Laser eye surgery

[eltax91]

Hi all

After 15 years of wearing contacts, recently I went to optical express for an assessment on Laser Eye Surgery. After the assessment they told me i'm an "ideal" candidate for their "iDesign" LASIK service and given the prescription and other detail, I would qualify for their 20:20 vision or money back guarantee.

Now, they started out at near enough £5k for this special service, which is "unique" to them. In a follow up call they quickly came down to £3390, which is the advertised price on the web, when I decided I didn't think the benefit worth the cost, they dropped further still, to just under £3k.

So, as they were being silly with their pricing (building it up to discount and apply pressure sales technique), I decided to sound out some others. Ultralase are offering their "wavefront" technology for less money, with the same guarantee and seemingly, on the face of i, the same LASIK surgery and same scan of the eye. However, OE insist that THEY have a unique product, that they are the only one's with the "pukka" scanning capability to completely profile the eye and therefore give the safest and best results.

So not being an expert on such matters, anyone out there had it done? Was it worth it?

Anyone work in the industry and can tell me the truth behind all these names and brands? I assume it's just the same medical procedure, service and equipment, possibly even at the same clinic! But then this is my eyes i'm considering messing with, so I want to make the right choice, regardless of cost!!

HELP

Blind and confused:

[mcdjl]

There are two types Lasik and Lasek (http://www.lasik.com/articles/lasek-what-is-it/) both of which do roughly the same thing. There are some options, like the wavefront stuff you've looked at with one of them. Most high street surgeries won't have any choice beyond what the chain bought into and the knowledge to sell their set up over the others. It might be worth reading up on which one you're getting into as there can be some significant differences- I know one is newer than the other for example.

[Foliage]

I don't think id trust any of the high street laser eye corrector with my eyes.


http://www.cmft.nhs.uk/royal-eye

[Supernova190188]

I had mine done in September with accuvision, wavefront and to be honest it is absolutely amazing! Should have done it ages ago. I paid £2,400, my eyes were both -4.00 and now they said my vision is 20/15 or 15/20, whichever way around it goes!

[_rubinho_]

Best. Thing. Ever!

Had mine done in 2011. I was -5.75 in each eye. I went for LASIK with Intralase (without the blade) and custom wavefront from Optical Express. In total it came to just over £3.5k. The surgery was a little daunting as you'd expect but not too traumatic and my recovery was quick. I quickly got and maintained better than 20:20 vision. My night vision is fine. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Edit: My now girlfriend also got it done before we met. Her experience has been wholly positive too.

Edited by _rubinho_ on Friday 19th June 15:20

[968]

eltax91 said:

Hi all

After 15 years of wearing contacts, recently I went to optical express for an assessment on Laser Eye Surgery. After the assessment they told me i'm an "ideal" candidate for their "iDesign" LASIK service and given the prescription and other detail, I would qualify for their 20:20 vision or money back guarantee.

Now, they started out at near enough £5k for this special service, which is "unique" to them. In a follow up call they quickly came down to £3390, which is the advertised price on the web, when I decided I didn't think the benefit worth the cost, they dropped further still, to just under £3k.

So, as they were being silly with their pricing (building it up to discount and apply pressure sales technique), I decided to sound out some others. Ultralase are offering their "wavefront" technology for less money, with the same guarantee and seemingly, on the face of i, the same LASIK surgery and same scan of the eye. However, OE insist that THEY have a unique product, that they are the only one's with the "pukka" scanning capability to completely profile the eye and therefore give the safest and best results.

So not being an expert on such matters, anyone out there had it done? Was it worth it?

Anyone work in the industry and can tell me the truth behind all these names and brands? I assume it's just the same medical procedure, service and equipment, possibly even at the same clinic! But then this is my eyes i'm considering messing with, so I want to make the right choice, regardless of cost!!

HELP

Blind and confused:

It sounds like marketing jargon. iDesign is just wavefront guided LASIK, which is what other people offer. As far as I know wavefront offers no real benefit to patients other than those having retreatments, but it's a nice idea. Ask them to specify precisely what the difference is between their product and wavefront guided lasik. You'll find it's the same. You're right to query this, but you might also want to ensure that this is the most appropriate option of treatment for you, given your prescription.

[eltax91]

968 said:

eltax91 said:

Hi all

After 15 years of wearing contacts, recently I went to optical express for an assessment on Laser Eye Surgery. After the assessment they told me i'm an "ideal" candidate for their "iDesign" LASIK service and given the prescription and other detail, I would qualify for their 20:20 vision or money back guarantee.

