Cate in NZ Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 I've read this thread with interest thanks, as it's something that I've considered as well. I react badly to silicone so have always been unable to wear soft contact lenses, and I've now clocked up 30 years of wearing hard/ GP lenses....and sadly I'm beginning to experience problems and reduced tolerance to them and am wearing my glasses more than I ever have in the past. I did research the procedure a fair bit, and I agree that overall it seems very safe and effective, but I have a friend who had it done and regrets it, and an ex colleague who had it done and loves it by day but says that his night vision, especially when driving is affected. Both of them put me off a bit. Also I can't help feeling that my eyes are precious, and that no surgery is 100% safe.....I'd hate to lose my sight just for a vanity thing . So I've decided against it for now, but it does still remain at the back of my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam42 Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 I had laser surgery with Ultralase three years ago and it's been fantastic. Was able to drive etc the next day and have 20/20 vision. It wasn't painful and just needed to use the drops for the specified time and use the eye guards at night., Definitely worth looking into and going for a consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccbean Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 My husband had his done three years ago and still says it is the best thing he has ever done! He had worn contact lenses for 20 years and had been told they were ruining his eyes. He bought his treatment off ebay , for £795 on 10 months interest credit through Optimax. They sell off their spare treatment time that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beauty-Box Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 I had my eyes done about a year ago with Optical Express and it's one of the best decisions I ever made. I couldn't even see the bedside clock, never mind the time on it. Now I can see clearer than I could with contact lenses and I don't have the hassle of contact lenses or glasses. My mum's having hers done next month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassett Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 My best friend had her eyes lasered and is really pleased with the results. But a lady at my husband's work had her eyes done and the op went wrong, she was off work for 2 months afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie the Moocher Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 I've worn glasses or contacts since I was 11, but when I asked my Optician if he would have laser surgery he said no! I would imagine it's not in the optician's interests to wave goodbye to a client forever! I know someone who has had it done, she thinks it is marvellous. Not sure (as a really squeamish person) if I fancy having my eyes zapped, but that's just me being cowardly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baby bears mum Posted September 22, 2008 Author Share Posted September 22, 2008 Just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all of you. Went for some new contacts today and these seem to fit OK - although needless to say they are far more expensive than my last ones (optician couldn't say why the company had changed them - there's a surprise). Am still thinking about what to do. I must admit I'm a lot squeamish and I do worry about messing with my eyes - they are soooooo precious. A friend has had hers done and is going to let me know where she went so I might just go for a consultation. Will keep you informed Hugs to you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I read this thread with great interest as I am also thinking of getting laser surgery. I have just had to change my contacts for a different type because I was starting to get blood vessel growth around the iris from having worn contact lenses all day, every day for 15 years. I absolutely detest glasses. When I do wear them they make me feel dizzy and hurt my nose from the weight of them and give me a headache. However, the new lenses cost £43/month so that is quickly going to add up to a similar cost to getting laser surgery. However, I am nearly 49 and am already using one contact lens underpowered by 1 dioptre so I am wondering how long the surgery would be good for...I don't want to have to use reading glasses. Do you think I should wait until my eyes have stopped changing? I also suffer from claustrophobia and am worried about the op itself. Last time I had my eyelashes dyed and had to lie with a pad on my eyes for 15 minutes I had a panic attack because of not being allowed to open my eyes. I'm worried that having to keep completely still while they do the surgery would cause a panic attack. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I read this thread with great interest as I am also thinking of getting laser surgery. I have just had to change my contacts for a different type because I was starting to get blood vessel growth around the iris from having worn contact lenses all day, every day for 15 years. I absolutely detest glasses. When I do wear them they make me feel dizzy and hurt my nose from the weight of them and give me a headache. However, the new lenses cost £43/month so that is quickly going to add up to a similar cost to getting laser surgery. However, I am nearly 49 and am already using one contact lens underpowered by 1 dioptre so I am wondering how long the surgery would be good for...I don't want to have to use reading glasses. Do you think I should wait until my eyes have stopped changing? I also suffer from claustrophobia and am worried about the op itself. Last time I had my eyelashes dyed and had to lie with a pad on my eyes for 15 minutes I had a panic attack because of not being allowed to open my eyes. I'm worried that having to keep completely still while they do the surgery would cause a panic attack. Any thoughts? I'm not 100% sure, and hopefully someone who has had the procedure will confirm this, but I would have thought that, although they use a local anaesthetic and not a general, you would still be quite well sedated - they couldn't risk you jumping and twitching as they operate! I know what you mean about glasses - I hate mine and wear them as little as possible. They just don't feel right. I feel as though I am looking at life through a barrier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I also suffer from claustrophobia and am worried about the op itself. Last time I had my eyelashes dyed and had to lie with a pad on my eyes for 15 minutes I had a panic attack because of