Had mine done just over 3 weeks ago now, went for wavefront lasik treatment with intralase at optical express, cost me £1800 for both eyes. It all depends on what treatment you decide to go for, the cheaper treatments while still effective are usually more painful and have a longer recovery time. Results may also not be as good compared to treatments such as wavefront and intralase. You can get a free consultation at optical express.
For me the actual surgery was not painful, however it was quite a disconcerting feeling. They put some anaesthetic drops in my eyes and then started with my right eye, you feel pressure on your eye and your vision completely blurs then goes dark, I assume that was the point where they reshaped the cornea. Then the laser was used, only was on for about 5-7 seconds, quite strange, your vision is still completely dark and all you can see is a sort of lightning going off inside your eyeball, its hard to describe. As I said before not really painful just uncomfortable, the actual surgery on both eyes only took a few minutes. Pretty much immediately after I could see better but everything was still slightly hazy, the surgeon described it as looking through a layer of smoke.
I was up and walking straight after and was given a load of drops to use and some crazy goggles to wear when I went to bed. Had a pair of shades to wear for the trip home as your eyes are very sensitive to light immediately after and also to a lesser extent for the coming weeks/months. Rested the next day too but I wasn’t in any pain. Day after that I was back at work, just have to keep using eye drops to stop your eyes drying out
Three weeks on and my sight is still improving, they said it can take anywhere between 1 to 2 months for yours eyes to heal fully. Last check-up I had my right eye was 20/20 or better and my left eye was only slightly lower but it is taking longer to heal than my right. They expect it to heal to the same standard as my right though. My left is still quite dry and I have to use drops and a gel to keep it lubricated, especially in the morning but this will pass in time.
Overall I couldn’t be happier, I was a bit wary to start as during the first and second weeks my eyes were still quite blurry but the past week it really has improved. Feels great not having to wear contacts anymore.
