Lens replacement eye surgery.
Discussion
Basically this is cataract surgery so the procedure is well hammered down and as low risk as any surgery can be.
I'd try a few proper surgeons if I were you rather than a high st provider.
It looks like you are considering a a multifocal implant. Personally I wouldn't go anywhere near them, single vision all the way. Those post op I have had in whose vision wasn't bank on were a real pain to correct afterwards and even then the results weren't great.
I'd try a few proper surgeons if I were you rather than a high st provider.
It looks like you are considering a a multifocal implant. Personally I wouldn't go anywhere near them, single vision all the way. Those post op I have had in whose vision wasn't bank on were a real pain to correct afterwards and even then the results weren't great.
I would not contemplate an operation of this type without consulting a registered ophthalmic surgeon. Just refer to the breast implant fiasco for reasons why. Even then if he recommended it I would be very cautious. The long term consequences are unknown because there have not been sufficient completed operations over any real period.
DKL said:
Basically this is cataract surgery so the procedure is well hammered down and as low risk as any surgery can be.
I'd try a few proper surgeons if I were you rather than a high st provider.
It looks like you are considering a a multifocal implant. Personally I wouldn't go anywhere near them, single vision all the way. Those post op I have had in whose vision wasn't bank on were a real pain to correct afterwards and even then the results weren't great.
My thinking regarding a "high street provider": They are very local so if anything goes wrong they are minutes away. I contacted Moorfields who were chaotic, twice as expensive and 140 miles away. I assume, rightly or wrongly, that if Optical Express is doing these jobs all day every day they will be at least half decent at it.I'd try a few proper surgeons if I were you rather than a high st provider.
It looks like you are considering a a multifocal implant. Personally I wouldn't go anywhere near them, single vision all the way. Those post op I have had in whose vision wasn't bank on were a real pain to correct afterwards and even then the results weren't great.
What is it you do DKL?
Steffan, as DKL says this is essentially the same as cataract surgery so whilst I take your point that it's not centuries old science, it started over 60 years ago and is still being carried out, so it obviously has merit and isn't hugely dangerous. IIRC the chap that developed it learnt from WWII airmen who got Perspex canopy fragments in their eyes and were no worse off for it.
Eleven said:
DKL said:
Basically this is cataract surgery so the procedure is well hammered down and as low risk as any surgery can be.
I'd try a few proper surgeons if I were you rather than a high st provider.
It looks like you are considering a a multifocal implant. Personally I wouldn't go anywhere near them, single vision all the way. Those post op I have had in whose vision wasn't bank on were a real pain to correct afterwards and even then the results weren't great.
My thinking regarding a "high street provider": They are very local so if anything goes wrong they are minutes away. I contacted Moorfields who were chaotic, twice as expensive and 140 miles away. I assume, rightly or wrongly, that if Optical Express is doing these jobs all day every day they will be at least half decent at it.I'd try a few proper surgeons if I were you rather than a high st provider.
It looks like you are considering a a multifocal implant. Personally I wouldn't go anywhere near them, single vision all the way. Those post op I have had in whose vision wasn't bank on were a real pain to correct afterwards and even then the results weren't great.
What is it you do DKL?
Steffan, as DKL says this is essentially the same as cataract surgery so whilst I take your point that it's not centuries old science, it started over 60 years ago and is still being carried out, so it obviously has merit and isn't hugely dangerous. IIRC the chap that developed it learnt from WWII airmen who got Perspex canopy fragments in their eyes and were no worse off for it.
Steffan said:
Eleven said:
DKL said:
Basically this is cataract surgery so the procedure is well hammered down and as low risk as any surgery can be.
I'd try a few proper surgeons if I were you rather than a high st provider.
It looks like you are considering a a multifocal implant. Personally I wouldn't go anywhere near them, single vision all the way. Those post op I have had in whose vision wasn't bank on were a real pain to correct afterwards and even then the results weren't great.
My thinking regarding a "high street provider": They are very local so if anything goes wrong they are minutes away. I contacted Moorfields who were chaotic, twice as expensive and 140 miles away. I assume, rightly or wrongly, that if Optical Express is doing these jobs all day every day they will be at least half decent at it.I'd try a few proper surgeons if I were you rather than a high st provider.
