Optimax

Everybody at the Optimax Reading clinic was wonderful. I was a little unsure/uneasy before the procedure after reading all the literature but although a new branch (opened Sept 05) everybody was very friendly. Dr Islam who did the procedure explained what was going to happen, dealt with my questions and even had time to share a laugh (very welcome to break the ice). After my initial concerns the treatment session (Lasek) went very quickly and wasn't anything like I was expecting. The pain & discomfort started in the car on the way home after about 20 minutes. I can only explain the pain for the contact wearers out there as like putting your lenses in with them being soaked in the wrong solution. The pain lasted for the rest of the afternoon evening, as a generally heavy sleeper I had a good nights sleep with the pills and woke with the pain gone but still with the need to stay in a very dark room for another day and a half. Controlling the pain/discomfort is better if you follow what they recommend. I also strongly recommend buying a few audio books to give you something to do and it also blocks out everyone asking you if you are OK. I first thought about doing this over ten years ago, I wish I had, after two weeks I have better than 20/20 in one eye and the other is coming along nicely. With the Ebay price and the Reading staff I strongly recommend you go along for a consultation. See you around!

It has now been 3 months since I had my Lasik operation at Southampton and I have just had a local check up done. My eyesight prescription was previously -6.75 and -7.00. It is now -0.25 and -0.50, a result I am pretty pleased with. My left eye seems pretty perfect to me but my right eye is still a little bit blurry, although I can certainly live with it. I have no problems with night vision. Considering how bad my prescription was initially the operation was definitely worthwhile, and it's great not to have to mess about with contact lenses!!!

Had laser treatment (both eyes) in the summer of 2001, and I have had no trouble at all afterwards, it's great to be able to see long distance, the views etc., it has made such a difference in my life. I had mine done at the Bristol Optimax Clinic, the staff were helpful and friendly, put you at your ease and the doctor I saw was Dr. M Mundasad,(one of the best he explained everything to me, the good points and also what could wrong, the pros and the cons for having it done, what to expect etc., the examination carried out at the consultation was very thorough, there was no pressure to go ahead with the treatment, you could walk away and say no thank you, book an appt: to have it done at a later date or go ahead with it the same day which I did, there was some slight dis-comfort, as if you had grit in your eye and had rubbed it, this lasted only a couple of days, I had the first eye done on the Friday and on the Wednesday I realised that I could see up the road and read the cars number plate, I hadn't been able to do that for years & years, I did at that time take the week of work just to rest the eye and make sure all went well,which it did, I know my friend who had it done before me went back to work on the Tuesday and she said she wished she had had the week of just to rest and let the brain etc., adjust to being able to see properly!!, I had the right eye done on the 8 week check up for the left eye, and this one appeared to right itself alot quicker, maybe because I didn't worry to much over it, the reason I had both eyes done was I got so fed up with the expense of glasses and 9 times out of 10 not being able to get a par to fit comfortably, and due to having Astigmatism (sorry if I've spelt it wrong)in both eyes I couldn't get on with Contact Lenses, plus the cost all the time of them. I would receomment anyone considering having this treatment to go by peoples recommendations, but at then end of the day it is up to the individual to make the decision to have it done, and if you do go ahead and get it done, please take note of any "aftercare" instructions that you are given, they are given for a reason and if you follow them you shouldn't have any problems. I have certainly no regrets in having both eyes treated.

Had wavefront treatment by professor Jan Venter on the 10/12/04. Five days later I drove 500 miles to the west of Ireland; it was fantastic! I can see the pixels in traffic lights and on the tail lights of cars. There was a plane which had left Heathrow airport and I could see the front wheels spinning as it took-off from the run way. Colours are more difined i.e reds, greens, blues etc really stand out compared to when I was wearing glsses; persciption was - 4.75 and - 2.75, but now I have 20/20 vision. Also my night vision is great and I am not blinded by on coming traffic anymore. If you would like to ask me any questions then feel free to e-mail me:- patrick.mcguire@emersonnetworkpower.com

Hi, I'm due to see DR McGraw at the Reading Optimax Clinic in February. Can anyone give me any feedback about the clinic or the doctor. Good or bad! Thanks, Adam.

I had epi- lasek surgery done at Leeds for myopia and astigmatism May 2004.The staff were fantastic and although spelled out the facts were very reassuring.The operation was a bit scary,although not at all painful.Once the drops went in everthing went blurry and I had to stare at the red light,bit of an out of body experience.The worst bit was the smell of burning.The treatment lasted for 30 seconds for each eye.I came out of the treatment room and looked up at the clock and I could read the time,incredible I didnt know there was a clock there before.The first three days were a bit sore ,throbbing ,eyes watering as I had been warned by the staff.I wore dark glasses for a week.By the time the bandage lenses were removed I had good enough vision to drive.Two weeks later I had 20/20 vision in both eyes.It was like a miracle.Seeing the world through your own eyes and not through lenses is indescribable.I went to Greece 8 weeks after the surgery ,it was fantastic to be without specs.My vision continues to be A1 although I do need off the shelf glasses for reading which is no hassle to me.I am now 53 yrs old I wish I'd have had the surgery much sooner.I can recommend Optimax Leeds to anyone,Thankyou Optimax for everything

