Has anyone had laser eye surgery?

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

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 !!

Yes. David Gartry at Moorfields. Expensive but the best. You only get one pair of eyes, after all.

Is it the full cost up front?
Do they clamp your eyes open?

My mum used to be a medical secretary for ophthalmologists. I was considering it, she said none of the ophthalmologists, or their spouses or kids had it done, so hold off. A few years later she said quite a few of them were having it, and recommended a guy in Harley Street. I went for a consultation (luckily got it free!) and the guy refused to do it in both eyes, I had a strong prescription (-10 ish) and thin corneas, they apparently like to leave enough cornea that they can go and have another go if anything goes wrong. Likely that another place would have taken me -this guys stats were great, partly through only accepting exemplary candidates!

pigeon there was a payment plan, over 2 years iirc.
They offered me another procedure in the other eye, essentially an implanted contact lens I think, but I didn't want to be railroaded into a procedure I hadn't thoroughly researched.

Thank you, Love

I am very interested in all these replies as I keep toying with having this done.

My eyesight is -4.5 and - 5.00 and I think mild astigmatism. I have worn glasses since I was 9 and contacts since my 20s - I'm now nearly 50 and just thinking as well that my vision is changing as label packaging is getting harder to read - though some of it is pretty damn small !

I suppose part of me is thinking if it ain't broke don't fix it! But on the other hand would be lovely to see clearly without putting lenses in.

I had never heard of the refractive lens mentioned up thread.

Also was wondering what the Moorfields cost s start from. I expect them to be great but am I,correct in thinking that way ?

11 years ago at moorfields
£4K

Best thing I have ever done for myself

I had dr Gartry
At the time he was regarded at the forefront of the procedure

LASIK 10 years ago. It was life changing in the best way. Still going strong at 46! I saw a private consultant ophthalmic surgeon.

Initial weeks after surgery were anxious as my vision was very distorted- depth perception was all weird, but that resolved & I've been 100% happy since. Seeing myself naked in the shower for the first time was a shock! For months I kept trying to take my glasses off!!

I had mine done 12 years ago and cannot recommend it highly enough. It has been hugely liberating. It is a super quick procedure and although uncomfortable- not terrible at all. Go for it!

I was -6.75 and -6.5 but with big pupils. Looking into it, big pupils is a risk factor for night vision problems, so I decided to only get one eye done at a time, with the 2nd eye booked a few weeks after the first.

I got the first eye done with LASIK but have night vision problems, so delayed and then cancelled the operation in my 2nd eye. I'm very glad I didn't get both done at the same time as i was seeing halos so badly at night i would have incapable of driving in the dark. With only one eye seeing halos my brain rapidly learned to ignore them and it's fine.

The vision has relapsed in my operated eye, to -1.25 within the first year and 5 years later it's now -1.75. From what I read this isn't unusual with higher prescriptions. They would have retreated for free with LASEK but given I'd still have to wear glasses for the other eye and it's supposed to be really painful I decided not to.

I'm still glad I had it done, -1.75 is enough vision to read and do things like go swimming without glasses. However, I'm very glad I only got the one eye done and would definitely recommend you consider only having one eye done at a time too if the risks worry you.

8 years ago at Moorfields.

Best thing ever. Every day when I see the outline of leaves in the distance on trees I feel grateful.

I was about -8 and slightly astigmatic in one eye I think. Now I can read the bottom line at the opticians without trying.

Completely missing the point of the thread but how are your contacts costing you £500 a year? That's about £40 a month!

I am -10 in both eyes with severe astigmatism in both and I wear monthly contacts from specsavers at £13 a month including solutions. Had them about 7 years now and no problems at all.

Personally I wouldn't risk anything doing to my eyes that wasn't absolutely essential as having a very high prescription and astigmatism makes you more prone to things like retinal detachment anyway let alone with any trauma or surgery done to the eye. But I appreciate everyone is different!