Frickin "lasers"

Will · 08-11-2009, 16:50

Well after researching it extensively and speaking to one of the UK's leading professors of Visual Sciences who happens to be a friend of the family I decided to book myself in for a free consultation for laser eye surgery.

After my consultation which was great, bar the fact that they put eye drops that dilate your pupils which makes them look like you've had one too many "special brownies"... as well as adding a dye to to them for their scans, it seems that my eyes were perfectly suited for laser eye surgery. Yay!

Off on holiday I go and 2 months later I'm sat in the waiting room in Haley street waiting for my surgery at 930am... Probably the cleanest, neatest and most agreeable waiting room I've been in (but I haven't been in many for any sort of medical things).

Surprisingly I wasn't nervous, but the double espresso I had with breakfast was probably not wise as I was somewhat more excitable than I usually am. I definitely felt quite excited... but now looking back I remember my heart racing a little when lying down on the operating chair.

I had the Intralase with Waverfront treatment - which is the "creme de la creme" of treatment, ergo the most expensive. Hopwever as a result they were able to correct my astigmatism and also my myopia (short sightedness).

I was literally done in 10 mins - it was painless, and they gave you a running commentary, and explained everything, I felt really well look after and in good hands. The op room was clean, tidy, it was so so professional, v.impressed.

I was then taken to the recovery room, you're eyes are a bit blurry, and of course under a little bit of trauma but really even once the anaesthetic wore off I felt fine.

I've just had my post op checkup, and bar my left eye being every so slightly dry I have no swelling, bruising or trauma to the eye and it's already almost healed completely ( which is normal for the eye). However having had my eye tests I am better than 20/20 now which is just incredible. 15 years I've been wearing glasses, and now I don't have to. My eye sight is actually better than when I was wearing glasses. I have no pain, no "grittiness" and absolutely no discomfort at all.

I have to put antiseptic and anti inflammatory eye drops in every few hours, but really this is really hassle free. I can drive, I can see.. and I don't need glasses. Just wondering round the house is just so much easier and more comfortable, I don't need glasses any more to be able to see the tv for more than 2 meters away... I can see as far as the eye can see. This is just amazing. I'm in shock, but grinning from ear to ear as well!

Anybody thinking of doing it, do it. End of. Best money I've spent. Sure, it's cose me more than 2.5k which is a lot of money, but frankly since I've stepped away from the operation I've not had a moment's doubt.

It does mean I have to take it easy for a week, no sports, or showers, can't scrub my face or touch my eyes (not that I'd need to) - and you have to wear goggles for bed (again for a week) but they're perfectly comfortable. You eyes slowly stabilise over the next week to a month it just depends on the individual - I may even get better... but still better than 20/20 is more than good enough for me!

My astigmatism is no longer present, I have no halos or haziness in my vision, no grittiness or discomfort. I feel fan-bloody-tastic. Why didn't I do this sooner?! Well, a) because I couldn't afford it but also b) the technology now is so good and they were able to remove the imperfections in the eye. It's just incredible.

Feek · 08-11-2009, 16:57

I asked elsewhere but share your original prescription and the bottom line price please...

Will · 08-11-2009, 17:19

£2990.

But I got £500 off thanks to our family friend (Adam Sillito if you want to look him up) who hooked me up. I had a Surgeon from Moorefield's eye hospital too - so was in good hands.

No pain, no grittiness, just fantastic better than 20/20 vision!

Dee · 08-11-2009, 17:20

Been meaning to ask you about this, seems you would recommend it then?

As soon as I have the money, Ill be having it done too.

Kitten · 08-11-2009, 17:40

It sounds brilliant Will, glad it's worked out for you.

I'm fine with sleep in lenses, cheap and only need changing once a month so I think I'll be sticking with them until I can't wear them anymore. If that happens, I might think about laser surgery then. It's fabulous to wake up in the morning and be able to see. It's so strange now if I sleep without my lenses in, I wake up and I'm like WTF!?!

Feek · 08-11-2009, 17:45

Fantastic! I so wish I could afford that.

Will · 08-11-2009, 17:56

If you got to Optical Express (which are the ones that did my consultation, and on whose premises the op happened (they share surgeons/surgery it's rather efficient)) they do the top banana op for £1095 per eye IIRC. The equipment they use is the same as Moorefield's and the surgeons are often private who work for OE as well. I was a bit put off thinking it was a "chain" but actually whilst the contact lens/glasses side of the business is, the laser surgery part is independent but trade under the same name.

There are lots of different companies out there, but the surgery to go for is Intralase with Wavefront - wavefront removes imperfections and astigmatisms and other defects, whereas basic laser surgery is just myopia/hyperobia correction. With wavefront it also reduces the chances of "halos" and haziness and blurring at night. So far it's true to it's reputation.

I went to a clinic that follows the same procedures and protocol as Moorefield's hospital, and wavefront was pioneered (in the UK) there, so that was good enough for me!

Will · 08-11-2009, 17:58

Dee - yes definitely worth it.

Oh and Feek a lot of places do interest free finance deals and so on, so lots of scope.

I keep walking around seeing everything crisp and sharp - I have better vision that with contacts/glasses. I'm chuffed to bits. I'm grinning from ear to ear.

Mark · 08-11-2009, 18:19

Wish I could pay £2.5k to fix my eyes. I'd do it in an instant - redundancy or not.

Sounds like they did a good job though. Much respect for Moorfields.

Jonny69 · 08-11-2009, 18:41

Yay, you join the frikkin laserbeam eyesight club

Got mine done last May and it's been great since.

