Laser eye treatment - who's done it?

Man of Honour
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The last time I enquired no optician had ever had laser op done.

Who told you that? And how long ago did you last enquire?

Glaucus has given a link to show a number of optometrists have had it done. My surgery was carried out by a man who has had it done himself (https://www.londonvisionclinic.com/staff/mr-glenn-carp/) so while there's a variety of reasons you might not want to get laser eye surgery or it might not be suitable for you that line of argument is simply a myth now.
 
Associate
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Ah yes the chief executive of a corporate body offering the surgery commercially is going to give a non-biased opinion in the Telegraph newspaper. Rather a tinfoil hat than one with dunce on it. Touche.

I mean what does this even mean? In science longitudinal randomised controlled trials are the pinnacle of scientific evidence so the following is utter nonsense:

“Optical Express surgeons have treated more than a million patients worldwide. Globally they have a combined surgical experience of more than 1,000 years practising ophthalmology and more than 700 years performing refractive surgery. “Optical Express surgeons have treated more than a million patients worldwide. Globally they have a combined surgical experience of more than 1,000 years practising ophthalmology and more than 700 years performing refractive surgery.

The man should be flogged outside the Royal Society and then covered in saline.

Since you asked I have a patient who runs a group of opticians in the North West. I have spoken with others over several years includinsurgeonsns. He has glasses; has not had the surgery and advocated it primarily when folk have jam jar gigs.

Look all surgery has indications, contraindications, risks. This is relatively new surgery and we still do not know the long-term outcome. As long as patients understand the risks and there is a benefit and possibly a clinical need then it is great if you are prepared to take the risk. But in my experience of speaking with clinicians, no opticians/ophthalmic surgeons had undergone the procedure themselves to my knowledge.
 
Man of Honour
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so what you said was utter nonsense and very much tin foil hattery stuff. of course opticians have had surgery, look how old that article is. no one is saying it doesn't have risks, ffs glasses and contacts have risks as well.


and no its not utter nnonses, you asked if anyone had had surgery and I gave you are article from many years ago which showed many hundreads had.

its a very common conspiracy tactic, ask for data which is hard to get, do you think we have a personal connection to every optician and can just ask.


so no go back to your tin foil hat and utter BS. You were proven wrong, deal with it.
 
Man of Honour
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Look all surgery has indications, contraindications, risks. This is relatively new surgery and we still do not know the long-term outcome. As long as patients understand the risks and there is a benefit and possibly a clinical need then it is great if you are prepared to take the risk. But in my experience of speaking with clinicians, no opticians/ophthalmic surgeons had undergone the procedure themselves to my knowledge.

I've pointed out an opthalmic surgeon who has undergone the procedure. You might not have spoken to any clinicians who have had it done but that's simply your reference group rather than something you can base an absolute universal statement on.

Obviously it's up to an individual whether to have the surgery or not if they are a suitable candidate but you have been shown examples which disprove your original claim that no opticians have had it done so you may have to modify your statement if you want to continue using it.
 
Soldato
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The last time I enquired no optician had ever had laser op done.

The Eye surgeon who did my cataract surgery, (And who also specialises in Laser and "Cosmetic" lens replacement surgery (IE Corrective surgery for long sighted people for whome Laser is not appropriate)) still wears contact lenses.

This could be for a number of reasons,

It may be because he does not consider the procedure worth the risk personally. (even if his eyesight was slightly damaged it would destroy his career, so this is not an unreasonable attitude for a procedure that is essentially just vanity/cosmetic and not in any way necessary)

OTOH, It may be that he doesn't want to take the 2 months or so off that would probabally be required to make a "Full" recovery that would ensure he was safe to operate.

(It took me a month before I was comfortable driving again, and driving isnt microsurgery!)

Alternatively, he may be fine with the procedure in principle, but simply not trust any of his colleagues to perform the procedure.

This should not be too surprising, for all the high level education and training (And the pay that goes with it) , Surgeons are basically mechanics,

As a Motor mechanic myself I can understand this. They would have to prise my spanners out of my cold dead hands before I would let anybody else tinker with my machines (Not just vehicles, everything) and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Surgeons feel much the same despite all the arguments as to how the feelings might be irrational. :p
 
Soldato
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My girlfriend has just started to have problems, 2 years after having her laser surgery done. One eye is becoming slightly blurry, not sure why but she has appointment with her Dr in Spain next week. It kind of put me off it all and I have just last week gotten my first contact lenses, I think they will suit me fine.
 
