Optimax

Hi, I am booked in the Bristol office with Dr Hill (who I think may have come from the Birmingham Optimax). Has anyone had any experience of this Surgeon?

Not only can I not fault the the surgery, the after care has been second to none, even some correction surgery completed. Would not have any hesitation referring patients to the Liverpool clinic. It must be said that I did spen some time investigating several other companies, even attending a free consultation, there was no match for me.

Optimax, Birmingham I have to warn anyone that is considering having laser eye surgery not to go into the process lightly! I really didn't think about what having laser surgery would involve until the day I turned up at the clinic, I really wish I had considered it more than I did. Before I had laser eye surgery my prescription was -4.5 and -4.75 and I also had astigmatism. I researched laser eye surgery on the internet and decided that as Optimax seemed to be the cheapest, I would go with them-not the best way to decide the fate of your eyesight. I made the appointment for about 6 weeks time and then didn’t really think about it. A few days before the treatment I had to remove my lenses for a few days and wear my glasses. I had booked a few days off work and arranged for my parents to drive me to the clinic in Birmingham. On the day of the treatment I started to get a bit nervous but I was determined to go and get it done as I had booked the time off work. When I arrived I had my eyes checked by someone who appeared to be a receptionist and then went in to see the ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist put a anaesthetic drops in my eyes and did a few tests on them to see if I was suitable. I was beginning to wish I wasn’t suitable as the whole process was making me nervous, but unfortunately I was eligible! He said I could have Lasek or Lasek so I opted for Lasek as it was cheaper and has a better recovery rate, although I was warned it was more painful. I then had to go into the reception area and set up my direct debit form. I had brought along all the appropriate ID, along with my bank statements as proof that I had a regular salary. The girl seemed to get flustered when trying to sort this out and even said that she couldn’t set it up as I had no money going into my account, I ended up having to point on the statement to where money goes in and out. When you’re feeling nervous this kind of thing doesn’t help. When they eventually called me into the room to get my eyes lasered, I was really nervous. Instead of reassuring me, the ophthalmologist threatened to only do one eye-I’m not sure how this would help my nerves! The receptionist/administrator/nurse then went through the drugs that I would be taking away with me; I’m not sure why they bothered doing this as I wouldn’t be able to see for at least 24 hours. It was then time….I was put in a dentist type chair and told to lay back, my left eye had anaesthetic put in it and was clamped open. It was really uncomfortable to have the clamp on and it actually hurt my eye socket. The actually lasering part went very quickly and apart from the last 15 seconds when it feels like it is far too close to your eye, it isn’t too scary. The worst thing is knowing that it has to happen again in your right eye. This seemed more painful than the left; I’m not convinced he put enough of the drops in. When they had finished the procedure I sat up and was surprised how clear my vision was-maybe it was worth it after all! I went into the waiting room, grabbed my parents and got into the car (luckily I wasn’t driving). Although my eyesight was great and I could see really well, I had a feeling of impending doom at the bottom of my stomach….. …and then it came. When the pain came it was really bad. I’m not going to lie because I believe anyone considering Epi-Lasek should know how bad it really is. I was in the car crying in pain, it was so bad that my parents even considered driving me to A&E. They decided that it would be best for me to spend the 2 hour journey asleep and gave me one of the sleeping tablets that had been provided in my bag. After around an hour of absolute agony, I managed to fall asleep. When I finally got home my parents had to lead me in the house and put me on the sofa. I spent the next few hours going from absolute agony into sedated sleep. My parents had to turn every light in the house off and even blow out a candle as, despite having my eyes shut with eye shields on, the light hurt my eyes. When I finally got to bed my parents gave me more tablets and I managed to sleep. The next day when the light started coming through the blinds, the agony started again. I spent the next day on the sofa begging my parents for more pain killers, I couldn’t even listen to the radio as everything annoyed me. My parents were trying to put my eye drops in and my eyes were so swollen they couldn’t get even one drop in. They are both nurses and were concerned that my eyes may get infected so they decided to call Optimax. When they called up they were adamant that all my symptoms were normal and told me to keep trying to put the drops in. That night I had a terrible night sleep and as I hadn’t seen anything for nearly 2 days, I was starting to get paranoid. My Dad called up the clinic again and managed to speak to someone that knew what they were talking about. He mentioned that I could be having a bad reaction to the contact lens bandage in my eye and for me to go back to Birmingham and get it removed. Finally I would be free of pain!! I got in the car straight away and went to Optimax. The ophthalmologist I saw this time was much nicer than the one that had done my surgery and as soon as he took the lens out, the pain went. Over the next week my sight got much better and I now have 20/20 vision. Would I recommend it to a friend? Well not Epi-lasek, no. I have heard that Lasik is much better, but then I heard that Lasek wasn’t that bad, and I thought it was awful.