08-11-2009, 16:50	#1
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	Frickin "lasers" Well after researching it extensively and speaking to one of the UK's leading professors of Visual Sciences who happens to be a friend of the family I decided to book myself in for a free consultation for laser eye surgery. After my consultation which was great, bar the fact that they put eye drops that dilate your pupils which makes them look like you've had one too many "special brownies"... as well as adding a dye to to them for their scans, it seems that my eyes were perfectly suited for laser eye surgery. Yay! Off on holiday I go and 2 months later I'm sat in the waiting room in Haley street waiting for my surgery at 930am... Probably the cleanest, neatest and most agreeable waiting room I've been in (but I haven't been in many for any sort of medical things). Surprisingly I wasn't nervous, but the double espresso I had with breakfast was probably not wise as I was somewhat more excitable than I usually am. I definitely felt quite excited... but now looking back I remember my heart racing a little when lying down on the operating chair. I had the Intralase with Waverfront treatment - which is the "creme de la creme" of treatment, ergo the most expensive. Hopwever as a result they were able to correct my astigmatism and also my myopia (short sightedness). I was literally done in 10 mins - it was painless, and they gave you a running commentary, and explained everything, I felt really well look after and in good hands. The op room was clean, tidy, it was so so professional, v.impressed. I was then taken to the recovery room, you're eyes are a bit blurry, and of course under a little bit of trauma but really even once the anaesthetic wore off I felt fine. I've just had my post op checkup, and bar my left eye being every so slightly dry I have no swelling, bruising or trauma to the eye and it's already almost healed completely ( which is normal for the eye). However having had my eye tests I am better than 20/20 now which is just incredible. 15 years I've been wearing glasses, and now I don't have to. My eye sight is actually better than when I was wearing glasses. I have no pain, no "grittiness" and absolutely no discomfort at all. I have to put antiseptic and anti inflammatory eye drops in every few hours, but really this is really hassle free. I can drive, I can see.. and I don't need glasses. Just wondering round the house is just so much easier and more comfortable, I don't need glasses any more to be able to see the tv for more than 2 meters away... I can see as far as the eye can see. This is just amazing. I'm in shock, but grinning from ear to ear as well! Anybody thinking of doing it, do it. End of. Best money I've spent. Sure, it's cose me more than 2.5k which is a lot of money, but frankly since I've stepped away from the operation I've not had a moment's doubt. It does mean I have to take it easy for a week, no sports, or showers, can't scrub my face or touch my eyes (not that I'd need to) - and you have to wear goggles for bed (again for a week) but they're perfectly comfortable. You eyes slowly stabilise over the next week to a month it just depends on the individual - I may even get better... but still better than 20/20 is more than good enough for me! My astigmatism is no longer present, I have no halos or haziness in my vision, no grittiness or discomfort. I feel fan-bloody-tastic. Why didn't I do this sooner?! Well, a) because I couldn't afford it but also b) the technology now is so good and they were able to remove the imperfections in the eye. It's just incredible. __________________ *No No!*

08-11-2009, 16:57	#2
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	I asked elsewhere but share your original prescription and the bottom line price please... __________________

08-11-2009, 17:19	#3
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	£2990. But I got £500 off thanks to our family friend (Adam Sillito if you want to look him up) who hooked me up. I had a Surgeon from Moorefield's eye hospital too - so was in good hands. No pain, no grittiness, just fantastic better than 20/20 vision! __________________ *No No!*

08-11-2009, 17:40	#5
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	It sounds brilliant Will, glad it's worked out for you. I'm fine with sleep in lenses, cheap and only need changing once a month so I think I'll be sticking with them until I can't wear them anymore. If that happens, I might think about laser surgery then. It's fabulous to wake up in the morning and be able to see. It's so strange now if I sleep without my lenses in, I wake up and I'm like WTF!?! __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

08-11-2009, 17:45	#6
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Fantastic! I so wish I could afford that. __________________

08-11-2009, 17:20	#4
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	Been meaning to ask you about this, seems you would recommend it then? As soon as I have the money, Ill be having it done too.

08-11-2009, 17:56	#7
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	If you got to Optical Express (which are the ones that did my consultation, and on whose premises the op happened (they share surgeons/surgery it's rather efficient)) they do the top banana op for £1095 per eye IIRC. The equipment they use is the same as Moorefield's and the surgeons are often private who work for OE as well. I was a bit put off thinking it was a "chain" but actually whilst the contact lens/glasses side of the business is, the laser surgery part is independent but trade under the same name. There are lots of different companies out there, but the surgery to go for is Intralase with Wavefront - wavefront removes imperfections and astigmatisms and other defects, whereas basic laser surgery is just myopia/hyperobia correction. With wavefront it also reduces the chances of "halos" and haziness and blurring at night. So far it's true to it's reputation. I went to a clinic that follows the same procedures and protocol as Moorefield's hospital, and wavefront was pioneered (in the UK) there, so that was good enough for me! __________________ *No No!*

08-11-2009, 17:58	#8
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	Dee - yes definitely worth it. Oh and Feek a lot of places do interest free finance deals and so on, so lots of scope. I keep walking around seeing everything crisp and sharp - I have better vision that with contacts/glasses. I'm chuffed to bits. I'm grinning from ear to ear. __________________ *No No!*

08-11-2009, 18:19	#9
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Wish I could pay £2.5k to fix my eyes. I'd do it in an instant - redundancy or not. Sounds like they did a good job though. Much respect for Moorfields.

08-11-2009, 18:41	#10
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Yay, you join the frikkin laserbeam eyesight club Got mine done last May and it's been great since. __________________

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