LASIK Laser Surgery (LASIK Treatments)

Member Name: matonks

Product:	LASIK Treatments
Date:	14/12/00 (702 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The gift of Sight

Disadvantages: Cost (for some)

I had worn glasses since the age of 4 and contact lenses from the age of 12 until I was 24.

My prescription was pretty high (-7.25 in each eye) which meant that my glasses were really thick and soft contact lenses were a luxury I could only dream of.

Over time, I lost all tolerance with my Gas-Permeable contact lenses until I could only wear them for about 2 hours without my eyes being so dry and itchy I couldn't wait to take them out.

In April 2000 I gave up wearing the contacts for good, and got in touch with Optimax in Manchester, who were offering Laser treatment for people just like me.

They arranged a consultation for £60 and I went along for some tests. The tests were very thorough and took about an hour but the staff were very friendly and took good care of me. The consultant confirmed that I was a good candidate for treatment and he arranged for me to have my operations within 3 weeks. The Left eye was first, followed by the Right eye a week later.

The operation was nerve-wracking because LASIK is a much more surgical procedure than PRK (the older technology, more common with less severe prescriptions than mine). I had read all of the literature including the risks and potential complications with the surgery and although nervous, I really really wanted the operation.

Although they give you a list of potential complications before you sign up for the op, what they don't tell you is the % chance of any of them happening. I got a sheet when I got there of these % chances and was massively relieved to see how low they were (around 0.05% of patients suffering each complication).

The operation itself was over in 15 mins and most of this was the time taken to set up the machinery. It is completely painless as the consultant numbs the eye with drops. You feel a slight sensation of pressure as the micro-keratome cuts the flap from the front of the eye, but definitely no pain. You stare at
the red light for about 30secs to 1 minute (depending upon your prescription) and then the flap is replaced.

I was initially worried about being able to stare at the light without moving my eye for so long, but it goes past in a blur. Besides, with no front on your eye you have no focus at all, and the tiny red light looks as big as a bin-lid. You can hardly not look at it!

After the op, I had to wait around for 30 mins for a checkup before I was sent home to rest.

The eye stings a bit (like you got shampoo in it) for about 2-3 hours but after that you never have any unusual sensation in it at all.

I had the other eye done a week later and now it has been 6 months since the operations and I have a prescription of absolute ZERO in both eyes.

I go back for checkups every now and again and the staff are always very welcoming, reassuring and efficent.

I have no doubt or hesitation in declaring that it has been a life-changing experience for me. My confidence is much higher and I never have to worry about lenses and solutions, cleaning my specs, steaming up in the winter and not being able to find my towel on the beach in summer!

I am so happy about having this operation, I want to run up to every bespectacled person I see in the street and tell them.

Now for the bits that they dont tell you....

1. They offer bilateral operations (both eyes treated at once) for PRK, but not LASIK at the moment. Although this doesn't present a risk as such, my sight was so unbalanced for the week between operations I couldn't really do anything at all except listen to the radio.

2. People say (and the literature quotes) that you can see without glasses as soon as the operation is finished. While this may be true for some, it certainly was not for me. I got reasonable vision within 24 hours, followed by better vision within 72 hours. It was 'good' within a week but only 'as
good as with my glasses' after about 3 weeks.

3. Night-time light distortion. You get some if your prescription was as bad as mine and you have big pupils. You do get used to it though. It looks like the image of how you used to see without your glasses with the image of how you could see with your glasses laid over the top. (I know it sounds a bit wierd but if you have it done you will know what I mean). The first few times you drive after the op it may look a bit odd, but trust me, you do get used to it and it is insignificant when compared to the benefits of being able to see unassisted.

I would recommend Optimax and LASIK to anyone. It was the best decision I have ever, ever made.

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