Advanced Vision Care

Every day for the past 52 years I have had to wear glasses because of my short sightedness. But not anymore, thanks to the excellent Mr Pillai and his wonderful team. Many, many thanks to you all.

We both want to thank you for transforming our lives. There are no words to explain how wonderful it feels to be able to see, after so many years of very poor sight. I now regret the indecision that kept me from having the operation done before, as I could have experience this exhilarating freedom sooner! My laser surgery needed a small “tweak” to make things perfect . Ironically I thought it was “perfect”, only to find that it became better still. Michael had the cataract lens extraction operation with Dr Helgason, and is absolutely delighted with the results. Every single person we met along the way has treated us perfectly- your team are a credit to you, and we would pass our thanks to each and every one for the service we have had-and would continue to have. We will unhesitatingly recommend you to anyone-all I would say is take the plunge and go for the initial examination as soon as possible-life is good without specs!

I am very impressed with the service Advance VisionCare. I can’t believe it was less than a month ago that I was wearing contact lenses! The procedure from start (when I first phoned up) to now has been so quick and extremely hassle free). I am so happy that I have had it done and can’t wait to start taking Advance VisionCare of having perfect vision without contacts-swimming, camping, festivals, sleeping under the starts and being able to see them! I strongly recommend laser treatment at Advance VisionCare-it’s amazing! Thanks so much to the team, you’ve all been fantastic!

I was impressed with the professional and friendly manner adopted by both Catherin Freeman, the optometrist at Eyesite and everyone at Harley Street. Everyone did everything they could to make the experience as pleasant as possible. I felt totally relaxed throughout the entire procedure due to the caring and professional attention that I recived. I would defiantly recommend Advance VisionCare to anyone wanting to undergo eye surgery of this type.

I had my 6 week post-operative check up with Mr Pillai last week. I have 20:20 vision and a zero prescription – it doesn’t get any better than that. My original prescription was -7.5 in both eyes, I had worn glasses or contacts since the age of 8. As I entered my early forties my eyes became increasingly intolerant to my lenses (which I had been wearing since the age of 16) and I started to seriously consider laser eye surgery. Wearing glasses permanently was just not an option.

I had thought about laser surgery on and off through my thirties but was keen to get either a personal or professional recommendation. Neither seemed to be forthcoming, so I did not pursue it. Mr Pillai and AVC were recommended to me by a friend of a friend who is an optometrist. I contacted the clinic, received the information pack and duly made an appointment for my initial consultation. A trouble free and friendly process.

I had an extensive assessment with the optometrist and followed by a dilated pupil examination and discussion with Mr Pillai. I had done very little independent research at this stage so I was probably did not take advantage of the fact that I could have asked Mr Pillai many questions, probably not the right way to do it. However, he thoroughly explained the procedure, my prescription and the sort of result I could expect. I left feeling sufficiently confident to book the surgery for the following week. Your pupils remain dilated for several hours following the examination – I found this the most uncomfortable element of the whole process. It was a bright sunny day which did not help. The light sensitivity was so intense that my partner had to walk me to his office to sit in a darkish corner for a couple of hours – I also felt a bit disorientated and nauseous. It wore off completely after about 4 hours.

You are given a couple of documents that you are required to sign prior to surgery. One details a fairly comprehensive list of the possible complications; this was a useful starting point for me for my own independent research. In the week between the initial consultation and the surgery I did a huge amount of research, mainly online. I read the clinic’s Healthcare Commission Report, many discussion forums, websites of competing clinics, articles in professional publications, articles on the laser technology itself etc etc Over the course of the week I progressed from feeling quite anxious and wondering what I had done to feeling quite calm and reassured that I had picked a highly experienced surgeon, a well managed clinic and the most up to date and reliable equipment.

I had my surgery at 9am on a Saturday morning. The welcome at the clinic was warm and reassuring. I did feel a little anxious – only natural, I think. I had decided not to have the valium which is offered – I was concerned that I would feel woozy and unwell afterwards. Mr Pillai, was keen however that I have it and I did. There were no after effects and I was not aware of it affecting me at the time. I had a few outstanding questions prior to surgery which Mr Pillai answered fully.

