Optimax

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 to both eyes almost eaxactly a year ago at the Southampton Clinic by Dr Ayoubi. Went for my final check up last week, then discharged. Very pleased with the results, (see previous postings) I have better than 20:20 having been -6 and -5.5 with some astigmatism. It has made my everyday life a lot easier no "faffing about" with contacts and switching from presciption glasses to sunglasses. I am a keen birder using binoculars/ telescopes and microscopes at work, my "new eyes" have been a great asset for my hobby and made work easier. Best £1400 I ever spent. Dr Ayoubi was excellent, the reception staff/nurses less so, but the surgen is the most important person in the clinic. I had the flap cut with the microkeratome followed by normal LASIK. Still get dry eye occasionally, especially on a long flight recently as the air con dries your eyes out. I use moisturising drops first thing in the morning as your eyes get dry overnight as you are not blinking!! Apart from that no side effects, no haloes, night driving fine. It did take me 2-3 years of research and plucking up courage to have it done. Very important to research the procedure, go to several clinics and make up your own mind. Wasn't impressed with optical express, southampton as the surgeon does not do the consultation. Very important to be seen by your surgeon B4 the op. I didn't trust the optimetrists and reception staff, did not inspire confidence at both op. xpress and optimax!! However the surgeon was superb.

The truth about laser eye surgery. Day 1, weds 7th march. I arrived at optimax in ipswich at just gone 10am, a little early for my appointment, but better to be early than late. I was seen pretty quickly which I was really pleased about, i was rather nervous so I wanted to get this over and done with. After the lady took a few pictures of the inside of my eye I was ushered back into to waiting room where I would "shortly have some more tests done" 1 and half hours later I was called for the next tests where I was told I would be suitable for epi-lasek and advised to have wavefront too. "great", I thought, and couldn't wait till 4pm to get them done. So, 4 pm came and went and I finally got called through at about 5.15pm. By this time I was getting bored of staring at the walls! The surgery was pretty pain free, it was probably worse because I had read up on it and new exactly what the surgeon was doing. When I came out, my vision was ok, but things looked kind of milky. Before I even had a chance to sit down the nurse came over and started to give me orders on when to take my drugs. There were 6 in total and I was a little too dizzy to take any of it in. Luckily my mum was there listening intently. I didn't realise then how lucky I was to have her there. We left about 10 mins after the surgery and they seemed keen to say goodbye, (i guess they just wanted me gone before the pain kicked in), and boy did it kick in! I got home and put the telly on, I could almost see it, and within about 20 mins the pain became so bad that I wouldn't keep my eyes open. I was expecting the pain, but no one told me I would need a white stick for 2 days! My mum managed to give me a couple of sleeping tablets and I went to bed in agony. It felt like someone had pored acid into my eyes, and at this point i was regretting having the op. Day 2, thurs 8th march I woke up very early, as soon as the light started to come into my room. I managed to fumble my way down the stairs and into the kitchen. I stil lcouldn't open my eyes, mainly because they were so swollen. My mum said that it looked like someone had replaced my eyes with a couple of golf balls. The light hurt so much that even though I couldn't open my eyes, I still had to wear sun glasses and my mum had to lead me round the house when I wanted to go anywhere. She was rather concerned so phoned the clinic and they advised her that "this was perfectly normal". I remeber thinking that if this was normal then why didn't they warn you about it?!! I spent most of the day drifting in and out of sleep but each time I woke up I had to force my eyes open just to drain the fluid out of them. Day 3, frid 9th march This was the first day I could see! I was so relieved that I could go to the toilet on my own. My eyes were incredibly red and still swollen but at least I could open them. I had to go back to the clinic to have my bandage lens removed which was very quick and pain free, but going out in daylight was agony. I managed to watch some telly that night and realised that my vision was pretty good. Day 4, sat 10th march I was supposed to go back to work on saturday, but although my long distance was pretty good, I still couldn't see things close up, which is a nuisance becuase I spend all day on a computer. It says in the aftercare leaflet that most people can be long sighted for 1-3 weeks after surgery. That's yet another thing they don't tell you before you have the surgery. Day 7, tues 13th march (today) Well here I am, almost a week later and still not back at work. It's taken me ages to write this diary, I keep having to take breaks because it hurts my eyes to concentrate on things too long. I'm losing 50 quid a day at work for not turning up, and I guess I'm a little annoyed becuase if I was warned about the long sightedness before surgery I could have booked more time off work. I don't want to put anyone off having surgery, but I wanted people to know all the facts before going ahead with this. If your having epi-lasek surgery then PLEASE make sure that you have someone to look after you 24/7 for the next few days. And if your job involves looking at anything close up then you're going to need at least a week off after the surgery. Well, I'm almost pain free now and my vision is clearing, but if I had known the agony this surgery causes then I never would have had it done. Just something for you all to think about.

