Optimax vs Optical Express vs Ultralase
- Thread starter eidolon
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yes checked that website and other similar websites.
Does your gf work in the laser clinic at OE?
they seem good so far (OE) although my heart was set on UL, but been let down by UL in terms of getting in touch with me and a few other minor issues. Still be interested to hear any other peoples experiences of OE and the surgeon there -Esselaar.
Does your gf work in the laser clinic at OE?
they seem good so far (OE) although my heart was set on UL, but been let down by UL in terms of getting in touch with me and a few other minor issues. Still be interested to hear any other peoples experiences of OE and the surgeon there -Esselaar.
Yup.
Lorrimer did Eidelon's eyes - he posted a review a page or so back.
It'd be best to ask him.
*n
Go to OE in Newcastle, trust me, they're brilliant!
I travelled 300 miles to go to that branch and am very pleased that I did as the service was impeccable, right from walking through the door to after my surgery. I investigated 3 other companies in Bristol and in the end wasn't happy enough with any of them hence why I travelled so far for my surgery.
I honestly can't praise the staff or the surgeon highly enough.
I was only -2.00 and -1.75 in each eye but now I've got better than 20/20 vision and had zero pain during or after the operation, it really is an amazing experience.
okay thanks i will wait to see if he picks up this thread, as i notice one cant PM people on this forum.
What does your gf do at the laser unit?
its a shame they dont offer any discounts or longer interest free deals like UL and optimax.....
Esselaar did my surgery (and also a friend of mine) and was superb. He talked me though *exactly* what was going to happen and told me everything I should be experiencing during the procedure. He was very thorough and now my vision is about as good as it gets, I can easily read the bottom line on the eye charts, I don't have any halos, glare or any other side effects. The whole team worked well together to be honest and every single person in the entire clinic was really polite, helpful and knowledgeable, even down to remembering my name when I came back a few days later. It felt like a very personal experience and I was made to feel like the only person that was being treated that day.
Yesterday a friend of mine had his eyes done at Optimax in Bristol and his experience doesn't sound anything like as pleasant as mine so I'm glad I made the journey up North.
It's changed my life, no longer do I have to think about glasses or contacts, I just wake up on a morning and go. I ski, cycle and generally do a fair bit of exercise which was a pain when I had dodgy vision but now it's great, don't need to think about my sight anymore.
Wearing glasses is so alien to me now, it's like I've just forgotten about the last 20 years of it overnight!
WOW, cant believe you travelled all this way to just get your eyes done. i fi could travel i would probably gone to Leeds as i hear UL and i think OE have very experienced surgeons there.
How did you continue your aftercare being so far away from Newcastle?
Do you get much time to talk with the surgeon beforehand? As i got to admit got a few nerves about the flap in LASIK, especially in case it gets dislodged with sports injuries or something. And would like some more advice on dry eyes from them. Did you have to use the out of hours aftercare help?
cheers
She's a Laser Technician but depending on staffing levels/rotas, she could be one of the patient carers, operating the wavefront machine, doing discharges or even manning the desks. OE's approach (certainly in Newcastle) is to have as many people as possible able to do as many roles as possible and to ensure that every member of staff on the Laser Team knows the entire procedure inside and out from the customers first contact through to aftercare and followup so that anyone can answer anything the patient asks and so that there are never any interruptions in service due to staff shortages.
She also goes across the UK and Ireland to fill in at other clinics when they are a Laser Tech short.
*n
Well you're not likely to get any nasty beam to the eye with masturbation.
Unless you've got excellent/poor aim.
I researched the best surgeons and Esselaar is the best in my opinion, hence why I travelled 300 miles. My aftercare was initially done in Newcastle (I stayed there for a week afterwards) then the next 2 check ups were done in Bristol at OE (who are ok, but nowhere near as good as Newcastle if I'm honest)
Before the surgery I met with Esselaar and went through everything, had a good 10-15 mins chat and he did some last minute check ups, he made me feel very comfortable about the whole thing.
I wouldn't worry about the flap becoming dislodged. Unless you're into martial arts or something it's pretty unlikely. As I said, I do a lot of sports including skiing and from what I understand it's not really an issue, especially if you go for intralase (rather than use the microkeratome to cut the flap)
I had dry eyes for the week after the op but now I'm just back to normal (1 month since op) It's just like I've always had perfect vision. They give you drops to use for the first week (anti inflammatory and something else that I can't remember) then you just use the dry eye drops till you feel you don't need them. I don't need them anymore (and I used to suffer really badly with dry eyes when wearing my contact lenses)
I didn't need any aftercare help at all. Like I said, there was absolutely no pain whatsoever, literally none at all. The only thing was that immediately after my op my eyes felt like I'd got chlorine in them and they were a bit hazy. Maybe could describe it as mildly uncomfortable for about 2hrs but certainly no pain.
