Eye laser treatment recommendations north of England

[DaveGrohl]

Been wanting to get my eyes lasered for years. Gonna bite the bullet this summer.

Any recommendations please? I’m north Cumbria so happy to travel to Newcastle, Manc/Lpool, Edinburgh/Glasgow.

Apologies, I’m sure this isn’t the first thread on it.

[SkinnyPete]

You can get SMILE done at NHS Royal Hallamshire hospital. A portion of the money goes to the NHS.

https://www.sheffieldvisioncentre.co.uk

[Petrolhead67]

A bit further away but I went here , https://www.pragamedica.com/
Super happy and super impressed , I had both lens replacements and saved around 6K cost compared to if I had the same operation in the UK .

Was recommended by a good friend ,had mine around 2 yrs now plus wife went there earlier this yr as well . There were people from all over europe having there eyes done so must be doing something right .

What / wherever you decide to go , for me this was the best money I have ever spent on anything absolutely so so happy and it makes life soo much easier again , when you dont have to wear glasses or contacts .

[DaveGrohl]

Thanks guys.

I did find an earlier thread after I posted.
I’d be nervous about going abroad, but maybe worth considering.

Does lens replacement mean you would have perfect vision for life?

I’ve been on contacts for decades but it feels like I have something tiny embedded in the surface of my right eye. Been like that for a couole of years now. The contact lens doesn’t move around the surface as it should and so the vision in that eye is sometimes a bit bit blurry.
It’s really peeing me off and I’ve had enough.

I’ve had it checked but nothing can be found. Laser would do away with that problem.

[Lincsls1]

DaveGrohl said:

Does lens replacement mean you would have perfect vision for life?

Short answer - no.

[Mr Pointy]

DaveGrohl said:

I have been on contacts for decades but it feels like I have something tiny embedded in the surface of my right eye. Been like that for a coupole of years now. The contact lens doesn't move around the surface as it should and so the vision in that eye is sometimes a bit bit blurry.
It s really peeing me off and I've had enough.

If you already have an issue with the cornea & maybe dryness in that eye the last thing you should be doing is blasting it with a laser until you have done a lot of research into the potential side effects which can be considerable & permanent. There's a reason most ophthalmic surgeons & consultant wear glasses.

[rlw]

Lincsls1 said:

Short answer - no.

I'll let you know when I die. Fifteen years in and its still better than 20/20. I still need reading glasses but that's expected.

[DaveGrohl]

rlw said:

Lincsls1 said:

Short answer - no.

I'll let you know when I die. Fifteen years in and its still better than 20/20. I still need reading glasses but that's expected.

Ah, ok. That’s what I was wanting to know.

[DaveGrohl]

Mr Pointy said:

DaveGrohl said:

I have been on contacts for decades but it feels like I have something tiny embedded in the surface of my right eye. Been like that for a coupole of years now. The contact lens doesn't move around the surface as it should and so the vision in that eye is sometimes a bit bit blurry.
It s really peeing me off and I've had enough.

If you already have an issue with the cornea & maybe dryness in that eye the last thing you should be doing is blasting it with a laser until you have done a lot of research into the potential side effects which can be considerable & permanent. There's a reason most ophthalmic surgeons & consultant wear glasses.

Yes I’m aware having read the other thread.
Seems like it works well for most people

Where do you go with that ultimately?
Most oncologists wouldn’t undergo chemo themselves.

It isn’t really dryness.
It’s like whatever is there keeps resurfacing for 2 or 3 days causing an issue and then it seals over for a few more days. Then resurfaces again. It’s incredibly annoying. Whatever’s there is clearly very small. May even be a metal fragment as I’m a farmer.

I had an issue with a teeny tiny piece of wooden splinter embedded in my eyelid a few years ago. Couldn’t feel it much with contacts in but when I took them out it scratched my eye something terrible. Stopped me sleeping. Doc eventually found it on my second visit.

[Stu78]

My friends went to Budapest. Was £2k for both eyes plus obviously travel and accommodation but they made a holiday of it.

[craigjm]

I had mine done back in 2013 by optical express in London and they are still good now.