It looks like you are considering a a multifocal implant. Personally I wouldn't go anywhere near them, single vision all the way. Those post op I have had in whose vision wasn't bank on were a real pain to correct afterwards and even then the results weren't great.
What is it you do DKL?
Steffan, as DKL says this is essentially the same as cataract surgery so whilst I take your point that it's not centuries old science, it started over 60 years ago and is still being carried out, so it obviously has merit and isn't hugely dangerous. IIRC the chap that developed it learnt from WWII airmen who got Perspex canopy fragments in their eyes and were no worse off for it.
There are plenty of good refractive surgeons out there, where are you? Keep your eye on the availability of Optical Express practices, one or two have closed recently...
This procedure is probably "safer" than any sort of laser (with the usual caveats) - I've sent umpteen patients to have cataracts done, as an optometrist.
Its certainly well worth looking at and it means you won't get cataracts!
This procedure is probably "safer" than any sort of laser (with the usual caveats) - I've sent umpteen patients to have cataracts done, as an optometrist.
Its certainly well worth looking at and it means you won't get cataracts!
DKL said:
There are plenty of good refractive surgeons out there, where are you? Keep your eye on the availability of Optical Express practices, one or two have closed recently...
This procedure is probably "safer" than any sort of laser (with the usual caveats) - I've sent umpteen patients to have cataracts done, as an optometrist.
Its certainly well worth looking at and it means you won't get cataracts!
Nottingham is my nearest OE branch and they have only just started doing intraocular lens replacement surgery so I doubt they'll be closing down just yet.This procedure is probably "safer" than any sort of laser (with the usual caveats) - I've sent umpteen patients to have cataracts done, as an optometrist.
Its certainly well worth looking at and it means you won't get cataracts!
Three friends of mine have had multifocal lenses fitted and all are delighted. What problems are you coming across?
The problems occur where the end results are not exactly what the surgeon aimed for refractively, ie the final prescription.
If a single vision correction doesn't get to exactly 0 then a pair of glasses will top it up just fine and your vision will be very good. Ok not exactly what you wanted but easily corrected.
But with a multifocal IOL the surface is essentially (not literally) like a varifocal spectacle lens, with different powers in different places. If these different powers don't give you the vision you were expecting it is very hard to "top up" with spectacles in the same way. I've had a few patients in postop multi IOL and its not easy to fix.
There is always the option to replace the IOL again which isn't really an option with the laser.
As with all these things speak to the surgeons and make sure you understand the risks. Undoubtedly lots of people have had great results with this and other forms but it does happen.
If all goes to plan then great but what happens as prescriptions regress over the years? I don't know and you could argue no one does. Certainly post cataract patients still have prescription changes as they get older.
If a single vision correction doesn't get to exactly 0 then a pair of glasses will top it up just fine and your vision will be very good. Ok not exactly what you wanted but easily corrected.
But with a multifocal IOL the surface is essentially (not literally) like a varifocal spectacle lens, with different powers in different places. If these different powers don't give you the vision you were expecting it is very hard to "top up" with spectacles in the same way. I've had a few patients in postop multi IOL and its not easy to fix.
There is always the option to replace the IOL again which isn't really an option with the laser.
As with all these things speak to the surgeons and make sure you understand the risks. Undoubtedly lots of people have had great results with this and other forms but it does happen.
If all goes to plan then great but what happens as prescriptions regress over the years? I don't know and you could argue no one does. Certainly post cataract patients still have prescription changes as they get older.
Eleven, it might be worth asking here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... (PHer 968 may be able to offer advice)
DKL said:
The problems occur where the end results are not exactly what the surgeon aimed for refractively, ie the final prescription.
If a single vision correction doesn't get to exactly 0 then a pair of glasses will top it up just fine and your vision will be very good. Ok not exactly what you wanted but easily corrected.
But with a multifocal IOL the surface is essentially (not literally) like a varifocal spectacle lens, with different powers in different places. If these different powers don't give you the vision you were expecting it is very hard to "top up" with spectacles in the same way. I've had a few patients in postop multi IOL and its not easy to fix.
There is always the option to replace the IOL again which isn't really an option with the laser.
As with all these things speak to the surgeons and make sure you understand the risks. Undoubtedly lots of people have had great results with this and other forms but it does happen.
If all goes to plan then great but what happens as prescriptions regress over the years? I don't know and you could argue no one does. Certainly post cataract patients still have prescription changes as they get older.
