Laser eye surgery

bikeit65
bikeit65 Posts: 982
edited October 2011 in The bottom bracket
I have been thinking about getting laser eye surgery as i find glasses so uncomfortable,
have many of you folk had laser surgery? was it worth it? how long did it take for you to recover and finally which clinic carried out the op?
https://www.instagram.com/seanmcgrathphotography/
Planet X RT58
Cannondale CAAD 10 2012.
Pain.. Is weakness leaving the body.

HATING LIFE-CYCLES FROM 2011
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Comments

  • DF33
    DF33 Posts: 732
    how many eye specialists have had it? Not many!
    Peter
  • bikeit65
    bikeit65 Posts: 982
    Peter are you an eye specialist?
    https://www.instagram.com/seanmcgrathphotography/
    Planet X RT58
    Cannondale CAAD 10 2012.
    Pain.. Is weakness leaving the body.

    HATING LIFE-CYCLES FROM 2011
  • have you though about getting a better fitting pair of glasses ?
  • Had it done 2yrs ago after 20yrs of wearing glasses and it has been great. Was back riding in a week or two and driving a car in 5 days. Had the surgery done in Melbourne, Australia so probably out of your way. Was expensive ($5000+) but worth it for me for the freedom I gained from not having to wear glasses.
  • Mr752
    Mr752 Posts: 33
    I had it done about 4 years ago by Optical Express in the Newcastle clinic. I ended up with 20/20. My prescription was -2.75 and -3.25 with astigmatism. Price all depends on your prescription and then your choice of "add ons" like a mechanical flap cut with a blade or laser cut flap. Theres also the amount of plot points the laser uses and whether you have astigmatism (rugby ball shaped cornea)
    At the time they quoted £500 per eye and my final bill was £2500 for both. Its still worth while if you have that money available but make sure your prescription has been stable for a while or you might end up back in glasses after a couple of years. They also do a tear quality check at the first consultation to make sure you are suitable.
    Had to sleep in some goggles for the first few nights and use eye drops for about a month but eyesight was just about perfect after a day or 2!
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    My wife had it done 8-9 Years ago at a clinic just outside Cambridge (next to Waitrose in Trumpington for anyone that knows the area). The guy was great and her vision was transformed. She was -8.00 in both eyes and now has better than 20:20. A spin off benefit was that her night vision was vastly improved (she no longer got haloes). No issues since.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    Had mine done 6 or 7 years ago (think was at Optimax). I had the older style op (more painful recovery but at the time was less chance of side-effects like haloing at night). Probably the best £500 I've ever spent, eyes were sore and extremely light sensitive for 3 days after then got better pretty quickly, think was back driving after a week. Had a few episodes of light sensitivity over the next 18 months but very rarely and none since. Eyesight has degraded a bit since but not much and still a long way off needing glasses.
  • Cressers
    Cressers Posts: 1,329
    Stay with the glasses. The more surgery you have on your eyes the greater the chance of post op complications. And never forget that as you age your eyes constantly change. You may really need surgry in the future so don't have 'voluntary' surgery now...
  • CHRISNOIR
    CHRISNOIR Posts: 1,400
    Are contact lenses not an option? I use daily disposable ones and they're brilliant.
  • DavidBelcher
    DavidBelcher Posts: 2,684
    Mr752 wrote:
    I had it done about 4 years ago by Optical Express in the Newcastle clinic. I ended up with 20/20. My prescription was -2.75 and -3.25 with astigmatism. Price all depends on your prescription and then your choice of "add ons" like a mechanical flap cut with a blade or laser cut flap .

    That's put me off right away (visions of some sort of horrific Clockwork Orange/Goldfinger combo). Fortunately my eyes are in A1 condition at present, but it'll be specs all the way for me if they do alter. And as someone else has already posted, glasses can be subtly altered to account for any further changes in eyesight as the years go on.

