Laser eye surgery

[iceyfuel]

PHers

I am considering laser eye surgery. I am absolutely fed up of glasses, contact lenses and prescription sunglasses.

Summer and holidays I find particularly annoying and I am now sick of the faff of it all.

For context early 30s. -1.75, astigmatism. I am looking at David Gartry given his reputation.

Can anyone share their experiences of having it done? Any nighttime driving issues?

I appreciate there are existing threads but I wanted some more recent advice pls.

Thanks!

[u6dw4]

Lasik or prk?

had the 2nd done because of infections from contacts

Edited by u6dw4 on Monday 7th April 20:36

[iceyfuel]

u6dw4 said:

Lasik or prk?

had the 2nd done because of infections from contacts

Edited by u6dw4 on Monday 7th April 20:36

Looking at Lasik. Interesting do you mind sharing more on the infections please? I’ve had the odd flare up of infections from contacts.

How have things been since you had it done?

[u6dw4]

i had cornea damage - but not in my visual range - after 20 years of contact lenses wearing, getting ulcers in my eye, which resulted in multiple hospital visits. This made lasik impossible, but after more research, (trans)prk was the better option anyway, but the recovery time is much slower. But i'd choose it again over lasik.

PRK is less invasive, it is just the surface. but it takes longer to heal.

Edited by u6dw4 on Monday 7th April 21:03

[Cheese on Toast with Worcestershire Sauce]

I had it done about 10 years ago. Zero regrets. Think I paid about £3k to get it done on Harley Street. No issues with driving at night. No issues at all.

[Stu-nph26]

I had mine done about 15 years ago in my 20s, one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It was pretty uncomfortable for a day or two after, but apart from that, zero issues. My sister and my dad have both had it done too, and neither had any problems.

[u6dw4]

it can result in dry eye s (which i still have have), but i don't know how that compares to lasik, prk is maybe less than lasik but still affects my vision

[Rh14n]

Had LASIK 22 years ago - no issues, still got 20/20 distance vision. Best money I ever spent.

[numtumfutunch]

I know a woman through the kids/school. Shes not a mate but we chat now and again

Shes totally minted. Big house, amazing holidays and a FFRR

Shes an NHS eye surgeon and her cash comes from a side hustle doing laser stuff like in this thread

She wears glasses which Ive teased her about considering her work and is resolute she doesnt fancy the risk

Good luck everyone

[Cheese on Toast with Worcestershire Sauce]

numtumfutunch said:

I know a woman through the kids/school. Shes not a mate but we chat now and again

Shes totally minted. Big house, amazing holidays and a FFRR

Shes an NHS eye surgeon and her cash comes from a side hustle doing laser stuff like in this thread

She wears glasses which Ive teased her about considering her work and is resolute she doesnt fancy the risk

Good luck everyone

How much is the house worth? What colour is the FFRR? Does she drink regular milk or an alternative? Any other completely useless information you can post? TIA.

[Austin Prefect]

Cheese on Toast with Worcestershire Sauce said:

numtumfutunch said:

I know a woman through the kids/school. Shes not a mate but we chat now and again

Shes totally minted. Big house, amazing holidays and a FFRR

Shes an NHS eye surgeon and her cash comes from a side hustle doing laser stuff like in this thread

She wears glasses which Ive teased her about considering her work and is resolute she doesnt fancy the risk

Good luck everyone

How much is the house worth? What colour is the FFRR? Does she drink regular milk or an alternative? Any other completely useless information you can post? TIA.

I think knowing vast amounts of money can be made from laser surgery is interesting and vaguely relevant.

[metrofour]

Someone explained it to me akin to planing a door, (shaving the cornea) depending how much you need planing (the severity of your short sight) will depend how likely you are to plane right through (I’m -12 so no thanks). I think nowadays they will go down to -5 or so but it’s the same analogy. The surgeon who the poster mentioned not wanting it maybe has high myopia.

I have worn gas permeable lenses for over 20 years without one single problem. Usually all contact lenses problems are down to soft lenses and/or over use/not keeping them clean enough. The other option for severe short sight is lens replacement, but again highly risky at high myopic levels.

