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ultralase

73 replies

TracyK · 12/02/2005 19:26

anyone had their eyesight lasered? or is there a new improved one available now?

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ChicPea · 12/02/2005 23:21

I did in 1993 for first eye and 1994 for the second eye. Fantastic op. Would highly recommend. Threw away my contact lenses.

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ChicPea · 12/02/2005 23:21

Didn't go to Ultralase though.

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HunkerMunker · 12/02/2005 23:43

Ooh, ooh, ooh! Er...

What prescription are you? Only if you're up to about -4.50 you could try this

I'm currently wearing my glasses for the four weeks you have to before you can try these lenses.

They're gas permeable lenses that alter the shape of your cornea while you're asleep. You wear them each night, take them out in the morning and can see! That's the plan anyway. My optician's using them. They're only in about 12 opticians nationwide at the moment, but they do mean you don't have to have a hole cut in the front of your eye (freaks me out, that bit!).

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HunkerMunker · 12/02/2005 23:46

Just read on the website it's up to -6.00 dioptres. And it's fully reversible, unlike laser surgery.

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TracyK · 13/02/2005 09:04

i'm short sighted - will it work for me?

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TracyK · 13/02/2005 09:05

although i did see on tv that the usa have a new procedure that doesn't mean cutting your eye open

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HunkerMunker · 13/02/2005 23:40

Yes, I'm short-sighted and I'm hoping it'll work for me!

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ChicPea · 14/02/2005 13:42

Haven't heard of the procedure HunkerMunker linked to. Sounds interesting though. Will ask an ophthalmologist about this.
Re: laser surgery, they don't actually cut a hole in the eye. They remove the top protective layer "the epithelium" (which replaces itself in 24hrs) to remove microns of tissue from the cornea, which, if you are short-sighted, is too long. I went to Optimax in London. As I said, I would highly recommend.

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Ameriscot2005 · 14/02/2005 20:32

I had Lasik almost two years ago and have no regrets whatsoever. The procedure was quick and painless, and recovery involved sleeping it off for a couple of hours (they gave me a valium tablet to help out). The correction I had was 20/15 (better than the average population) from about -3.5.

I wouldn't actively recommend this to anyone as they must come to their own decision, but I am happy to discuss my experience. DH had it done about 2 weeks before me, and it was his happy outcome that led me to take the plunge.

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sweetkitty · 14/02/2005 22:21

I had mine done 18 months ago at ultralase and it was one of the best things i ever done. I was -5.00 and -4.50 and am now better than 20/20 it has changed my life.

The staff were great, the op itself wasn't painful a bit nervewracking (the smells the worst bit) but it was over in 20 mins, I went into the room and couldn't see anyone in there but even just after they finished I could see an improvement. The next day my eyes were perfect.

I did a lot of research before coming to my decision to go ahead though.

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HunkerMunker · 14/02/2005 22:24

I'm just too chicken to actually have someone messing with my eyes in a surgical way. Contact lenses I can remove and have everything go back to 'normal' are fine by me though. My optician says not enough is known about the long-term effects of surgery - there aren't enough people who had it done decades ago.

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Ameriscot2005 · 15/02/2005 07:16

That's great, Hunker, but the OP wanted info about actually having laser treatment, not avoiding it.

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Ameriscot2005 · 15/02/2005 07:19

It's amazing, isn't it, Sweetkitty.

It took me about 6 months to get over the fact that I could see! I loved waking up and being able to see the clock - but that didn't stop me from reaching for my non-existant glasses. I used to keep wearing my watch in the shower, because my habit was to take off my watch at the same time as my glasses...

I love being able to buy cheap sunnies

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TracyK · 15/02/2005 08:41

My only concern now is that because it is becoming much more popular, cheap and easy to come by - does that mean standards will be as high and the training as good?
It always seemed to be 'specialised' and now not so.
Although, I am so tempted as my eyesight has really deteriorated in the past couple of years.
I need to replace my glasses and sunglass - so thats prob a couple of hundred quid - so almost as cheap to have surgery!

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grumpyfrumpy · 15/02/2005 08:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TracyK · 15/02/2005 08:47

that was my concern too as I'm not very good at driving at night as it is. Plus if you do have probs with it - is there any tricks you can do to improve it?

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Ameriscot2005 · 15/02/2005 09:33

I don't have any trouble with night vision (halo-ing). I think that all the documented cases of night vision problems were among those who had really severe short-sightedness. But good places will not operate on anyone worse than minus seven.

TracyK: I had mine done by the most experienced doctor in the area. I felt that it was worth paying a bit extra for. Another thing to consider is that the place you go to should be close to home, as it's important for the recovery that you can sleep (or at least keep your eyes closed) as soon after the op as possible.

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TracyK · 15/02/2005 09:35

I was all ready to go to Boots to get it done and they've blooming closed down their laser eye services- bugger! I don't know that I 'trust' places like Optical Express and Specsavers etc.

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bundle · 15/02/2005 09:37

tracyk, why not listen to tonight's Case Notes on Radio 4? there'll be an interview in the programme about laser eye surgery (i'm the producer!)

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bundle · 15/02/2005 09:38

sorry, here

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Ameriscot2005 · 15/02/2005 09:39

Do you give us a sneak preview, Bundle?

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bundle · 15/02/2005 09:41

basically the prog is all about Moorfields Eye hospital (200 yrs old this year) and we interviewed a surgeon about laser eye surgery, including where to have it done, what kind of results are achievable, how safe it is etc. must fly and do some editing...

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TracyK · 15/02/2005 09:41

is that 9-9.30pm? will I be able to re listen to it tomorrow if I forget?

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bundle · 15/02/2005 09:42

yup, 4.30pm-5 tomorrow too

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TracyK · 15/02/2005 09:47

I will try and set an alarm on my mobile to remind me.

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