The best bit of cash I've ever spent (Optical Express Lasik Laser Eye Surgery)

Member Name: ice_pink

Product:	Optical Express Lasik Laser Eye Surgery
Date:	09/07/09 (156 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Truly life changing, you will be able to see!

Disadvantages: Complications can occur, the price

~*~ Lasik with Optical Express ~*~

Before I had Lasik, my eyes were absolutely terrible. I was short-sighted, and couldn't see more than a couple of metres in front of myself without glasses or contact lenses. I started wearing contacts when I was about sixteen, as I hated wearing glasses, and went against all the advice from opticians about time periods wearing the contacts (maybe because I was young, as I haven't heard people advised this before, but I was only supposed to wear them for six out of the seven days per week maximum). I first heard about lasik when I was about 18, and it sounded like the perfect solution, but was terrified about the thought of them making a cut in my eye, and also, of the price of the surgery!


~*~ The decision ~*~

I've always hated my short-sightedness with a passion. It's a pain having to worry about contact lenses all the time, and not being able to see when you are swimming isn't much fun either (especially if Jaws is on the prowl!), but it was something that I (and other glasses wearers!) had learned to live with as normal. My decision to get lasik was actually pretty quick, I basically got the idea into my head, went to the consultation and booked it all within a couple of days, but I think I would have chickened out if I hadn't have done it this way.

If you are considering having laser eye surgery done, the first thing you have to do is have a consultation with the optician (these are usually free) to determine if your eyes are suitable and which type you require. Lasik, which I had done, involves creating a flap (either with a blade or machine) and correcting the vision with a laser. Lasek is the older method, and involves removing the top layer of the cornea and reshaping it with a laser. I was advised to have Lasik, as it has a quicker recovery time and therefore opticians only advise patients to have lasek if not suitable for lasik.


~*~ The procedure ~*~

I had never felt so scared in my life than the day I was waiting to have my eyes done! I entered the calm, peaceful waiting room with my boyfriend (you have to take someone with you) and after registering sat down. After some checks, I was sent back to the waiting room. I was shaking before the procedure even started, and if I hadn't already have paid nearly £2,500 (you don't get your money back if you cancel that late) I think I probably would have backed out. I met the surgeon and was then called in...

I walked into the room, which looked like a cross between opticians and dentists, nice and clean and empty with a reclining chair and a smiley group of doctors and nurses. The surgeon talked to me calmly and reassured me, and then asked if I was ready. They asked if I wanted someone to hold my hand and I said - YES! - and a nice innocent young man nearly lost the blood supply in both hands as a result of this.

The first thing they do is numb your eye with anaesthetic drops. A clamp is placed over your eye and your eyelids held open to stop you from blinking. This sounds horrific but actually you barely notice it. Next, the surgeon creates a flap in your eye with a blade. You are talked through the whole process. You cannot tell what is going on at all because it is all blurry. Next the laser is shined into your eye to correct your vision, and the flap is put back into place. Done! The whole thing takes about 10 seconds, and then the other eye is done.

I was absolutely amazed at how painless and quick the whole procedure was. It did not hurt at all, and was over in seconds. I'm the biggest wimp in the world so if I can do it, anyone can!


~*~ Afterwards.... ~*~

After the treatment, I suddenly felt exhausted and terrified! I went home and went straight to bed, as advised. By the time I went to bed my eyes were starting to feel painful and had a slight burning sensation, which wasn't bad at all but just panicked me. I took paracetamol as advised and slept through to the next day. By this time I could already see a lot better than I could without contacts, but it was all very blurry.

The next day I woke up, took my goggles off and... I could see! My eyes were very, very puffy and the vision was blurry, it felt like it took a while to catch up, but I was amazed. I went to my follow up appointment and was told my vision was already 20/20, and they were healing already. Brilliant!

My vision improved over the day, and the following day my vision was close to perfect. By the end of the week, it was better than it had been with contact lenses, and I was starting to get my normal life back - almost time to lose the goggles!


~*~ The aftercare ~*~

You are required to go to a check up next day after your surgery. The next check up is the week appointment (7 days after the surgery). You are advised that you can return to work 48 hours after having Lasik.

After you have Lasik, you will be given a variety of different drops which have to be put in your eyes every 4-6 hours - there are 3 different types and its hard to keep track of but vital to ensure you don't get an infection, so make sure you don't neglect this! You can't wear make up for a week, or get your eyes wet for a week either, and you have to wear special goggles to sleep in which they give you when you leave. It is also important that you do not rub or touch your eyes, and instead apply drops if they are sore or itchy.



~*~ The prices ~*~

I chose to have Lasik with 'Advance Customvue Wavefront' technology, and paid just under £2500 for the procedure. This procedure corrects each 'dot' of your eye individually, instead of the eye as a whole - it's hard for me to explain but if you google it there is lots more information on this technology. However, prices do start from £395 per eye, so you could get perfect vision for under £800! - Prices do go up the worse your eyesight it.


~*~ Complications ~*~

Before having Lasik, you have to sign a disclaimer which is a bit daunting. There are possible complications of surgery, like with any surgery. If you have any doubts or worries, discuss this at your consultation - I did! The experts are friendly and reassuring but tell you the total truth, which is also good. I felt better that they admitted, yes, complications do sometimes occur but we deal with them by..... " " . If they'd have said no problems ever happen, I probably would have felt worse as I know it would have been a lie!

Possible complications include dry eye, which is common. 'Halo' effect is another complication of lasik, which makes night vision not so good. Infections also sometimes occur. A further complicatin is the possibility of over or under correction, which could lead to more surgery having to be performed. There is also the risk that the vision will deteriorate after surgery - the older you are when you have it done, apparently, the more likely this is to happen as your eyes naturally began to get worse as you get older.

Saying this, I did not experience any of these complications at all, barring a bit of dry eye which was solved with drops. But you have to be aware that complications may occur and this isn't a decision you should take lightly.


~*~ The verdict ~*~

I cannot recommend Lasik strongly enough. It really has changed my life. It's amazing to wake up in the morning and be able to see straight away without rummaging around for my glasses, and staying over at friends after a night out is hassle free without having to fuss around with contact lenses and solution. It's brilliant! Even little things like being able to see when I shave my legs in the shower still amaze me, and it's been 2 years now!

The service and aftercare I received from Optical Express was absolutely brilliant and I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking to have Lasik.

The price of the surgery is expensive, yes, but it's something that is going to be with you forever, and to be honest I would have paid double the price I paid and still been happy with the results.

If you are thinking of having Lasik, you should definitely book yourself a consultation!

Summary: A life changing experience I would reccommend to any glasses/contact wearer!