Optical express - laser eye surgery

[SardineJam]

Always been keen to correct my vision, so had a consultation for the surgery last week (after receiving countless calls from them daily after registering my interest in their website).

Consultation was fine and turned out to be more than the £595, or whatever they quite on the adverts, price per eye - tbf, I am a cynic so was fully expecting this (total £2200ish).

Consultation went okay but I have had dry and watery eyes on/off since and this is putting me off making a decision.

Have received a couple of missed calls from them as well as follows up email since and now I feel that as they have my details it's just going to be a hard sell until they make me buckle - AIBU to think this? And is it worth me doing it? Thoughts on negotiating the price?

[PinkPearls20]

I had it. Best thing I ever did. Cost £2100 three years ago. My eyes were really dry for about a week after. Now fine.

Best thing I ever did. 20/20 vision.

[TheBiscuitStrikesBack]

I had mine done a few years ago, I've never regretted it!

[wineoclockthanks]

I would google them before making a decision.

There has been some criticism of their practices - I had my eyes tested with them a couple of years ago and the optician recommended I had mine done and was quite pushy for me to pay a deposit. This is worrying because I know my eyes are totally unsuitable to be lasered (told by a consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields eye hospital).

[bigboypants]

If you leave it a while you may get a discount. They are a bit hard sell IMO, and I say that as someone who used to do the selling, absolutely hated that part of the job. But if we had gaps to fill on surgery days we'd ring people at the start of the month and offer a (small) discount.

[carefreeeee]

There are other companies. The hard sell put me off them completely.

My brother and a few friends have had the surgery and all have been really pleased. Apparently it is agony for a day or 2 after though.

[firawla]

I went for a consultation about 5 years back, decided against it in the end but I still get loads of marketing from them ever since!

[bigboypants]

And yes, some optoms may put people forward who aren't suitable or 'borderline' but the surgeons will not perform any procedure if they are not happy. They have the final say, it's their reputation at risk.

[SardineJam]

I was very surprised by the tone of the email basically making me feel guilty (i don't feel guilty but that was clearly the intention) for not answering their calls and appreciating if I called them back - this has put me off! Not looking forward to a lifetime of them nagging me!

[Hulababy]

I would google any reviews and ask for a full download of their operations and success rates, etc. That said I know two people who have used them and so far so good from what they said. Check what the price includes, including eye drops and any follow ups, plus any possible corrections.

I had laser surgery on my eyes in March. I choose to go with the most highly rated/reviewed place I could fine locally, from both online and personal recommendations (friends of friends, etc)

I had a fairly simple prescription (-4.25 and -3.75) Mine cost £2950 per eye which I was happy to pay. I paid upfront but could have done it via interest free credit should I wish.

Our local clinic is within the NHS teaching hospital and the operations are carried out by two consultants who also work within the NHS hospital too. The consultation took 2-3 hours with various eye examinations over the time. They were very open about who they were willing to operate on and of the range of services available. I had the ReLEx SMILE procedure.

I had my operation at the end of March. I went home within the hour with my drops, eye goggles to sleep in and sunglasses. It went amazingly well. I have had a range of follow ups since. I now have perfect vision, both long and short. And my healing is pretty perfect too. My operation has been classed, so far, as a complete success. I will be monitored for a while yet though.

[PinkPearls20]

They literally threw aftercare at me. Gave me loads of drops. Phoned me to remind me to come in for check ups.

It did hurt a bit after the op, but that's only to be expected... just pricks of glass kind if thing in my eyes.

[Hulababy]

Yes, lots of drops - think I had 3 or 4 different types for different purposes, typically often to be used at slightly different times!

[cantpickaname]

Had mine done 10 years ago, best money I ever spent and I still have 20/20 vision. The vision did regress after a few months however the aftercare was excellent and I was retreated for free. I was so desperate to have it done that the hard sell wasn't required - I was pestering them! Had it done at 10am and was watching Eastenders that same evening.

I do have the halo effect when night driving but a small price to pay.

[Mari50]

This isn't cosmetic surgery, it's eye surgery and if it goes wrong you will not forgive yourself. Cut price is not the way to go. Do your research, find a good ophthalmologist and pay what it costs.
Fwiw optical express offered to do my eyes for free (and lots of people I know too because we work in related industry) I know of no one who took them up on it.

[Tutuloves]

I had mine done 8 years ago, then had to have it done again a few years after (free of charge) but now my prescription has changed again and I would need more laser eye surgery and would have to pay for it. To give you an idea of my prescription I was -4.25 in one eye and -3.75 in the other, now I'm -1.25 in one eye and -0.75 in the other which is manageable and nowhere near as bad as my original prescription but the 20:20 didn't last for me. I went with optical express and paid £2,400 originally.

[Tutuloves]

But would I do it again? Yes I would it was life changing for me at the time. My eyes felt like someone was squeezing lemon juice into them after the op for quite a few days it was agony.
Apparently people with blue eyes like me suffer the most and the darker your eyes the less sensitive they are, that's what they told me anyway.

[SardineJam]

Mari50 can I ask why no one took up the free offer?

[SardineJam]

Can anyone provide names of other providers who they've used and would recommend please (without the hard sell!)

[Hulababy]

That was my thinking behind it all Mari, and was definitely the only way DH was happy for me to go ahead too. So I paid nearly £4000 (almost double what OE would have been) but I wanted to ensure I was going to the best I could find near me. My ophthalmologist consultant remained the same all the way through the process, and was known to me by name from the initial phone call. My own optician also recommended the clinic.

[Hulababy]

SardineJam - where in the country are you?

[SardineJam]

Hulababy in England

[Hulababy]

Whereabouts? People may be able to recommend ones they know of closer to you that way - due to the nature of needing a consultation, surgery and follow ups you wouldn't one too far away.

The clinic I used is in Sheffield.

[SardineJam]

Sorry! I misread and thought you asked which country! Swindon.

[Ididthattoo]

Can I suggest you go to the Moorfields Hospital in London? There are a couple of outstanding surgeons.,

They don't pressurise you, you pay for the consultation but it is very thorough.

Optical express for my precious eyes? No way!

Try Mr Gartry at the Moorfields, please don't play with your eyes. They give interest free credit as well.

One of the risks is that you are left with double vision is that what you want?

Please don't do it, just find a very good surgeon (personally recommended) and go from there.

[Hulababy]

I am in Sheffield and used Sheffield Vision Centre, located within the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Matthew Edwards was my consultant.

www.laservision.co.uk/laser-eye-surgery-sheffield/

[NoCakeLeft]

My sister did hers in Lithuania. It cost her 900€ and with hotel and flights still cheaper than in UK.
It was in Vilnius and called New Vision.