Now, they started out at near enough £5k for this special service, which is "unique" to them. In a follow up call they quickly came down to £3390, which is the advertised price on the web, when I decided I didn't think the benefit worth the cost, they dropped further still, to just under £3k.

So, as they were being silly with their pricing (building it up to discount and apply pressure sales technique), I decided to sound out some others. Ultralase are offering their "wavefront" technology for less money, with the same guarantee and seemingly, on the face of i, the same LASIK surgery and same scan of the eye. However, OE insist that THEY have a unique product, that they are the only one's with the "pukka" scanning capability to completely profile the eye and therefore give the safest and best results.

So not being an expert on such matters, anyone out there had it done? Was it worth it?

Anyone work in the industry and can tell me the truth behind all these names and brands? I assume it's just the same medical procedure, service and equipment, possibly even at the same clinic! But then this is my eyes i'm considering messing with, so I want to make the right choice, regardless of cost!!

HELP

Blind and confused:

It sounds like marketing jargon. iDesign is just wavefront guided LASIK, which is what other people offer. As far as I know wavefront offers no real benefit to patients other than those having retreatments, but it's a nice idea. Ask them to specify precisely what the difference is between their product and wavefront guided lasik. You'll find it's the same. You're right to query this, but you might also want to ensure that this is the most appropriate option of treatment for you, given your prescription.

Thanks for the answer. I see this is your field of expertise!

The OE guy was talking about divets on golf balls and how the eye is like that, and their treatment laser all the divet's and others don't. I didn't buy it, it sounded like he was trying to talk me into it. He also mentioned iDesign was unique technology "contracted" to OE by the Moorfields eye hospital London and only their centres had this technology. That's why the price is higher. He said the others have different names for a lesser but similar technique.

I'm a -6.5 in one eye (also astigmatic) and a -6 in the other. Well at least I think I am!

Given the limited info on my prescription, how do I work out what's most appropriate for me?

[968]

eltax91 said:

Thanks for the answer. I see this is your field of expertise!

The OE guy was talking about divets on golf balls and how the eye is like that, and their treatment laser all the divet's and others don't. I didn't buy it, it sounded like he was trying to talk me into it. He also mentioned iDesign was unique technology "contracted" to OE by the Moorfields eye hospital London and only their centres had this technology. That's why the price is higher. He said the others have different names for a lesser but similar technique.

I'm a -6.5 in one eye (also astigmatic) and a -6 in the other. Well at least I think I am!

Given the limited info on my prescription, how do I work out what's most appropriate for me?

He's talking bks.

Wavefront is an established technique which is not unique to any hospital, least of all Moorfields. iLasik is just using a femtosecond laser to produce the lasik flap. This is certainly not unique to OE or Moorfields. This kind of jargonese really annoys me.

You haven't given me your age but if you're young ie <35 then I'd say LASIK or LASEK would be perfectly reasonable, and should result in a good corrected acuity and probably spectacle independence. If you're in London go and see Mr Ali Mearza.

Edited by 968 on Friday 19th June 16:50

[eltax91]

968 said:

eltax91 said:

Thanks for the answer. I see this is your field of expertise!

The OE guy was talking about divets on golf balls and how the eye is like that, and their treatment laser all the divet's and others don't. I didn't buy it, it sounded like he was trying to talk me into it. He also mentioned iDesign was unique technology "contracted" to OE by the Moorfields eye hospital London and only their centres had this technology. That's why the price is higher. He said the others have different names for a lesser but similar technique.

I'm a -6.5 in one eye (also astigmatic) and a -6 in the other. Well at least I think I am!

Given the limited info on my prescription, how do I work out what's most appropriate for me?

He's talking bks.

Wavefront is an established technique which is not unique to any hospital, least of all Moorfields. iLasik is just using a femtosecond laser to produce the lasik flap. This is certainly not unique to OE or Moorfields. This kind of jargonese really annoys me.

You haven't given me your age but if you're young ie <35 then I'd say LASIK or LASEK would be perfectly reasonable, and should result in a good corrected acuity and probably spectacle independence. If you're in London go and see Mr Ali Mearza.

Edited by 968 on Friday 19th June 16:50

Thanks for the info. To be honest, I'm a techie in IT sales so I smell the jargon a mile away, since I'm speaking it most of my day!

