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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Laser eye surgery

84 replies

haggistramp · 22/08/2020 15:12

using aibu for traffic. Concede im unreasonable on that point alone. My question is for anyone who has had laser eye surgery. Basically what was your prescription strength, how much were you for it and how long ago? Really tempted as heading for 40 and sick to death of contacts. Seen an ad for laser eye surgery from £19 a month which is less than I am for contacts, but wondered what the realistic price is rather than the headline price.

OP posts:
Coulddowithanap · 23/08/2020 09:28

@BritishSleeperAgent

I do myopia research and know a lot of ophthalmologists, although I am not one myself. But here is what I know.
  1. You're going to need reading glasses in your late 40s to early 50s (it's called presbyopia). Laser surgery cannot help this problem. So if you're doing it so you don't have to wear glasses, it's a waste of time. If they tell you the surgery can help with presbyopia (I've seen this) IT IS A LIE. The reasons for myopia and presbyopia are completely different. So consider the cost vs how long you will get the benefit.
  1. Contact wearers - you may not be able to wear contacts after surgery so if the surgery is not 100% effective, you won't escape, you'll need a lower prescription and be stuck with glasses again. And you'll still need reading glasses later.
  1. Not a single ophthalmologist I know has had Lasik.
  1. You may lose your ability to drive at night because of light distortions.
  1. If your myopia is progressive, your Lasik will only have partly mitigated your vision problem.

Nothing to do with Lasik, but I noticed someone mention 30-day wear contacts - these are not recommended. Your risk of eye infections is much higher and they can be blinding. Daily disposables are the only ones my friends recommend. They are expensive but if you can afford them, consider switching.

I'm happy to answer questions anyone has.

I had my eyes done at Optimax in Finchley Road London. They went through all the risks with me including everything above. This was 10 years ago. I know I will need reading glasses at some point but for now my vision is great. I do sometimes get eyes but I did before anyway.

On contrast the first consultation I had was at optical express in Maidstone, when I asked them the risks they just laughed and said nothing would go wrong Shock (luckily I had started my research and knew that was a load of rubbish so didn't go with them)

FizzyPink · 23/08/2020 09:42

I was just talking to a friend about this yesterday, he was about a -2.5 and paid £2600 at AccuVision in Chelsea. He’s beyond pleased with the results

Bluebell878275 · 23/08/2020 09:47

I'm so tempted to do this. I'm 38 and -5.25 in both eyes. Vision hasn't changed for about 5 years so think they should be settled enough to give this a go! I currently pay £42 a month for dailies and I'm guessing the op will be between 3-5k..sounds worth it to me...I think?

FizzyPink · 23/08/2020 09:49

@lookatmememe I’d be really careful with those contact lenses. I used to wear them and ended up in Moorfields nearly losing the sight in one eye because of an infection they caused.
The eye doctors there said they’re really dangerous and shouldn’t really be on sale because you wearing them for a month straight means you also wear them to swim and in the shower which is where the most dangerous bacteria comes from which causes infections. I’d never go back to them after that experience

lookatmememe · 23/08/2020 13:05

Thanks for the warnings. I'm going to look at ordering dailies instead. To be fair, I've had no trouble with them so far, but it's not worth the risk .Thanksthanks again Thanks

mrsmonkey14 · 23/08/2020 13:15

About 12 years ago, in my mid twenties. London Vision Clinic (Professor Reinstein) on Harley st, cost me approx £5k. Prescription was -11.5 and -6.5. I could only wear contacts and was practically blind without them. Glasses were useless due to difference in prescription between my eyes.
I have had perfect vision ever since and it was totally totally worth it. I forget now that I was ever so blind.
Would recommend lots of research and using a surgeon with tons of experience.

mrsmonkey14 · 23/08/2020 13:17

Ps. I did have dry eyes (needing eye drops) and struggled with night driving, but that eased after a year or so. I haven’t used eye drops for years. Even if my eyesight deteriorates in my forties, I will have had 20 years of perfect vision

SerenDippitty · 23/08/2020 13:21

I wouldn’t consider it, my eyes aren’t stable enough - my prescription seems to change every couple of years or so. I’m happy wearing glasses anyway.

Boysnme · 23/08/2020 14:13

My DH had it done about 15 years ago. Worst thing he ever had done. He’s had chronic dry eyes and other problems that specialists have linked to his laser surgery. He’s spent the best part of 9 years in complete agony and had struggled to work since. He puts drops in his eyes constantly and it’s damaged his self confidence. Only now having investigated many options is he managing to get relief from it.

I’m not saying don’t don’t it as lots of people have positive experienced with it and my DH is in the minority but do your research beforehand and be 100% sure of what you are doing and have comfort with your surgeon.

HoldMyLobster · 23/08/2020 14:56

I had mine done 14 years ago, and my prescription was something like -7.5 with an astigmatism. I had 20/20 vision within a day and have done ever since.

I do now need to wear glasses for reading, but I do not need bifocals or varifocals, thank goodness.

I can't remember how much it cost but I had it done at Optimax, I went for their most expensive package, and it was worth every penny.

I'm a graphic/web designer so my vision is very important, and having my eyes fixed has made seeing the screen much easier for me.

