Optical Express

I had my assessment for Lasik treatment carried out at Laservision in Harley Street on the 28th Feb 2003, and after a long afternoon of extensive tests I was informed that I would be suitable for Lasik surgery. Although understandably apprehensive regarding surgery, I booked treatment for the following Monday 3rd March 2003 with Mr. Keith Williams who has treated many celebrities successfully. The surgery went well on the Monday morning, and I have nothing but praise for Mr. Keith Williams expertise & professional manner, as well as the staff. Within 20mins of the surgery, I could tell that the operation had gone well, and by the next day, following the check up, Mr Williams advised that I had better than 20/20 in both eyes after only 24hrs. Words cannot express how wonderful it is to be able to see after 30yrs, free from contacts & spectacles. I would highly recommend LaserVision in Harley St, with Mr. Keith Williams, he is the best. If any one would like to contact me to discuss, or if I can help anyone out there with advice please call me on Tel 07960 923719. If you are thinking of having this treatment, go to the best there is, and there is none better than Mr. Keith Williams.

Had my surgery on Friday 14th March at the Manchester Clinic with Dr Aziz. Staff during the surgery are excellent. Explain exactly what is happening & make you feel very relaxed about the procedure. Felt terrible on journey home. It was a very bright sunny day & even though I had on sunglasses I couldn't open my eyes fully. No one had explained this side effect to me & it was quite scary. After using the eye drops at home & sleeping for a couple of hours I woke to almost perfect vision! I was quite emotional after wearing glasses/contact lenses for over 15 years to be able to see. Had 1 day check up & my eyesight is already above the legal driving limit & should hopefully keep improving. Apart from a tiny scratch on each eye, which should have healed by my 1 week check, no problems at all. It really is the most amazing feeling to be able to see unaided. I keep 'feeling' for my glasses & they're not there! I would recommend it to anyone.

Nearly two months gone now since I had the procedure done, I must say again, that after 47yrs of wearing glasses, and I'm now 52, I can see great, I feel great, lifes a joy. I apologise for my previous comment in Feb I marked only * I ment *****+++++

I had -1.75 on both eyes and a slight astimatism on one of them. After intense research on the web and in particular on this site I chose LASEK by David O'Brart. LASEK combines most of the advantages of LASIK (less danger of reflections at night through an uneven surface, less pain and quicker recovery) without its higher risk level (the flap that is being lifted up in the LASIK process only heals on the side and can become loose even after years!). David O'Brart is probably the best eye surgeon in the UK with experience in laser eye surgery since 1990 and is one of the pioneers of the LASEK method. He does everything himself including the initial consultation (I recommend to go first to one of the other clinics which offer a free consultation, as Mr O'Brart charges £ 100 for this in addition to the £ 900 per eye). I had my surgery one month ago and my vision is now perfect, without nighttime reflections or any other problems. The first two days were slightly painful, so not unbareable and I was very lightsensitive for about one week (wearing sunglasses even indoors helped me a lot). I reached already driving standard after one week and went back to work after 10 days. The first couple of days at work were rather tough so, as my job means staring full time at a PC screen, which was very tiering. All together I can highly recommend David O'Brart and LASEK. I believe it is worth it to pay the higher price than going to one of the big chain clinics, where you haven't got a clue who is going to operate you and might have had just a weeks training!

I've just been to a consultation and was pleased that they told me I couldn't have it. A less risk-conscious company would have allowed me to pay the money and have it regardless, but they said that my eyesight wasn't bad enough (it's +2.25 long sighted) for my age (28). Apparently I've got better than 20/20 vision without my glasses anyway. I was also impressed with the staff and procedures they used for a first consultation.

Really impressed!!! I had LASIK 2 days ago at Shaftesbury Ave with Clive Mortimer. I give him & the Eye Clinic 5 stars!! Not only is he a professor at the forefront of this field but as a surgeon he had a very lovely, calming character which instils in you a lot of confidence in him, and in yourself as a LASIK candidate. He really puts you at ease!!! I remember him saying pre-surgery that with my low precription (-2.75, -3.00) he expects to get it right the first time...and he did. And by getting it right it means getting the best cut (the flap), the speed and ease of manually moving the flap away, irrigation, carefully replacing the flap, as well as the actual lasering. From beginning to end Clive did this with absolute precision. The actual process was amazingly quick. Not at all what I expected. Believe me, I am one of the most squeamish people you could come across. I was really nervous, but with the help of the sedative tablet (Valium) they gave me beforehand & the confidence boosting assistant who held my hand & patted my shoulder through the most difficult parts, it really was not that bad! Honestly you don't feel a thing (well, I didn't) I didn't even feel the clamp (he must have put a lot of local anaesthetic in - good thing really). The sedative working, I was pretty chilled during the whole procedure. For those who are worried about the flap forming bit, don't worry because by the time they put the ring on your eye (non-painless), thereafter everything goes milky and you are not aware of when they form the flap at all, or even what they are doing to your eye. 2 counts of ten, a few more eye drops, then an bandage goes on & onto the next eye. Immediately after surgery you can actually see around you, albeit a bit hazy. I had no teary eyes, or redness. I put that down to the surgeon's expertise. Clive then checked my eyesight & immediately confirmed I had 20/15 vision (better than 20/20), infact almost verging on 20/10 although it will probably settle at 20/15 because immediately after surgery your corneas swell up, magnifying your sight giving you super vision (so to speak) but eventually will settle to be slightly less. They send you home armed with plenty of eye lubricant drops (generous 6 pack) plus anti-inflammatory & steroid drops to heal and sleeping tabs. I went in for a checkup today because I was a bit concerned about the haze in my left eye and the fact that I had a scratchy eye all yesterday and whilst I slept. It turned out that I had a stray eye-lash in my eye all this time! This may seem superficial, but it left my left eye really sore & hazy. I called up Eye Clinic help line & they suggested that I come in to see the optician to check up. Dye was put in my eye to check if I had any scratches. No scratches. The flap was not disturbed and healing nicely. The soreness was from dryness than anything else, which they might issue me with a gel type eye drop which offers more lubrication than the normal refresh drops. Oh, and my eyesight is still 20/10 in right eye & 20/15 in left!! The aftercare here is firstclass. And before I forget Amy, the consultant at Cheapside (where I had inital consultation 2 weeks before) was very helpful and non-pushy, already putting me at ease for the surgery. I totally recommend the Eye Clinic & most definitely Prof. Clive Mortimer! It's been the second day and I now see things in the distance from my window that I never knew existed! Artificial light halo's do exist but no worse than halo's I experienced with astigmatism (for those of you who have astig, you know what I mean). I can now read words from a distant poster, or on moving cars which I never noticed before. Laser has given me better vision than I had with contact lenses or glasses. These I've thrown away now! Sure I might need the frames again when I'm 45 (for reading) but hell, that's a good 2 decades away. So my advice to anyone considering this is to have laser done as soon as you can so that you can enjoy the freedom for longer!

I had LASIK surgery on 26.3.03 at Newcastle Eye Clinic & am extremely impressed with the result. The surgeon was Rodney Eve. The only negative comment pre surgery is that after having an initial appointment for 10.30am I was called & asked to go in for 8.30am with an operation time of around 9.15am, I was actually operated on at 11.00am. I was really nervous on the morning of the operation but I was given 2 valium to calm me down. The nurse that was assigned to me for the operation was lovely, she held my hand all the way through the procedure. The procedure was completely painless & over really quickly, I wasn't even aware at what point the flap was cut, the laser was on for 16 seconds then it was on to my other eye, straight after the operation Rodney Eve checked my eyes & said everything had gone really well. My eyes were slightly burning (which is natural) but I went straight to sleep as soon as I got home after taking another valium & I slept for 5 hours, when I woke up it had gone. I took another valium at 9.00pm. At my check up the following morning I had 100% perfect vision in my right eye & over 80% in the left eye. I have been back for my week check up & both eyes are now 100%. My eyes are very dry after the operation so I have to put in the comfort drops every hour, I asked for another box of comfort drops but was told that they only give out 4 boxes after the operation and anymore I would have to pay £3.99 for (they did however give me a further 2 boxes), the LASIK leaflet does state that all aftercare is free & my LASIK advisor also said that all drops were free, so I am a bit disappointed now to be told I will have to buy more drops especially when I could be using them for anything up to a year. On the whole though I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Rodney Eve & LASIK eye surgery.

Had LASEK surgery at London Clinic on Nov 6th 2002, and when I had my last check-up (at 3 months), I was discharged !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My vision is excellent. I can read bottom line of chart unaided, with each eye. I was -5 in right eye and -4.75 in left eye (plus astigmatism in both). I only had discomfort really for first 4 days (back to work after a week). Several weeks afterwards, my right eye became very dry, and I just changed eye drops which did the trick. Now all is well - no halos, starbursts, blurred vision - NOTHING ! The staff were great (everyone, from optician who initially checked me, the councillor, and the staff and Surgeon in London - Dr S Boytha - hope I've spelt her name correctly!) I'm taking my friend this week-end for LASEK surgery too !! I'll keep you posted as to how she gets on.

I had to cancel surgery due to personal reasons, but I found the accounts department very freindly and had a very quick response to my request for a refund. I had paid in full (£1790) and the money was back in my account in less than 7 days from cancelling my appointment. I will be going ahead with surgery later this year and will re book with Maxivision. I went to the Manchester Surgery Centre for my consultation and was amazed you could even watch surgery!

My friend told me to go for surgery as it completly changed his life. I was so excited about being about being able to play golf and see where I was hitting the ball! I went to Maxivision and was suitable (luckily as I had my heart set on it) and booked for treatment in Manchester. I was so impressed with the surgery centre. Unfortunately I have had to put off my plans for a while, but if anyone is unsure, just go along for a consultation and I am sure you will change your mind. I will be re booking later this year and can not wait. PS I have had a full refund with no problems at all.