You are then taken into the laser suite, fully gowned – glasses removed for the last time! Mr Pillai, the laser technician and two nurses await you. The laser suite is quite aggressively air conditioned and I found it quite chilly. You lie down and the laser is positioned above you.

Anaesthetic drops are applied to your eyes and the eye clamp attached. I didn’t really feel this at all and you have no sensation of your eyes being clamped back. Your eye and the surrounding area is cleaned. The suction cap is applied to your eye. Pressure is applied, and the flap is cut. This is the bit I liked the least – more to do with what was going on in my head “eek my eye is being cut” rather than any physical sensation. Mr Pillai talks to you all the time and tells you what is going on. The creation of the flap took less than 30 seconds. The flap is then turned back and your vision goes blurry. You then have to keep your head very still and the laser goes to work – 50 seconds in all for my prescription. The laser is applied in bursts about 4 in all and the technician counts down the time so you know how long there is to go. This part of the experience is a bit surreal – you have to look straight ahead at a pattern of lights – red and green – it’s a bit like a combination of a child’s spirograph and a laser show at a Fatboy Slim gig. There was a slight smell like when you singe your hair and with the first eye I could see a faint whisper of “smoke” rising up from the eye that was being lasered. Very surreal! The flap is then smoothed back into place and the bandage contact lens put in. Then it is the same process with the second eye. This time I couldn’t see anything as I think a patch had been taped over the done eye.

When I sat up I could see. It was a little hazy, but I could see my partner in the room next door, watching. I then rested with a cup of tea and after about 20 minutes Mr Pillai tested my eyes which were already at driving standard (not that I drove at that stage). We then went back to the hotel, which is comfortable, and rested for a few hours. I had no after effects whatsoever; no redness, no itchiness, no burning, no watering – in fact my eyes had not felt so comfortable in a long time. We went out and had a nice lunch and I just spent the time gazing around – saying “I can see that….” Or “I can see this…”. It was so exciting. I felt well enough to go to a football match in the evening – it was brilliant even though we lost!

For the first week following surgery you are provided with anti-inflammatory and anti-biotic eyedrops which you use 4 times a day. During the course of Sunday my eyesight became a little blurrier. I was not worried as I had read during my research that the drops can cause the bandage lens to blur. As my surgery was on a Saturday I was wearing the bandage lens longer than might otherwise have been the case. At my check 24 check up on the Monday Mr Pillai removed the bandage lens and my vision improved dramatically. I was 98% of my best corrected vision at that stage. One week later I was -0.3 in one eye and -0.1 in the other and today I am 0.0 in both! It is a miracle.

I do have some dryness in my eyes now, particularly first thing in the morning and increasingly in the evening. Artificial tear drops help with that and it should improve. My very nearsight is blurred – having been able to see things clearly a couple of inches away I now cannot – but I can see to read, use the PC and I can see for miles and miles.

I cannot recommend AVC and Mr Pillai highly enough. He is a very jovial, yet highly professional man. He is able to put you immediately at ease. His staff are friendly, welcoming and make you feel like an individual – not like another cheque to be processed. Thank you to all at AVC.