[Mr Pointy]

DaveGrohl said:

It isn't really dryness.
It's like whatever is there keeps resurfacing for 2 or 3 days causing an issue and then it seals over for a few more days. Then resurfaces again. It's incredibly annoying. Whatever's there is clearly very small. May even be a metal fragment as I'm a farmer.

Ok, I'd say it was critical you get this sorted out first, even if you have to pay & go private if the NHS won't sort it out.

How old are you & is your sight starting to change & you start to need reading glasses? If so having laser treatment won't stop this & you will be paying out & not getting a long period of benefit.

As for recommendations look for member 968 & email him - he may respond with a name although he hasn't been so active in this sub-forum recently.

[joestifff]

Had mine (LASIK) done at Optical Express in Leeds 11 years ago. Think they have moved from Albion Street to King Street.

No issues, wish I'd done it sooner.

[DaveGrohl]

Mr Pointy said:

DaveGrohl said:

It isn't really dryness.
It's like whatever is there keeps resurfacing for 2 or 3 days causing an issue and then it seals over for a few more days. Then resurfaces again. It's incredibly annoying. Whatever's there is clearly very small. May even be a metal fragment as I'm a farmer.

Ok, I'd say it was critical you get this sorted out first, even if you have to pay & go private if the NHS won't sort it out.

How old are you & is your sight starting to change & you start to need reading glasses? If so having laser treatment won't stop this & you will be paying out & not getting a long period of benefit.

As for recommendations look for member 968 & email him - he may respond with a name although he hasn't been so active in this sub-forum recently.

Thanks.
I’m 60 and I’m needing reading glasses more and more now. Can’t actually read without them, part of which is the issue with the right eye.
But I can read perfectly well unaided if I take the contacts out.

[Mr Pointy]

DaveGrohl said:

I m 60 and I m needing reading glasses more and more now. Can t actually read without them, part of which is the issue with the right eye.
But I can read perfectly well unaided if I take the contacts out.

OK. The problem is at your (our) age your eyesight is changing & you are probably going longsighted, hence the reading glasses. If you get your eyes lasered they will be great for a while but will continue to change & you'll have spent all that money & still end up with glasses. In addition you're entering the time of life when cataracts can become an issue & having laser treatment can cause some complications if you need a cataract operation.

I'd really suggest getting the problem you are having sorted first & then see a reputable consultant about laser treatment - by that I mean don't go to a high street chain. See if 968 will give you some suggestions.

[dandarez]

Mr Pointy said:

DaveGrohl said:

I m 60 and I m needing reading glasses more and more now. Can t actually read without them, part of which is the issue with the right eye.
But I can read perfectly well unaided if I take the contacts out.

OK. The problem is at your (our) age your eyesight is changing & you are probably going longsighted, hence the reading glasses. If you get your eyes lasered they will be great for a while but will continue to change & you'll have spent all that money & still end up with glasses. In addition you're entering the time of life when cataracts can become an issue & having laser treatment can cause some complications if you need a cataract operation.

I'd really suggest getting the problem you are having sorted first & then see a reputable consultant about laser treatment - by that I mean don't go to a high street chain. See if 968 will give you some suggestions.

Can I butt in here and emphasise the laser/cataract bit. No need to read the first bit if you don't want, just jump to the 'important' bit.
My wife when she met me wore glasses (she didn't have them on at the time, probably why 'she met' me, not the other way round! I don't miss opportunities like that (and dumped my then girlfriend)! We've been together for 56 yrs and married since 1974.
I called her specs 'pebbles', in fact so did she. She absolutely loathed them. Fortunately living in Oxfordshire there was a highly respected optician in Kidlington, a Dr David White, probably the first to be able to prescribe contact lenses in the UK. My wife jumped at the chance. He was a fantastic optician and well-known throughout Oxfordshire. He retired after more than 30 yrs in the business in 2007and his business was bought by husband and wife opticians, Andrew and Lisa Morgan, both Oxford Eye Hospital trained. Still going today it is named 'Morgan White' the addition of David White's surname because he had such a good reputation.

Sorry for the long winded bit, now the important bit.
Just over 10 yrs ago my wife was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, she had two separate ops at the Oxford Eye Hospital.

