Anyone with -7ish vision had laser eye surgery?

[Eminybob]

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.

I’m -10 and a consultant advised I shouldn’t have it done as the angle they’d have to take off would leave my corneas so thin if I had a knock to the head or eye my sight would be at risk. He did say if I kept looking I’d probably find someone willing to take my money for it but he would strongly recommend against this.

Mine were both more than -7. The first time I got a consultation I was advised against laser eye surgery because my corneas were not thick enough. That was 2001 or 2002.

I switched to Optimax in 2006 and asked them the same questions. Surgeon checked my cornea thickness carefully and was confident they could do two goes if necessary. I felt much more confident with Optimax.

As it was my eyes corrected to 20/20 in one go.

I'm now 51 and I wear glasses for reading/computer, and have just started needing glasses again for long distance, but it's a fairly small prescription. I can still drive without glasses.

My optometrist measured the thickness of my cornea recently and said it's within the normal range.

I was -11 in one eye and -11.5 in the other. Doc said I was right on the edge of it being worth doing as my vision was so bad. Had lasik done 7 years ago. Life changing. Still have near perfect sight....well, I don’t yet need glasses or contacts to do anything!!

I’d love to get mine done but my eyes are around the -12/-13 mark (I’ve lost track) so I don’t think anyone would touch them. Two of my children are heading the same way (7yo already has -4.5) so I’d rather they got it done over me when they’re old enough. I can’t afford mine anyway, so I might start saving for my DC to get it done at some point.

I had mine done last month. Prescription was -7.5. Cost about £3000 with ultralase but paying it back at 0% over two years. I did go to optical express too but as others have said they were much more sales pitchy. Also - this is petty - but during the consultation they gave me this whole lecture about plastic glasses and contact lenses being really bad for the environment and then gave me two copies of the same (quite thick) glossy paper booklet and two printouts about the procedure - one for each eye! They were completely identical! Also ultralase needed you to meet the surgeon before the procedure whereas optical express only needed a phone call (this might have changed due to covid) but felt a bit more sure having met the surgeon in person.

My prescription is not quite perfect but good enough to drive and do everything else without glasses so I'm not going to bother having the last 0.25 or whatever corrected although they did say I could if I wanted. I'm so, so glad I did it. Even if I do need glasses again in my late forties/early fifties which they warned would be likely they won't be anywhere near as bad as they were - as you know -7plus prescriptions mean I couldn't go for a walk down my street without glasses. Best thing is being able to go swimming and be able to see lane markings/recognise my own family

Haven't really tried driving in the dark yet so will see how that goes now it's getting darker.

Thanks for all the replies.
I think that it seems like a good idea to book a consultation with Optimax and many be Ultralase as well before making a decision. Although I chose optical express as it’s more convenient location wise.

I’m quite excited. I haven’t been able to wear my contacts for the last 2 days due to irritated eyes and wearing glasses for 2 days straight has made me feel sick and so so tired (does anyone else get this? - I’ve worn lenses for the last 25 years and glasses rarely in that time so don’t know if it’s just because I’m not used to them?)
I would love to wake up in the morning wondering if I’m going to have a shit day because of either irritated eyes or having to wear glasses. Freedom!

I know others have said that Optical Express were pushy but I didn't find them so at all, it must depend which branch/optician you go to.
I had the option to meet the surgeon but I wanted a phone call as I'd chosen a surgeon that had performed over 15k operations and felt pretty confident from his CV. If I hadn't felt comfortable after the call I would've insisted on a meeting.

You honestly won't regret getting it done.
It was completely painless and I was a little uncomfortable for about an hour afterwards but after that? I could see!!

It was completely painless and I was a little uncomfortable for about an hour afterwards but after that? I could see!!

I was uncomfortable from immediately after the surgery at about 5pm until at least 2am, with my eyes watering heavily even in pitch darkness. But at 6am I could see perfectly. So amazing.

My mum had hers done, then sat in a friend's living room drinking coffee and gradually watching the world come into focus.

How long can you not drive for afterwards?

I had a similar (slightly worse) prescription and would recommend Implantable Contact Lenses as an alternative.