Edited by metrofour on Tuesday 8th April 07:56

Edited by metrofour on Tuesday 8th April 08:05

[The Gauge]

Austin Prefect said:

I think knowing vast amounts of money can be made from laser surgery is interesting and vaguely relevant.

Agreed. Plus the fact she won’t have it done herself.

Maybe she’s not confident anyone can do it as good as her, or just couldn’t stomach the procedure, or genuinely concerned of the risks. So yes I’d also say those details posted about her are relevant.

[the-norseman]

I'm mid 30's I dont wear glasses, I have some for computer work but dont wear them. Eye sight has gradually been getting worse since maybe 25.

Tempted to get this done myself in the next few years, A girl who used to work with us had it done, she was a full time glasses wearer and said it was brilliant.

[RizzoTheRat]

My wife had it done 7 or 8 years ago. As above she decided for a job like that to go to Harley street rather than a cheaper place. I was amazed how quick it was, she was in and out in about the time it took me to drink my coffee! Now aged 49 she's just started to wear glasses for long distance, pretty weak prescription though and she only wears them for driving or theatres. As for night time driving, she can see way better than me at night when I'm in brand new glasses!

[Mr Pointy]

The Gauge said:

Austin Prefect said:

I think knowing vast amounts of money can be made from laser surgery is interesting and vaguely relevant.

Agreed. Plus the fact she won’t have it done herself.

Maybe she’s not confident anyone can do it as good as her, or just couldn’t stomach the procedure, or genuinely concerned of the risks. So yes I’d also say those details posted about her are relevant.

In my time I have seen many doctors & consultants for various eye issues; to me it's really telling that they all (without exception) wore glasses. Now it's true that the percentage of patients who have issues may be small & the percentage that have severe issues is even smaller but these doctors have seen how crippling the effects can be & there's often nothing that can be done to resolve them.

The laser correction & lens replacement is unregulated & there's a LOT of shady practices going on:

https://www.facebook.com/OERML

There was a consultant who posted as 968 who used to point out the problems he sees in his work but he got chased off & has stopped posting now.

[PainTrain]

I had LASIK surgery 4 years ago at Optical Express in Birmingham.

Without a doubt the best money I have ever spent.

[Patch1875]

I’m coming up for 18 years since I had it done. Best decision ever, my distance is still excellent but I’m now getting to the point where I could do with reading glasses as I’m struggling with the small print of the light isn’t good. Just an age thing that would have happened anyway I’m 53.

[Quattr04.]

I had lasik with optimax 18 months ago

I can’t fault the service or results, I was right in the cusp of being able to have it done with a astigmatism and -4.75 in each eye

It’s so simple, you attend a appointment to check your prescription hasn’t changed VS your last, then so long as it’s been stable 6 months you get booked I

Arrive on the day, a few checks such as pressure in your eyes etc, then you go into the room, eye drops in, eyes cleaned, under one machine that cuts the flap, then they lift up the eye, under another machine which does the lasering which takes less than 10 seconds a eye, then they put the flaps back down, wash your eyes and then you’re done

It’s so bizzare, you get up from the table and you can just see, it’s a bit blury and very sensitive but that’s it.

The rest of the day you have to wear sunglasses and be in the dark, it feels like you’ve got grit in your eyes more than anything, but you get given drops for dryness and antibiotics which you use for a few days.

The next day I woke up, no pain just perfect vision. Eyes where dry for about 3/4 weeks so I used the drops they supplied

Then next day you go back to check everything’s ok, and so long as it is you get cleared to drive and then go back about a week later to be discharged.

After a month I stopped using the drops for dryness and haven’t looked back since, no side effects.

The only slight issue is I now find some headlights at night have a slight haze around them, but I was warned that my astigmatism was right on the cusp so might still be a problem, in the day I have 20:20 vision, something I can never remember having

No regrets what so ever.




The surgeon didn’t work for optimax he also did optical express and others, so not so much the company as the surgeon.

[u6dw4]

dry eyes is is a risk, i still have that. but it is a balance against contacts.

couldn't have lasik anyway. but appeared to be have more isssues than prk.

my sight is now near perfect (except for reading, but that's age).

prk is very different thought to lasik, so depends on which you choose.

advice was to to go to london hospitals, you pay a bit more but get better results (there are 3 main centres)

Edited by u6dw4 on Tuesday 8th April 18:20