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Original poster

Laser eye surgery experiences?

20 replies

TessApricot · 07/05/2021 06:46

I hate wearing my glasses and would love to not have to bother with lenses. I’m 40 - is it too late to have laser eye surgery? Is it worth it or will my eyes change anyway?
If you’ve had it I would love to hear about, and also a rough cost before I make a decision.
Thank you.

OP posts:
user648482729 · 07/05/2021 06:51

I had it last year and it cost a little over 4K with Optimax; I’m early 30s and been wearing glasses full time for a few years and I hated wearing them with an absolute passion and having laser eye surgery was when one of the best decisions I’ve made. I love not wearing glasses and not feeling vulnerable without them. I never got on with lenses.
They said that although my distance vision shouldn’t ever deteriorate again it doesn’t stop the aging process and I may need reading glasses like anyone else when I get older but I don’t mind that if it’s just for close things.
It is a lot of money but when I worked out the cost of glasses/lenses over the years it wasn’t that different

Sarahlou63 · 07/05/2021 06:54

I had both eyes lasered at the age of 40 (18 years ago!) having been short-sighted for 30 years. Best thing I ever did. I now have to wear reading glasses but my distance vision is still perfect. Mine was done in Dublin so no idea of UK prices.

Youvegotafriendinme · 07/05/2021 07:11

I had mine done in 2009 so I was about 22 at the time. Cost around 4K and was done by optical express. It was the best thing I have done and and even now my vision is still perfect. You have to have some test and checks before to tell you if you can even have it done as my DM also wanted hers done but she wasn’t able to.
I was told my eye sight would start to naturally deteriorate around 35 and I could end up still needing them but if that happens I’ve had 12 years out of it which has been so worth it.

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BagORats · 07/05/2021 07:29

I had mine done 10 years ago in my twenties and now back in glasses full time. Wasn't worth it.

BellsaRinging · 07/05/2021 07:34

I had mine done at 42. Five years later I am still really happy I had it done. I always knew I would have to have glasses for reading due to age deterioration. I think I will need them in a couple if years. However after wearing glasses for 30 years it was honestly life changing (and still is). Best £3k I ever spent!

lovetobeatpeace · 07/05/2021 08:39

Had mine done at 40, 54 now. Need reading glasses (age related & to ge expected) & tiny distance prescription for driving at night, but very happy with the result & wouldn't hesitate to recommend!

Gellyf · 07/05/2021 08:54

I think that it isn't too late. My friend did this operation recently and now he happy about it. But previously it is better to consult with your doctor

superstar63 · 07/05/2021 09:23

I had mine done at about 45 and the distance is still good 25 years later but needed reading glasses after about 5 years which I was ok with but did not realise that I even needed reading glasses in supermarket reading labels etc. which was a bit annoying and now wear daily contacts that do near and distance which has been great for me although the cost is about £40 a month.

GreenOranges · 07/05/2021 09:28

I also don't think it's too late. It's honestly one of the best things I've ever done. It's around 15 years since I had mine done and my vision is still great. I don't describe many things as life changing, but for me this was.

MrsPerfect12 · 07/05/2021 14:23

I got mine done in 2008 from optical express, my DH two years prior and we've been delighted with the results. No sign of needing reading glasses yet but hopefully we have a while before that....was told as part of old age and we're only just 40. Even if you got 10 years out of it that would be fab!

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 07/05/2021 15:29

I had it done at 37, and my mum had it done in her 50s. Worth every penny.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 07/05/2021 15:31

Oh, I need reading glasses now, and I can't actually imagine how confusing it would be if I was trying to manage a reading prescription and a -8 short sight prescription. I hate varifocals so I guess I'd have to constantly switch between two pairs of glasses if I hadn't had the laser surgery.

MrsTrumpDuTurnip · 07/05/2021 15:33

I had mine done about 20 years ago. Best thing ever
I still don't need glasses

Original poster
TessApricot · 07/05/2021 18:08

Wow - pretty overwhelmingly positive! Off to do my research. Like many of you I really think it would be life changing for me.

OP posts:
thevassal · 07/05/2021 18:55

had mine done last year. Was £3000 at ultralase. I think I might have a £50 off voucher somewhere if that's any good to you, but tbh I found they were up for a bit of bargaining anyway - I got about £500 off just by asking. I also had an appointment with optimax but preferred ultralase because a) they just gave you the price straight up whereas optimax cost more depending on how bad your eyes were and tried to get you to sign up immediatley by offering various deals if you booked in now, and b) ultralase said you had to have a face to face consultation with the surgeon and optimax said it could be over the phone, and I felt more comfortable having met him - although that's probably different now post covid!

As others have said, it is life changing, however my vision still isn't 100% - think it's about 0.8 but my eyes were pretty bad before. It's still driving standard. I personally don't know if I would bother if my eyes weren't that bad - for me I didn't mind driving with glasses or wearing contacts or glasses, it was more because I love swimming and hated not being able to see anything or anyone. So it has made a HUGE difference to how I was before. However saying that most of the other people in the surgery feedback book all had what I thought of as very minor eyesight issues, i.e between 1-2 and they all seemed to notice the benefit!

I was lucky and didn't really have any side effects. Could see fine by the next day so if you have it done on a fri or sat you could easily get away with not even having a day off work depending on what surgery you are suitable for.

Dogatetheleftovers · 07/05/2021 19:45

I had LASIK in 2012 and it lasted less than 5 years before my sight deteriorated. Now I’m back to wearing glasses all the time. The company I used went bust so I can’t even claim on their lifetime guarantee!

SwimBaby · 07/05/2021 19:53

I had laser in my latish 30’s, my eyes had enough of contact lenses and I didn’t want to wear my glasses all the time. I was short sighted. One eye was kept at minus 0.5 so I didn’t need reading glasses for quite a while (very late 40’s). It’s definitely not too late and it really is life changing.

SwimBaby · 07/05/2021 19:56

I just remembered when I was about 47 I did go a tiny bit short sighted again (still in the driving limit) but then this disappeared and I started to need reading glasses.

Fruityfriday · 07/05/2021 19:57

I went from -9 to not waring glasses 16 yes ago

Gothichouse40 · 07/05/2021 20:01

Do your research carefully. I may be wrong but I don't think Eye Laser Treatment is regulated in this country. I would see my GP first and ask advice on where to go that is genuine. Im sure there was a Facebook group somewhere that discussed experiences of Laser Eye surgery.

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