Laser eye surgery
Discussion
Well I've worn glasses for about 10 years now (I'm 42). My prescription isn't that bad in that I can see without them if I squint (I think -1.75).
Getting fed up of glasses and thought about Laser surgery. I don't know anyone that's ever done it. It must be about 10 years since it started being a common thing to do and wondered if anyone has had it done a while ago and what the long term longevity is like?
I will also add that I'm the biggest girl when it comes to my eyes. I cannot even get near to them with contact lenses. Am I going to struggle with the procedure?
Has anyone any idea on costs these days?
Getting fed up of glasses and thought about Laser surgery. I don't know anyone that's ever done it. It must be about 10 years since it started being a common thing to do and wondered if anyone has had it done a while ago and what the long term longevity is like?
I will also add that I'm the biggest girl when it comes to my eyes. I cannot even get near to them with contact lenses. Am I going to struggle with the procedure?
Has anyone any idea on costs these days?
I had mine done c.12 years ago with a company called Optimax.
Similar prescription to yours (c.-1.5/-2.0). Cost me £800 at the time (not sure what it costs now).
The best £800 I've ever spent. 20/20 vision in both eyes. Though I did have to get some reading glasses last year (at 49 Y/O)... I was told when I had the surgery that most likely I would become long sighted earlier in life.
Similar prescription to yours (c.-1.5/-2.0). Cost me £800 at the time (not sure what it costs now).
The best £800 I've ever spent. 20/20 vision in both eyes. Though I did have to get some reading glasses last year (at 49 Y/O)... I was told when I had the surgery that most likely I would become long sighted earlier in life.
Chris Stott said:
I had mine done c.12 years ago with a company called Optimax.
Similar prescription to yours (c.-1.5/-2.0). Cost me £800 at the time (not sure what it costs now).
The best £800 I've ever spent. 20/20 vision in both eyes. Though I did have to get some reading glasses last year (at 49 Y/O)... I was told when I had the surgery that most likely I would become long sighted earlier in life.
Fantastic, thanks for the info. Was the procedure uncomfortable? How long did it take? Similar prescription to yours (c.-1.5/-2.0). Cost me £800 at the time (not sure what it costs now).
The best £800 I've ever spent. 20/20 vision in both eyes. Though I did have to get some reading glasses last year (at 49 Y/O)... I was told when I had the surgery that most likely I would become long sighted earlier in life.
Wife had it done at Moorfields 3 months back. £4,500 all in. Took seconds, she said it wasn't as bad as she was expecting, well worth the money, care was excellent, results first class. There was a thread on here by a chap called 968, I think it got deleted, but I believe he is an eye surgeon and will give you a recommendation for a good local surgeon if you ask nicely.
I had it done 2 years ago, cost me around £3k but had I haggled a bit I'm sure I could have got it below £2k
After I had the surgery I had lots of rival companies brochures offering around that price for the 'top' surgery.
The surgery itself last seconds as another poster has mentioned
After the anaesthetic eyedrops wore off I was in quite a bit of pain, very sensitive to light. But, like a light, after a couple of hour it just stopped. I could drive a few hours after surgery although I'm not sure if it is recommended.
It took me a month or so for my eyes to fully settle. Some days I would wake up and vision in one eye would be slightly 'less focused' then another day it would switch with the other eye. This may have been my brain trying to get used to my new vision as I had one eye much worse for years and the good eye was compensating.
Overall, I would recommend it, the day after surgery my vision was, and still is better than 20/20.
After I had the surgery I had lots of rival companies brochures offering around that price for the 'top' surgery.
The surgery itself last seconds as another poster has mentioned
After the anaesthetic eyedrops wore off I was in quite a bit of pain, very sensitive to light. But, like a light, after a couple of hour it just stopped. I could drive a few hours after surgery although I'm not sure if it is recommended.
It took me a month or so for my eyes to fully settle. Some days I would wake up and vision in one eye would be slightly 'less focused' then another day it would switch with the other eye. This may have been my brain trying to get used to my new vision as I had one eye much worse for years and the good eye was compensating.
Overall, I would recommend it, the day after surgery my vision was, and still is better than 20/20.
BenjiA said:
Wife had it done at Moorfields 3 months back. £4,500 all in. Took seconds, she said it wasn't as bad as she was expecting, well worth the money, care was excellent, results first class. There was a thread on here by a chap called 968, I think it got deleted, but I believe he is an eye surgeon and will give you a recommendation for a good local surgeon if you ask nicely.
I had this about 2 years ago (age mid 40s) at Moorfields and recommend it. I had worn contacts for about 25 years but am so glad I made the change. Be warned it can take up to 6 months for your vision to be completely natural, and moorfields is expensive, but you are paying for the best in the world and the piece of mind that goes with that.I remember the earlier thread and 968 giving a lot of good advice. PM him.
audi321 said:
Chris Stott said:
I had mine done c.12 years ago with a company called Optimax.
Similar prescription to yours (c.-1.5/-2.0). Cost me £800 at the time (not sure what it costs now).
The best £800 I've ever spent. 20/20 vision in both eyes. Though I did have to get some reading glasses last year (at 49 Y/O)... I was told when I had the surgery that most likely I would become long sighted earlier in life.
Fantastic, thanks for the info. Was the procedure uncomfortable? How long did it take? Similar prescription to yours (c.-1.5/-2.0). Cost me £800 at the time (not sure what it costs now).
The best £800 I've ever spent. 20/20 vision in both eyes. Though I did have to get some reading glasses last year (at 49 Y/O)... I was told when I had the surgery that most likely I would become long sighted earlier in life.
Procedure didn't take long at all. No pain, but a bit odd as I could smell burning! Eye patches straight afterwards. Wife drove me home. Took a week off work, and spent the 1st few days in darkness, with eye patches on as much as possible - the discomfort slowly reducing day by day. Was pretty OK after 5 or 6 days.
My brother had his done shortly afterwards. He had a worse prescription and had a different type of treatment. He drove home after the surgery!
bompey said:
I had this about 2 years ago (age mid 40s) at Moorfields and recommend it. I had worn contacts for about 25 years but am so glad I made the change. Be warned it can take up to 6 months for your vision to be completely natural, and moorfields is expensive, but you are paying for the best in the world and the piece of mind that goes with that.
Bump. I'm thinking of getting this done now. Fed up of wearing glasses - and the hospital is very near me. Can you work, drive a car, etc. the next day and is it possible to do one eye at a time?bompey said:
BenjiA said:
Wife had it done at Moorfields 3 months back. £4,500 all in. Took seconds, she said it wasn't as bad as she was expecting, well worth the money, care was excellent, results first class. There was a thread on here by a chap called 968, I think it got deleted, but I believe he is an eye surgeon and will give you a recommendation for a good local surgeon if you ask nicely.
I had this about 2 years ago (age mid 40s) at Moorfields and recommend it. I had worn contacts for about 25 years but am so glad I made the change. Be warned it can take up to 6 months for your vision to be completely natural, and moorfields is expensive, but you are paying for the best in the world and the piece of mind that goes with that.
fido said:
Bump. I'm thinking of getting this done now. Fed up of wearing glasses - and the hospital is very near me. Can you work, drive a car, etc. the next day and is it possible to do one eye at a time?
It varies from person to person it took me about 48 hours to feel normal after but a mate was fine pretty much straight after the op with Little pain. I had the cheaper Lasek rather than lasik though as apparently it allowed a quicker return to contact sports.
Most people are fine within 24 hours though, I think u can get one done at a time but I’m sure they don’t recommend it and it’s probably not worth the hassle anyway. Had mine done about 5 years ago. 20/20 vision now eyes are perhaps a little more sensitive than they were before but vision is in HD now and saved me buying a new tv for 5 years haha so paid for itself effectively lol
Had mine done about five years ago and had a number of problems following surgery including very blurred vision in one eye and quite a lot of pain. They could find no reason for either and I had a very worrying three to four weeks after which everything settled and left me with 20/20 vision. Five years on and it is no longer 20/20 and I have just started to wear glasses for driving again, but not for anything else yet. Whilst I wouldn't have any further surgery, it has given me great freedom especially for sports and I don't regret it (although the first few weeks were very scary).