If you wanna know anything else just ask
Awesome stuff eidolon.
My eyesight isn't great. Good enough just about for driving but I had glasses at Uni for reading the lecture board and I use to watch Tv play on my XBox. Would love to have the vision I do when I wear my glasses.
I think im only -0.75 and -1. Although it was about 5 yrs ago when I got them tested
My eyesight isn't great. Good enough just about for driving but I had glasses at Uni for reading the lecture board and I use to watch Tv play on my XBox. Would love to have the vision I do when I wear my glasses.
I think im only -0.75 and -1. Although it was about 5 yrs ago when I got them tested
sounds like your gf has an interesting job!
I researched the best surgeons and Esselaar is the best in my opinion, hence why I travelled 300 miles. My aftercare was initially done in Newcastle (I stayed there for a week afterwards) then the next 2 check ups were done in Bristol at OE (who are ok, but nowhere near as good as Newcastle if I'm honest)
Before the surgery I met with Esselaar and went through everything, had a good 10-15 mins chat and he did some last minute check ups, he made me feel very comfortable about the whole thing.
I wouldn't worry about the flap becoming dislodged. Unless you're into martial arts or something it's pretty unlikely. As I said, I do a lot of sports including skiing and from what I understand it's not really an issue, especially if you go for intralase (rather than use the microkeratome to cut the flap)
I had dry eyes for the week after the op but now I'm just back to normal (1 month since op) It's just like I've always had perfect vision. They give you drops to use for the first week (anti inflammatory and something else that I can't remember) then you just use the dry eye drops till you feel you don't need them. I don't need them anymore (and I used to suffer really badly with dry eyes when wearing my contact lenses)
I didn't need any aftercare help at all. Like I said, there was absolutely no pain whatsoever, literally none at all. The only thing was that immediately after my op my eyes felt like I'd got chlorine in them and they were a bit hazy. Maybe could describe it as mildly uncomfortable for about 2hrs but certainly no pain.
If you wanna know anything else just ask
I had been comparing between 3 surgeons 2 from UL and 1 at OE, as these are the ones that visit the newcastle area. Esselaar seems to have the most experience in terms of number of operations. What suprises me is the lack of available statistical data for OE surgeon success rates and complications rate. UL have it all ready available. At least by using the data "with care" one can make a comparison. Plus he is not a member of the Royal college of opthamologists.
Otherwise i have heard good things about him.
A friend's friend had a bad with OE newcastle - said too much sales pressure by adviser there..I must admit i have had no sales pressure from OE, and they have been very patient, must have good adviser.
Who was your optom at OE?
When you researched surgeons do you have web addresses available still you can share to back up /reassure me that i am going to the best place.
thanks
My vision is now much better than it was when I wore my glasses as I had the custom wavefront laser option.
thats a lot of procedures on one day! Even with say 30mins a patient with the surgeon, that makes a working day of 10hrs+ breaks etc.....
Its all down to how well the team work together and how fast the surgeon is. Because everyone knows exactly what they are doing and exactly what their 'cog' is in the machine, it should all go fast and smooth with zero confusion and no drop off in patient care or customer service.
Some surgeons only do fourteen a day but then she's mentioned 28 in one day before...(The laser broke down the previous day and that afternoon's patients had to be reconvened to the following morning) Some days she has to be in the clinic by 7:30 for an 8:00am start and surgery days regularly run until 6:30pm.
*n
Just thought I'd chip in with this; I had mine done at OE in Manchester last November.
The procedure itself went fine, and I'm 100% happy with my vision now. I felt (IMO) quite a bit of discomfort/pain when the 'gritiness' kicked in - much more than I expected which itself made me quite uncomfortable. But a few hours sleep and a stiff drink sorted that out, and I've not really had any problems since.
I went skiiing in Jan, just under 2 months after the procedure and I didn't have a single problem with them. I was expecting them to feel dry and tired but they were fine.
The procedure itself went fine, and I'm 100% happy with my vision now. I felt (IMO) quite a bit of discomfort/pain when the 'gritiness' kicked in - much more than I expected which itself made me quite uncomfortable. But a few hours sleep and a stiff drink sorted that out, and I've not really had any problems since.
I went skiiing in Jan, just under 2 months after the procedure and I didn't have a single problem with them. I was expecting them to feel dry and tired but they were fine.
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