Optimax

I'm only now regaining my powers of speech having had them completely knocked out by how quick and painless my LASIK treatment was (Dr Patel at Finchley Rd) and by the fact that the very same evening I could see the clock on the video (some 7 to 8 ft away) crystal clear! I was minus 6 both eyes, have been back for my first checkup (the day after treatment) but won't get a proper reading untilnext week, and of course I am aware that I may lose some of the sharpness but considering how bad my eyesight has been for the last twenty years it really doesn't matter to me! My tips would be: Get your appointment for as early as possible in the day as they do tend to over-run - I was booked in to arrive at the clinic for 10am but did not go in for treatment until 12.40pm! Make sure you've eaten something and take magazines etc. You need to go back to the clinic the next day (they make this appointment at the time you book your treatment) and then the following week - make this appointment at the time you book your treatment otherwise you will be left with middle of the day time slots which are a pain if you need to go back to work! Afterwards, go home and go to bed! My eyes were so heavy that sleep was the only option (except you have to have eye drops every two hours for the rest of the treatment day!) It is now five days since my treatment and although I'm a bit paranoid that something will get into my eye and upset my healing process, overall I couldn't be happier, I already know how much of a change this will make to my life and am excited as anything! On a slightly different subject, my friend recently had PRK on both eyes and found it extremely painful, five days later and she is still quite blurry and very light sensitive so obviously if you are having PRK you will need loads of pain killers and to stay indoors for longer (light sensitivity has been worse for her too). Please feel free to contact me if you are considering having the treatment and I'll help you out as much as I can!

Dr Patel performed my LASIK operation and it was excellent. I am extremly pleased with the result

I had both eyes treated with PRK epiflap after initially booking to have LASIK treatment. After much reesearch on the internet and talking to ex patients I decided that PRK was the better option as there was less risk involved and no flap left afterwards. I cancelled my LASIK treatment and had the PRK on 1st October at Bristol with DR Macipe. I was -4 in both eyes before treatment and I have just been tested again and I am now +0.50 in each eye which I have been told would stabilse in the next 4 weeks. The treatment was completely painless and the gritty sensation went after 3 days. I am really happy with my treatment and would recommend the PRK if you have a low enough prescription.

Well had both eyes treated by PRK on the 16th (Wed) October, my appointment was at 2.45 and I was sitting at home by 4.30pm. Very painfull for the first night, with the painkillers not kicking in untill about 9pm, where I took the sleeping tablet and got to sleep. Same feeling as Leon, had to open them to let the tears out. The appointment to take out the bandage lenses very quick with the bloke who did this trying to get me to read the chart with tears runing down my face. I was L -4.75 and R -5.0 before and had my left eye over corrected to help save me from reading glasses later. My left eye has very sharp vision, but not quire as good in my right, it still feels I am waring a dirty contact lense, however I have driven to work today with no problem. I do hope my right eye improves, but then again my eyesight is about 90% as good as with my glasses, which is still fantastic. I would recomend this, beleive me the pain is only a few hours but as I said I have about 90% improvement which is great, if you would only be satisified with 100% think twice. My night vison is fine havng no problems with the slight hallos around the lights. I have my check up next Monday and I am really curious about my final prescription. If I have to have my right eye futher corrected I will do so no problem as I do have confidence in the treatment.

I had PRK Epiflap in both eyes on 25th Oct in Liverpool clinic. Found staff to be really helpful and friendly, but consultant was unhelpful and abrupt. I had to stop myself arguing with him! Still went ahead with treatment - I'd done lots of research and had already decided to have it done if I was suitable. I was really quite ill for a couple of days afterwards. Not in pain, but just assumed I'd been unfortunate enough to catch a bug, but learned that this is a very rare occurance after treatment. Still, after about 4/5 days I felt much better. Still find bright lights difficult (is that normal after a week?) and my right eye is a bit foggy. They tell me it's been much slower healing than the left. I can sit on my settee and watch tv (albeit with sunglasses on) and see it clearly which I could never do before. I should be ok to drive in a couple of days. Fog in right eye is a bit worrying tho. Is this normal does anyone know? It's not out of focus, just like looking though a slightly misty window. Glad to answer any questions.

Well, you may as well know about how things are progressing, I had my first check-up last week and was told things look good - would not have know I had the surgery unless told so eyes healing nicely. was told I had 20/20 with both eyes at present which is better then I expected. Mr right eye is still more blurry then the left but is getting much better, and was told this should improve. While having the eye test it was actually nice to see that lenses could make my vision even shaper if required, someone told me that once you had this treatment you could never have glasses or contact lences which is rubbish. Night vision still OK only slight hallos which I would not have noticed if I was not told about, and eyes only slightly dry, use drops in morning and fine OK. I have a checkup in 6 weeks where I should find out by final prescripton. I I will let you know what this is and then will leave you alone. So far, I know I made the right choise in having this done, and feel great, the only problem when I am out and keeping looking at things first out of one eye and then the other, this bloke behind the bar the other night thought I was winking at him !! - no just comparing my vision between eyes if anyone has any queries - please let me know

I am soon to be 50 and have worn glasses to correct shortsight since the age of 9.As an adult I've worn all types of contact lens sucessfully including Daily Diposable and more recently Accuvue Bifocal Lens. My treatment was completed very sucessfully in pleasant surroundings at Optimax in Leeds - Cost £995 for the treatment of both eyes -deposit £200 monthly payments £80 per month. Very little waiting was involved and the process was explained thoroughly.From the initial consultation it was explained that the likely outcome would be that my long distance vision would be 20/20 but that I would need glasses for close work.The Laser process, although disconcerting,folllowed the explained procedure very closely.Three months into my newly sighted life I still am amazed at waking in the morming and and being able to see perfectly. My long distance vision is indeed 20/20 and I wear glasses only very occassionally to read very small print in poor light. I have had no adverse reactions at all, have no supersensitivity to bright lights or poor night vision and would highly recommend a consulation with Optimax to anyone considering the procedure - I wish I had made my decision to do so a long time ago.My only recommendation to anyone considering laser treatment is to visit the doctor before the procedure and obtain a prescription for strong pain killers which you may or may not need to take for the couple of hours after treatment. Apparently many people experience little discomfort but others like myself find that pain killing tablets of greater strength than Paracetomol would have made life easier. MAKE THE PHONE CALL.

Quick update. Been back to see consultant 9 days after PRK Epiflap in both eyes. I CAN NOW DRIVE WITHOUT GLASSES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!! So glad I went through with it. Consultant was bit off in my initial consultation, but has been nice as pie ever since. (Perhaps he had an off day?) Right eye still bit foggy but getting better, left eye fine. Glad to answer any questions.

I had LASIK at Optimax in Liverpool on 28th Oct. 02 (2 weeks ago) by Dr Madhusudan. After much research on the internet etc, I had scared the life out of myself with all the horror stories, and decided to go ahead with the consultation and decide for myself after speaking to the surgeon. I went armed with all my questions and was pleased to find that after all the tests confirmed I was suitable, that Dr Madhu had plenty of time to answer all my questions honestly. My big concern was being left with night vision problems, as I had read a lot about this. He was honest in saying that he could not guarantee I would not have these problems but made provisions in surgery for reducing the risks of it happening by making a slightly bigger flap than needed. I was very reassured by the consultation and booked the surgery for a few days later. My advice for the consultation is to make sure you have someone with you to accompany you home as the eye drops really did have an odd effect!! The day of surgery came quickly and as a big wimp I was surprised to find I was actually looking forward to the surgery and wasn’t a bit scared. I declined the sedative I was offered as I didn’t want to feel groggy later on, but in hindsight I wish I'd had it as later when I got home I was on such a high I couldn’t sleep. The surgery was so quick and easy I still cant believe I had it done. All it involved was lying back on a chair like at the dentist, having my eyelids cleaned and my eyelashes taped down, then eye drops were put in and retractors put on to hold my eyelids open, this was the worst bit as they are uncomfortable as they rest on the eye sockets, but not painful. Then I felt a small ring touch my eye as he marked the position for the flap, then the microkeratome was applied, things went grey/dark for a few seconds while pressure was applied which feels a little strange but again, not painful, then a weird vibration passed over my eyeball for a couple of seconds as the flap was cut. Then I had to stare at a red light while the laser was applied, this is hard to do as it was dancing all over the place!!, but after what seemed like seconds there was a small pause and then it happened again as the astigmatism was treated, there is a strange burning smell while this happens so don’t panic !!!, after washing my eyes out a bandage contact lens was applied and I was told to sit outside with my eyes shut as much as possible, and I'd be reviewed soon. It was impossible to keep my eyes shut because we were all comparing experiences in the waiting room all trying to see an improvement!!! An hour or so later when all the mornings treatments were completed the doctor reviewed us all one by one, my bandage contact lens was removed and instantly my vision was improved, I was told to come back the next day and sent home with my eye drops to commence that day, and eye shields to wear in bed. So apart from very red eyes for a few hours and dryness just like having over worn contact lenses, there was no discomfort whatsoever. The journey home was amazing, I was able to read number plates and road signs which I'd never been able to do without lenses in!!! I went to bed to rest as advised but was so excited I couldn't sleep, and when I got up later, my vision was almost perfect, the only discomfort was that the eye drops stung for a second or two when applied. I woke the next morning and almost cried when I realised I could see the bedroom immediately and saw the clock without moving it to my face !! I rushed to the bedroom window and could read number plates on neighbours cars, when I'd not have been able to see the cars without lenses in previously. The aftercare check-up later that day pronounced all was well and I was fit to drive, but I didn't feel up to driving as I had a lot of glare and halo effects in the dark, I'd been advised that I would have this for 8-10 weeks anyway until it was fully healed. I returned to work a few days later and night driving wasn't 100% but was not as bad as I expected, and it has improved each day, now 2 weeks post op my vision is almost as good as with lenses in, I still have a small prescription and some astigmatism, but I can function perfectly without glasses/lenses which is amazing. I was -6.5 in both eyes with astigmatism, and had worn gas permeable contacts for the last 10 years, and soft ones for the 10 years previous to this, so was warned I am a high risk candidate for needing further treatment, but I will have no worries at all about going through with this if it is needed later on. I can honestly say the worst things about the treatment have been having to wear my glasses for almost a month prior to treatment (no-one except family have seen me in them for over 20 years), the eye drop regime means you don't get much sleep, and having to go without eye makeup for 2 weeks afterwards, compared to that the op was nothing !!! I had lots of advice from people on this site prior to surgery, and it helped me a lot so please don't hesitate to contact me if I can help you in any way. My only advice is go for the consultation well prepared with all your questions, and then make your own mind up, but I would recommend LASIK and in particular Optimax to anyone. 2 weeks post op, and I'm still absolutely amazed at the results, and the fact that it was so easy. on the day after the op, the doctor asked me 'are you happy?'.....I didn't have the words to tell him just how happy I was...and its got better each day!!

Had LASIK eye surgery in both eyes on Wednesday 6th November. Totally painless procedure. Be prepared to discuss you operation in full immediately after - it helps a lot to realise that everything is fine. Left eye still a bit blurry, although vision was 20/20 the day after. Night vision is almost perfect. Highly recommend the treatment and the clinic - but it is a very important and personal decision.