Optical Express

I had Lasik surgery at Southampton on Friday 21st January 2005. My surgeon was Mr Aziz and he was very reassuring and put me at ease. I cannot fault the aftercare, Jo Truscott is very thorough and will answer all your questions until you are happy. The surgery team were fantastic. The day after surgery I noticed the difference straight away. I can now enjoy life without glasses. Thank you to everyone at Optical Express - Southampton.

I had bilateral lasik surgery at the Glasgow Clinic on Friday 28th January. I was quite nervous beforehand, but the team at the clinic put me at ease and made me feel very comfortable. The surgery itself was painless and over within 10 minutes and I was reading the clock in the surgery (before, I would have struggled to even see the clock!)Afterwards, my eyes were a little uncomfortable and as recommended, I kept them closed for a few hours. On opening them, any discomfort was gone and my vision was as good, if not better than with my contact lenses. My check up on Saturday morning confirmed that my vision was much better than that required for driving - and hopefully, should continue to improve as they settle. I would definitely recommend Optical Express to anyone. The staff have been excellent throughout my experience - from screening to surgery and aftercare. I wish I had done it sooner!! Thanks to all at the Glasgow Clinic.

I had lasik surgery 2.2.05, within 20 mins. i could read the eye chart without any problems. The staff at optical express are excellent, knowledgeable and without doubt first class. Slept well and awoke for the first time in 15 years being able to see t.v. without glasses. The surgery was painless and i have had no problems since. no discomfort or any pain. My sight is so very important and to walk down the street seeing without glasses is like a small miracle. I have told my friends all about the treatment, 2 of them are now going to have it done. There are minor risks but nothing like the scare stories the media tell us about. If you are thinking about it, just talk to the people who know. It dosen`t cost anything to ask.

This is an update of a comment I wrote 6.8.04 after having found I couldn't have laser surgery since my left cornea showed a slight weak point. This was most likely due to overuse of lenses and I was told to go without them for a few more weeks and then try again. As I live abroad, a few weeks ended up being a few months and I decided to fly over for a long weekend and have enough time for lasik and a check-up the day after before returning to Norway. This was on the 13th Dec. the last day the Manchester clinic had planned to have operations before Christmas (and I would then have a check-up during the Christmas holidays). I was greeted like a long-lost friend which was very positive - there must be hundreds of patients through the door but they had remembered me. This time the orb-scan of my eye could be performed in Manchester rathen than having to be sent down to London for it (they now have a scanner of their own). The results were better but Mr Aziz was still a bit sceptical to performing Lasik (which I had planned) as this would weaken the cornea more than Lasek. After a rather uncertain half an hour with a repeat of the scan and a lot of discussion back and forth, he concluded that he would perform the surgery but only with Lasek. Since I hadn't planned to be in the UK more than a couple of days I wouldn't be able to have my bandage lenses removed(which you have with Lasek) on the requisite 4-day check-up. However, Mr. Aziz was very matter of fact about the whole thing and, quite rightly, felt that it was wrong to choose which method to go for simply due to the fact that I wouldn't be able to come to a 4-day check-up. "After all", he said, "you have been wearing contact lenses for nearly 20 years - you know how to take a lens out and bandage lenses are simply lenses without a prescription". So that is what we did, and half an hour later I was lying on the operating table ready to have my first eye corrected. What an easy experience - they tell you all the way exactly what they are doing and how long it will take. I felt absolutely nothing until my eye was washed after the procedure (and felt water run down my cheek), and immediately the first eye was finished (41 seconds of laser) I became aware of a clock on the wall and it showed 12:08. After the next eye was finished (45 seconds of laser) Mr. Aziz asked me what time it was (12:17). That is how quick the whole thing is. Afterwards I was light sensitive and also sensitive to the cold air outside so it was good to get quickly into a taxi and home. The rest of the day was fine (lay down for a couple of hours in the dark) and the following day was surprisingly good too, including flying bakc to Norway - I was just very good about using all the eye drops they had given me though I didn't need the painkilling ones. Not until the third day mind you when I woke up and it felt like someone had poured washing-up liquid into my eyes. I had a hard time keeping them open and just wanted to sleep (had really expected to feel like this on the day of the surgery so it was a bit of a surprise). After that it got a lot better though my eyes felt more and more gritty. I took the bandage lenses out myself on the 4th day and was a bit disappointed that the grittiness (which I had presumed was due to them) got a bit worse immediately afterwards. Next day was a lot better and it has been uphill ever since. Now, 2 months on, my sight is excellent. I haven't had my month's check-up but after 2 weeks I had 20/20 in one eye and a bit worse in the other (from being -5.25 in both). The only negative points I have experienced is that lights "halo" a lot (particularly car rear lights!) but I have been told that this gets better with time, and that my sight is a bit "cloudy" the first half an hour when I come inside after having been out in the cold. The very positive effect (other than no specs!!!) is that my eyes are far less dry and uncomfortable after a day in front of the PC in an air-conditioned office than they were with either lenses or specs. I hardly need to use eye drops any more which is the opposite of what I had expected (a possible side-effect of Lasik is dry-eys whereas Lasek is better which I can definitely corroborate). So to summarise - Optical Express have been fantastic, the experience was fine and the result is marvellous.

just a note to thank the STAFF at the newcastle eye clinic for their outstanding customer service. From initial appointment to surgery and post care I have received excellent support and service. I have been with the eye clinic as it was in newcastle for around 23 years - I was however very nervous regarding the eye operation. The operation itself is really pain free and not to bad - yes afterwards my eyes were a little uncomfortable for around 48 hours ish. however for a couple of days discomfort i have now excellent vision - i wish i had done it sooner. recently i have been to centre parks and alton towers - what a difference in the swimming pool etc. Newcastle highly recommended - from the most nervous and pesamistic person there was regarding lasik treatment. Thank you to newcastle STAFF again.

I cannot thank Optical Express enough and in particular Mr Aziz and the team at Bristol, specifically Carmel and Lisa. The whole experience was just so easy and fantastically professional. This has got to be the best money I have ever spent; it has totally changed my life. I cannot recommend or thank them enough.

I WAS VERY NERVOUS AND EVERY STEP OF THE WAY ALL THE STAFF WERE VERY KIND. THEY KEPT ME UPDATED AT EVERY STAGE. THE PROCEDURE WAS NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE. VERY IMPRESSED WITH EVERYTHING. WELL RECOMMENDED.

Very pleased. You just have to overcome the fear of someone messing with your eyes. Aftercare very good. I keep thinking that i have not put my glasses on in the mornings and then realizing that they are not needed any more!

My surgery was done on the 04/02/2005 in Milton Keynes. I recommend having it done, its well worth it. All the staff have been very helpfull and profesional.

I had surgery at the end of Sept 2004 in the Milton Keynes branch. All staff were extremely kind and helpful. I was very short sighted at -7 and now they are better than 20/20! I would definitely recommend this to anyone thinking about it. A couple of my colleagues have also had the surgery and feel exactly the same way...