 pair a month on average was outstanding really...

That's my opinion on it anyway, you'd have many, many years of lens wearing for the costs you're talking about here tbf... It rarely bothered me at all and allowed me to do anything I wanted bar jumping out of planes etc...

[Curt]

This is one area I'd say be very, very wary of. Take your time and make sure it's going to be done right.

Reason I say this, my Mum had laser surgery and basically they shouldn't have done it. I'm not trying to scare you, it's just she has been left a lot worse for it and had a fight with the company (Ultralase, by the way) and got nowhere.

Make sure you're happy and feel confident in their work, it's not somewhere I'd want to skimp tbh (I understand what you're saying, though).

Also, get a field vision test beforehand.

I know there's many people out there that will have no problems, but I've seen the other side and it has't been nice. For that reason, personally I would say steer clear, I've never liked the idea of it and then the above happened.

[ally406]

Switched from glasses to contacts a few years ago, the modern lens really isn't a big inconvenience I find, they are much softer and breathable than lenses of old. I wear them from when I get up to when I go to bed, and take the occasional day off and wear glasses. I don't even notice that they are there. £13 a month from Asda for decent lenses. I did consider laser eye treatment as everyone that has done it says it's great, but last I read many are still not convinced about the long term effects, and it doesn't necessarily mean you will have permanently good vision as your eyes still change with age. I would think some independent research would be a good thing as the optician obviously wants to flog you expensive stuff.

[toseland]

just wear glasses here, best decision i made was to get some reactions lenses,
.

[luke306rallye]

I've had LASEK and honestly it was worth every penny. The best thing I've ever spent money on and I'd do it again if I had to.

You're supposed to get better results when you're younger aswell.

[Dave]

Sticking lasers in my eyes hmmm, sounds like something I can do myself? Anyone got photonicinductions number? My dad had one of the real early early forms of laser where they remove part of your eye, and had to stay in bed with no tv for 2 weeks. He got outstanding results from that, and his vision has only just started to fall again in recent years, (some 17 years on).

[DavidA]

A lad I was at school with had his eyes lasered and that was over 20 years ago...I considered it when my eyesight let me down trying to get into the police but couldn't afford it.

I've had contact lenses for 20 years now, had the ones you can keep in for 30 days at one point but have been switched back to the ones you take out overnight - my eyes weren't "breathing" enough

[lolsteve]

Didnt realise you had that much of a problem steve. My eye sight has become worse in the past 2 years and its quite concerning.

I have heard of optimax... no i havent thats a fuel brand...

It's somewhat bad, i can see the shapes and colours obviously but over half meter and even big words just turn to a massive smudge. It has affected me in the sense where when I was ending school/starting college I became stubborn about it and refused to wear glasses. Meant I couldn't read the boards properly and my grades plummeted, my own fault of course but just always wished I didnt need them.

...That's my opinion on it anyway, you'd have many, many years of lens wearing for the costs you're talking about here tbf... It rarely bothered me at all and allowed me to do anything I wanted bar jumping out of planes etc...

I'm not doing it for costs, the rate I go through lenses means it would never equal out but I just like the idea of not having to worry/plan about what I do like with swimming or anything sandy/gritty in case it irritates the lense and i rub me eye causing it to come out.
Missed out on appreciating seeing slamboree perform in bristol because I forgot to pack lenses and didnt want to risk damaging my glasses.

I've had LASEK and honestly it was worth every penny. The best thing I've ever spent money on and I'd do it again if I had to.

You're supposed to get better results when you're younger aswell.

How did you find the recovery time? When I had my consoltation they tried to sell me LASIK saying LASEK will put me in terrible pain for a couple of days


In regards to the future, they said you can have it done 3 more times and if the first generation are 20-25 years ahead of me then if there is complications they have 20-25 to find a solution

Also Curt sorry to hear about your mom getting messed about

[Ruan]

...That's my opinion on it anyway, you'd have many, many years of lens wearing for the costs you're talking about here tbf... It rarely bothered me at all and allowed me to do anything I wanted bar jumping out of planes etc...

I'm not doing it for costs, the rate I go through lenses means it would never equal out but I just like the idea of not having to worry/plan about what I do like with swimming or anything sandy/gritty in case it irritates the lense and i rub me eye causing it to come out.
Missed out on appreciating seeing slamboree perform in bristol because I forgot to pack lenses and didnt want to risk damaging my glasses.

I dunno, like for me, being the most useless person, I managed to have them under control once on monthlies...