My understanding is that OE uses laser to correct some problems if the lenses don't produce the desired effect.If a single vision correction doesn't get to exactly 0 then a pair of glasses will top it up just fine and your vision will be very good. Ok not exactly what you wanted but easily corrected.
But with a multifocal IOL the surface is essentially (not literally) like a varifocal spectacle lens, with different powers in different places. If these different powers don't give you the vision you were expecting it is very hard to "top up" with spectacles in the same way. I've had a few patients in postop multi IOL and its not easy to fix.
There is always the option to replace the IOL again which isn't really an option with the laser.
As with all these things speak to the surgeons and make sure you understand the risks. Undoubtedly lots of people have had great results with this and other forms but it does happen.
If all goes to plan then great but what happens as prescriptions regress over the years? I don't know and you could argue no one does. Certainly post cataract patients still have prescription changes as they get older.
You say single vision shortcomings are easily corrected with glasses. However that's pretty much the situation I am in now. I don't need glasses for distance, but reading, PC work and talking to people close up requires them. I hate wearing glasses and my eyesight is, honestly, annoying me.
One of my friends who's had the multifocal surgery is knocking seventy and before I knew she'd had surgery I marvelled at how she could read the small ads in the newspaper without glasses, and go grouse shooting again without specs. Only when I found out that she'd had the surgery did it make sense.
I take on board your comments about the future. There are shortcomings with multifocal lenses I gather, particularly "halos" around lights at night. I imagine that in the future such issues will be resolved. I presume that if that happens further surgery will be possible?
I know that post-cataract patients have prescription changes. One of my family has had surgery and she initially barely needed glasses but now needs them more.
It's tricky, it's not a no-brainer and I realise that the results may not be perfect. But currently I feel that they are likely to be better than the current situation.
Shaw Tarse, I've dropped 968 and email. Thanks.
Dear Eleven,
I think the thing you have to consider at the moment (from reading your posts) is that you are likely to have perfect corrected vision for near and distance. Your aim, I presume, is to be independent of wearing spectacles for distance and near. In having a clear lens exchange, surgeon selection becomes extremely important as you have very good vision to begin with. If your operation goes wrong, then even with correction, your vision may never be perfectly clear again.
Cataract surgery, although generally routine and one of the most frequently performed surgeries, can and does go wrong. If you have a posterior capsular rupture, it may limit the lens options available for implant and increases the risk of infection (endophthalmitis) and retinal detachment. You may also get cystoid macular oedema. PC rupture rates will vary between surgeons for various reasons.
If you are an elderly patient with very poor vision secondary to a dense cataract then cataract surgery is marvellous. The chance of improving vision with monofocal lenses is very high indeed. For a clear lens exchange, success is not always as easy to achieve, unless you are highly myopic/shortsighted. Are you planning on having Lasik enhancement afterwards with Optical Express?
If i was you I would think hard about what you are looking to achieve from the surgery and get a full understanding of the likelihood of achieving it and the risks, including that of loss of vision or worse vision than you have now, both corrected and uncorrected.
I know some excellent cataract surgeons in Nottingham that I can recommend if you would like.
I think the thing you have to consider at the moment (from reading your posts) is that you are likely to have perfect corrected vision for near and distance. Your aim, I presume, is to be independent of wearing spectacles for distance and near. In having a clear lens exchange, surgeon selection becomes extremely important as you have very good vision to begin with. If your operation goes wrong, then even with correction, your vision may never be perfectly clear again.
Cataract surgery, although generally routine and one of the most frequently performed surgeries, can and does go wrong. If you have a posterior capsular rupture, it may limit the lens options available for implant and increases the risk of infection (endophthalmitis) and retinal detachment. You may also get cystoid macular oedema. PC rupture rates will vary between surgeons for various reasons.
If you are an elderly patient with very poor vision secondary to a dense cataract then cataract surgery is marvellous. The chance of improving vision with monofocal lenses is very high indeed. For a clear lens exchange, success is not always as easy to achieve, unless you are highly myopic/shortsighted. Are you planning on having Lasik enhancement afterwards with Optical Express?
If i was you I would think hard about what you are looking to achieve from the surgery and get a full understanding of the likelihood of achieving it and the risks, including that of loss of vision or worse vision than you have now, both corrected and uncorrected.
I know some excellent cataract surgeons in Nottingham that I can recommend if you would like.
