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Original poster

Anyone with -7ish vision had laser eye surgery?

35 replies

Eminybob · 08/09/2020 13:56

I have a consultation booked for next week but I just wondered if anyone with a similar prescription to me has had laser eye surgery?

I was told years ago not to bother as it would be £££ and may not work. But now apparently technology has moved on so I thought it was worth having another look.

Anyone with any experience and advice to give would be appreciate.

OP posts:
Original poster
Eminybob · 08/09/2020 13:57

*appreciated

OP posts:
Crazyoldmaurice · 08/09/2020 14:14

I think I was minus 5 and 4.5 in my eyes so not quite a 7 but still fairly bad. I had mine done in 2012 with optical express and my eyes havent reverted back or lost much in the way of sharpness. Best 4k I've ever spent!

lurker101 · 08/09/2020 14:17

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Snakeplisskensmum · 08/09/2020 14:17

I was -5.75 with an astigmatism and was told ages ago that I couldn't have it done. As technology has progressed, this is a pretty normal prescription now and I had it done no bother at all.
Like Crazyoldmaurice it was the best thing I ever did. I also went with Optical Express.

achara · 08/09/2020 14:19

I got mine done over 10 years ago -7 both eyes. Within a month had regressed to -1. Apparently that can happen if it's high enough. Luckily I was still within range to be redone (3 months later). I only got 1 redone as the imbalance helps hold off on reading glasses in long term.

Original poster
Eminybob · 08/09/2020 14:22

Wow £4K? I’m guessing mine would be more than that then?

I really really want to have it done. I wear contacts but they irritate my eyes and glasses give me a headache I’m sick of constantly thinking about my bloody eyes!

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Original poster
Eminybob · 08/09/2020 14:22

@achara

I got mine done over 10 years ago -7 both eyes. Within a month had regressed to -1. Apparently that can happen if it's high enough. Luckily I was still within range to be redone (3 months later). I only got 1 redone as the imbalance helps hold off on reading glasses in long term.
And have they stayed right ever since? How much did you pay?
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Original poster
Eminybob · 08/09/2020 14:23

Optical express is who my consultation is with

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RememberBlazinSquad · 08/09/2020 14:24

I had -6.5 and astigmatism, and had mine done in January 2012. I can't remember the final cost but it was about £3.5k with optical express. Best thing ever.

They have regressed very slightly recently but I still have 20/20 vision, so they were corrected to better than 20/20 at the time.

minipie · 08/09/2020 14:35

Watching... I have about -9 and astigmatism and am considering it. I’ve been holding off as long as possible for the tech to improve.

achara · 08/09/2020 14:39

They're fine. Reading is still good except in poor light. I'm 52 in case that's relevant. Got done at 42. I'm in Ireland so was around €4,000 at at a private clinic in Dublin. I got 15% due to health insurance. So paid €3,600ish

Greenteandchives · 08/09/2020 14:40

My prescription wasn’t quite as bad as yours OP but I had it done 12 years ago. I have one ‘reading’ eye and one ‘distance’ eye, which work together pretty well.

Best money I ever spent. My vision is crystal clear.
It’s still a miracle to me not to reach for my specs in the morning, and to be able to swim, dive, ski, play sports etc.
And to go on holiday with just a normal pair of sunglasses.

Snakeplisskensmum · 08/09/2020 14:50

I had mine done just over a year ago and paid £4.5k but I went for the best treatment plan.
Mine has regressed slightly but not bad enough for glasses or lenses.
I so wish I'd had it done earlier.

StopMakingATitOfUrselfNPissOff · 08/09/2020 15:17

Optical express were clamouring to get me in after my consultation. My prescription was at least -8 then.

Sought a second opinion at optimax (i think) who strongly advised against having it done.

It gives me a shiver when I think what might've happened if I'd ploughed on with optical express!

Brendabigbaps · 08/09/2020 15:37

6 / 6.25 with astigmatisms in both eyes.
lasik in 2001.
I started wearing glasses again for driving about 3 years ago, optician said it was age depreciation.
I wish it had lasted longer but it was so worth it for the 16 years being glasses free,

Khajit · 08/09/2020 15:40

I was -5.25 so not quite as bad, it worked well for me.

tywysoges · 08/09/2020 15:46

I was -8(ish) in both eyes - I think one was -8.75 and the other -8.25, had lasik in 2006 and enjoyed 6 years of glasses-free life - though one eye never quite got to 0. I’m now -1.75 and -2.50, so at least my glasses are a lot cheaper than they used to be...

WhoKnowsWhatsAroundTheCorner · 08/09/2020 17:10

I was about -10, and got it done 14 years ago. I found the process horrible because I don’t like my eyes being touched - but I’m glad I did it.
My prescription went to -1. They warned me just before hand that it probably wouldn’t fully correct. (Not great service)
I did have the star burst effect afterwards with car headlights - but that wasn’t a problem so long as I wore glasses that fully corrected my prescription- I could ignore the star burst
My sight isn’t as great in dim light - I think that’s a recognised side effect.
Because my vision didn’t fully correct I got away without glasses socially for longer than friends- presbyopia didn’t kick in as early as for some.
I still don’t need glasses if I’m socialising- I need them for driving / TV etc, but I’m 51 - so fair enough. Can get away without them and a mask which is good.
I recommend it so long as you read up on it and how it can go wrong. It’s probably safer again now.
I used to be stuck with the glasses they could get my lenses into - now at least I have a choice and my prescription is fairly stable for my age.

SignOnTheWindow · 08/09/2020 17:54

-7 in one eye, -4.75 in the other. The more shortsighted eye slipped back to -1 a few months afterwards but since then it hasn't changed (10 years and counting).

-1 and a 'perfect' eye means I don't need to wear glasses. I still wear them because they suit me and make watching television/driving more comfortable. However it is so nice being able to go swimming, go out to parties etc. and still be able to see without my specs!

Original poster
Eminybob · 08/09/2020 18:43

Ooh lots of different experiences here.
I’m interested to see what they have to say at the consultation.

It was optical express themselves who told me not to bother about 10 years ago. Then on the phone today said that the amount technology has moved on it should be fine.
It would honestly change my life I think.

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Original poster
Eminybob · 08/09/2020 18:44

Is the consultation very sales pitchy?

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Allywill · 08/09/2020 18:57

My sister was -8 with astigmatism. She still needs to wear glasses for driving but other than that nothing.

StopMakingATitOfUrselfNPissOff · 09/09/2020 12:06

@eminybob it certainly felt like that to me. More that they just wanted my money rather than actually giving a shit if it was the right thing for me

Original poster
Eminybob · 09/09/2020 12:42

[quote StopMakingATitOfUrselfNPissOff]@eminybob it certainly felt like that to me. More that they just wanted my money rather than actually giving a shit if it was the right thing for me[/quote]
That’s what I’m thinking.
What did Optimax say to you?

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StopMakingATitOfUrselfNPissOff · 09/09/2020 14:48

I felt Optimax were more thorough anyway. They said that although my prescription had been stable for 2 years, it had only just been 2 years so it was just on the cusp. They also said in a lot of cases they need to do a 'top up' laser after a couple of months and my corneas were so thin they didn't think they'd be able to do that. So they'd only got one shot to get it right as such. They said all things considered they'd strongly advise against it.
It just felt like they had taken care of me and actually had my best interests at heart.