Optimax

Just an update 1 week on. I am now -0.50 in both eyes with zero astigmatism. Long distance still not really sharp but i can see well enough to drive during the day. The lights are a bit of a problem at night at the moment. Overall i am pleased, i just hope my vision continues to improve that tiny little bit so i can experience perfect vision.

I am going to have lazer treatment on Tue 3rd April. Having the consultation first and then if suitable the treatment. I am attending the Belfast clinic, any info on this clinic would be really helpful as i am really panicking incase it goes wrong...Aileen

Sorry Dr was Dr Materman and not Materton as detailed in my report. As an update 3 days on and apart from a bit of 'haloing' at night - which should evidently calm down - no probs. Still can't stop smiling and telling everyone about it!

I asked for a brochure on-line and I had it within two days (positive point). It stated that you have to pay for the consultancy (£60.00), but it is done with a surgeon so I though it was worth having it (positive point). Then I received am email offering me 1/2 price for consultation and up to £310 for lasik if I booked consultation before the end of the month. I though that it was really commercial but I went ahead and booked an appointment (mitigated opinion) I live in Edinburgh, so the nearest clinic in Glasgow. Also, I can have free check-up at the Glasgow clinic or go to an independent optometrist in Edinburgh who will charge me around £20.00.Quite a bit annoying... (Bad point) Then the worse: There are those annoying people who phone you nearly ounce every two days the week before the consultation to check if you are coming. Scary: in their terms and conditions, you can get operated the same day of your consultancy, if you wait an hour between consultancy-surgery!! From my point of view, this is NOT acceptable. The clinic in Glasgow is really odd. The staff is hardly polite, prefering finishing private conversation before taking care of you. I wait 45 min before they realise that I was overdue for my appointment. Having paid £30.00, you should expect the surgeon to be polite and pay attention to you; but this one was more pre-occupied about going out for lunch. Conclusion: even if £500 cheaper than the other, I will not go for them.

I had bi-lateral Femtosecond Wavefront Lasik On monday afternoon. I went for my 1 day check-up tuesday and i have gone from -4.75/-4.00 to -1.00 in both eyes. Obviously this has left me rather upset as i can see better than i have in years but not enough to drive without glasses. I have been told to wait for improvements but in the meantime what do i do about driving?? Also it wasnt until i made my appointment that i discovered it cheaper on ebay. I was dissapointed about this because you have to be unknown to optimax so my treatment has cost £2980 and so far been unsuccesful and many others have paid a lot less with perfect results. So far i am feeling rather cheated and unhappy. I dont hold out much hope for a natural improvement in my eyes as they havent changed all day. And to rub salt in the wound, if i need re-treatment i have been told it will cost £95 per eye so my treatment will then be in excess of £3000.

I don't usually contribute to forums but having read Emma's "truth about laser eye surgery" posted on 15 March I felt that I had to tell my "truth" as well. I went to Optimax in Belfast for a consultation on Thursday 11 January 2007 at 11.00am. I had already been to Optical Express and had been told that I wasn't suitable for Lasik (corneas too thin) but that I should have have Epi-Lasek treatment with Wavefront, at a total cost of £2,300. Having done my research before going to Optimax, for a second opinion, I was more than happy to agree (if suitable and if I was content to proceed) to have the laser surgery done at 2.00pm on the day of my consultation. It was reassuring that the consultant/surgeon (Dr Qasi) also recommended epi-lasek with wavefront so I had the surgery at 1.30pm (early!) that day. The staff gave me a while to settle down and, once I was ready, one of them went through the various drops and medication with me. They told me it was important to put my feet up for a few days and not to try to watch telly for at least 48 hours (Emma take note!!). I was warned well in advance of the surgery that epi-lasek recovery would be sore for a few days and I suppose it was, uncomfortable anyway ... my eyes were very photo-sensitive (I had to wear my sunglasses constantly) and they felt gritty (probably the bandage contact lenses). I had the surgery on Thursday afternoon and Friday and Saturday were 2 of the most boring days I've ever spent (mostly sleeping). Then on Sunday morning it all came together and my sight was great (not perfect yet and still photo-sensitive but the healing process had definitely kicked in). This was consistent with the advice I had been given by the Optimax staff and literature ALL ALONG and I had booked a week off work anyway. By Tuesday everything was great, I was SLIGHTLY long sighted for a short time but again that's part of the healing process. In summary, I would highly recommend the surgery but don't let anyone tell you that the recovery isn't uncomfortable for a dew days (I was never given that impression by the Optimax staff anyway). But THIS IS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE and surely "no pain,no gain" has never been more appropriate. Do ensure that you follow their aftercare advice to the letter and, in my experience, everything will be fine. The difference is amazing, and surely that's the important thing. Incidentally, I booked my surgery having seen an offer on eBay from the Optimax owner, Richard Ambrose, and got epi-lasik with wavefront, including consultation, for £1,090.