CragGriff500 said:
Dear Eleven,
I think the thing you have to consider at the moment (from reading your posts) is that you are likely to have perfect corrected vision for near and distance. Your aim, I presume, is to be independent of wearing spectacles for distance and near. In having a clear lens exchange, surgeon selection becomes extremely important as you have very good vision to begin with. If your operation goes wrong, then even with correction, your vision may never be perfectly clear again.
Cataract surgery, although generally routine and one of the most frequently performed surgeries, can and does go wrong. If you have a posterior capsular rupture, it may limit the lens options available for implant and increases the risk of infection (endophthalmitis) and retinal detachment. You may also get cystoid macular oedema. PC rupture rates will vary between surgeons for various reasons.
If you are an elderly patient with very poor vision secondary to a dense cataract then cataract surgery is marvellous. The chance of improving vision with monofocal lenses is very high indeed. For a clear lens exchange, success is not always as easy to achieve, unless you are highly myopic/shortsighted. Are you planning on having Lasik enhancement afterwards with Optical Express?
If i was you I would think hard about what you are looking to achieve from the surgery and get a full understanding of the likelihood of achieving it and the risks, including that of loss of vision or worse vision than you have now, both corrected and uncorrected.
I know some excellent cataract surgeons in Nottingham that I can recommend if you would like.
CragGriff, thanks for your response. I think the thing you have to consider at the moment (from reading your posts) is that you are likely to have perfect corrected vision for near and distance. Your aim, I presume, is to be independent of wearing spectacles for distance and near. In having a clear lens exchange, surgeon selection becomes extremely important as you have very good vision to begin with. If your operation goes wrong, then even with correction, your vision may never be perfectly clear again.
Cataract surgery, although generally routine and one of the most frequently performed surgeries, can and does go wrong. If you have a posterior capsular rupture, it may limit the lens options available for implant and increases the risk of infection (endophthalmitis) and retinal detachment. You may also get cystoid macular oedema. PC rupture rates will vary between surgeons for various reasons.
If you are an elderly patient with very poor vision secondary to a dense cataract then cataract surgery is marvellous. The chance of improving vision with monofocal lenses is very high indeed. For a clear lens exchange, success is not always as easy to achieve, unless you are highly myopic/shortsighted. Are you planning on having Lasik enhancement afterwards with Optical Express?
If i was you I would think hard about what you are looking to achieve from the surgery and get a full understanding of the likelihood of achieving it and the risks, including that of loss of vision or worse vision than you have now, both corrected and uncorrected.
I know some excellent cataract surgeons in Nottingham that I can recommend if you would like.
Yes, I want to be specs-free. I am also aware that because I have "healthy" lenses in relative terms the risk is greater that my vision will not be improved. I see fairly well with glasses, I may not if things go wrong. However, I am really not happy wearing glasses and I don't get on with contact lenses, so I am prepared to assume a level of risk to improve my life.
I will drop you an email if that's okay, and I will probably get a second opinion. However I still keep coming back to the thought that a surgeon who is doing these operations all day might be a good choice, even if he works for a "high street" outfit.
I made enquiries with Moorfields and was unimpressed. Admittedly I didn't go for a consultation, but when I spoke to the recommended surgeon's PA she asked me what sort of lenses I'd like. I wasn't picking out sunglasses at Boots and was rather hoping the surgeon would have some input where that decision was concerned.
I also made some enquiries with a local private hospital's recommended surgeon. Again I spoke to his PA and asked whether the surgeon specialised in intraocular lens replacement surgery. She asked me to repeat what I wanted and needed to go away and ask. I haven't asked my GP for a referral.
So, however great my desire for better vision might be I am trying to make a well thought-through decision and consider fully the risks. But right now a volume commercial outfit appears to have some advantages.
Not entirely related, but I've been treated by Moorfields for the last 43 years, and my son & daughter for 14 & 9 yrs respectively.
Admittedly it's not for lense replacement, but I have to commend them on their excellent service and treatment of all three of us.
To give some background, we travel from North Wales for check-up / surgery and cannot fault their service in any way.
In fact last week, my son had two ops there on consecutive days. When he was discharged on Saturday am, depsite the Children's Eye Centre being closed, his consultant came in on the Sat am to specifically check him over before being sent home - certainly beyond the call of duty.