But first a question was asked of her: 'had she ever had laser eye surgery?'

If the answer was yes, the ops would be cancelled.

She hadn't thankfully.

Both ops were very successful. She couldn't believe how good her eyesight now was. Today she has only reading glasses and rarely uses them.

[Double Fault]

My dad had his done about 30 years ago and still good. He's 85 now.
We were golfing the other day and he could read some type on the side of the ball (albeit he had to squint). I couldn't even figure out which way up the writing was.

Initial consultation booked for next week!

[DaveGrohl]

Mr Pointy said:

DaveGrohl said:

I m 60 and I m needing reading glasses more and more now. Can t actually read without them, part of which is the issue with the right eye.
But I can read perfectly well unaided if I take the contacts out.

OK. The problem is at your (our) age your eyesight is changing & you are probably going longsighted, hence the reading glasses. If you get your eyes lasered they will be great for a while but will continue to change & you'll have spent all that money & still end up with glasses. In addition you're entering the time of life when cataracts can become an issue & having laser treatment can cause some complications if you need a cataract operation.

I'd really suggest getting the problem you are having sorted first & then see a reputable consultant about laser treatment - by that I mean don't go to a high street chain. See if 968 will give you some suggestions.

Just to be clear, with no glasses or contacts I can read perfectly well.
But things get blurry after 3 or 4 yards. This is why I wear contacts. I’m -2.75 and -2.5.
Been same strength for 20 years plus.
My distance vision seems amazingly settled with contacts in.

I used to be able to read with my contacts in, but last couple of years I’ve relied more and more on reading glasses.
To the point I can’t really read without them now.
As expected for my age.
I was fully expecting to have to continue to wear reading glasses after lasering.
(Just in case there was any confusion over what I was expecting.)

[DaveGrohl]

dandarez said:

Mr Pointy said:

DaveGrohl said:

I m 60 and I m needing reading glasses more and more now. Can t actually read without them, part of which is the issue with the right eye.
But I can read perfectly well unaided if I take the contacts out.

OK. The problem is at your (our) age your eyesight is changing & you are probably going longsighted, hence the reading glasses. If you get your eyes lasered they will be great for a while but will continue to change & you'll have spent all that money & still end up with glasses. In addition you're entering the time of life when cataracts can become an issue & having laser treatment can cause some complications if you need a cataract operation.

I'd really suggest getting the problem you are having sorted first & then see a reputable consultant about laser treatment - by that I mean don't go to a high street chain. See if 968 will give you some suggestions.

Can I butt in here and emphasise the laser/cataract bit. No need to read the first bit if you don't want, just jump to the 'important' bit.
My wife when she met me wore glasses (she didn't have them on at the time, probably why 'she met' me, not the other way round! I don't miss opportunities like that (and dumped my then girlfriend)! We've been together for 56 yrs and married since 1974.
I called her specs 'pebbles', in fact so did she. She absolutely loathed them. Fortunately living in Oxfordshire there was a highly respected optician in Kidlington, a Dr David White, probably the first to be able to prescribe contact lenses in the UK. My wife jumped at the chance. He was a fantastic optician and well-known throughout Oxfordshire. He retired after more than 30 yrs in the business in 2007and his business was bought by husband and wife opticians, Andrew and Lisa Morgan, both Oxford Eye Hospital trained. Still going today it is named 'Morgan White' the addition of David White's surname because he had such a good reputation.

Sorry for the long winded bit, now the important bit.
Just over 10 yrs ago my wife was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, she had two separate ops at the Oxford Eye Hospital.

But first a question was asked of her: 'had she ever had laser eye surgery?'

If the answer was yes, the ops would be cancelled.

She hadn't thankfully.

Both ops were very successful. She couldn't believe how good her eyesight now was. Today she has only reading glasses and rarely uses them.

Thanks.

So what are the issues when it comes to cataracts snd lasering?

[worsy]

I'm +1.5 / +3.25 Add +2.0

With contacts I wear +1.5 / +2.5 Add 1.75

This gives me a reasonable balance between distance and reading. If I go full glasses specs with contacts, I can't see anything in the distance.