I have been wearing contact lenses/glasses for 20 years, and was short sighted -3.75 and -4.50, so I couldn't see without one or the other. After looking into lazer eye surgery, and after doing lots of research, I decided to have Lasik with wavefront and Femtosecond.I booked the surgery for the 1st December 2006 at the finchley Rd Clinic - London, with Dr Patel. Yes, I was very nervous about the whole thing, but was re-assured by a lady in the toilets who said you will never regret it. The only downside of day was the waiting time, that perticular day the clinic had experienced software problems, which caused all the appointments to run late, 1.5hrs to be precise. When I was finally called, the whole procedure was over within the hour. Be aware Femtosecond takes longer, as you are waiting in a cold room for the flap to form (wear something warm). The rest of the operation went very quickly, I did feel a little rushed as appointments were running late. I recommend The Quality Hotel Hamspted if you are staying over night, its only 5 minutes up the road and its comfortable and reasonably priced. One Week later I had 20/20 vision, but did experience "halos" whilst driving at night, which was a bit daunting for the first month, its now three months later and the halos have virtually gone, they say it can take upto to year to disappear completely. I occassionly get dry eyes which I treat with eye drops and overall I would recommended this procedure to anyone.

had my eyes done at optimax liverpool and gotta admit its the best thing i ever done staff were really pleasent and the surgeon was a1 when i came out was very fuzzy and thought bloody hell whats going on ere but the next day was alot better 15 days later and getting better each day would recommend this clinic everyday of the week*****

I had my treatment on 2nd March 2007 - Femtosecond Lasik My glasses prescription was L +3.75 cyl -0.75 Ax 165 Reading +0.75 R +3.50 cyl -0.75 Ax 170 Reading +0.75 I was treated by Dr Ayoubi at the Reading clinic. There were a few delays on the day, I was booked in for 14:30 but my surgery didn't start until 15:45. I was called into the treatment room and lay in the dentist style chair between the two laser machines (the Femtosecond and the lasik laser... the gap between the two isn't very wide so mind your head). The numbing drops were put in my eyes and the eye-lid clip (which stop you blinking) was fitted, then the suction ring was applied to my left eye - Out of the whole procedure that was the most uncomfortable part. Although you can't really feel anything I could sense the suction on my eyeball - sort of felt like it was pinching and everything went dark. The chair is slid over into position under the Femto laser. I could see some blue lights at this point, and the machine was lowered down until it was resting on the suction ring. The Doctor tried to reposition my head a fraction - I didn't feel I could move it as the headrest on the chair seemed to be hugging my head. Dr Ayoubi was really very good and explained everything that was happening. He told me when the Femto laser was starting and he counted down as it was working. There was no noise, no sensation at all - I couldn't tell it was doing anything. Took about 60 seconds. After it was finished the laser was moved away and I was slid back to the central position (between the two machiens) and the suction ring was removed. The flap was lifted and my eye was wiped and I was positioned under the Lasik laser. Took a minute or so for the machine to be setup and then I was told to look at the red light (which I could only make out as a red smudge). This part of the treatment isn't painful but the noise of the laser (sort of clicking and an electrical noise like something shorting out) is a bit concerning and the smell isn't nice (reminded me of the smell when a piece of coal used to pop out of the fire and burn the carpet) - I tried to breathe through my mouth so I wouldn't smell it as much. It went on for about 60 seconds. After that my eyeball was wiped and rinsed and the flap was repositioned. I could see but it was a bit blurry. The same happened with my right eye. I felt better with this one as I knew what to expect. I would say the suction ring is really the worst part of it all. The Femto and the lasik laser were used as before and my eye was wiped off. I had two eye-guards fitted and was escorted to the recovery room for about 10 minutes and was given my Optimax pack (antibiotic drops, anti-inflammatory drops and Refresh drops, and instruction leaflets) before going in to see someone (I would imagine she is a qualified optician) who checked my eyes. She had to get Dr Ayoubi to double check as it looked like there was some 'debris' under the flaps. So, I had to go back into theatre (after about a half hour wait) and have the treatment area rinsed out on each eye (again, no pain at all, I didn't like the water running down the side of my head). Then back into the waiting room to wait to be checked again. This time I was given the all clear and let go home. When I got home I had something to eat and took the first of the 800mg slow-release Ibuprofen tablets and used the drops for the first time in each eye (which did sting a bit to start with) and went to bed about 7.30pm. I can't say I really slept as it felt like someone had put sand in my eyes but it wasn't as painful with my eyes closed. I got up around 11.30pm and had a cup of tea and used the drops again. The FML (anti-inflammatory) drops really helped ease the pain. Went back to bed and slept through until about 6am. My eyes still felt gritty but not nearly as bad. I wasn't sensitive to light, particularly. I used the drops every two hours (as directed) and went back in the afternoon for my check-up. I was given an eye test and was told that I may have been over-corrected (making me short sighted). I can't say that I was particularly upset by this as it meant I could read without glasses (infact I could see really tiny print like 'swiss made' on the front of my watch). I returned yesterday (Thursday) for my fortnight check up (it's just under a fortnight) and I've been told I'm still short-sighted but it's early days as your eyes can change a lot in the first couple of months. To be honest on Wednesday my eyesight seemed almost perfect as I could see things in the distance really clearly, too, so I'm hoping it will regress a bit (from short sighted towards long-sight) and maybe even end up 20/20. I would recommend Dr Ayoubi and the staff at Optimax in Reading and would also recommend having the Femtosecond (Intralase) as I think it's much better to rely on a laser-made flap than one cut with a blade.

