I have always fancied not wearing glasses.... Only been put off with concern over any long term problems (not that I have heard of any) and the fact you are awake when its being done and can see things happening (I'm not one who could probably even put a contact lens in my eye, let alone have a laser nearby).....
Have them on the list Andy if I don't like what Optimax have to say. Consultation is costing me a tenner (refundable if I go ahead) so I am not sold into anything yet.
I had the epi-lasik done 6 years ago, this gives you the best eyesight you can have as it corrects for any imperfection in your retina..best £2k I have ever spent! Had it done at Optical Express in Milton Keyes and I was amazed at how thorough all the eye tests were, which were repeated again just before the surgery. The procedure itself was all over and done with in less than half an hour, most of which is waiting for the anesthetic to work. No pain at all and although your eyesight is a bit fuzzy at first you can 'see' the results straight away! Told to go and lie down with eyes closed at home for 4 hours.. think I managed a couple of hours before getting bored!! Results are amazing, better than 20-20 vision and no faffing around with contacts anymore or sitting on glasses! Only downsides for me are that I still get slightly dry eyes occasionally but sorted with eye drops, night vision is great but a bit more sensitive to being dazzled by headlights especially in the rain!
i know someone who went for the free check up looking for suitability for the surgery and ultralase discovered an issue with said persons eyes immediately referring them to a specialist for urgent treatment……fantastic really all for free and something the person didn't even know they had…that was eventually sorted rather than not knowing and it ultimately having the potential for them to go blind!
My 'next door' neighbour is a relatively famous and well respected eye surgeon. He carries out many ops per year --- --- but both he and his wife wear glasses....... To me that infers that just maybe it isn't all it's cracked up to be. He tells me I can't have laser because of my prescription and it would have to be the knife and a new lens for each eye..... Hell, why would I want spend a fortune on surgery and replacement lenses when the OEM ones work perfectly when corrected with glasses or contact lenses? ......particularly as he says I probably will still have to wear glasses and / or have it done again as I get older.......as many others will.
I guess I won't be bothering. Went to Optimax yesterday who did a full set of tests and said something about the curvature of my right eye would meant I am not a candidate for Laser Eye Surgery. I am however a good candidate for total lens replacement which will apparently do long, middle and near distance for life. It is the same surgery they offer for cataracts. The biggest flaw in that plan is the 5.5k they want to do it. It isn't that I can't afford to pay for it, it just feels a bit wrong to me blowing that money when the only reason I really wanted to correct my eye sight was so I did not have to wear glasses or contacts. 3k I could have lived with but almost double? Someone mentioned I should go for a second opinion but what bothers me is either Optimax are telling the truth and another provider will just sell me laser eye surgery to get the cash or Optimax are baffling me with science so try to get me to go an expensive option. So I will stick with Glasses and Lenses until I have cataracts and then get it done on the NHS for free!
I had my eyes done in 2002 - before that I had to wear the jam jar glasses as I was both very short sighted (around about 9.00 in one eye and 7 in the other) and astigmatic. I've never worn glasses since - there ain't much that impresses me, but this has done - one of life's modern miracles imho...I had mine done at Ultralase (as did the ol' trout in fact) and can thoroughly recommend both the treatment and ultralase....
If your lenses are bothering you then you might change when you wear them. I use mine for outdoors and mostly wear glasses indoors. I also have monthly lenses not dailies. Because of this I will almost always take them out when I am home from work but dalies have no 'care solution' so it is tempting to wear them all the time. I looked at laser eye surgery some years ago and did not go ahead with it, I would choose Photorefractive keratectomy over LASIK if I were to reconsider.