Surgery date 14/02/07.prescription -2.50 both eyes with asigmatism. Treatment: Lasik with femtosecond at Birmingham. I have been considering treatment for a couple of years. The crunch came when I dropped my brand new £100+ glasses on the floor and they chipped - I booked the treatment the next day! I got a negotiated teacher's discount of 30%. On the day both the surgeon (Dr Qazi)and optician were both very patient as they talked me through the treatment. It was useful to have my husband be allowed to come into the consultant room as I was too nervous to take all of the information in myself! The girls in reception could have been a little more friendly and helpful as I felt like an interuption to their work though. I really underestimated the surgery procedure itself. I had a mini panic attack in the chair which was not tollerated particularly well by the staff. The pain from the surgery and light-sensitivity were pretty bad for about 2 hours and then the pain started to subside. My vision was pretty much restored when I finally managed to open my eyes after this time. Now 5 weeks on, I can honestly say that 1/2 a day of unpleasantness was most definitely worth it. My sight is now 20/20, and better than it ever was with lenses and glasses. I went swimming yesterday, and it was amazing to be able to see ahead of me for the first time in years! I'm really enjoying the freedom the treatment has given me, and would recommend it wholeheartedly!

Right eye -2.25, Left eye -1.50 with astigmatism. Received Lasik treatment from Dr Hynes on 21.03.07 at Manchester clinic. Found the treatment to be uncomfortable but not painful and I did come out of the treatment room feeling slightly shakey. Slept for three hours when I got home and did everything I was told to do, no tv etc. Nextday I could see everything and I mean "everything", no pain just amazement. Dr Hynes is a good doctor and I chose this clinic for his and Dr Doyles skills. I certainly have no regrets. My vision 3 days after op is better than 20.20. I am now looking fwd to getting married in August and swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Maldives without lenses or specs.

I have been wearing contact lenses/glasses for 20 years, and was short sighted -3.75 and -4.50, so I couldn't see without one or the other. After looking into lazer eye surgery, and after doing lots of research, I decided to have Lasik with wavefront and Femtosecond.I booked the surgery for the 1st December 2006 at the finchley Rd Clinic - London, with Dr Patel. Yes, I was very nervous about the whole thing, but was re-assured by a lady in the toilets who said you will never regret it. The only downside of day was the waiting time, that perticular day the clinic had experienced software problems, which caused all the appointments to run late, 1.5hrs to be precise. When I was finally called, the whole procedure was over within the hour. Be aware Femtosecond takes longer, as you are waiting in a cold room for the flap to form (wear something warm). The rest of the operation went very quickly, I did feel a little rushed as appointments were running late. I recommend The Quality Hotel Hamspted if you are staying over night, its only 5 minutes up the road and its comfortable and reasonably priced. One Week later I had 20/20 vision, but did experience "halos" whilst driving at night, which was a bit daunting for the first month, its now three months later and the halos have virtually gone, they say it can take upto to year to disappear completely. I occassionly get dry eyes which I treat with eye drops and overall I would recommended this procedure to anyone.

Going in for surgery on Friday 16th March 2007 with Dr Patel at the London Branch of Optimax. Anyone have any comments to make. Getting really nervous now. Stephanie Munno