    David
    "It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal
  • I had my eyes lasered about 8 years ago. The improvement was significant and almost immediate. There was no post-surgery discomfort, and no visual side-effects. I'm now starting to need glasses for close-up work - apparently a few years earlier than I would have done had I not had the surgery. The distance vision is still 20:20.
    Absolutely no regrets whatsoever.
    I kidded myself for years that contact lenses were comfortable, but really for me they weren't.
    Obviously there are risks involved, but I don't recall hearing of any problems (at least from reliable rather than apocryphal sources) in the last decade or so.
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    Had mine done about 14 years ago - no real problems other than slight night halos but I think with the advances in contact lenses I'd probably stick with them now just to be safe. I suppose as you get older you get a bit more conservative ! My older brother also had his done not long before me - he's had no problems at all. This was normal surface lasering of the eye - the cheap option ;)

    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • I had mine done at Manchester Eye Hospital almost three years ago and it's been fantastic. I never got on with glasses... always breaking them and contact lenses just didn't go well with my lifestyle. Trying to put a pair in during a sandstorm in the Marathon des Sables or getting caked with mud during a 24 hour mtb race seemed like a recipe for an eye infection.

    Anyway, vision is fantastic and op was 100% pain free. I'd strongly recommend going to a proper eye hospital and have the procedure/follow-up done by a consultant ophthalmic surgeon. You pay more but it's your eyes we're talking about. My surgeon said the bulk of his work was sorting out the botch jobs from budget clinics.
  • jeepie
    jeepie Posts: 497
    Definitely worth going for the initial consultation. I wanted to get it done but my eyes are unsuitable as they roll around in their sockets - judder - so the laser can't get a fix. Gutted. Spent ages motivating myself to discount the risk/money and now can't get it done.
  • BigJimmyB
    BigJimmyB Posts: 1,302
    My Dad just had 2 synthetic lenses put in at 68 years old.

    Apart from a bit of aching (which IS subsiding), he's got 20:20 vision again.

    Sorry, that was an aside, but compaitively I think laser surgery is far less intrusive and everyone I know who had it has never had a problem.
  • DIESELDOG
    DIESELDOG Posts: 2,087
    I wear specs when using pc's but really can't imagine having to have surgery though, so kudos to those that do go that way, you're a braver man than I.

    Love n hugs

    DD
    Eagles may soar but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

    www.onemanandhisbike.co.uk
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    Mr752 wrote:
    Price all depends on your prescription and then your choice of "add ons"

    What sort of add ons ?
    Can you get night vision, or a zoom function, like the Steve Austin ? What about death rays ?
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • DavidBelcher
    DavidBelcher Posts: 2,684
    MattC59 wrote:
    Mr752 wrote:
    Price all depends on your prescription and then your choice of "add ons"

    What sort of add ons ?
    Can you get night vision, or a zoom function, like the Steve Austin ? What about death rays ?

    A "beer goggles" function maybe? All the benefits of beer goggles minus the need to neck several pints of Bombardier* and acquire a hangover every time.....

    David

    *Other premium cask bitters are available. Please ogle responsibly. ;)
    "It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal
  • matt581
    matt581 Posts: 219
    I had it done about 2 years ago, best money i ever spent. My eyesight was terrible. I used glasses sometimes but mostly contact lenses. I would recomend it to any one but most places offer a free consultation.
  • Slimbods
    Slimbods Posts: 321
    MattC59 wrote:
    Mr752 wrote:
    Price all depends on your prescription and then your choice of "add ons"

    What sort of add ons ?
    Can you get night vision, or a zoom function, like the Steve Austin ? What about death rays ?

    Don't be so stupid.