To be honest I would not recommend Optimax Bristol. My experience has been less than enjoyable and the complications, pain, administrative problems and time spent off work mean that I wish I had stuck to glasses / lenses. Whilst the results have been pretty good (-3.5 and -3 astigmatism) down to nearly 20:20 - the journey, starting in September last year, has not been an enjoyable one. I could easily list 25+ problems (some ongoing) that I have suffered and I get the feeling that the place is falling to pieces with surgeons/staff leaving. I could go on for hours but don't wish to send everyone to sleep. For a place performing such important work you would expect more professionalism, better systems and higher quality staff. In summary - don't bother, yes the results can be quite impressive but I wish I'd have stuck to a good pair of glasses. If you must - go elsewhere!

Had my Laser Eye Surgery done by Dr Malcolm S Samuel Epi Lasek with wavefront treatement at end of October 2006 at Leeds Clinic. I researched not that thoroughly but wanted to do it for a long time, information on day was quite sparce but as I knew everything it was cool. Asked a few question about the OP, Does it hurt? How long will it take? What’s the aftercare? Etc all were answered. The Doc recommended Wavefront for night-time driving, great will do. I must point out I have a big phobia about anything going near my eyes (i.e. can’t touch my eye, cant wear contact lenses at ALL!) Went through procedure, crapped it a lot but came out like a Butterfly. Pain not all that bad, just stings really, so no Biggie. I was told in consultation that I will only be Driving Standard Eye Sight but it went better than expected I can read All The Words at the bottom of the Eye Test Sheet after 3weeks when my eyes settled down. And I got 2 weeks off work too GREAAAAAT. One thing They Don’t Tell You, after so many years of wearing glasses you keep poking yourself in the eye because you think you still have glasses on, DOH. Now I just got to get fast car, the fast women and Jobs a Good’un!! Cost £895 from EBay and Wavefront £300. Cheap as chips!!!!!! If you are thinking about it, as Ben Stiller In Starsky & Hutch Movie said: “DOOOOOO IT!!!!!!! …. DOOOOOOOO IT!!!!!”

I had lasik surgery done by Dr Doyle on 28 September 2006. From the first time I met him at my consultation I felt a ease with him. He explained everything fully (even though a lot of it was a bit technical and went over my head)!! On the day of the surgery I was very nervous (so nervous that I had two double vodkas before I went in)! The actual operation was not enjoyable, it didnt hurt, it was just very bizzare. As soon as the op was over I knew I could see, which to me was a miracle as my prescription was -8.50 and -7.50 so to be able to see was very emotional. I went for my final check up on 9 December and was discharged with 110% vision in my right eye and driving standard in the left. I still get quite dry eyes and use my drops occasionally but apart from that everything is great. I am so glad I took the plunge and had it done. The staff at Optimax in Manchester were great and I would recommend it to anyone.

