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Original poster

Anyone had laser eye surgery? I'm terrified!

44 replies

ThePerturbedPenguin · 30/04/2019 17:34

So as the title says, I'm looking into getting laser eye surgery as I am totally fed up with contact lenses and I've heard of so many people who have had it done and never looked back.

However, I am also totally terrified of something going wrong and so am doing lots of research about where to get it done and things to watch out for.

So far it looks like hospital-based providers get the best reviews and seem like a good way to go, especially Moorfields. I'm based in London so this would be a good option for me.

I'm sure others have had good experiences but I'd like to stay away from high street clinics like Optical Express etc.

Can anyone share their experiences or give any advice please?

Thank you! Smile

OP posts:
mrwalkensir · 30/04/2019 18:02

I’m very short sighted, so didn’t want to take any risks. Had Bruce Allan at Moorfields who is very calm, capable and did an excellent job. Would definitely recommend him/Moorfields

VeraWangTwang · 30/04/2019 18:34

I had it done. Best money I ever spent
I'm squeamish and I coped

babbi · 30/04/2019 18:37

I had it done 16 years ago ... great success... best decision ever ..
So worth it ... easy and painless !

Good luck

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General health
oopslateagain · 30/04/2019 18:43

I had it done at Optical Express in Cambridge eight years ago. Severe short-sightedness (-9.5) corrected to perfect vision. I'm happy to answer any questions, what would you like to know?

Milkn0sugar · 30/04/2019 18:55

I had it done at Optical Express - the initial consultation and follow up care took place in my home town and the surgery took place at their Shaftesbury Avenue branch. I researched my surgeon in advance and felt happy that he was very experienced. It went very well and I went from -5.5 to having perfect vision. It was one of the best things I ever did. It cost c£3K. I paid £500 up front then paid the rest off over ten months interest free. I did get dry eyes afterwards but the free eye drops helped until it settled down. I also had headaches and eye strain afterwards for a couple of weeks, particularly when using a computer. You also get very red, bloodshot eyes for a week or so afterwards. I do find that my eyes are quite sensitive to sunlight these days. Not relying on contact lenses is brilliant.

I'm now thinking about taking the plunge and getting train tracks at aged 35 to straighten my teeth as I suspect I won't regret that either. Teeth have moved over the last 3 years and are now wonky. Sad

Milkn0sugar · 30/04/2019 19:00

This was my surgeon

www.opticalexpress.co.uk/about/surgeons/manek-patel

ScarletPower · 30/04/2019 19:01

I had mine done in 2006 when I was 31. My prescription was -4(ish) in both eyes, everything was blurry and I couldn't see clearly without glasses.

They do warn you that once you hit middle age you will need reading glasses and I have just been prescribed some (0.25) to stop me having headaches when doing screen work.

I was terrified before having it done but I needn't have worried. It took about 15 minutes for each eye. The anaesthetic was a fluid and similar to an optrex eye bath (if you have ever had one). After that I couldn't feel a thing in my eye and the most painful part was when the nurse ripped the micropore tape that was holding the eye shield in place off!

There was a TV in the corner that was just a black blob without my specs and when I had the op done, I could make out all the buttons and the brand name! It truly was amazing.

AFterwards my eyes were just quite watery. Use your comfort drops as much as you are allowed but I really didn't need them. I was watching the soaps (albeit through watery eyes in the dark) 7 hours after my op, and was able to drive the next day.

Honestly it is right up there on the list of best things I have ever done. I'm trying to pluck up the courage to book gastric surgery next

liviadrusilla · 30/04/2019 19:29

I had it done at Moorfields (by Professor David Gartry). They were fantastic - it's cheaper to do at his private practice as I think there was an additional charge for using Moorfields facilities (totally fair enough) but I felt I was in the best place for it.

washinglions · 30/04/2019 19:33

My BIL had it done, he said it was like a miracle.

Original poster
ThePerturbedPenguin · 30/04/2019 20:07

Thank you everyone who has taken the time to reply so far!

I know they say your eyesight has to be “stable” for a year beforehand. I’m 28 now and I think there was a minor change maybe 2 years ago. I’m not sure if stable means exactly the same.

What age was everyone when they had it done and for how many years beforehand had your prescription remained the same?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePerturbedPenguin · 30/04/2019 20:09

@liviadrusilla how did you find out about your consultant being cheaper at his private practice? Did you just google each consultant and find out that way? I presume they wouldn’t tell you that at Moorfields!

I know Moorfields also change £200+ for the initial consultation which puts me off a bit. I might get a free consultation somewhere else to check I’m eligible then maybe go to Moorfields.

OP posts:
YouJustDoYou · 30/04/2019 20:10

My step sister had it done. I almost fainted at how she explained they did it but she said strangely it as actually.totally fine. All these years later I'm a bit envious of her nice eyesight and myrubbish eyes lol

SardineJam · 30/04/2019 20:11

I had mine done at Optical Express in Bristol. One thing that reassured me was that at my pre-op consultation the surgeon really demonstrated he was risk adverse and talked me through the potential risks the surgery could have. I really like that he was realistic and wasn't just thinking about the big pay check he'd be getting. Really pleased with the results more than two years on!