not being allowed to open my eyes. I'm worried that having to keep completely still while they do the surgery would cause a panic attack. Any thoughts? I don't know anything about the laser surgery....but can sympathise on the panic attacks. The last time I had my lashes tinted I had to have them done one eye at a time - and I've stopped having it done now. The sedation should help with that though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Great topic! It seems many of us toy with the idea of having this procedure! My family are all short sighted. Two of my brothers have had this done within the last 8 years. The first was a resounding success and he now has 20/20 vision. This persuaded my other brother to have it done and immediately afterwards, although his distance vision was corrected perfectly, he had to start wearing glasses for reading! He was pretty fed up to say the least! I have daily disposable contacts, which cost approximately £1 a day, so in the long run, by the time I have to pay for glasses as well, it would work out cheaper fro me to have the surgery. But I am a coward, and would hate to have to get reading glasses before my time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Sorry to burst your bubble but NO SEDATION! You have eye drops which blur the vision to anesetise the eye and they use a clamp thingy to kep the eye open, If I remember correctly they hold your head still! You have painkillers afterwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Sorry to burst your bubble but NO SEDATION! You have eye drops which blur the vision to anesetise the eye and they use a clamp thingy to kep the eye open, If I remember correctly they hold your head still! You have painkillers afterwards Ah, that blows that theory out of the water then doesn't it! I think I'd be self med'ing on some valium first No way am I that brave - give me childbirth any day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 However, I am nearly 49 and am already using one contact lens underpowered by 1 dioptre so I am wondering how long the surgery would be good for...I don't want to have to use reading glasses. Do you think I should wait until my eyes have stopped changing? I've just researched this as I was seriously thinking about it, but everything I've read says that you need to have at least a year with no change in prescription. I saw the optician last week, and my short-sightedness has got worse, so that rules it out. The new glasses I've ordered were eye-wateringly (no pun intended!) expensive ... the lenses on their own are £375 as I'm as blind as a bat, I have them made thinner because otherwise I'd look as if I had bottle-glass on my face. Makes laser surgery look like an economic alternative. My understanding is that you either have short-sightedness corrected, and wear reading-glasses, or you have the 'one eye long, one eye short' correction, and your brain adjusts to this. There's a really helpful Bupa sheet here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 No sedation and if my memories are accurate, the clamp thing they use is quite scary in itself the first time around. Plus there is no getting away from the smell of burning flesh even though it is very short-lived. You should perhaps go for a consultation and ask to see the equipment with a demo of how they do the procedure, bearing in mind your likihood of a panic attack as you definitely do NOT want to move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie the Moocher Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Yikes! You lot are not selling it to me so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Yikes! You lot are not selling it to me so far. Me neither I'm afraid! The claustrophobia thing is the first big worry and then the fact that I need to have a stable prescription first and then the long-term safety. I guess I will just have to pay up for the daily disposable contact lenses @ £516 per year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet81 Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 It all sounds very scary to me and I have decided not to try laser. BUT There is a new type of contact lens coming out soon My Optician told me about them when I last went and he is due to start fitting and dispensing in the next month or so. He has been wearing them himself for the last 12 months to trial them. I am on his list for fittings but there is a lot of interest so I might have to wait a while. The amazing thing is that you don't wear them during the day but at night They are designed to reshape your eye as you sleep, giving much the same effect as laser surgery which in effect shaves a bit off the front of the eyeball. The effect lasts the following day though it could deteriorate a little as the day goes on. My Optican assures me they are not uncomfortable to wear at night and that if you need to get up for the bathroom in the night, you can still see where you are going. His eyesight is quite bad and he needed reading glasses too. He finds that he can now do without either type of glasses unless he is really tired late in the evening. He also finds that there is not that nasty in between stage i.e. the computer screen which is neither reading nor distance. To me, this seems a much better and safer option and I am so excited about the prospect. He was unsure of the actual cost at this stage but thinks they will be a bit more a month than my current daily wear contact lenses. I suspect the initial fitting could be a bit pricy though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 I wouldn't mind test driving dome of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet81 Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Hi Eglutine! Would you like me to PM you with his details? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Ooh that does sound interesting! Please can you post if/when you get to try some? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Hi Eglutine!Would you like me to PM you with his details? Yes Please! PS....We are muttering about another Manchester Christmas Markets get together. **Here** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 They sound interesting Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet81 Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I will keep you posted when I get my appointment and let you know how I go on with them. Happy to be the Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet81 Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I have PM'd you Eglutine but am never sure whether I am doing these right as they seem to stay in my Outbox. Hopefully you will get my message. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