I had Lasik performed on Friday 26th January at the Optimax Southampton clinic. I have been short sighted for 15 years and now wore contact lenses all the time. My prescription was right eye was -6.50 with an astigmatism of -0.25 and my left -6.25. It wasnt until six months ago when i washed my contact lenses down the sink that i realised how blind i was and something needed to be done! I purchased my treatment via E-bay for £1185 for both eyes using the Lasik procedure. Needless to say i was a bundle of nerves for a week prior to the operation and having my doubts. Yes, there are many complications that can happen but they have to tell you this to cover themselves. One thing that suprised me is that the receptionists are optical assistants as well as surgical assistants. One minute you see them answering the phone at the reception the next minute they are in full scrubs going into the treatment room. If i based my experience of my pre op tests which were a struggle for the receptionist to actually competently use the equipment and had the ask for assistance twice i would have walked, but thankfully the surgeon Dr Ayoubi was marvellous. He talked me through the procedure clearly and after having my consultation with him i was reassured and calm. The operation was arranged that afternoon with both eyes being treated. One incident again with the receptionists is that despite informing her that the price was £1185 and the £60 consultation fee was to be deducted as it clearly states in their E-bay advert, i informed her that i would be paying £1125. I was then given the chip and pin machine which had no value showing on the screen, i said that i cant see the amount, i was abruptly told that i would get a receipt after i had entered my pin. Suprise, suprise she had charged me £1185! She did not listen to what i had told her and said she needed to e-mail head office to get a £60 refund which would take about two weeks! This is really what i needed just before surgery. I was called into the treatment room and asked to put on a white cap. Then i mentioned to the surgical assistant (aka a receptionist) that i was nervous and was coldly ignored and led into the treatment chair. Thankfully the welcoming calming Dr Ayoubi was there and i felt at ease. The clamp was not uncomfortable, the worst part is the suction ring. It is pressed down on you eyeball and feels like they are trying to push your eyeball into the back of your head! Tip - clentch your fist with the pressure it does actually help! Then it goes black, you have to remember that your other eye is taped down so you are in darkness. At this point i freaked out and asked if someone could hold my hand, Dr Ayoubi asked the "receptionist" to hold my hand to which she replied "i cant get to you" in a abrupt tone. Dr Ayoubi asked if i was ok to proceed which i was as i could hear his voice. Then the flap was cut, which you still cant see at this point and is not at all worrying! Then it all comes clear and you see a fuzzy red light above you. The laser was applied and yes you do smell that burning smell. It was strong but i had read on this site to breathe through your mouth. I did this but to be honest i could still smell it! Then it was time to do it all over again! I then had plastic shields taped over my face and lead through the waiting room in front of the next patients! I must state that there has been NO PAIN. I havent even had a paracetamol or glass or wine during the recovery! I went back the following morning to find i have driving standard vision 18 hours later and should achieve 20/20 within the next few days. I cannot praise Dr Ayoubi enough and if Southampton was not my local clinic i would have travelled to receive treatment by him. He is a credit to Optimax.

I am considering having Lasik femto wavefront treatment at the Leeds Branch of Optimax with Malcolm Samuel. Any feedback on the branch, surgeon/doctor, staff, the treatment you had and success/failure would be greatly appreciated.

I had Epi-Lasek with Wavefront at the Finchley Rd clinic with Dr Patel on 1st Dec 2006. I was expecting to have Lasik so I was surprised and pleased when the dr recommended the cheaper one for me. The treatment was almost painless, but uncomfortable. It took me a little over half an hour to get home, by which time the anaesthetic was wearing off and I was in some degree of pain in my left eye. An hour later I was in agony. My left eye swelled up, was bright red, weeping constantly, and was so painful I had to sit in the dark with every light in the house off, no TV, blackout curtains drawn, AND sunglasses on, and it was still too bright. I had to take the sleeping tablet they gave me on saturday night just to drop off to sleep. On sunday I was no better at all and so phoned the helpline. They said I couldnt bring my appointment forward as there were no spaces and didn't count pain as an emergency as Epi-Lasek did carry some amount of pain for some people. All they could do for me was to bring the appt forward from 5pm to 11am on the tuesday. I spent the rest of the time in so much pain, I have never cried so much in my life. I couldnt do anything and lived in the dark, listening to talk radio :o( I had to use the anaesthetic drops to relieve some of the pain I was in, but it wouldnt go away. On Tuesday I got all the way to the Finchley Road clinic (I was having the bandage contact lenses removed) only to be told that the dr was off sick and they would have to reschedule my appt. Bearing in mind that I looked such a state and was still in agony, I just couldnt believe what they were saying!!! My boyfriend was just about to kick off, luckily the other receptionist saw my eye and asked one of the other dr's to take a look. I was very relieved!!! The dr asked how I felt and I told him that it was the most painful thing I had ever gone through in my life. I explained that my right eye appeared to be fine and wasnt painful at all, but told him of the problems and pain with the left eye. He took a look at my eye through the microscope thing and said I had a bit of infiltrate on my left eye. He put an anaesthetic drop into each eye and slowly slid the bandage lens off. Immediately when he had done this I felt such a sense of relief, and the pain disappeared right away! He inspected the lens and told me that there had been a particle of dirt trapped between my eye and the lens and every single time I had blinked over the last 4 days it had been cutting into my eye. No wonder it hurt so damn much!!!!! I then had the eye test and was absolutely gutted. My left eye was still short sighted. I cried all the way home I was so disappointed with the whole thing. I was really angry that what was supposed to be a sterile environment had somehow done this to my eye. How had the dirt got underneath the lens? I can only assume it was done during the surgery. Anyway, it took a few days for the runny eye to stop, meanwhile I was still taking the drops exactly as instructed, and any time I went out I wore my sunglasses. I wasn’t going to take any chances! It took three weeks, but overnight (quite literally) my left eye healed itself and when I went back to the clinic the dr confirmed that I have 20/20 vision. I still have to wear my sunglasses whenever I go out, even when its not sunny (which is a bit embarrassing but I can handle that!!!), and I have another check up on 3rd feb to see if the haze has gone. My overview of my treatment and results: I was disappointed that I had so much trouble at the start, but like with childbirth, you soon forget about the pain and concentrate on the end result. And now my eyesight is restored to “normal” I am extremely happy that I had it done. I am pleased with Optimax, and just have to put my experience down as bad luck. Their aftercare has been excellent. It is the most liberating thing to now be able to see, and is quite hard to get used to, but I get realisations on a daily basis of what I can now do that I couldn’t do before without glasses!!! I would definitely recommend having it done.