Soldato
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Had mine done in 2009 - best thing ever. No contacts, glasses, prescription sunglasses etc.

Anyone considering getting it done i have a referral code for £250 of your treatment! (Optimax)
 
Soldato
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My girlfriend has just started to have problems, 2 years after having her laser surgery done. One eye is becoming slightly blurry, not sure why but she has appointment with her Dr in Spain next week. It kind of put me off it all and I have just last week gotten my first contact lenses, I think they will suit me fine.

Yes, something is off there. Laser surgery does not regress unless there is either a) a problem with the eye itself or b) the eye never finished growing so it regressed naturally. Depends on her age.

Also what do you mean this is relatively new surgery? Its been around since the 80s. That's almost 30-40 years. How are the original patients dong? Mostly fine!

Also, doctors have always made the worst patients.
 
Caporegime
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Had mine done 15 months ago'ish, couldn't be happier.

No dry eye, no grief, no visual issues (halos and the likes), 2 levels better than 20/20 on the eye chart (can't remember what that's called, cba looking it up).

The healing period wasn't the most pleasant experience ever, but can't complain at all about the results.
 
Soldato
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Had mine done 15 months ago'ish, couldn't be happier.

No dry eye, no grief, no visual issues (halos and the likes), 2 levels better than 20/20 on the eye chart (can't remember what that's called, cba looking it up).

The healing period wasn't the most pleasant experience ever, but can't complain at all about the results.

I think that's 20/10? Damn dude that's amazingly good. Where did you get it done? Doctor? Procedure?
 
Caporegime
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I think that's 20/10? Damn dude that's amazingly good. Where did you get it done? Doctor? Procedure?

I had it done at Optical Express Liverpool, can't remember the doctors name but the procedure was called iDesign iLasik. As above I certainly can't complain with the result!

Edit: Actually just fished out an old email, the surgeon was called Mr Muhammad Kazmi :)
 
Soldato
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I had it done at Optical Express Liverpool, can't remember the doctors name but the procedure was called iDesign iLasik. As above I certainly can't complain with the result!


What was your original prescription? (I am betting, fairly strong short sightedness, -6 perhaps??)
 
Caporegime
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What was your original prescription? (I am betting, fairly strong short sightedness, -6 perhaps??)

It actually wasn't bad, I barely needed glasses tbh (I only wore them for driving, watching football etc), I was just tired of headache/migraine from eye strain. I barely get headaches these days.

Prescription was -1.00/-0.75.

The biggest difference I can tell these days is being able to gauge depth, without glasses before at a certain distance everything just seemed to look flat. Not the case anymore obviously.
 
Soldato
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It actually wasn't bad, I barely needed glasses tbh (I only wore them for driving, watching football etc), I was just tired of headache/migraine from eye strain. I barely get headaches these days.

Prescription was -1.00/-0.75.

The biggest difference I can tell these days is being able to gauge depth, without glasses before at a certain distance everything just seemed to look flat. Not the case anymore obviously.

OK, second guess, Your eyesight was already pretty good, even with glasses.

My situation is rather different. I started from the position of being +6. I had the lens replacement as a glaucoma treatment rather than for Vanity/Convenience.

As such it has been incredibly effective (IOP 14 both eyes now, was 28+ even with eye drops before, and rising:eek:)

However, the downside is that I lost two lines off the chart. It isnt that the op went wrong, it is just basic optics. Short sighted people will tend to gain a line or even two from having corrective surgery.

I am now much less at risk from going blind, but I am uncomfortable driving at night any more and will only do so for local journies where I am not having to look out for road-signs or dealing with unfamiliar roads.

I am however still well above the minimum legal requirement, which is actually surprisingly poor.

Oh, and PS

I may have lost some direct visual acuity, but my peripheral vision is now far superior. I am much happier cycling and, despite my direct eyesight being worse. I am probably actually safer on the road than I was before.
 
Associate
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I've pointed out an opthalmic surgeon who has undergone the procedure. You might not have spoken to any clinicians who have had it done but that's simply your reference group rather than something you can base an absolute universal statement on.
.

If a few thousand opticians have now had it that makes no difference whatsoever. We should not be held hostage to words. My point is that on balance the optician/opthamic surgery profession is essentially unwilling to undergo the surgery they are recommending to the general public. That concerns me.
 
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