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Original poster

Has anyone had laser eye surgery?

37 replies

MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 19/01/2015 18:08

If so please could you tell me, what was it like, and was it worth it?

Having worked out that my lenses cost me £500 a year I have booked a consultation to see if I am suitable.. I have -6.25 / -6.00 eyes and can't see anything without specs/lenses. I also have wonky ears so hate wearing specs!

My optician is full of dire warnings about the risks but then she does have a vested interest in my £500 a year !!

OP posts:
violetbunny · 19/01/2015 18:12

Had mine done about 1.5 years ago. It has been brilliant but the main side effect has been very dry eyes. Even now I'm using eye drops every few hours to maintain comfort. I love not wearing glasses but I wish I'd been more aware of the possible downsides.

VikingLady · 19/01/2015 18:21

I used to sell it for Boots, including doing the customer service for it. I was so evangelical about it that I was waiting to have it done myself when they sold it off! We had virtually no complaints in the year I was there, and a grand total of zero complaints where I personally thought the clinic was at fault.

It's my first priority after I'm done breeding and breast feeding (alters your vision slightly).

My DB has had it done and loves it.

LexLoofah · 19/01/2015 18:34

Yep in Canada almost 10 years ago, best thing I ever did. Felt extremely sorry for myself the first few days and bored of course as not much to do when you need to rest your eyes. V sensitive to light for the first few weeks. Eye tests every year since, perfect vision. Brilliant.

Agree, your optician is hardly objective. Yes there are risks but think how much more advance they are now than when I had mine done.

Picked Canada as at the time the best countries to go with the latest technology/machines were Canada, NZ and Ireland and we fancied a holiday in Canada so went for consultation first day, had our holiday then op 2 days before we left, check up with my optician when I got back.

Any other Qs please feel free to ask or PM me

EBearhug · 19/01/2015 18:36

I had mine done about 15 years ago in my mid-20s. Being able to see the end of the pool when swimming and walking in rain was great! I've done things like whitewater rafting and skydiving, which I probably wouldn't have if I was still reliant on glasses (never got on with contacts.)

I suspect I will need reading glasses at my next test (due in the next few months), but they always said that would be the case, as it's an age thing. (Am now in my 40s.)

When I had it done, I read up on the current options and risks of side effects before having it done. It was mildly uncomfortable, but no worse than that. (I am a bit squeamish about eyes, and struggle with some normal optician tests, so I had a mental block there and it was still okay.) I could see things by the end of the same day.

Original poster
MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 19/01/2015 18:49

Ah thanks for your replies!

I will still need readers I suspect (started having to use them this year..I'm 47) but I'm fine with that. I just want to open my eyes and actually see my alarm clock!

And swim in the sea without the fear of losing a contact lens!
I figure if I am having to pay £500 a year now, then the op will pay for itself in around 6 years, so worth the outlay!

OP posts:
Mini05 · 19/01/2015 18:56

Had mine done in Boots Mcr (when they first started it back in 2000) was best thing I did!! Didn't feel a thing came out with patch on eyes told to leave them on till next day. Could see straight away with no problems.
It cost me £2400 back then with an excellent DR who had a very good reputation but can't remember his name now!
It was great ! no glasses getting wet in rain, swimming and being able to see as said previously. Even my doctor went to see the same guy! But when she came out her eyes kept watering! (We're all different thou)

Now some years later they are not as good(so don't last forever) and now aged 50+ need glasses for reading!!
But would have it done again( if poss)

LizzieMint · 19/01/2015 19:05

I had mine done coming up to 11 years ago, my prescription was around -5.25, -4.75 plus astigmatism which was also corrected.
I had very dry eyes for a long while afterwards (already had tendency to dryness before) and had to use a sort of lubricant gel in my eyes for about 2 years. But that was the only side effect.
It's bloody brilliant, I love it and am so happy I had them done. I'm early 40s now and still better than 20/20.

sergeantmajor · 19/01/2015 19:16

You can under-correct one eye, so that you have one eye for reading, one eye for distance, but together they are 20:20. It's called monovision. I had it done. It's been amazing.

There are two types of operation, one involves cutting a flap to reach the bit where the lasers go, the other involves dissolving the top of the eye with alcohol to get to the bit where the lasers go. One is called Lasik, one is Lasek, can't remember which is which.

I've had both types! The flap version is totally pain free (completely!), but there is a long regime of drops afterwards. The dissolving-the-top type is agonisingly unbearably painful, but only for day, and after that the after care is a doddle.

The operation these days is much more successful than it was ten years ago. I do have dry eyes when I wake up in the morning, but that's the extent of it. I can see brilliantly. It is, in short, a bloomin' miracle.

KatieKaye · 19/01/2015 19:22

I had mine done 2 years ago at 49 and it is the best thing ever.
No pain at all, no side effects either.
I need reading specs, but at only +1 I just get the "off the peg" ones. I had varifocal glasses prior to that.
What I really noticed was how bright colours were after the op.
24 hours after the op I had 20:20 vision.
Definitely worth every single penny.

whattheseithakasmean · 19/01/2015 20:10

I haven't had laser, but I had Refractive Lens Exchange last year & it has been amazing. Perfect vision, distance & close up, no dryness or discomfort.