Original poster
ThePerturbedPenguin · 30/04/2019 20:19

Yes the procedure sounds horrific but as I understand it, it’s relatively pain free and very quick! It’s more just how gruesome it sounds!

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePerturbedPenguin · 30/04/2019 20:20

Do you feel like your vision post surgery is as good/clear as it was with your contacts/glasses? I know sometimes it can end up a little bit less

OP posts:
GreenDragone · 30/04/2019 20:28

I would advise you against surgery. My optician had it & he explained to me you still have to wear glasses for close-up as you get older. He also told me there are issues around having cataracts treated when you're really old if you've already had eye surgery. He suggested to me I use NIGHT contact lenses. They've been around for decades now but no-one seems to have heard of them. Mine are called 'Ortho K'. They're special lenses, laser cut to the exact requirement of each eye. You put them in & go to sleep. Over night they correct the eyes to perfect - a bit like a jelly & jelly mold. In the morning you take them out & clean them. You have perfect vision all day long right down to bed time again. Perfect for driving or anything else. I swim a lot so it was brilliant for me. Some people only have to wear them every two or three nights but I need mine every night. It costs me £40 a month & that includes all solutions/any further eye checks I want at any time & free replacement of any lenses if I lose one. I've had these lenses now for 10yrs & it's changed my life. They have no negative impact on the health of the eye if cleaned & used exactly as directed.

GreenDragone · 30/04/2019 20:29

Also, my best friend went to Moorfields & was in such blinding pain with the first eye, she didn't have the 2nd one done.

oopslateagain · 30/04/2019 21:35

I was 43 when I had mine done. I think my prescription had been stable for about 3 or 4 years. The weirdest thing was the smell - the laser is basically burning off a layer of cornea, and it smells exactly like burning hair. I wasn't prepared for that, and it made me feel a bit sick.

The pain afterwards was pretty horrible, but managed with just paracetamol, and it was honestly pretty much gone by that evening (I had it done at 2pm). There is a small chance that your eyes can revert a bit, and the surgery can only be repeated if your corneas are thick enough. Mine was done 8 years ago and was a huge correction, from -9.5, and about 2 years ago I noticed a slight blurring. I now have a prescription of -1.25 and only have a pair of glasses for driving.

It's true you might still need reading glasses as you get older - that's an entirely different kind of eye problem, caused by the lens of the eye becoming rigid with age and unable to refocus close up for reading.

Bonkersblond · 30/04/2019 21:48

I had mine done age 42, still 20/20 10 years later, I do need reading glasses now in poor light though, but I actually quite missed my glasses after wearing alongside contacts for 20 odd years, so I actually don't mind reading glasses for when I need to wear them, as it's not all the time unlike short sightedness. I can remember the procedure, you focus on a dot that is blurry but becomes crystal clear, suffered with dry eye for a good few months after, flaxseed is good for this. I have absolutely no regrets and it's up there with one of the best things I've done.

Milkn0sugar · 30/04/2019 22:33

I was 30 and my eyesight had been stable for 2 years. My vision was better than 20:20 for a while but I haven't been tested for some time now. Yes the burning smell was odd. I recall lying in a dark room with sore eyes and an awful headache, however I went to sleep and it was better by the evening. It feels totally miraculous when you look around the procedure room post opp and realise that you can now see the time on a small clock on the other side of the room.

StealthToddler · 30/04/2019 22:46

I had mine done nearly 2 years ago at the London Vision Clinic by Professor Reinstein. Went from -8.50 to better than 20:20 and was signed off for driving after 24 hours. I had mini blended so as to avoid glasses for reading for another 10 years (was 43 when had them done). Had the keyhole version rather than the flap. Didn't even have red eyes afterwards. Best thing I've ever done.

speedyhedgehog · 30/04/2019 22:51

I had mine done in my early thirties.Perfect vision until last year when I started wearing reading glasses in my late forties - so 14 years glasses free.

shinyblackdog · 30/04/2019 23:02

I was your age when I had mine done OP. I'm now 41 and still consider it to be the best money I ever spent (outside my house!). Vision is still 20/20. My prescription was - 3 and I had wavefront lasik at Optical Express on Shaftesbury Avenue. Agree with PPs about the smell and, rather off-puttingly my surgeon was teaching someone else, so was explaining what he was doing in minute detail, which was gross. However, my vision was better immediately and I felt no pain. You have to adhere scrupulously to the aftercare instructions - it's a lot of drops - and I must admit I don't recall anyone mentioning the impact on cataract surgery, which I have only recently found out about, but I still wouldn't change my decision.

Original poster
ThePerturbedPenguin · 01/05/2019 07:56

@oopslateagain do you know why your eyes got a bit worse again years later? Did you ask whoever performed the surgery?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePerturbedPenguin · 01/05/2019 07:56

Yes I am a bit worried about the impact on cataract surgery - has anyone had any experience of this or knows any more about it?

OP posts: