Optimax

This is a follow up report to the one I posted in March when the LASIK procedure was initially performed.
After a couple of weeks had passed I became aware that my vision in low light conditions was not as good as in daylight. This appears as "ghosting" or almost double vision when watching TV etc. I find myself screwing up my eyes to see more clearly and usually end up with a headache (and presumably bad wrinkles in the future!). Driving at night on badly lit roads is distinctly dodgy!
At the first 6 week check I was told that this may be due to the "smoothing" of my eye contour with the laser around where the actual correction had taken place.
At the last 6 week check my prescription had worsened from -0.25 both eyes to -0.5 in both eyes. The explanation now is that this is due to how my eyes have healed from the initial procedure. They think that the poor lowlight vision is simply down to being under corrected. I'm going back again in another 6 weeks. If the prescription has stabilised at -0.5 then they have offered a second LASIK procedure so as to "fine tune" things closer to zero.
I'm not too bothered about the situation but would love to get a second opinion just to confirm what Optimax say before I go under the knife again. Trouble is where do you go? Am thinking of calling in to my friendly local optician for a standard eye test. If he finds that I am in fact -0.5 then I will get some glasses made up (using my old frames which luckily I have kept) just to confirm to myself that this does sort things out.
Anyone with similar experiences or any comments/suggestions please feel free to eamil me.

I HAD PRK IN 1993 AT THE OPTIMAX LONDON CLINIC AND THEN LATER AT THEIR BRISTOL CLINIC. MY ORIGINAL PRESCRIPTION WAS -6.5 IN BOTH EYES.DUE TO REGRESSION AFTER PRK I HAD RETREATMENTS ON BOTH EYES, THE LAST OPERATION BEING IN MAY 1996. MY PRESCRIPTION IS NOW -.25 SPHERE 1.75 CYL RIGHT EYE -.25 SPHERE -.50 CYL LEFT EYE. FROM THE OUTSET OPTIMAX INFORMED ME THAT MY CHANCES OF COMPLETELY THROWING AWAY MY GLASSES WERE AROUND 60% AND ON THE WHOLE I AM QUITE PLEASED WITH THE RESULT. MY VISION HAS BEEN STABLE SINCE 1997 AND I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH MY VISION. ALTHOUGH THE HAZE ON BOTH EYES HAS COMPLETLEY CLEARED IT TOOK AROUND 4 YEARS WHICH IS A LOT LONGER THAN THE DOCTORS SUGGEST. I HAVE COME ACROSS WEB SITES WHICH SAY 4 YEARS IS WHAT IT TAKES FOR THE CORNEA TO FULLY HEAL.ALTHOUGH IT IS NATURAL TO FEEL WORRIED ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS AFTER PRK YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT IT TAKES TIME FOR THEM TO SUBSIDE. AS IT IS NOW OVER 6 YEARS SINCE MY PRK I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THINGS HAVE MUCH IMPROVED.
I HAVE COME ACROSS A WEB SITE WHICH WARNS OF THE DANGERS OF LASIK http://www.LASIKdisaster.com/

Second follow up (most recent 4th July)to ariginal LASIK in March. Have now visited local Optician for a standard eye test. His previous partner worked for Ultralase so he was more than a little familiar with the LASIK procedure.
Gave me a very thorough eye examination and pronounced me "very slightly" short sighted (L -0.25 R -0.5). If I came in off the street he would not prescribe any correction.
He observed some slight corneal haze, worse in the left eye. From his expereince this is very mild and can be expected as a result of LASIK.
Looking at my initial prescription preer LASIK (L -5.5 R -6.25) he believes I have had an exceptional outcome and that to consider having a second minor correction would be completely crazy.
I've had some specs made up to my very mild prescription just to see if this helps to sharpen things up in low light condistion.
Feel free to email me.

I had laser PRK surgery on my right eye in February 2002. It was painful for about 2-3 days and couldn't open my eye for more than a couple of seconds but could see almost perfectly out of it immediately after this. My sight has been very good ever since although I have had some pain now and again which has now completely gone away. On the whole I am glad I did it and will probably have the other one done next year. I will definitely ask about the bandage lens though which I wasn't told about at the time.

Ditto comments of John Ennals re. advice, price etc. Had PRK Epiflap on both eyes on Saturday (7th September) at the Birmingham clinic by Dr Infield and so far so good. I experienced absolutely no pain at all (didn't use any of the painkillers given to me), just very mild discomfort. They send you home with a couple of days worth of sleeping pills in case of pain during the night but the discomfort was so minimal that I used them during the day to keep myself from doing anything other than rest (they say it's best to go to bed for 48 hours or to at least keep your eyes closed). I was very surprised to be able to see instantly after the procedure, albeit blurry (a bit like having your glasses on but looking through a dirty window) which I think was due to the contact lens bandages (check that your treating doctor uses these as they don't all use them). Bear in mind if you have these then you have to return to then clinic 3 days later for removal). Have read on this site that it's painful having them removed but again I felt nothing at all. A little gritty for a couple of hours after removal and thereafter vision seemed to improve almost hourly. My right eye seems to be doing much better than the left which concerns me slightly but the clinic was really good and they're seeing me on Saturday instead of next Thursday due to my concerns although they say that by then it'll probably be alright anyway. I'm just getting checked before starting a new job on Monday so I'm probably worrying unnecessarily. I'll update next week but, pending the left eye catching up with the right I would thoroughly recommend this procedure - much better than LASIK where they actually cut a flap which apparently never heals. This procedure is altogether less invasive and well worth the extra bit of recovery time - anyway - how often are you going to be told to go to sleep for 48 hours and do absolutely nothing!!??!! I can honestly say that, coming from Oxford, the travelling to and from Birmingham was the worst part and it only takes an hour each way - that's how simple it is. Emails welcome.

I have been for a consultation to the new aberdeen clinic. The staff there were very helpful and had lots of patience to anwer all of my questions. I have since booked my treatment which takes place on 8th october with Dr Saboor. I would like to hear from anyone who has had LASIK treatment done at any of the advanced laser clinics or like myself about to get it done.

I had bi-lateral LASIK on both eyes last Thursday at Optimax Finchley Road. The Admin staff could be better but the Dr during the consultation was very professional. He answered all of my questions and was not pushy at all. I felt very confident with getting the procedure done in fact after the consultation as I left feeling that there were very little risks & I now knew that the Dr who would be treating me had performed this procedure more than 8000 times. The op went well. Little discomfort on the first day, which disappeared by the evening following a short sleep. I noticed by that evening that vision in my right eye was very good but left eye not quite as good (original prescription was -6 L -4.5 -R with a stigmatism in both eyes). I go for my week after care this Friday & am hoping that my left eye might settle down by then. The thing I am finding most annoying is the bad night vision. I get a lot of glare from the street lamps and both on coming cars and the red lights of the cars in front. Even watching TV in the evening I experience glare / ghosting. Not ideal :( .However I new the risks and still went along and got it done. When I asked about glare during the consultation I was told that this normal occurs at night if you pupil dilates to larger than the laserd area. I was also told that as I had normal size pupils I should be okay & not experience this glare. I am hoping that this improves and will post again in the future. Would be nice to hear from people who have had this procedure done and did experience the nighttime glare. Does it get better? People considering this procedure should know this is my biggest problem with it. Other than the currently bad nighttime vision I can see very well.

I've just had my eyes LASIK-ed by Dan Reinstein on Sunday (yes Sunday!) the 22nd September 2002. He is very good! Just had my 1 week sheck up today (30th) and progress and prognosis seem good (hopefully down to a -0.25 diopter by the end of the healing process. I can't say the office front end was exactly 100% - the email consultation booking system seem to be in a world of its own (I just received my confirmation email last week?!?) but the staff are friendly. Please remember the girls on the front desk are not train nurses dispite the uniforms! I Will report back on progress in the coming weeks but so far I'd give this a big thumbs up.

I have booked into the Birmingham clinic for Bi-Latral PRK treatment on the 16th October. I must admit the booking process was OK and the consultant seemed very positive. After all the research I did on PRK and other treatments, my mind went a little blank during the actual consultation, but I am going into this with my eyes wide open !. My only concern it the poor night vision a lot of people report, and although I am aware of this, I am still having the treatment. My friend gets around this by using glasses to drive at night, but I can not find anything to say that the ghosting or hallo effect suffered at night is made any better by wearing glasses, and if so, what glasses to wear. Well, I will let you know what happens.

This took longer than anticipated but both my eyes are finished now. The second eye was more painful that the first - the pain was almost immediate as I walked out of the treatement room. I can only assume they used more eye drops to numb my eye initially on the first procedure. It was only just bearable. All the pain for 2-3 days as the first eye. But the good news is my sight on the last consultation is perfect in my first eye and 20/20 in my second. The only side effects I have with the whole procedure is dry eyes. This is getting better and not causing me any major problems. I find the follow up checks at Optimax seem very thorough, and the opticians extremely helpful. Just happy my sight is restored.