Eye Laser Surgery

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Thinking about having eye laser surgery after 30 years of wearing contact lenses. I’m now 52yrs. My prescription is -3.50 and -2.25 in multi focal contact lenses. I cannot get a perfect prescription now as I have to give up some sight to see close work or, see perfectly well when reading but cannot see perfectly well long distance, so I’ve got a half way house for both, but I’v noticed it’s not great at all for night-time driving and disappointing not being able to see detail in the distance ie people’s faces.
Has anyone had surgery recently? What procedure did you have and associated cost? Any complications after? What was your experience and where did you have the treatment please? Thanks in advance

I was very short sighted all my life. I used contact lenses and glasses and had various problems including vitreous detachment which required laser surgery to seal a retinol tear.
Now in my early 70s I've just had cataract surgery on both my eyes. It cost me around £ 6, 500 . I was on the waiting list for NHS cataract treatment but after nearly a year I hadn't even got as far as initial examination to see if they would count my cataracts "ripe" enough for surgery.
I haven't had the all clear from my surgery yet although everything appears ok as far as i can tell.
I will say that as a total wimp my surgery was extremely unproblamatic although the restrictions post surgery were a pain in the neck
If I was in your situation I probably wouldn't have had surgery but my friends husband had surgery to correct extreme short sightedness in his early 60s and was delighted with the outcome.

Given your age, have you considered lens replacement surgery?

As I understand it, laser surgery now might complicate any future cataract surgery you might need in 10+ years.

@farewelltothatidyrs I would consider this

If I were in your shoes I think I would opt for the lens replacement. My neighbour had to have her cataracts done in her 60's and her previous laser procedure made it more difficult.

The problem is that multifocal lens implants work in the same way as multifocal contact lenses - so that won't improve your vision compared to contact lenses.

You can have a laser procedure called blended vision which is a sort of a varifocal correction on the cornea. About 90% of people are happy with the vision afterwards, but it's unusual to see both the bottom line for distance and near without glasses and it does make things more difficult when you have cataracts.

The people I know who have had lens replacement get monofocal lenses, so they still need glasses but only for either near or distance. Multifocal are generally not recommended.

I had mine done due to a cataract. The worst bit was the anaesthetic drops but in the middle it was like multicoloured snowflakes

I had laser at 50 to avoid full time glasses, I was using reading glasses for years but sight got worse and I needed them for distance as well so was led to believe that laser would restore my distance vision more or less permanently. But at 57 I needed full time glasses for reading and distance. I went for lens exchange recently and it's great, I'm glasses free now.

Laser eye surgery changed my life. I was -8.5 on both sides, which apparently was borderline disabled! Now 20:20 vision. I'll never forget sitting up after the procedure and being able to see the time on the wall clock.

That’s wonderful.

Would you to be happy to share how much it cost?

I am a -6 in both eyes and now need close reading glasses too ☹️

Amazing 😊

It was £8,000 for both eyes. I got extended depth of focus lenses so my left eye a little better for close up and the right eye a little better for distance. It works really well for me. I couldn't get the multi focal lenses as I'd had the laser before.

Lots of places do a first consultation for free, you could look into it (pun intended!)

Thanks MurkyMo

It sounds life changing

It's great! However I do have thin crescents of shadow at the outer edge of each eye, it's the edge of the new lenses I'm seeing. But only in certain light conditions and it's supposed to fade with time. Or rather the brain starts to filter it out so I don't see it any more. A bit like how most people can see their nose but the brain filters it out so unless you look at it intentionally you don't see it.

But I'm very glad I got it done.

My DS had laser eye surgery in December - he was about -6 in each eye. It was horrific! The raw surface of his eye melded to his eye lid and couldn't open his eyes... after returning for a 'healing' lens in each eye, things started to get better but he needed wetting drops and antibiotics for a few weeks, had blurred vision and had to wear dark glasses. He doesn't need glasses now although his vision isn't 20/20.
I was very tempted before this experience aa I have -8.5 in each eye but I use multifocal contacts and they'll great. If you live in London I would pay the consultation fee at Moorfields Eye Hospital and get an expert opinion from them, especially due to age, any astigmatisim etc.

@AmicaNemicaso sorry to read about DS’ experience. Think I will give it all a miss and keep to lenses