HoldMyLobster · 23/08/2020 14:56

Oh and I interviewed several surgeons before I had it done, and went with one who had a lot of experience and would talk through the risks very honestly with me.

HoldMyLobster · 23/08/2020 15:01

I was curious about these statements that ophthalmologists won't risk Lasik so I did a quick google.

theophthalmologist.com/business-profession/do-ophthalmologists-undergo-lasik

devuskums · 23/08/2020 15:10

I have a close family member who has lost vision because of undiagnosed glaucoma despite regular eye tests (negligent high street optician but that's another story). When she was finally referred to the eye hospital her consultant told her to tell all close (blood) family members not to consider laser eye surgery as after this procedure you won't be able to get an accurate reading of the pressures in your eyes. This makes diagnosing glaucoma impossible in the early stages before you get eye damage.

GladAllOver · 23/08/2020 17:16

There's only one place to go. Moorfields.
I went there to get a competitive quote and they told me they couldn't do it as it was too risky for my particular eye condition. The places I checked with first were happy to do it though. I'm sticking with glasses now.

EBearhug · 23/08/2020 17:46

they told me they couldn't do it as it was too risky for my particular eye condition.

Yes, they were always very clear that it might not be possible to continue past the initial consultation and investigation. I could go ahead, but I was mentally prepared for them to say no.

Hobnobswantshernameback · 23/08/2020 17:50

Not one ophthalmologist I work with has had This done or would recommend it

playparkrage · 23/08/2020 17:54

My husband had it done 3 years ago, paid about £3k for it. Don't know his exact prescription but he was pretty blind without glasses or contacts so not a mild prescription like mine.

He says its the best money he's ever spent!

Lochroy · 23/08/2020 17:55

@devuskums

I have a close family member who has lost vision because of undiagnosed glaucoma despite regular eye tests (negligent high street optician but that's another story). When she was finally referred to the eye hospital her consultant told her to tell all close (blood) family members not to consider laser eye surgery as after this procedure you won't be able to get an accurate reading of the pressures in your eyes. This makes diagnosing glaucoma impossible in the early stages before you get eye damage.

I was warned about this before my laser surgery and specifically given paperwork to show in future to enable my surgery to be factored into glaucoma testing.

glasgow357 · 29/11/2020 23:44

Did you get it done?

Swingbin · 30/11/2020 00:20

I’m the same age as you OP and thought about getting it done but decided it’s not worth it because I will probably need reading glasses in a few years. Wish I’d done it in my 20s.

TeresaLambert · 03/09/2021 05:55

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

JMoore · 03/09/2021 06:46

I'm considering intraocular lens insertion or replacement. LASIK or similar wouldn't do much for me as I'm at -16.75 and -15.00. So far I've always chickened out, even though my ophthalmologist actually recommends that I go for the surgery. As my eyes are getting worse, I won't be able to avoid it, I suppose. I was told that it is not recommended to go for perfect 20/20 vision, but if I needed glasses in the -1 to -2 range only, I would be very happy with that. I will probably look into it again next year...

I know a few people, who had LASIK, and none of them had major problems afterwards. Most of them do need reading glasses now, though, as they get older.

3womeninaboat · 03/09/2021 06:50

Ten years ago, -6. It paid for itself after 7 years. Vision still perfect.

Equalpayquery · 03/09/2021 07:30

I paid about £2k 10 years ago with a prescription of around -2.5 to -3 and a mild astigmatism. It’s been brilliant. I had lasik, and mostly for vanity reasons, because glasses on my small nose are a pain. Mid thirties and I sometimes think that short sightedness might be returning, but I also think it might be the pandemic and not using my eyes in wider distances. I’ve felt better about it recently, but it’s been the summer holidays, I’ve been out and about more and back in the office.

Coulddowithanap · 03/09/2021 07:41

@BritishSleeperAgent

I do myopia research and know a lot of ophthalmologists, although I am not one myself. But here is what I know.
  1. You're going to need reading glasses in your late 40s to early 50s (it's called presbyopia). Laser surgery cannot help this problem. So if you're doing it so you don't have to wear glasses, it's a waste of time. If they tell you the surgery can help with presbyopia (I've seen this) IT IS A LIE. The reasons for myopia and presbyopia are completely different. So consider the cost vs how long you will get the benefit.
  1. Contact wearers - you may not be able to wear contacts after surgery so if the surgery is not 100% effective, you won't escape, you'll need a lower prescription and be stuck with glasses again. And you'll still need reading glasses later.
  1. Not a single ophthalmologist I know has had Lasik.
  1. You may lose your ability to drive at night because of light distortions.
  1. If your myopia is progressive, your Lasik will only have partly mitigated your vision problem.

Nothing to do with Lasik, but I noticed someone mention 30-day wear contacts - these are not recommended. Your risk of eye infections is much higher and they can be blinding. Daily disposables are the only ones my friends recommend. They are expensive but if you can afford them, consider switching.

I'm happy to answer questions anyone has.

I got my eyes lasered at optimax in finchley Road, London. They went through all the risks you mentioned clearly so feel I made an informed decision.

Totally different to my consultation at optical express who laughed at me when I asked them the risks, they said nothing would go wrong!