Optimax

I had epi-lasek treatment at Bristol Optimax on Clare Street, a lady surgeon from South Africa who was very nice and friendly. Very reassuring. I would recommend her. Feedback for everyone out there to help you and your decision making/preparation: - Do your own research, and weigh up your own thoughts. It's very important to consider your personality type in terms of how you deal with change, and whether you're a worrier or if you're quite easy-going. The reason I say this is because there is a lot of pain and discomfort after the surgery anaesthetic wears off, and it's so easy to keep thinking, is this ok, should my eyes be feeling like this etc etc. Recommendations: - Have someone pick you up and take you home as soon as the surgery is finished. I had to wait for a friend for around 35 minutes and by then the anaesthetic was wearing off and the lights were so so bright! - Get yourself some audio books to listen to or good radio programmes scheduled in that you can listen to. I was in a dark room for three days as the lights were so painful. I slept on and off for two days and I found listening to the audio tapes kind of helpful and a good distraction. - I had my surgery on a thursday morning, then was back in work after 11 days. I found computer work hard going when I got back, and had to have my screen adjusted as you do become temporarily long sighted for a while. - I wouldn't recommend driving on any long journeys for a while. It really tires your eyes out. I drove a 3 and a half hour journey 5 weeks after surgery, and my eyes did hurt a bit by the end. - the lasek surgery isn't an over-night "miracle-style" experience. It take a while for the eyes to heal. My right eye is still not 20:20 vision, but I am happy to accept that my eye is still healing, and will take a while. - Your eyes will continue to feel tired late at night and first thing in the morning when you get up, that's completely normal. The surgery is fine, not a problem at all. It's not that you have to worry about. You just have to prepare well for the after-care, and don't plan too much in for the near future. I could hardly open my eyes each morning, and the first 3 days were just horrible. But each day after that got a little easier. I'm so happy not to wear contact lenses any longer!!! - I had my surgery while I had a cold, and I was told afterwards that I was taking longer to heal than your average person. I would recommend that you are in full health when you have the surgery so that you are fighting fit enough to heal well. - Remember, everyone's capability to heal is very different, ane each person can have a different experience of surgery and the ability to heal well. I had a good experience but that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone will. It's really important for you to weigh up the risks for yourself. Cath

I had epi-lasek on Monday 24th April at Hove near Brighton, I was really lucky to get it free through a promotion at work. I had considered having the operation for many years but was not planning on doing anything until I was in my late 20's I am only 21 now. My vision was -2.50 and -3.25 with stigmatism, the operation was very quick there was no pain maybe just a slight discomfort but I may have made that worse as I was quite tense, i could smell burning from the laser on your eye that made me feel quite sick, the operation was over in about ten minutes in total and I was straight out and on my way home, I wasn't prepared for the pain afterwards though, I can honestly say its the most pain I have ever experienced in my life!! with all the painkillers and sleeping tablets I was ok after 4 hours and I pretty much slept for the following 32 hours, I thought I was going to be ok to look after myself but I was very wrong, my partner took the next 2 days off, so I would make sure you have someone with you for the first 24 hours at least, by Thursday my vision was still very blurry and I thought I had made a huge mistake but when I woke up friday morning my sight was back and it was the best feeling. I started to drive again on Sunday but only short distances, it is now tuesday and my vision is getting better and better every day im not sure how much more it will improve, I can see everything but some things aren't very sharp but I am still absoloutley over the moon with the results. On the first 4 days I would have said dont bother getting it done, but im very impatient!! by Friday I was ringing everyone in my phone book telling them to get it done, yes the pain is very extreme but so so worth it, it has already made such a change in me im already so much more confident and feel great about myself, so guys dont waste any more time thinking about it book your appointment NOW. Just to finish off thank you to everyone at the Hove clinic the guys at the front dest were so friendly and really made me feel at ease and thank you to my partner for looking after me!!!

My experience from the first consultation through to the aftercare was fantastic, staff where professional and friendly. The surgoen was re-assuring and extremley competent. This has been a life changing experience (which my daughters would confirm)and I would recommend Lasik and Optimax to anyone

Had surgery 19th Dec 2005. Absolutely thrilled with result - 20/20 vision. Have told everyone I know how great Optimax is. Thank you so much - it's a real life changer - I love it!

Purchased Epi-Lasek from Optimax FROM EBAY at a bargain price, visited the Ipswich clinic and found the staff to be both professional and knowledgable. The procedure was explained in detail and all possible side effects were described. I have just been discharged from them after having had my 6 month after-care appointment with 20/20 vision. Consider the fact that I had worn glasses since I was 6 (Im now 38), so it's a big big change.. If you are a glasses wearer, don't be afraid.. Do it now, its the best thing you will ever do. (And no this isnt a fake review, it is 100% geniune and I am one very satisfied customer!)

It has now been 6 months since my Lasik Op at Southampton with Dr Ayoubi, and I am very pleased with the results. My eyesight used to be -6.5 and -7.0 with astigmatism. I have just had a post check-up and my eyesight is now 0.0 and -0.25, this is a further improvement from a test in January when it was -0.25 and -0.5. Dr Ayoubi says there is still room for improvement! I would recommend this clinic to anyone, and Dr Ayoubi who is just lovely! The reception staff have gone out of their way to accommodate me into their appointment schedule as I live in Germany, and even fit me in when I have been late! This was the best decision I have ever made. Thank you to everyone, especially Dr Ayoubi, at the Southampton Optimax Clinic.

