My Experience With Laser Eye Surgery

[Loopy39]

If anyone is interested in my experience and the 15 years since.
I had Lasik with Optical Express in 2004, I was shortsighted about -5.00 in each eye with some astigmatism.

In terms of results I achieved perfect sight in one eye and the other was slightly over corrected to +0.50 and this provided me with great vision and no need for glasses.
From what I remember about the surgery, it was quick and painless apart from the clamping of the eyes which I found uncomfortable.
I never suffered any pain post operatively but I had the worst dry eye ever to the point of needing to apply eye drops and gels every few minutes and it made me regret it initially. I found aftercare to be awful at OE and they didn’t offer any help other than telling me to buy eye gel from the pharmacy (but this was 15 yrs ago so not sure if this has improved since)

After about two weeks my eyes suddenly started watering one morning and the dry eye resolved with no further dry eye issues.
My eyesight was good from the second day. For a few weeks after I did find lights to be very bright but this resolved.

Timeline following surgery

2006: I didn’t notice any night driving issues until about two years after when it became a struggle. Lots of glare, starbursts and poor low light vision. Despite my prescription not deteriorating at sight tests I did suddenly struggle with night driving and still do to this day.

2010: Started struggling with vision, eye test found left eye had got worse and was now +1.00 and right eye remained Plano (perfect vision).

2012: By this point left eye is +1.50 and right is -0.75 so one eye long sighted and the other short sighted. I had also developed astigmatism in both eyes. I got fitted with contact lenses at that point, that was fun and games because my altered corneas just couldn’t fit contacts and most opticians I visited had no idea how to fit contacts in post Lasik eyes . Eventually they found some that worked ok but vision variable in these.

2019: vision still the same as 2012 so not deteriorated any further, well apart from the fact I know have a reading prescription of +0.75 on top of the prescriptions above.

I still have varying vision with my contact lenses due to my altered corneas from the surgery. Better in glasses and frustrating i only got about 6 years unaided vision.

Despite that I am considering doing it again but from research I will likely need Lasek and will still need reading glasses. If I’m suitable I might just try one eye at a time to see how it goes. I’m only 39 so young to have the reading addition already but everything I read says Lasik don’t accelerate presbyopia...

Update
Spoke to Optimax and they won’t see me about an enhancement because I had surgery elsewhere.

Spoke to Optical Express where I had originally had treatment, it’s funny because they initially couldn’t do enough to get me booked in but as soon as I mentioned I had surgery with them before they suddenly lost interest, told me I’d need to pay £75 because apparently as I’ve had treatment with them before I’m not eligible for a free consultation. Yet if I’m suitable I’d still pay full whack for another treatment. Could cope with that but £75 to see if I’m suitable just because I’ve been treated by them before. How is that right, I’m obviously not an easy case so they want to drop me like I’m hot.

Optegra will see me but not free, they’ll assess me for £300.

So be aware results may not be permanent and no one will want to see you for re treatment easily if it is required.

 

[Scam]

The couple of posts above just make me glad I searched out the best of the best (LVC). I'm not saying that to be facetious, as mentioned you get one shot at this so I treated it as money-no-object. The price I paid probably wasn't even close to how much you'd spend on glasses/contacts through your lifetime anyway. I've only heard bad things about Optical Express, for example.

This is why I put up with contacts and glasses. Just don't trust someone with a laser going at my eyes. Not to mention the cost of it.

Again, for the cost I'd imagine contacts and glasses work out more expensive over your lifetime.

 

[Martynt74]

Again, for the cost I'd imagine contacts and glasses work out more expensive over your lifetime.

Suppose it depends on how long it last before you need to consider glasses again. If we assume that laser eye treatment lasts £20 years and costs £4000 then you're at £200 a year.

I'd estimate my contacts are ~£10 a month and then i buy a pair of glasses maybe once every 2 years for £150 which puts it around the same cost. Although i have heard that some people have a limit to how long contact lenses are suitable. I've been wearing them for ~15years and should i be unable to wear contact lenses i'd definitely look into surgery.

 

[Martynt74]

Well i'm looking at considering this, so will be re-reading the thread soon.

Have recently been trying to wear daily contact lenses more often to cut down on the risk of sleeping in them and it's annoying me being back where i can't see first thing in the morning and i end up wearing my glasses more which also annoys me!

There's a few places around Manchester which seem to get excellent reviews which would avoid going to London as i'm keen to avoid just going somewhere based on price. Otherwise i'd just go to somewhere in Preston!

 

[krooton]

Suppose it depends on how long it last before you need to consider glasses again. If we assume that laser eye treatment lasts £20 years and costs £4000 then you're at £200 a year.

I'd estimate my contacts are ~£10 a month and then i buy a pair of glasses maybe once every 2 years for £150 which puts it around the same cost. Although i have heard that some people have a limit to how long contact lenses are suitable. I've been wearing them for ~15years and should i be unable to wear contact lenses i'd definitely look into surgery.

Glasses are my daily driver, with contacts for special events, but then I only pay around £20 for my glasses, with the current pair being 4 years old...

Still, I would go with LVC if I had the money, as I do not, glasses it is.

 

[Martynt74]

Yeah i've been reading about LVC or Moorfields recently. It's the hassle of getting to London for the various appointments that's off puttng though. I'd rather go somewhere local so i can get help quickly if i have any issues.

Whilst i agree with the "one set of eyes", using somewhere London based would be a big inconvenience (i get it's less of a factor for you and @Scam). The Manchester Royal Eye Hospital has many renowned surgeons and feels like it could be a better option for me.

Just need to get as much research done as i can.