I have been sheet sighted all my life, so this is amazing. Contact lenses gave me dry eyes, but no probs after RLE.

It is basically cateract surgery, so I will never need that - my eyes should see me out. We'll worth the cost - it is about double the price of Laser.

3mum · 19/01/2015 21:12

I had mine done about 10 years ago when I was 42. Definitely the best thing I ever did. I was banned from wearing contacts because I had worn them so much due to working stupidly long hours and I absolutely hated wearing glasses. Varifocals did not work for me at all.

Laser surgery was fine. No pain before or after. Blurry vision the same day then woke up the next day to fabulous clear vision. My first thought was "why did I not do this before?"

For about a year afterwards I had haloing around oncoming car headlights at night and had to wear shades in the sunshine as my eyes tended to water. Both of those things wore off and TBH were never that bad.

I also had mine done with one long sighted and one short sighted eye so I can both read close up and drive. I did sacrifice my ability to read very small print on packaging, but if its important (very rare) I take a photo of it with my phone and expand the image. Have never cared enough to get glasses for those small print moments.

I'd recommend it to anyone.

EBearhug · 19/01/2015 21:36

And swim in the sea without the fear of losing a contact lens!

Oh, this! The first time I went in Bournemouth, and I could see from the Isle of Wight to Old Harry Rocks, and my bag on the beach! That was a great moment.

I had Lasik, which is the one where they cut a flap. The drops went on for a week, I think - initially there were three, but only one by the end of the week.

Not all treatments suitable for all prescriptions/conditions, so you do need an initial consultation. Opticians used to get quite excited when they'd heard I'd had it done, but they don't these days, as it's much more common.

McMW · 19/01/2015 21:38

Yes, I had mine done via vison express in Harley St. Totally life changing, my advicewould be go for best you can afford, I also took advantage of 0% interest.

SASASI · 20/01/2015 06:07

Yep almost 2 years ago.
One of the best thing I have ever done. Couldn't rare Optimax highly enough - LASIK here too.

No more dry itchy contact eyes or steamed up glasses.

Definately worth it & very life changing.

I took a wk off after as I had a desk job & wanted to rest my eyes - pre DS!

The first couple of days after was the worst but totally bearable.

brittanyfairies · 20/01/2015 06:19

My mum had laser eye surgery. She's probably a bit older than most people here. About three years she had a cataract operated on, the operation was a complete disaster and she lost the sight in her eye. Her doctor thinks it's probably related to the laser eye surgery. Her cataract is failing in her other eye, she can barely see and the doctors don't want to operate. Her opinion is she's going to go blind regardless so they may as well try and save her sight. She would never recommend it these days.

jatinsingh0000 · 11/04/2017 11:40

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sems · 12/04/2017 04:42

Had mine done 6 weeks ago and I regret it :(

I was +3 and +5

I can see without my glasses for sure. However nothing is sharp. Everything out of focus. I work with my eyes and I'm so frightened it's not going to get better.

IHeartKingThistle · 12/04/2017 04:52

DH had his done in 2004 for quite severe astigmatism. He got 10 years of great sight and has just started to wear weak ish glasses for reading again. He's still very happy he did it.

rizlett · 12/04/2017 05:34

Mono is definitely the way to go op. That way you won't need glasses for close vision.

I had both eyes lasered (wasn't aware of mono at the time) in 2001 - and all 3 of my adult children have had it done - none of us have had problems health or pain wise with it although my daughter had hers done when she was too young (21) and her eyesight has changed and now she needs glasses. (they did warn her about this though.)

I didn't need glasses for reading for about 10 years. Over the past 2 years I have realised that one of my eyes is not so good for long distance although I still pass the vision test for driving without glasses. People may need a second treatment at some point in the future.

farfarawayfromhome · 12/04/2017 07:07

Dh had his done ten years ago and is evangelical about it. I also have at least 5 friends who say the same.

do your research, and go with a doctor who has a lot of positive testimonials and recommendations. cheaper is most definitely not always the best..

googietheegg · 12/04/2017 17:01

I was in the chair to get it done and the doc wouldn't go through with it.

I'm -11 and he said he didn't think I should have it done.

I was gutted as I was all geared up for it, had worn my glasses for a week...took me ages to get my money back too (optical express on regent street).

That was ten years ago though so maybe it's more suited to high prescriptions now?

histinyhandsarefrozen · 12/04/2017 17:05

15 years ago- I was -9.

Unfortunately, itis gradually coming back- something I really didn't anticipate - however for the 15 yrs it was absolutely worth it for me. A brilliant op.

oldwife · 12/04/2017 17:09

Mine were done about 15 years ago too.

Brilliant eyesight until about 2years ago when one eye has started to become short sighted again
It's only - 1.25 though. Balances out the need for reading glasses as I am late 40s. I do wear specs to drive though.

oldwife · 12/04/2017 17:09

I paid about £1200 at Optimax

histinyhandsarefrozen · 12/04/2017 17:20

Yes, I'm 47 and still no reading glasses yet!
I was disappointed that it wasn't a permant fix, but overall, I'm still evangelical about it...