I had a LASEK procedure at Christmas 2015.
The actual procedure itself was fine. The week after was utter hell. Super sensitive to lights, blurred vision, basically lay in bed for a week as I couldn't do much else. People I know who have had the LASIK procedure have woken up the next morning with perfect vision and no pain or irritation.
2.5 years later and my vision isn't perfect any longer. Seems to be mixed about how long 20/20 vision lasts for, some people I know it's lasted 5+ years, others have deteriorated quicker than expected like mine.
I know I'm going against the grain by saying this, but I'm honestly not sure if I'd have had had it done knowing what I know now.
The actual procedure itself was fine. The week after was utter hell. Super sensitive to lights, blurred vision, basically lay in bed for a week as I couldn't do much else. People I know who have had the LASIK procedure have woken up the next morning with perfect vision and no pain or irritation.
2.5 years later and my vision isn't perfect any longer. Seems to be mixed about how long 20/20 vision lasts for, some people I know it's lasted 5+ years, others have deteriorated quicker than expected like mine.
I know I'm going against the grain by saying this, but I'm honestly not sure if I'd have had had it done knowing what I know now.
SpunkyGlory said:
I had a LASEK procedure at Christmas 2015.
The actual procedure itself was fine. The week after was utter hell. Super sensitive to lights, blurred vision, basically lay in bed for a week as I couldn't do much else. People I know who have had the LASIK procedure have woken up the next morning with perfect vision and no pain or irritation.
2.5 years later and my vision isn't perfect any longer. Seems to be mixed about how long 20/20 vision lasts for, some people I know it's lasted 5+ years, others have deteriorated quicker than expected like mine.
I know I'm going against the grain by saying this, but I'm honestly not sure if I'd have had had it done knowing what I know now.
I had Lasek about 15 years ago... pretty uncomfortable for a few days afterwards, but I still have 20/20 for distance. Started wearing reading glasses a few years ago (for phone/laptop).The actual procedure itself was fine. The week after was utter hell. Super sensitive to lights, blurred vision, basically lay in bed for a week as I couldn't do much else. People I know who have had the LASIK procedure have woken up the next morning with perfect vision and no pain or irritation.
2.5 years later and my vision isn't perfect any longer. Seems to be mixed about how long 20/20 vision lasts for, some people I know it's lasted 5+ years, others have deteriorated quicker than expected like mine.
I know I'm going against the grain by saying this, but I'm honestly not sure if I'd have had had it done knowing what I know now.
Excuse the thread necromancy.
I'm looking into getting my eyes laser'd and wonder if anyone has suffered any side effects? I've read that dry eyes are a common problem, but I wonder if this is something that improves over time, also halos or starring when driving at night, again I've read that this is far less common with newer laser techniques.
I'm looking into getting my eyes laser'd and wonder if anyone has suffered any side effects? I've read that dry eyes are a common problem, but I wonder if this is something that improves over time, also halos or starring when driving at night, again I've read that this is far less common with newer laser techniques.
I had laser surgery with London Vision Clinic about 9 years ago and I can honestly say it transformed my life.
I was/am highly myopic at -9/-10 and LVC were one of the only places in Europe that could correct such severe myopia at the time.
Their whole treatment process and care was absolutely exceptional, as you’d expect from a clinic on Harley Street. It cost around £7k IIRC but I would never let anyone other than a leader in their field work on my eyes.
My vision has just started to deteriorate recently so I am planning on booking back in for a consultation on a “top-up” in the next few months.
I was/am highly myopic at -9/-10 and LVC were one of the only places in Europe that could correct such severe myopia at the time.
Their whole treatment process and care was absolutely exceptional, as you’d expect from a clinic on Harley Street. It cost around £7k IIRC but I would never let anyone other than a leader in their field work on my eyes.
My vision has just started to deteriorate recently so I am planning on booking back in for a consultation on a “top-up” in the next few months.
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