Its now one year since my surgery at Optimax Newcastle. I was worried as I had dry eye, but now my eyes dont even need drops for this. Its the best thing I could have done, and should have done it sooner.

I HAD THE EPI LASEK PROCEDURE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT HAVING LASER SURGERY WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE DONE. I AM ONLY 24 NOW SO I CAN HOPEFULLY ENJOY HAVING NO GLASSES FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I WASNT REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT THE PROCEDURE, MORE EXCITED. I WAS AWARE OF ALL THE POSSIBLE THINGS THAT MAY GO WRONG AND HAD SPOKEN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAD THE PROCEDURE IN THE PAST. THE PROCEDURE WAS SO QUICK AND THE ONLY THING I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT AT THAT TIME WAS WALKING OUT OF THE BRISTOL CLINIC WITH THE PLASTIC LENSES OVER THE MY EYES! NO ONE WARNED ABOUT THEM.. BUT THANKFULLY, I THINK PEOPLE IN BRISTOL ARE USED TO IT BY NOW. I DID HAVE PAIN IN ONE EYE ON THE SIXTH DAY AFTER THE LENSES CAME OUT BUT AFTER THAT IT WAS JUST BEING PATIENT. I WAS IN NO RUSH AND KNEW IT WAS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO HEAL. I JUST FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO ME VERY CAREFULLY AND TOOK THE OMEGA 3 VITAMINS I WAS ADVISED WOULD HELP THE HEALING AND A YEAR LATER I HAVENT LOOKED BACK! SO GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY TO ANYONE LOOKING TO HAVE IT DONE!

I had the intralase proceedure using the Femtosecond Laser at Optimax Birmingham on 2/5/06. My Surgeon was Andre Oberholster. My right eye was -2.00 and left -2.75 with astigmatism. I could not see to put nail polish on my toenails without glasses. I booked my appointment via ebay and got a good discount. During my consultation I decided to upgrade and have the intralase proceedure which uses a laser instead of a blade to produce the flap. I found the proceedure itself totally pain free and very fast. There is a smell for about a second or two but I thought it was exactly like the smell when a tooth is being drilled at the dentist. My friend drove me home and I kept my eyes closed for most of the journey. I was quite tired after the proceedure and sat quietly all evening listening to music with my lovely eye shields taped to my face. Although I could read 20/20 the next day on the eye chart I did not get instant clear vision I was blurry for quite a few days. I did feel worried but it is a normal part of the healing proceedure. I have not had starbursts or any bad halo effects (I had holoes before I had intralasik) and I have no problems with dim lighting. I still have a small amount of glare/haze (eg around objects in a window ledge or white script on a black background on the computer)but this is improving and does not cause me any problems. Unfortunately I did have some side effects from the steroid drops which gave me headaches and made me feel very nauseous. I found that the aftercare from Optimax is excellent. I telephoned to say I felt unwell, I was expecting someone to speak to me on the phone but was told to visit the clinic and they would see me straight away. The Optomotrist fully examined my eyes and explained about the side effects I was experiencing and I immediately felt re-assured. The drops do not have to be used for very long and the side effects ended when the drops stopped. Although I did not wake up the next morning with perfect vision my eyesight has continued to improve day by day and I am now just over 3 weeks post surgery and am very pleased with my eyesight and it is still improving! Driving is brilliant and I feel like I can see for miles over the countryside. I knew I would have to wear reading glasses and have enjoyed choosing modern funky frames at little cost (my glasses were £250 minimum a time and I was going into bi-focals). I have had a little bit of dry eye which is to be expected but have found that Systane drops (I got mine from the internet) are excellent. I dont need to use them so often and I dont get any residue on my eyelashes. I can now wear my eye make and look normal! I was expecting bright sunshine to bother me but I have not had any real problems. I wore sunglasses outside for a fortnight to protect my eyes but I can see fine without them and only need them if the sun is really bright(as I did before the surgery). I would recommend Optimax Birmingham. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I will post again after my next aftercare appointment. Best wishes, Ann

I had my Lasik surgery two and a half weeks ago with Dr Pauw in Hull, I must say Hull were just absolutely marvellous, i had previously had a consultation elsewhere and they were very sales orientated and trying to push me in to paying a £200 deposit, where as in hull Becky told me to go away and read the information she gave me ad have a good think about it. In the meantime the other clinic kept on calling me trying to badger me in to paying a deposit which i found very unprofessional. When i went in for my surgery the Hull branch were fabulous. They made me feel at ease totally, the surgery was very scary as i didnt know what to expect, and the only discomfort during was the eye clamp. afterwards i had 4/5 hours of severe pain,i couldnt open my eyes at all,and they were streaming continuously!and felt like there was grit in them.But after those 5 hours it was unbelievable how great i felt! the pain went and my vision was perfect! I can see totally clearly and have had my check up and have perfect viosion! Lazer eye surgery is the best thing i have ever had done and i would highly reccomend it to anyone! I only wish i had had it done years ago! Gone are the glasses and no longer do i have to pull at the skin round my eyes to put in my contact lenses! Reccomend it 200%