I had been considering laser eye correction for many years. I was advised to wait for my prescription to stabilise and to be around the age of 25. So once my prescription had stabilised, I began shopping around to find the best clinic, as cost was not a factor for me, even though the high street clinics offers £395 per eye did sound tempting. I did find a clinic which I was very impressed with which was the London Vision Clinic and it happened to be one of the most expensive of the clinics I had visited. But soon found them to be quite misleading, as I was promised once I pay the deposit of £500.00, I would get to meet my operating surgeon, where I would be able to discuss all my concerns with him and get all my questions answered. Also, that I would have more extensive tests done. But once I arrived at the London Vision Clinic I had mixed emotions as I was both excited to get to meet my surgeon, but also anxious / nervous about the tests . I was told by different clinical staff that I was mis-informed about meeting my Surgeon and I would only meet him on the day of my surgery and the so called “extensive” tests, where the same scans that were done previously. I was extremely disappointed as I felt the London Vision clinic acted on the same principles as a high street clinic i.e. meeting the surgeon on the day of treatment in spite of paying £500.00. Obviously as you can imagine, this created doubts in my mind as to how a reputable this clinic actually, was, and also created questions about credentials about the “best surgeon in the uk” I decided not to proceed for obvious reasons and I was only refunded £250.00 back. I there after did more research and I found Advance VisionCare. I called up to book a consultation, and the lady on the phone Lela was extremely polite, friendly and very helpful as I had many questions which she gladly answered for me and booked me in as soon as possible. On the day of my assessment, I was greeted by the clinical team I found them to be very professional and polite especially the senor nurse Elzo. It was also nice when I seen all the clinical teams certificates on the walls at he clinic and even Lela’s who I spoke with over the telephone this was making me feel very confident. I found the assessment to be very thorough as I had a member of the clinical team conduct my scans, who explained what each machine did, which helped me understand the process. I thereafter was seen by the senior optometrist Jamini who conducted a full examination. Thereafter that I was taken to meet the Surgeon Mr Pillai who cross checked the Optometrist results, explained in detail what procedures I was suitable for. ( I did not even have to pay £500.00 as requested by the London Vision Clinic.) The explanation was in great detail, which was much better than all the other clinics that I had been to ( I had been to about 4 other clinics) Mr Pillai, was extremely good and put me at ease, I had no hesitations after my 2 hour long assessment and felt so comfortable and confident in Advance VisionCare that I booked surgery in their next avaible slot. In the day of treatment, I was extremely nervous, but was put to ease buy the clinical team, I was also offered a sedative which really helped. Once on the laser bed, the procedure began I realised that I was panicking for nothing as it was painless and Elzo and Mr Pillai talked me through the whole surgery. Afterwards the nurses where there to calm me down as well and before I knew it surgery was over. After the treatment, Mr Pillai tested my eyes which was still blurry, but after 10 minutes I had regained 90% of my vision already which was amazing. The very next morning I woke up looking for my glasses and then realising that I did not need them as I could see perfectly, and this was absolutely life changing experience as I was a -5.50 in my right eye and -7.00 in my left eye. I am extremely happy that I decided to go ahead with Advance VisionCare as I have no regrets only that I did not go sooner and it would of saved my a lot of time and money. Many thanks to all the staff.

Everyone I came into contact with before, during and since my treatment has been extremely friendly and helpful. I couldn’t think of anyway they could have made the experience any better, it was fantastic! I travelled from Spain to get my eyes treated as their statistics on the internet were the best I could find. They were able to co-ordinate all my assessments, treatments and after-care in a very short time scale so that I could spend the minimum time possible in the UK. Even arranging extra after-care for my peace of mind in the first week without making me feel like a nuisance All the staff really care about their patients. And it shows in everything they do.

The simple process is one of the most liberating experience a glasses wearer can undertake. Often than feeling of claustrophobia for a few seconds, I had no pain at all, and a few eye drops for 1 week is hardly the hardship of the century. Thanks.

I am seven weeks after my treatment and looking back I can now see how efficient the whole process at Advance VisionCare. Everything is though of and at no time did I feel rushed or pushed to make a decision without having time to ask questions. I am even weeks on and my right eye is perfect after LASEK. My left eye seems to be taking a little longer to heal, however, I know that whatever the outcome I will be fully cared for until my vision is acceptable. When asked for ideas on how Advance VisionCare can improve I can think of none!

It took one treatment centre less than 2 minutes to advise me that I wasn’t suitable for treatment due to an eye condition I had suffered many years previously. Advance VisionCare gave me a comprehensive initial consultation ant to my great joy explained that I could still have laser eye surgery. They also explained how they would take preventive measures to prevent any re-occurrence There was no pressure to make a decision straight away and when I underwent treatment I was talked through the whole procedure which only took a few minutes. The treatment was without pain/discomfort and I have not had any irritation/ soreness since. Six weeks on and I can now see better than when I was wearing glasses! Why go anywhere else when you can have a highly personalised service at Advance VisionCare.