Admittedly it's not for lense replacement, but I have to commend them on their excellent service and treatment of all three of us.
To give some background, we travel from North Wales for check-up / surgery and cannot fault their service in any way.
In fact last week, my son had two ops there on consecutive days. When he was discharged on Saturday am, depsite the Children's Eye Centre being closed, his consultant came in on the Sat am to specifically check him over before being sent home - certainly beyond the call of duty.
Steffan said:
I would not contemplate an operation of this type without consulting a registered ophthalmic surgeon. Just refer to the breast implant fiasco for reasons why. Even then if he recommended it I would be very cautious. The long term consequences are unknown because there have not been sufficient completed operations over any real period.
it's basically pre-emptive cataract surgery - which as others have said is well established ... the dconcerns aobut the high st chains is valid ... are the procedures being done by CCT holding consultant Opthalmologists ...mph1977 said:
Steffan said:
I would not contemplate an operation of this type without consulting a registered ophthalmic surgeon. Just refer to the breast implant fiasco for reasons why. Even then if he recommended it I would be very cautious. The long term consequences are unknown because there have not been sufficient completed operations over any real period.
it's basically pre-emptive cataract surgery - which as others have said is well established ... the dconcerns aobut the high st chains is valid ... are the procedures being done by CCT holding consultant Opthalmologists ...Eleven, I think what the previous comment was trying to hint at is this. There is something called a 'certificate of completion of training' or CCT. In the UK Ophthalmic surgical training is 7 years plus one or more years gaining experience in a subspecialty area. Once you have done 7 years of training and passed an exam you can be awarded a CCT. In other parts of the European Economic Area, such as Greece, Spain or Italy, the training is much shorter, perhaps only 4 years. Also european countries are well known for giving little exposure towards surgery. It is a well known fact that most mainland Europe ophthalmologists perform a more medical role and do things very similar to optometrists in the UK. Only a minority will operate regularly. However, European employment laws being what they are mean that these said Europeans can come over and be placed on the GMC 'Specialist Register', because anything less could be considered as discrimination. It is a joke to think they are comparable surgically when they initially arrive in the mainstay of cases.
High street establishments have to recruit people with a CCT. This can be a European one, as this will allow them to be placed on the specialist register. They can then be trained to perform cataract surgery or refractive surgery. They may have not done many when first appointed. Hence my earlier comment of surgeon selection. A long established surgeon who has done 2 thousand cataract operations with a low complication rate in a high street setting is fine, a newly appointed one with 400 cases under their belt is a different story when you are paying big money. Just because someone is on the specialist register doesn't make them an excellent surgeon. It makes them competent and gives them the ability to practice independently. This is largely the reason why European surgeons come over. They do fellowships and get trained how to operate within the NHS. They then often leave which is a big waste of resources.
Surgeon selection through reputation and complication rate is the way I would advise you to go.
Kind Regards.
High street establishments have to recruit people with a CCT. This can be a European one, as this will allow them to be placed on the specialist register. They can then be trained to perform cataract surgery or refractive surgery. They may have not done many when first appointed. Hence my earlier comment of surgeon selection. A long established surgeon who has done 2 thousand cataract operations with a low complication rate in a high street setting is fine, a newly appointed one with 400 cases under their belt is a different story when you are paying big money. Just because someone is on the specialist register doesn't make them an excellent surgeon. It makes them competent and gives them the ability to practice independently. This is largely the reason why European surgeons come over. They do fellowships and get trained how to operate within the NHS. They then often leave which is a big waste of resources.
Surgeon selection through reputation and complication rate is the way I would advise you to go.
Kind Regards.
There is roughly a 1 in 10 re-operation rate for multifocal IOLs at the moment. That is because some people cannot get on with them and the only effective treatment then is to replace the lens implant - usually for a fixed focus 'mono focal' lens (which is what the vast majority of patients have). The reason one may not get on with the lens is that there can be some glare at night (due to the pupil dilating in darkness) which can cause problems with car headlights when driving and also the reduced contrast may cause difficulties - that said though, the majority of people appear to be happy with them. Unfortunately one can't predict who will or won't like them.
I would certainly look for a Consultant ophthalmologist for your surgery. I trained for 7 years in Nottingham and can certainly recommend their expertise. Mostly cataract surgery will go very well, but, as with most things in life no one can guarantee success - and if the worst was to happen I would want an experienced Consultant to look after me.
