Laser Eye Surgery

[lloydwatkin]

Originally Posted by wilbo

I had it done about 6 years ago. Company called Optimax - clinic in Bristol.

That's where he was going to have it done as well.

We figured that he'd have to wear reading glasses anyway, it would just get rid of them for longer distance seeing.

Thanks for the replies so far, much appreciated, Lloyd.

[vulcan]

Originally Posted by dlegros

I have thought about it, but what puts me off is the fact that no opthalmologists will have the procedure (according to a documentary I saw about 6mo ago).

Dom

My sisters needed glasses since childhood. I asked her why she'd never seriously considered laser surgery.

She said she'd never entertain it..............her job......

she's an opthalmologist.

Says there's no long term patients out there as it is a relatively rececently available procedure. Basically, those that have had it done are test pilots. Apparently no one really knows what the long term effects of the procedure are.

PS Good to see you at the weekend Dom

[Jules]

I recently did a laser safety course and the topic of laser eye surgery came up. The guy running the course suggested that since your eye is pressure vessel you alter it's geometry by cutting a flap of the cover away, and it could lead to long term complications.

I am -5.5 in both eyes, pretty short sighted and unless I buy expensive high density lenses my glasses would be milk bottle bottoms. You wouldn't get me any where near a laser eye surgeon unless I was already nearly blind (cateract op for example). We dont know the long term effects and until those people who had it done in their 20s have reached old age with their eye sight intact we can't predict what might happen. They are the cohort of voluntary human testers for this process. I would never under go surgery for what is basicly reasons of vanity. Spectacles are fine , you can get some truely groovy ones these days, and i don't mind boys not making passes!

Jules

[scubadoguk]

mate of mine spent a fortune on it been back 3 times still needs glasses and is well peedoff still not right.
not a good advert for it

[lloydwatkin]

I really don't think it's a vanity thing with me dad

Thanks all, Lloyd.

[MartyC]

I had both eyes done about 4 years ago, I under went the Lasik procedure.
I was short sighted in both eyes and both eyes where rugby ball shaped so I was on the borderline of not being able to have it done at all.
However went for it, had both eyes done at the same time and have better than 20-20 vision, I can read off the chart.
The downside? well I am now going v slightly long sighted - this happens to us all as we get older and I was warned that this would happen. Also in the beginning I was getting a corona effect around reflective objects at night such as road signs - this dimished after about 3 months and is hardly noticable now.
Was it a life changing experience - in my case yes.

As noted in previous posts there are no long term studies available about the long term effects, so yes we are all test subjects for now.
What ever your Dad decides - good luck to him.
Oh by the way the disclaimer list that you get before the surgery can induce rapid bowl movements as you learn what could go wrong!
I still went ahead - was I stupid, thats up to you guys to comment:omg

Edit: Sorry should have mentioned I had it done at Leeds, can't remember the company, but Richard Branson and Sharon Davis had it done by the same company - I thought I might sue Richard if it went wrong for endorsing a dodgy process!

[McBad]

For what its worth I had both eyes done about 10 years ago at the bupa hospital in Cardiff; they were in partnership with some third party eye-laser company at that time who's name I forget.

It was £700 per eye at that time and I still think it was the best money I've ever spent.

I was doing a lot of caving and diving at that time and suddenly giving up glasses, with all their smeary mud and steaming up and scratching and having to be carefully looked after on the dive boat was a god send. At the final post-op clinic, some 6 months after the surgery, the consultant said my eye-sight was good enough for flying fighter jets. This is still an option I have yet to take up.

All the best,

M

[stick_slinger]

Hiya Lloyd,
A colleague of mine had his eyes lasered a few months ago. A few days afterwards he said that the vision in one of his eyes was blurry. He's been back for further treatment but still says that there's a slight permanent blur.

I was going to get it done, but once I'd heard this I changed my mind and cancelled the appointment.

I've decided now that there's nothing wrong with glasses - I'm even able to wear contact lenses again.

Best wishes to your Dad - whichever option he chooses.

Kind Regards
Julian

[SteveCT]

Originally Posted by lloydwatkin

Hi all,

I was after some stories of people who have had it done. My dad was all set to have the op next wednesday. He's 50(ish) and worn glasses all his life with his sight slowly getting worse (last pair of glasses were >£300 ).

We've spent hours on the internet reading as much as possible, he been to two different clinics and chatted to Doctors several times. It turned out his eyes focus slightly differently so he tried out two different contact lenses which would give him near sight in one eye and far sight in another, he didn't get on with this. They've told him that he'll still need reading glasses but he's happy with this as he wouldn't need to use them all the time as he does now.

All was grand. Dad was very excited.

Then, on Saturday night he talked to a couple of people it didn't work for and it's put him off. He's cancelled the operation to give him more time to think.

It would be great if any of your guys that have had this done could let me know how it went for you (not the op itself, I've read enough about burning eye matter ). If it went wrong for you what did it mean (just more glasses? Another op to correct? etc). It would be great if I could take the thread to the old man and show him that the vast majority have it fine (of course this could all backfire - in which case this will never come to light!).

Thanks, Lloyd.

I had a friend of mine who had it done and is now getting the company in court. It's OK during the day but and night all lights have a halo around them and it's driving her nuts. They say they can't correct and she's regretting it.

Steve

[Tony Jay]

Originally Posted by SteveCT

I had a friend of mine who had it done and is now getting the company in court. It's OK during the day but and night all lights have a halo around them and it's driving her nuts. They say they can't correct and she's regretting it.

Steve

That is weird, I hope she loses the case. Before you have the op you are given a lot of information to read one risk is that things can get worse. Halos and poor night vision are one of the most common problems, this is minimised (but not removed) with wavefront.

What has happened in the compensation culture world is that everyone whinges about x suing y, but is more than happy to try and sue z !

Managing expectations is the hardest bit. Laser surgery does not guarentee being glasses free. It can correct the focus point of the light rays, but damage other things.

I do empathasise with her (being unable to read in one eye 1 year post op), but unless there was negligence by the surgeon, I hope she loses (that does sound cruel doesn't it)

Laser surgery is ellective surgery.

Tony