Laser eye surgery

[QuartzDad]

Speed 3 said:

but once the brain has learnt its stuff, its magical. Vision is 90% brain and 10% optics.]

This. My vision is 20/200 uncorrected (can only see the top letter on the chart) but with my contacts in just one eye I'm 20/20. Witchcraft.

[968]

QuartzDad said:

This. My vision is 20/200 uncorrected (can only see the top letter on the chart) but with my contacts in just one eye I'm 20/20. Witchcraft.

It’s called monovision. Some people can’t manage to fuse the images though so be cautious. It’s been done for years with cataract surgery.

[paulguitar]

I am a solo musician, 46 Years old. I am using 1.5 readers now, not bothered about that, but have a problem at work. People write requests for me which I can struggle to read, and it is not practical to keep putting on and taking of glasses on stage. Is there a laser (or possibly even contact lens) that could sort out my issue?

TIA.

[jontymo]

Hi all,

Interesting thread, what I mean by this is I had my eyes corrected 11 years ago in my late 30’s and being honest I had forgotten that I had wore glasses and contacts from the age of 13. I am now at the age of 49 and getting ready for reading glasses but just keep pinching the wife’s!

The cost at Optical Express in Leeds was £3300 and was at that time a hell of a lot of money for me to lay out, what it gave me was confidence which is unmeasurable, anyone who wears glasses will understand this!

Do your research and understand if you will get the benefits you want, as per previous posts it is not just about your eyes as much about your brain and accepting what you see. For me it was and is the best thing I have done to enhance my life and given the chance and the technology would have done it years previous.

[So]

jontymo said:

Hi all,

Interesting thread, what I mean by this is I had my eyes corrected 11 years ago in my late 30’s and being honest I had forgotten that I had wore glasses and contacts from the age of 13. I am now at the age of 49 and getting ready for reading glasses but just keep pinching the wife’s!

The cost at Optical Express in Leeds was £3300 and was at that time a hell of a lot of money for me to lay out, what it gave me was confidence which is unmeasurable, anyone who wears glasses will understand this!

Do your research and understand if you will get the benefits you want, as per previous posts it is not just about your eyes as much about your brain and accepting what you see. For me it was and is the best thing I have done to enhance my life and given the chance and the technology would have done it years previous.

Agreed. When I needed glasses it made me feel old. Getting rid of them made me feel a lot better.

[bompey]

I was 44 when I had mine done at moorfields, and I had 1 eye made slightly long sighted and 1 slightly short sighted. It works really well and now at 49 I have better vision than friends of the same age. Even if I do need to have reading glasses it will be much better than the -5 I had in each eye before.

[Armitage.Shanks]

968 said:

Armitage.Shanks said:

Isn't there a process called 'blended vision' where they laser one eye for shortsight and the other for longsight? The brain then compensates so with both eyes open you can see up close and far perfectly.

I'm in my 50s and have never worn glasses but have been on the cusp for shortsightedness and now fighting off the use of mild reading glasses - I'm OK to read in good light.

I don't like glasses so idally need something that will fix both.

If you’re in your 50s, I wouldn’t bother.

Would it not work, or is it not cost effective with a mild prescription? Only my pal and his wife have both had it done and they are in their 50s. They are pleased with the results.

The danger is if I start to wear reading glasses won't the eyes become lazy and then I'll need them more and more?

[Speed 3]

It's really about how many years you get out of it for your investment (although I think there are some increased medical risks with the op over 50). I had it done at 45 (differential correction) and at 51 I now need glasses for low light conditions (reading & driving) but I still don't regret having it done as 99% of the time I'm without them and getting away from contact lenses was a huge boon. My prescription was quite severe though (-8.5). I suspect I'll still be glasses-free for 80+% of the time for years to come.

[968]

Armitage.Shanks said:

Would it not work, or is it not cost effective with a mild prescription? Only my pal and his wife have both had it done and they are in their 50s. They are pleased with the results.

The danger is if I start to wear reading glasses won't the eyes become lazy and then I'll need them more and more?

You’re eyes won’t become lazy by using glasses, that’s a common misconception.

The issue with laser refractive surgery in your 50s is that you are probably developing early cataracts, which will eventually require surgery, and that surgery could resolve your refractive error itself. It also means that the benefits of lasik/lasek would be relatively short lived. Additionally, when you eventually have cataract surgery, the outcomes are less predictable after lasik/lasek because of the change in the mechanics of the cornea after surgery.

If your prescription is only mild, you have to also consider the risk of any surgery.

[Grim Tidings]

Hey,

I tend to lurk rather than post but I thought I could add some experience for a change.

I had laser eye surgery carried out in February this year. My previous prescription was L:-3.00 with an astigmatism R:-2.75.

The cost came in at a relatively steep £4750 for "eye design" (or some such). I can honestly say it's the best money I have ever paid.

I'm now sitting pretty at pretty much perfect vision. Very little issue with dry eye or night driving (which used to be a pain in the arse for me), not that it's a big chew to carry around some drops just in case any way.