 

[Martynt74]

I'm booked in for the "SMILE" procedure tomorrow with Optegra in Manchester.

Obviously i'm sure i'll get plenty advice etc by the consultant. But any tips anyone has to share would be great that might make the after experience a little more pleasant!

 

[darrant1234]

i had the lasik ? (one where they peel back the lens first) done in 2004, since then I've thai boxed, scuba dived and mountain biked and not had issues. After 15 years i did think my prescription was changing so got an eye test and I've still got 20/20 vision.

 

[shiver]

I am booked in for LASIK at London Vision Clinic on the 30th...excited and nervous!

 

[Scort]

My wife is really pushing me to have treatment - my vision has been the worst level in ~20 years of having glasses Currently awaiting a re-jigged set of lenses for the new specs, so see if they help, but things really are poor - and my prescription is really high now (NHS complexity level!).

Looking at the OP gave me hope, think I might just need to man up and get on with it - or face having naff vision.

 

[Martynt74]

My wife is really pushing me to have treatment - my vision has been the worst level in ~20 years of having glasses Currently awaiting a re-jigged set of lenses for the new specs, so see if they help, but things really are poor - and my prescription is really high now (NHS complexity level!).

Looking at the OP gave me hope, think I might just need to man up and get on with it - or face having naff vision.

My wife had been telling me to have it done for around 8 years before I finally did last month!

 

[Scort]

My wife had been telling me to have it done for around 8 years before I finally did last month!

I need to do something mate, my eyes are terrible right now

 

[Chris344]

After reading most of this thread - I think I’ll stick to glasses. My prescription is -1.25 in both eyes. Started at 18 with -0.75 so hasn’t really changed much in 16-17 years thankfully.

Glasses normally and contacts for special occasions.

 

[bainbridge]

10 years for me now since having laser eye surgery at Optical Express. All good, though it was the most expensive one they did, can't remember what it's called but it's the one where they scan your eyes and tailor a bespoke prescription rather than just matching the existing prescription (I had 1.75 on each eye and it was shortsightedness). I was going to have the flap cust by laser but the surgeon made a decision to do it with a knife when he saw the scans because I have some scarring in my left eye (right hooks probably ).

Anyway, I must be one of the lucky ones because my eyesight is still fantastic with no problems at all!

PS Touch wood.

EDIT: Just remembered the surgery I had was Wavefront Lasik

 

[kindai]

I am booked in for LASIK at London Vision Clinic on the 30th...excited and nervous!

Grats, youre in the best hands, who is doing the surgery?

Its 5 years since my surgery and apart from some issues in twilight times with starbursting (once fully dark or fully light its fine) it still remains the best thing I ever did.

 

[MatsyLR]

I'm one of the ones who apparently can't have lasik at this time as my precription is too bad.
I'm +6.25 in left and +5 in right with astigmatism in both.
I've been to 3 different places, they all say they can only do up to a +4 and down to a -10.
The reason however, non of them will say, just that its not progressed that far yet technology wise for whatever reason.

Currently I'm on my 15th pair of contact lenses since May this year, first it was soft contacts, vision wasn't good enough to read, tweaked a few times and little to no improvement. I did get really good at putting them in and taking them out though.

Then I got GP contacts and to be honest, they are no better, I still can't read text comfortably at arms length on a screen. The vision is more stable than soft contacts, but they are not good enough. My optician says I probably have higher expectations than I should be having.
I understand contacts wont be as good as glasses, but cmon, it should be pretty darn close or there is absolutely no point.

Currently I have a "special" pair of GP lenses on order that have a different shape to them that he says might suit my eyes better, its probably my last chance. I really don't see whats so hard, my optician has said there is nothing wrong my eyes that would cause contacts to not work.

 

[shiver]

Grats, youre in the best hands, who is doing the surgery?

Glenn Carp

I'm one of the ones who apparently can't have lasik at this time as my precription is too bad.
I'm +6.25 in left and +5 in right with astigmatism in both.
I've been to 3 different places, they all say they can only do up to a +4 and down to a -10.
The reason however, non of them will say, just that its not progressed that far yet technology wise for whatever reason.

It might be worth giving London Vision Clinic a call if you're really interested in it. If they can do it, it'll be expensive though. During my consulation the surgeon said they've done a successful surgery on +12 before but it really depends on other factors of your eye.

I too have a high longsighted prescription (not quite as high as that) which meant I had to go for their "high profile" treatment. 3 more days to go!

 

[Tephnos]

Grats, youre in the best hands, who is doing the surgery?

Its 5 years since my surgery and apart from some issues in twilight times with starbursting (once fully dark or fully light its fine) it still remains the best thing I ever did.

Who did yours and what was your prescription? The starbursting is due to your pupil dilating beyond the corrected area. If you did this at the LVC they should've mentioned that possibility, no?

 

[kindai]

Glenn Carp

Same as mine then

Who did yours and what was your prescription? The starbursting is due to your pupil dilating beyond the corrected area. If you did this at the LVC they should've mentioned that possibility, no?

Yes, LVC, I was aware it may be an issue so it isnt a complaint at all, but just keeping things in balance, that it has been the best thing I ever did, but there is a drawback, that being the particular level of light causing star bursting for me. Cant remember the original prescription but it was pretty dire.

 

[Tephnos]

Same as mine then



Yes, LVC, I was aware it may be an issue so it isnt a complaint at all, but just keeping things in balance, that it has been the best thing I ever did, but there is a drawback, that being the particular level of light causing star bursting for me. Cant remember the original prescription but it was pretty dire.

Ah, fair enough. The more correction needed the greater potential for issues, yeah.

Did they at least tell you your pupil size when doing these measurements?