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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My eyes are too shit to have laser eye surgery?? Aibu to think its bollox? Anyone else had this?

72 replies

CallingPeopleACuntOnFb · 02/10/2017 17:33

I am pretty badly short sighted (-6 in both eyes) and have decided to have laser eye surgery as I am sick of glasses and contacts

I went for a consultation at Optimax and had all the eye tests etc. The sales consultant I saw after said my eyes were too bad for LASIK/LASEK - which costs about 2 - 3k. However - all isn't lost! - I am a good candidate for a corneal implant (I think its called) where they basically insert a contact lense inside your eye Shock ...however this is FIVE GRAND. Five fucking grand

I about died. I mean I want it done, and I will pay it if absolutely necessary, if its the only option.. has anyone with similar (or even worse) eyes that had it done.... I just cant believe I am "too short sighted" to have my eyes fixed :( gutted

To add insult to injury, I had a £500 off voucher ....surprise surprise, its only valid for the laser surgery not the 5k treatment Hmm

OP posts:
teaandcakeat8 · 02/10/2017 19:05

I'm a -10 in both eyes and I could have it however I haven't had a stable prescription for years which is more of a problem. I know people with worse vision who have been successfully treated though it was way more expensive.

PlayOnWurtz · 02/10/2017 19:10

My mum was one of the first to have it done at moorfields I think she was -10 at the time

Captainj1 · 02/10/2017 19:14

I had mine done at optical express in 2014, was -6 and -6.25, still got 20/20 vision now with no need for glasses. I’m in my early 40s.

ILiveUnderYourBed · 02/10/2017 19:14

Also -6 here op and got told the same thing by the same company. I went to a different company and they said they could do it but I might end up with night blindness which sounded pretty shit so I just got new glasses.

Captainj1 · 02/10/2017 19:15

That should say 2004 not 2014...

TheLuminaries · 02/10/2017 19:17

I chose lens replacement surgery over Laser - I think it cost me £4.5k. At my age, it was the better option for long term sigh correction. Simple operation and great vision now. They didn't implant a contact lens, they replaced my lens - it is basically cataract surgery done privately.

Didiplanthis · 02/10/2017 19:18

Hmm. I thought about it but decided against it when I realized all the eye surgeons in our local but specialist eye department ( most of whom offer laser treatment) still wear glasses....

MarmaladeIsMyJam · 02/10/2017 19:20

I'm a D.O and know lots of people who have been refused surgery because of complicated prescriptions, it's not uncommon.
What's your actual RX?

MojoMoon · 02/10/2017 19:22

Moorfields. Take a day trip to London for consultation. If they say it can't be done, it can't be done.

My uncle did have to have lens replacement on their advice as they said laser would not work. So sometimes even they can't do laser

MarmaladeIsMyJam · 02/10/2017 19:22

Plus you need a stable RX or they won't consider it.

BillywigSting · 02/10/2017 19:27

I'm only -3.8 but my astigmatism is too high for it to work on me so I think it's definitely about more than just the number because mine isn't too bad.

Fffion · 02/10/2017 19:31

I had mine done 15 years ago. I was -1.75/-2.75 so afairly easy case.

The place I went to at the time didn't accept anyone worse that -6. They didn't have to as their books were fill with low risk customers.

There are more side-effects with bigger corrections, such as halo-ing. But some people are happy to accept this risk.

underneaththeash · 02/10/2017 19:38

I was involved with laser surgery for years (I'm an Optometrist) -6 is usually fine for LASIK, however it may be that either you corneas are too thin or you have a slight irregularly in your corneal topography, or you have too large pupils in combination with the above.

Another company may well (safely) treat you. I really wouldn't go down the intacts route. (I never felt comfortable recommending a treatment that I wouldn't have done myself and the risks are much higher than with laser surgery with this one).

Lucy- that's very odd, I don't consider -5,25 high at all.
Billy - do you mean -3.5? or -3.75? -3.8 doesn't exist as a spectacle prescription. Generally most clinics can treat up to 3.5DC, although if there is any irregular astigmatism they can't treat that.

I would call them and ask exactly why you weren't suitable for Lasik before booking an expensive consultation elsewhere.

butterfly990 · 02/10/2017 19:40

I have recently heard about this treatment. I don't know anyone who has done this. Might be worth investigating.

bcla.org.uk/Public/Consumer/What_is_orthokeratology_.aspx

BillywigSting · 02/10/2017 20:03

under 3.75, optician just said it was about 3.8 to me (no idea why because I've just checked my card it certainly doesn't say point 8!
but yes, they basically said odd shaped eyeballs so it wouldn't work on me

LittleCandle · 02/10/2017 20:07

I was -8.75 in one eye and almost as bad in the other. I almost couldn't have the surgery done at the last minute because of the lack of space in one eye - and I know that sounds mad, but the laser changes the shape of your eye and if there isn't enough space, then it can't be done. I would have asked a lot more questions about why you couldn't have it done. It is certainly not because of just your prescription. There could be other reasons.

FenceSitter01 · 02/10/2017 20:20

I'm chronically myopic too. I toyed with laser surgery and my optician told me you only have it done in two places. Moorfields or on the Russian Eye Hospital Ship (I think its called the Floating Eye Clinic).

Heatherbell1978 · 02/10/2017 20:21

I'm -11 in both eyes....😳 I'm too short sighted for it apparently but one of the reasons why is due to night blindness as laser surgery can make this worse and short sighted people are prone to it. I have bad night blindness already.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 02/10/2017 20:27

I had a similar outlook, -10 and astigmatism.

The day I said fuck it all and went back to glasses was such a relief.

PlayOnWurtz · 02/10/2017 20:32

Can an astigmatism be corrected with laser? My myopia is only -0.75 but my vision is shot due to a severe astigmatism.

ScissorBow · 02/10/2017 20:32

I've had laser eye surgery once and two children. Yep I am actually comparing the pain to child birth and I would never ever EVER have laser eye surgery again. The most pain I'd ever been in till giving birth.

I wouldn't have it if you paid me £5k

Just my opinion Smile

Goldfishshoals · 02/10/2017 20:33

At that price Is be looking into whether it would be cheaper to travel abroad to get it done (it often is).

ScipioAfricanus · 02/10/2017 20:35

My dad was at least -9 (I'm -7-8) and he had it done as a preventative measure as his eyes were getting extremely damaged form looking at computer screens. So it must be more complicated than just degree of short sight. He now just has reading and driving glasses and is about 5 years post op with no problems.

ScissorBow · 02/10/2017 20:36

Oh yes and I now suffer from sunlight sensitivity and struggle to see in the dark.

SignoraStronza · 02/10/2017 20:39

Please just don't go abroad for a cheaper op, then when it all goes tits up, go to your local GP surgery and demand to be seen urgently to have it corrected on the NHS.Hmm There's a reason why it's a pretty expensive procedure in the UK!

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