Not to be too pessimistic but there is a 1:1000 chance of blindness following cataract/clear lens extraction surgery due to a very nasty infection in the eye. To put this into perspective, there is a 1:247 chance of being attacked by a wild animal in North America (but you wouldn't not travel there because of that!)
I would certainly look for a Consultant ophthalmologist for your surgery. I trained for 7 years in Nottingham and can certainly recommend their expertise. Mostly cataract surgery will go very well, but, as with most things in life no one can guarantee success - and if the worst was to happen I would want an experienced Consultant to look after me.
Not to be too pessimistic but there is a 1:1000 chance of blindness following cataract/clear lens extraction surgery due to a very nasty infection in the eye. To put this into perspective, there is a 1:247 chance of being attacked by a wild animal in North America (but you wouldn't not travel there because of that!)
There is roughly a 1 in 10 re-operation rate for multifocal IOLs at the moment. That is because some people cannot get on with them and the only effective treatment then is to replace the lens implant - usually for a fixed focus 'mono focal' lens (which is what the vast majority of patients have). The reason one may not get on with the lens is that there can be some glare at night (due to the pupil dilating in darkness) which can cause problems with car headlights when driving and also the reduced contrast may cause difficulties - that said though, the majority of people appear to be happy with them. Unfortunately one can't predict who will or won't like them.
I would certainly look for a Consultant ophthalmologist for your surgery. I trained for 7 years in Nottingham and can certainly recommend their expertise. Mostly cataract surgery will go very well, but, as with most things in life no one can guarantee success - and if the worst was to happen I would want an experienced Consultant to look after me.
Not to be too pessimistic but there is a 1:1000 chance of blindness following cataract/clear lens extraction surgery due to a very nasty infection in the eye. To put this into perspective, there is a 1:247 chance of being attacked by a wild animal in North America (but you wouldn't not travel there because of that!)
I would certainly look for a Consultant ophthalmologist for your surgery. I trained for 7 years in Nottingham and can certainly recommend their expertise. Mostly cataract surgery will go very well, but, as with most things in life no one can guarantee success - and if the worst was to happen I would want an experienced Consultant to look after me.
Not to be too pessimistic but there is a 1:1000 chance of blindness following cataract/clear lens extraction surgery due to a very nasty infection in the eye. To put this into perspective, there is a 1:247 chance of being attacked by a wild animal in North America (but you wouldn't not travel there because of that!)
Booyakajon said:
There is roughly a 1 in 10 re-operation rate for multifocal IOLs at the moment. That is because some people cannot get on with them and the only effective treatment then is to replace the lens implant - usually for a fixed focus 'mono focal' lens (which is what the vast majority of patients have). The reason one may not get on with the lens is that there can be some glare at night (due to the pupil dilating in darkness) which can cause problems with car headlights when driving and also the reduced contrast may cause difficulties - that said though, the majority of people appear to be happy with them. Unfortunately one can't predict who will or won't like them.
I would certainly look for a Consultant ophthalmologist for your surgery. I trained for 7 years in Nottingham and can certainly recommend their expertise. Mostly cataract surgery will go very well, but, as with most things in life no one can guarantee success - and if the worst was to happen I would want an experienced Consultant to look after me.
Not to be too pessimistic but there is a 1:1000 chance of blindness following cataract/clear lens extraction surgery due to a very nasty infection in the eye. To put this into perspective, there is a 1:247 chance of being attacked by a wild animal in North America (but you wouldn't not travel there because of that!)
Crag, the surgeon I will be having is very experienced. I won't post his name here, but you know who it is. If you have any specific concerns I'd appreciate an email.I would certainly look for a Consultant ophthalmologist for your surgery. I trained for 7 years in Nottingham and can certainly recommend their expertise. Mostly cataract surgery will go very well, but, as with most things in life no one can guarantee success - and if the worst was to happen I would want an experienced Consultant to look after me.
Not to be too pessimistic but there is a 1:1000 chance of blindness following cataract/clear lens extraction surgery due to a very nasty infection in the eye. To put this into perspective, there is a 1:247 chance of being attacked by a wild animal in North America (but you wouldn't not travel there because of that!)
Booyakajon, thank you for your comments they are appreciated and valuable. What you say echoes my understanding about the risk versus the benefits.
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