I had bi-lateral epi-lasek treatment at Birmingham Optimax in March 2006. I was about -1.75 in each eye with a bad astigmatism. I was seen and treated by Andre Obersholster. Andre was helpful and honest during the consultation, agreeing that he was able to achieve 20/20 vision with epi-lasek rather than lasik. Treatment wasn’t as bad as expected, except he didn’t put enough anaesthetic in the first eye so I felt them scraping off the surface. The second eye was fine because I’d piped up and asked for more as it hurt. An unpleasant operation, but it was only 15 minutes start to finish. Very satisfying to smell your eyes burning. It felt like getting good value for money… The three day recovery time was agonising. I was in constant, searing pain for two days, and fair to reasonable discomfort for the third. Having the bandage lenses was one of the best experiences in my adult life. The relief was unbelievable. My vision took about two weeks to come back to a reasonable standard. Using a PC was fine, but I recommend taking breaks every 30 minutes or so. I was driving four days after the operation. At my after care appointments I was told that my vision was slowly getting better. At about eight weeks after treatment, I started to feel my eyesight deteriorate. This gradually got worse until, by six months, Optimax had agreed that I had regressed to a worse standard of sight than before. I wasn’t so happy about the whole thing, but I had to wait a further four weeks for another consultation. The optometrist who saw me the second time round casually steered me away from Dr Oberholster toward Dr Madhusudhan. I kept asking why, but they were fairly evasive. This time my consultation lasted the best part of three hours and I was seen by two optometrists and by Dr Madhusudhan. It was decided that I would have been better off all along with lasik, rather than epi-lasek. I was understandably annoyed that I wasn’t told that in the first place, but carried on regardless. My main gripe was being asked to pay extra for the re-treatment. After a decent sized row with the staff at Birmingham, they agreed that I shouldn’t have to pay extra for treatment that I didn’t even want. I was never keen of the flap idea and the eye being weakened. Lasik surgery was a tad more unpleasant then epi-lasek. But still over in fifteen minutes. I watched Dr Madhusudhan place the flap back down three times on one eye, so he could get it to seal perfectly. Surreal. The pain that night was 75% of the pain on epi-lasek. People who have no pain with lasik are lucky, as mine was fairly bad. I slept well. The next morning I had no pain. Just a little discomfort as Dr Madhusudhan had used bandage lenses. When I had them out the day after treatment, I was nearly 20/20. Three months after the lasik, I have finally been discharged. With a confirmed bi-lateral 20/20. As everyone says in this forum – it is truly life changing to have the surgery. Despite the re-treatment, I’d recommend it to anyone. I have recommended three people to Optimax using their referral process. Be wary that you have to really chase them for the £25. Months for one of my referrals………. Staff at Birmingham are polite and efficient. The manager never did ring me back to finally agree to re-treat me for free. Instead, choosing to make me wait for the day o f my treatment to let me find out the good news. I never had a straight answer to my question – “Did Dr Obersholster mess up my treatment?” I did have plenty of inferences and hints to confirm that, though. Don’t pay more than £895. Just ring them and tell them that you saw it on eBay. Enter into the process with an open mind, and be mindful that it can be a surgical process as opposed to a one hit wonder.