I was in the clinic for a grand total of 1.5 hours. Most of that was sat waiting around in the reception. The procedure itself was done and dusted in 10 minutes. It didn't hurt me in the slightest. The feeling an hour later for the rest of the night and next day was akin to having a bag of sand dumped in your eye. Incredibly irritating, but not painful. Light sources however completely blinded me, so I went and waited out in a nice dark pub in Leeds until the sun set.

I should say that some people in the clinic the next morning were moaning about pain however this was down to them having a different type of treatment (solvent based?) and the particular chap looking a bit, err... soft.

So, it may not be helpful, but as I said it's the best money I've ever spent.

Edit: shocking spelling.

[Blown2CV]

never go for the cheaper option either. They can do all sorts of things now where your eyeball is mapped and imperfections/distortions are accounted for in the treatment. That tends to still be the more expensive treatments. If there is one thing you should never skimp on, it's sight.

[Chris Stott]

I paid £800 for both eyes at Optimax >15 years ago (-2/-2.25)

I'm now 51, and had 20/20 vision when I had my eyes tested last year.

I have used reading glasses for c.18 months (+1 prescription).

[7w7]

I've booked to have the surgery in September - Lasik in one eye and Lasek in the other. Partly inspired by this thread

I went with Optical Express, I imagine a lot of people are put off by their obscure pricing, I don't blame them. Bit of a weird company. I managed to get almost £800 off in the end.

I was considering OC of London, but it wouldn't really be practical with the repeat check-ups.

[7w7]

I had the surgery last week.

The lasik eye was fine, no pain at all amazingly.

The lasek eye was horrendously uncomfortable for 2 days. Probably the worst pain I've been in. I can't imagine having both eyes lasekked at the same time. Just waiting for the contact to be removed now.

[RobM77]

7w7 said:

I had the surgery last week.

The lasik eye was fine, no pain at all amazingly.

The lasek eye was horrendously uncomfortable for 2 days. Probably the worst pain I've been in. I can't imagine having both eyes lasekked at the same time. Just waiting for the contact to be removed now.

I had LASEK on both eyes on the same day back in April 2007. Changed my life, but bloody hell it hurt! As with you, it was definitely the most pain I've ever been in, no doubt.

[7w7]

RobM77 said:

I had LASEK on both eyes on the same day back in April 2007. Changed my life, but bloody hell it hurt! As with you, it was definitely the most pain I've ever been in, no doubt.

It was the combination of relentless throbbing and not being able to distract myself with anything. Anyone considering it, get some good audiobooks.

[Milnero]

I'm interested in having laser eye surgery and wondered if anyone on here could tell me if I'm suitable for the treatment before I go ahead and book a consultation

I've recently had my eyes checked and I've been told I have healthy eyes with no issues.

My eye sight prescription is,

Right eye, SPH -1.25 CYL -0.25 AXIS 180
left eye, SPH -0.75 CYL -0.50 AXIS 20

The above prescription means absolutely nothing to me so I hope I've given some information enabling my question to be answered to a degree.

Thanks

[RobM77]

Milnero said:

I'm interested in having laser eye surgery and wondered if anyone on here could tell me if I'm suitable for the treatment before I go ahead and book a consultation

I've recently had my eyes checked and I've been told I have healthy eyes with no issues.

My eye sight prescription is,

Right eye, SPH -1.25 CYL -0.25 AXIS 180
left eye, SPH -0.75 CYL -0.50 AXIS 20

The above prescription means absolutely nothing to me so I hope I've given some information enabling my question to be answered to a degree.

Thanks

We can't give medical advice on here, but that's a very mild prescription, so I don't see why laser would be an issue. From memory I think I was about SPH -6.8 and CYL -4.5 in each eye and I was corrected to 6/4.

Edited by RobM77 on Friday 27th September 09:37

[Milnero]

RobM77 said:

Milnero said:

I'm interested in having laser eye surgery and wondered if anyone on here could tell me if I'm suitable for the treatment before I go ahead and book a consultation

I've recently had my eyes checked and I've been told I have healthy eyes with no issues.

My eye sight prescription is,

Right eye, SPH -1.25 CYL -0.25 AXIS 180
left eye, SPH -0.75 CYL -0.50 AXIS 20

The above prescription means absolutely nothing to me so I hope I've given some information enabling my question to be answered to a degree.

Thanks

We can't give medical advice on here, but that's a very mild prescription, so I don't see why laser would be an issue. From memory I think I was about SPH -6.8 and CYL -3.8 in each eye and I was corrected to 6/4.

Thank you, I appreciate not being able to give medical advice.
I was after more of general idea which you have provided, cheers

[MOBB]

So tempted to go for this - I’m 47 and slowly over the years I’ve needed reading glasses which got stronger and stronger, but still only about -2 I think

I’m now getting annoyed trying to read things in shops, in the car etc and fed up with glasses faff

I know I probably won’t get the best return for the money but a good say 5-7 years would be nice

Any recommendations for a good place to go, quality more important than cost within reason