Sorry Dr was Dr Materman and not Materton as detailed in my report. As an update 3 days on and apart from a bit of 'haloing' at night - which should evidently calm down - no probs. Still can't stop smiling and telling everyone about it!

Right eye -2.25, Left eye -1.50 with astigmatism. Received Lasik treatment from Dr Hynes on 21.03.07 at Manchester clinic. Found the treatment to be uncomfortable but not painful and I did come out of the treatment room feeling slightly shakey. Slept for three hours when I got home and did everything I was told to do, no tv etc. Nextday I could see everything and I mean "everything", no pain just amazement. Dr Hynes is a good doctor and I chose this clinic for his and Dr Doyles skills. I certainly have no regrets. My vision 3 days after op is better than 20.20. I am now looking fwd to getting married in August and swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Maldives without lenses or specs.

Surgery date 14/02/07.prescription -2.50 both eyes with asigmatism. Treatment: Lasik with femtosecond at Birmingham. I have been considering treatment for a couple of years. The crunch came when I dropped my brand new £100+ glasses on the floor and they chipped - I booked the treatment the next day! I got a negotiated teacher's discount of 30%. On the day both the surgeon (Dr Qazi)and optician were both very patient as they talked me through the treatment. It was useful to have my husband be allowed to come into the consultant room as I was too nervous to take all of the information in myself! The girls in reception could have been a little more friendly and helpful as I felt like an interuption to their work though. I really underestimated the surgery procedure itself. I had a mini panic attack in the chair which was not tollerated particularly well by the staff. The pain from the surgery and light-sensitivity were pretty bad for about 2 hours and then the pain started to subside. My vision was pretty much restored when I finally managed to open my eyes after this time. Now 5 weeks on, I can honestly say that 1/2 a day of unpleasantness was most definitely worth it. My sight is now 20/20, and better than it ever was with lenses and glasses. I went swimming yesterday, and it was amazing to be able to see ahead of me for the first time in years! I'm really enjoying the freedom the treatment has given me, and would recommend it wholeheartedly!

Just an update 1 week on. I am now -0.50 in both eyes with zero astigmatism. Long distance still not really sharp but i can see well enough to drive during the day. The lights are a bit of a problem at night at the moment. Overall i am pleased, i just hope my vision continues to improve that tiny little bit so i can experience perfect vision.