Out of interest, what lenses have you tried, I know I was on the Specsavers dailies to begin with, they are wank! Getting *good* quality monthlies was one of the best things I ever did, expensive, but good - solved essentially all the problems I had - it just ended up being that my spare lenses, juice and holder were just things I took with me like my phone, keys and wallet....

[darrenjlobb]

My Dad had this done 8-10 years ago, has worn his glasses all his life (since teenager) and has never worn a pair since except sometimes for reading, best thing hes ever done.

That said, it would scare the crap out of me trusting someone else to stick a laser in my eye!!!

[cully]

Didnt realise you had that much of a problem steve.

It's somewhat bad, i can see the shapes and colours obviously but over half meter and even big words just turn to a massive smudge.

but surely you can see your rover looks nothing like a 306

it does explain why you bought the wrong car though

[luke306rallye]

It isn't terrible pain, I can't remember how long it took to fully recover but the pain is only there for a week maybe.
Your eyes are very dry afterwards and you'll be given eye drops to lubricate them basically.
I nearly had LASIK but the doctor advised me about it, and we agree'd that LASEK would be better because you supposedly can't have laser eye surgery again after LASIK.

My prescription was -3.75 for my left eye and -3.50 for my right, cost me £2200ish iirc.

Get it done!

edit, messed quote up.

[Dave]

I do actually re-use dailies too, I'm that pikey just clean them everyday and chuck them after 3 uses. I can tell with any lens it's past it, it just becomes uncomfortable but anything over 3 days and I can feel my eyes getting sore proteins build on them. So I use some fairly good ones as they last longer.

Mention this to an optician though and they will go nuts.

As for eye surgery I think go for it tho do your research

[Matt-Rallye]

Glad you have posted this thread steve as i have been wondering the same!

Always had too wear glasses but recently tried some specsavers contacts and cant stand the wretched things, i cant even put them in or take them out.

[lolsteve]

HOLY THREAD REVIVAL!

I'm getting the surgery! Thanks hugely to Mum & Dad for lending me the money and groupon for the deal. £1400 for both eyes with LASIK done by a private company in a NHS hospital with a surgeon with 20 years experience with fantastic reviews

http://www.lasik-eyes.co.uk/clinics/view...-services/
http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/dealbank_...1/48739761

Can't wait as I'm really starting to notice my eyesight getting poorer, also when I had my consultation last that they I have quite sensitive eyes (often get blinded by cars at night) and the treatment can help cure that so it's a safety thing too

[Eeyore]

A groupon laser eye surgery deal... D:

[lolsteve]

I know sounds sketchy but researched the place and people seem very happy with the guy. Also got 2 weeks to change my mind

[Eeyore]

Unfortunately I havent got any glasses jokes and my laser eye surgery puns are even cornea.

[Mattcheese31]

My dad had his lasered about 10 years ago, we used to call him blind dog, we still do but he ain't blind anymore, seemed to work great for him

[Iceman299]

Unfortunately I havent got any glasses jokes and my laser eye surgery puns are even cornea.

Should've seen that one coming, but i have poor eyesight 

[Poodle]

Are you sure you want to go for lasik based on the above? Just thinking if this has come up then other offers are likely to come up in future, perhaps better to wait for exactly what you wanted.

[WiNgNuTz]

Unfortunately I havent got any glasses jokes and my laser eye surgery puns are even cornea.

*groan*

[Kezzieboy]

LASEK sucks!!

My brother had it, he had to have it to get into the forces, as you have to declare LASIK but not LASEK, or something.

He spent a solid 2 days in a darkened room, wearing sunglasses. Says it was brutal. However he doesn't have to wear glasses anymore, and can follow the career he wanted so, you know, swings and roundabouts!

[306pc]

Met an optician a little while ago and he advised against laser surgery but said lens implants were the best option.

[lolsteve]

Lasek seems to have a lot of problems with it. People complaining of blurry vision afterwards or it taking weeks to recover . It's also the "cheap" option for a lot of places , so LASIK is what I'm after as can get back to work quicker and not be stuck in a dark room for days stinking of piss and kebabs. I spent 4 years of uni doing that

[7057sam]

Good luck Steve

I could never do it as my glasses are kinda who I am but I do wear contacts (daily) and like having the choose.

Sometimes it nice knowing my glasses can protect my eyes from nasty stuff I work with.

How is it using a computer all day with glasses vs contacts for you?

[Poodle]

Fair play dude, sounds like you've done a lot more research in the meantime. So when's the big day?