Lasek Vs implantable contact lense

[Lauren83]

I had 2 quotes from Optimax and optical express (really short sighted and high level of astigmatism) one said Lasek but as the quote was 6k I got a second opinion and the other said I wasn't suitable for Lasek and said ICL only, I'm not liking the sound of the procedure for the ICL and the gap between eyes so keen to hear any personal experiences? Also if anyone has been given different recommendations too

How short sighted are you?

-9.50 / -10.50 with an astigmatism of -2.75 / -4.00

Optical express were fine they just said Lasek due to not much tissue but then I went to Optimax today as they advertise they don't change more for high prescriptions but they said I wasn't suitable at all

I have a similar prescription and told no for lasek but suitable for icl. From what I know ICL is very similar to cateract surgery. I'm still trying to decide whether to go ahead with it, it makes me feel a bit squeamish

I had lens replacement surgery last October (have been short sighted and astigmatism for 40 years). Went completely gung ho and had both eyes done on the same day with Optical Express. Cost £7.5k but had the most expensive option (multifocal lens) as I was starting to need reading glasses as well so wanted everything corrected. Really happy with it so far... Took a couple of months to completely settle down but was driving within 24 hours and back working on my laptop after about 36 hours.

I’m minus 6 and they said I was boarderline for Lasek?! Makes me nervous the advice isn’t universal. I’d need a general for anything eye related - I’m so squeamish!!

Carikube That’s amazing!

Thanks for the input it's appreciated and good to know the recovery can be quick, I was all up for having the Lasek at optical express but they quoted 6k so I thought I would take a couple of weeks to consider it then Optimax quoted £3,995 for Lasek over the phone knowing my prescription so I went in today to be told ICL only (that would be 5k) I did enquire about both on the same day but they said it tends to be a week apart and that I can just wear one contact lense, I think I would prefer to do them both together.

I just started a new job this week plus have a 1 and 2 year old so I'm unsure if the timings right at the mo plus it's thrown me the 2 different opinions.

I was -6.5 and was told I was borderline for LASEK; I would also have still needed reading glasses and I figured if I was getting it done after all these years of glasses and contacts then I didn't want to still need anything afterwards. Not that I'm a nerd or anything but I worked out they would pay for themselves within 20 years so as long as I live that long it was worth it 😂😂

Carikube Good point re cost. I’ve been in daily disposables for 25 years and I’m only 40. I don’t even want to add that up!
How was the actual procedure? Can you be sedated?

@Lauren83 they did say that there are only some surgeons that are willing to do both eyes on the same day so I had to book in with one of those but I didn't want to have to go round with a patch over one eye / just wear one lens etc

@Marypoppins19 I don't know about sedation; I had anaesthetic in each eye but that was it. It was a bit of a production line (in to one room to have one natural lens removed, in to the next to have the replacement lens inserted, then back to the first room to have the second lens removed etc). The most painful bit was them removing the paper mask they'd put on my face as it was like removing a plaster - felt like they'd taken half an eyebrow off...

Go to an ophthalmic surgeon in the very best specialist clinic you can find, would be my advice.

@villainousbroodmare

Go to an ophthalmic surgeon in the very best specialist clinic you can find, would be my advice.

This.

You would probably be a candidate for a type of laser surgery called Relex SMILE, where a laser is used to form a disc of tissue within the cornea, which is then removed by the surgeon through a small hole. I had this done on a very high prescription (higher than yours, and with astigmatism) and am not perfectly corrected but can see without glasses for the first time in my life. I had mine done at the Sheffield Vision Centre.

Is Morfields the cream of the crop?

You can't have LASEK with such a high RX and you can't have an ICL with such a large cyl. Were they thinking of doing a LASIK enhancement after ICL implantation?

@ByTheNine - that's not quite how it works, the tissue is actually removed (albalted) within the actual cornea, there's no hole. Most laser surgery in the UK these days is done this way.

OP - how old are you?

underneaththeash *
*
That's interesting to know thanks, they did say to me yesterday at Optimax that the benefits of ICL are it can be tweaked with LASIK if it needs further improvement but they didn't say it was likely too. With the impact on work and childcare I would rather not have multiple procedures. They also said yesterday they were surprised that Optical Express said they could do Lasek for a few different reasons as there was a medication they used to prevent scar tissue or something that's out of stock everywhere and all Lasek procedures in Europe have been postponed this year until the supply issue is resolved

Also I'm 37

ByTheNine I hadn't heard of this before thanks, just reading up on it now, looks like Optegra may offer it.

@underneaththeash, there may be different procedures as mine was definitely a) formation of a lenticule then b) removal of the lenticule through a tiny perforation in the cornea. Because there's no flap in the cornea (like you might get in other forms of surgery) it heals more quickly and can be less associated with dry eyes etc too. Mine cost £4200 and both eyes were done at the same time.

@ByTheNine - that bit isn't hole shaped either! Holes by definition are round and the lenticule removal "port" is an arc shape - like a smile (that's why it's called smile).

There are pros and cons with both smile and flap, but the OP isn't suitable for smile anyway as her cyl is too high.

OP - the reason I was asking your age is that people who are very myopic tend to develop cataracts sooner than people who aren't. When you have the cataracts removed, you have a lens implanted that corrects your myopia and then sometimes laser over the top (or glasses) to correct the astigmatic part of your vision. Has anyone mentioned the start of cataracts yet?
Yes, there are supply issues with mitomycin too.

Are you having issues with your contact lenses at the moment? personally if it was me, at your age, with your prescription, I wouldn't have either procedure done.

But, I would have surgery if I was a lower prescription. I do some laser work occasionally still, but I have found that some of the clinics are less good at putting patient's interests first!

@underneaththeash I really do appreciate your input thankyou, I was considering booking a consult to discuss smile so it's good to know I wouldn't be suitable as the 2 hour appointments with the sometimes 'hard sell' are a pain.

To be honest it's mainly due to how self conscious I am wearing my glasses, I wear my contacts during the day but get quite dry eyes so sometimes like the option of wearing glasses but I hate them, I have high index lenses but they are still so thick. On holiday too I would love to not have to wear my contacts during the day as with the heat and sun they always irritate me, and any splash of water means I have to take my lenses out as they get really uncomfortable. I guess I'm just going to get some nice prescription sunglasses and leave it for now, I didn't know that about cataracts either that's good to know thanks

Anything as complex as this id be going to moorfields, manchester eye hospital or similar.

Please get an appointment with a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at a renowned eye hospital. Don’t mess with your eyes. A conveyor belt of people having lens removed in one room and implant put in in another and in both eyes sounds a recipe for disaster.
I had implants a couple of years ago due to cataracts and my eyes are -12 and -13. Very successful.
I honestly don’t think a decent surgeon would do both eyes at same time. I only waited a couple of weeks