I'm 32, contacts for 15 years, glasses for 5 before that. I'm in Leicester, so London is not an option for me sadly. Given the information you have given me, I think I will talk to some of the other providers. Its really concerning though that this can be comodotized in such a way. A medical procedure is a medical procedure and it should be defined, accurate and not sold with loads of mystery!

It's getting so complicated for me to know whats good and whats not I'm half tempted not to bother with it at all.

[mcdjl]

968 said:

He's talking bks.

Wavefront is an established technique which is not unique to any hospital, least of all Moorfields. iLasik is just using a femtosecond laser to produce the lasik flap. This is certainly not unique to OE or Moorfields. This kind of jargonese really annoys me.

You haven't given me your age but if you're young ie <35 then I'd say LASIK or LASEK would be perfectly reasonable, and should result in a good corrected acuity and probably spectacle independence. If you're in London go and see Mr Ali Mearza.

Edited by 968 on Friday 19th June 16:50

While not unique to Moorfields a lot of the techniques were developed and pioneered there.

[968]

mcdjl said:

While not unique to Moorfields a lot of the techniques were developed and pioneered there.

I worked there so know very well what the products of that hospital are. What this company is marketing is nonsense.

[Rh14n]

I had LASIK treatment 12 years ago when I was 38 by Ultralase in Chester. I recall the cost to be £2,500 then and resulted in my getting 20/20 vision which remains as good today. The procedure was totally painless and was one of the best things I ever did.

[lost in espace]

968 can I ask a question, jumping in on the thread sorry op. I am -8 both eyes and 46. My eyes are fairly dry, can't wear contacts for more than 6 hours. Is laser surgery an option for me? I don't have bifocals and my eyes seem good and strong. Is laser surgery an option without the horrid cutting of the eye with a blade? Ta!

[968]

lost in espace said:

968 can I ask a question, jumping in on the thread sorry op. I am -8 both eyes and 46. My eyes are fairly dry, can't wear contacts for more than 6 hours. Is laser surgery an option for me? I don't have bifocals and my eyes seem good and strong. Is laser surgery an option without the horrid cutting of the eye with a blade? Ta!

I wouldn't recommend it for you as you'll still need reading glasses, lasik/lasek can only confidently correct upto -8D, so you will be at the limit of what they can treat and also it'll make your dry eyes worse.

You'd be far better off with a refractive lens exchange, and an intraocular lens inserted which is multifocal. That way you'll never need surgery again and you may never need glasses for both distance/near.

Edited to add, you can have lens replacement surgery/cataract surgery done with a laser now at certain centres, but you might have to pm me, as I don't want to be accused of advertising.

[mcdjl]

968 said:

I worked there so know very well what the products of that hospital are. What this company is marketing is nonsense.

I won't disagree with you there, I wanted to say as much but I don't know enough about the field to say so!

[lost in espace]

968 said:

I wouldn't recommend it for you as you'll still need reading glasses, lasik/lasek can only confidently correct upto -8D, so you will be at the limit of what they can treat and also it'll make your dry eyes worse.

Thanks 968, appreciated.

[Blown2CV]

another for ultrlase wavefront and 5 years on still 20:20. As long as you stay really fking still when it's being done you should be OK. It is a very weird procedure, but over quickly. I do get the impression that those who get a bad result maybe move their eyes or something during the procedure.

Worth mentioning that Ultralase went bust a few years ago and reopened with the same brand under a different legal entity. They are honouring guarantees etc now, but for a while it looked like they might not.

[Oakey]

How do you not move your eyes though? The natural reaction to a tiny scalpel about to slice your eye open is to get the fk out of the way!

I'd love eye surgery but this really puts me off

[Blown2CV]

Oakey said:

How do you not move your eyes though? The natural reaction to a tiny scalpel about to slice your eye open is to get the fk out of the way!

I'd love eye surgery but this really puts me off

because you use the fear of permanently fking your eyes up as motivation. They don't come at you with a scalpel any more unless you go for the absolute bargain basement option; instead they use an incisor laser.

In terms of the experience, you can see bubbles forming, it's a bit like star trek hyperdrive... and also it smells like burning hair/flesh. Super weird. I am very squeamish, which put me off having it done for a number of years, but it's not really that bad. You will be VERY sensitive to light for the rest of that day though, bit of an excuse to go to bed and sleep.

[Chris Stott]

I had mine done at Optimax... the best £800 I ever spent.

Went for an eye test just after Christmas and 13 years on still 20:20, though I have just started to wear very mild prescription reading glasses at 48.