    Everyone knows the best "add ons" are the ones that let you see through ladies clothes.
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    I don't know what the OP's job is but he needs to be careful and weigh up the pros and cons and get PROPER advise. Laser eye surgery can preclude you from certain occupations. As a train driver I am banned from having it. It used to be ok but several drivers had complications after surgery and the deterioration of night and peripheral vision it's now on the banned list for new drivers. I would imagine other occupations might have similar restrictions.
  • nax-ian
    nax-ian Posts: 209
    1st step is to go for the consultation.
    I was all mentally and financially prepared a few years ago to go through with op.
    But as I suffer from iritis, the doc/surgeon, was like "no way am I going near your eyes!"
    Now I'm on daily disposables, an they're fab.
    Finished
  • bikeit65
    bikeit65 Posts: 982
    Firstly a big thanks to all who took the time to reply.
    I tried daily disposables a few years back but as i am short sighted and have a bad astigmatism the contact lens kept moving around while sitting on my eye.
    I got an eye test two weeks ago but when the new glasses came back i could not make out small print and detail work was a nightmare so the optician advised varifocals i am trying them out but the optician said it could take up to six weeks to get used to them.
    If i get used to them maybe i could try contact lenses as no doubt they have improved since i last tried them.
    https://www.instagram.com/seanmcgrathphotography/
    Planet X RT58
    Cannondale CAAD 10 2012.
    Pain.. Is weakness leaving the body.

    HATING LIFE-CYCLES FROM 2011
  • markyone
    markyone Posts: 1,119
    Wore contacts for years,had laser eye surgery and its the best £2500 i ever spent.
    It really is amazing,wake up in morning no hassle with fitting lenses just see straight away.
    Colnago c60 Eps super record 11
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  • Bear in mind all those who have had bad results from laser eye surgery can no longer read these posts nor see the keyboard to tell you their tales of woe.
  • markyone wrote:
    Wore contacts for years,had laser eye surgery and its the best £2500 i ever spent.
    It really is amazing,wake up in morning no hassle with fitting lenses just see straight away.
    I agree, I had it done in January for just over £2000. Although I did have some problems early one (developed a sensitivity to the eye drops) and dry eye, I'm glad I didn't pay for aftercare meds, I used a shitload! It was well worth it and I'm really happy I had it done. I got caught out the other day in a heavy hail storm and had a massive grin on my face because I could still see, it's simple things like that that crop up.

    The procedure itself is quick and painless, its really surreal. The best I can describe it is like something off the X-files when people recall alien abductions.

    I have some £150 off vouchers with Opitical express, I'll try and dig them out if that will help? pm me.
  • DF33 wrote:
    how many eye specialists have had it? Not many!
    My surgeon actually had it done (well lisek). I do agree with surgeons who wear glasses does set off alarm bells in my mind, apparently there are cases where laser eye surgery isn't recommended.
  • squired
    squired Posts: 1,153
    I had it done 4 years ago. It wasn't something I'd been planning, but I got made redundant and it seemed like a good idea as a way of potentially helping with the excessive number of headaches I was prone to.

    The right eye was fine almost immediately. The left eye took months to focus properly and I experienced regular discomfort/pain. The people where I had it done just constantly gave the line about it improving "in the next week or two", to the point that I just stopped bothering with them because I could tell they were just feeding lines at me.

    After about a year it finally improved to the point where my eyesight was great. After 2 years I needed glasses again. In March 2012 it will be 5 years since I had the procedure. I need to wear glasses all the time and essentially it was a waste of time (and £3,000).

    An optician I saw to get prescription lenses for my Oakleys did say that he's never seen anyone suffer the degree of deterioration I have.

    So, for every success story, do remember that there are people who've had bad experiences.
  • I'm a surgeon and had mine done 8 years ago after I'd sent my Registrar to have his done first (thanks, Declan!). I had worn glasses since the age of 10 and have no regrets whatever. You should be aware of 2 things, however: firstly, not all surgeons are equal and you should go out of your way to find one with excellent results (don't just have it done in your local high street, in other words); and secondly, having it done will accelerate your need to wear reading glasses.

    Not wearing glasses all the time makes life so much simpler and sport so much more enjoyable.
  • bikeit65
    bikeit65 Posts: 982
    interesting.
    Good to get results from both sides and edenchristopher when you say you are a surgeon do you mean an eye surgeon?
    https://www.instagram.com/seanmcgrathphotography/
    Planet X RT58
    Cannondale CAAD 10 2012.
    Pain.. Is weakness leaving the body.

    HATING LIFE-CYCLES FROM 2011