Well I have now received my epi-lasik treatment at the Glasgow Optimax clinic and I can see even better now, than when I wore my glasses and that's 18 days on since the procedure and I was about minus 3.50 in each eye. I was treated by Doctor Anwar who speaks to you and reassures you through the whole procedure. On the day, I wasn't nervous until I was called into the treatment room. I was asked to wear a surgical cap to keep my hair off my eyes and then went into the room to sign the last of the consent forms. I then laid down on a bed, which was pushed under the laser. The worst bit about the procedure was having the eyelids kept open with a kind of clip, as your natural reaction is to close your eyelids. You are aware of what is going on througout the procedure, but once the eyedrops are placed in your eyes you don't feel a thing. You are aware of having something wiped over your eye. You have to stare at a red light, which turns out to be the actual laser, and keep very still. By this stage I was quite anxious and did keep rigidly still but Doctor Anwar keeps hold of your head and the laser would stop and reset if you did move your head or eye. You are very aware of the staff counting the 45 seconds or so when the laser is on and you do smell something similar to burning hair, I tried to hold my breath but it didn't work. Once one eye was treated, this was taped closed and a bandage put over it and then the same procedure on the next eye. I was a bit more scared at this stage as you know what to expect even though it's not sore it's daunting. Once this eye was finished I had a clear plastic shield taped to this eye so I could still see a bit. I was quite shaky once the procedure had finished, probably just tension and nerves. I was taken out of the treatment room into a smaller room and given a glass of water. Then went back to the reception area and asked to wait until I felt ok to walk out. I was given some ibuprofen to take while in the clinic and other medication to take home. I was guided and then driven home by my husband - which is imperative, as my vision blurred completely after about half an hour and my eye naturally closed over. You do not want any light in your eyes, so I took a hooded top and a towel and placed those over my head until I got home. All I wanted to do was sit alone in my bedroom in the dark - forget about watching tv for at least 2 days. The sedatives don't help you sleep so I suggest taking herbal sleeping tablets instead and take paracetemol on top of the ibuprofen, as you get a severe stinging sensation and my eyes constantly steamed water for 2 days, which also blocked my nose. My eye lids closed up completely due to tears streaming, so I needed help finding my toothbrush etc for 2 days. The plastic shield and bandage were removed 24 hours after treatment and this is when you are meant to start putting antibacterial drops in your eyes, which was almost impossible until day 3 as I couldn't open my eyelids. I lost my appetite for 3 days and wanted to sleep a lot. My eyes after day 3 looked ok and a little bloodshot and my eyelids seemed to close more than normal. I was only able to go outside 6 days after and wore dark glasses. I even wore dark glasses in the shower and a shampoo shield I got off a baby website to keep the shampoo off my face when showering, for about 3 days. After 3 days I could see quite clearly in the house, but not very sharply outside, but the end of the 2nd week my vision outside has picked up and I've been for my first check up and my vision is 2 lines better than driving standard on the eye test chart. All in all I'm very pleased with the results, the procedure was ok a bit unpleasant but ok, the first 3 days of recovery are pretty hellish but you soon get over it when you can open your eyelids again and go back to normality without specs or contacts. Oh and I also had 2 weeks off work, due to the Christmas holidays which helped, as I was sure I could not have worked in front of a computer screen during the 1st week of recovery.

GO FOR IT !! Lasik - had consultation last thursday at Leicester then booked in for lasik the following thursday at leicester - quoted price off ebay which they price matched, met the surgeon - Dr Andre Olberholster - very professional and honest, he did my treatment i was so nervous on the day but it didnt hurt at all i nearly didnt go through with it but im over the moon i did and would definatley do it all again you come out thinking what was i so worried about - it hurt more taking the selotape off the plastic sheilds that were stuck to my face. I did smell burining but just breathed through my nose and a nurse held my hand all the way though i was so overwhelmed afterwards i wanted to cry i didnt have any discomfort or pain afterwards and am getting on fine i can see and am very happy with the results the flaps are healing nicely and im due back next week so will post more then

I chose the LASEK eye laser surgery option. This was the cheaper of the 2 different operations. However before I had the operation I had a prescription of -3.50 dioptres in one eye and -3.00 dioptres in the other, so I was quite short sighted. On the day of the operation everything was fully explained to me by the surgeon including how long the procedure would take and also all of the benefits of having the surgery. Now after the surgery which took a total of 15 minutes to complete, I can see as clear as a whistle and my vision is back to 20/20. This is the best £1000.00 I have ever spent. I would recommend OPTIMAX to anyone who is considering having treatment. I know you may think the price is expensive, but trust me it is well worth it. Brian David Robinson Swanage, Dorset

I had both my eyes treated at the Glasgow clinic (can't remember the surgeons name, sorry). The treatment was very fast, with mild discomfort. I experienced very little pain post-treatment and apart from the antibiotic drops did not require any further 'relief' drops. My sight improvement was very impressive and very quick [I was 6/4 in both eyes, unaided, after 3 weeks]. I am now pursuing a career in the police force. I would recommend LASIK treatment to anybody [my father has now had his eyes treated as a result].