Optimax

Thursday 8th August

Attend Glasgow for three monthly check up. Blurring has not improved since day two. Have been taking steroids for nearly 3 months now. Need to know what is the problem. Am told it is aberrations, and that I need more tests and to see the doctor in Edinburgh.
Agree to go tomorrow (Friday) as doctor is there only Wed and Fri. And the machine for testing aberrations is in Edinburgh.

Had PRK epi-flap performed right eye 19/12/01 left eye 2/2/02.Initially,after approx 10 days, vision seemed very good, however regression started shortly after. My prescription prior to surgery was -5.00L -5.25R it is now -0.75L -1.75R. I have some enforced astigmatism in both eyes and no longer have best visual acuity in my left eye. I still have corneal haze in both eyes and suffer with poor vision in bad light. I also find it difficult to drive at night due to severe glare from oncoming traffic. I am still returning to the clinic for aftercare and hoping things will improve.

Went for the Open Day to confirm my prescription after booking PRK Epiflap treatment for the 7th Dec. Got there and had my eyes tested, the lady who tested them, said I had -1.25 & -1.75 (although my opticians say I have -2.25 & -2.50) and also recommended PRK, but when I went to sit outside in the waiting room, another lady came over to discuss treatment and recommended I needed LASIK, as my astigmatism was high!! Now I'm really confused, as in the brochure it clearly says astigmatism can be treated with PRK, all this conflicting advice and prescriptions has really put me off, and I have cancelled my consultation for the 7th. :( Also noticed some of u say you have paid £999 for LASIK. Is that for both? As I thought they were £750 per eye. Thanks.

Anyone who has seen my previous 2 comments regarding PRK will see my rating has gone down! I went back to Liverpool branch for a check up on 19th November. The lady optician I saw told me my left eye was fine (which it is) but the blurred vision in my right eye was due to the surface of my eye being a bit rough, and I should stop taking all eye drops and just use artificial tears. About 10 days later the consultant phoned me (bit worrying) to ask what eye drops I was on. I told him about the appointment on the 19th and as advised, I had stopped taking eye drops. He asked to see me ASAP. I went in first thing the next morning and he seemed quite relieved after he did an eye test. Apparently the lady I saw on the 19th had put totally the wrong information on my computer records and should NOT have advised me to stop using the eye drops, they are to help with the scarring that is causing my blurred vision in my right eye. The consultant told me, if the scarring had been worse, NOT taking the eye drops for 10 days would have caused a problem, but since my scarring wasn't THAT bad, it should be ok. WELL THANKS A LOT!!!! I was a bit dumbfounded while there, being told all this was a shock. Only after I left did I think, "should this woman be working??" I am writing to them for an explanation. On a lighter note, (I think we need one here) my left eye is doing great!

Have now found what was causing the blurred vision. Basically my eye has been over-corrected and I now have a left eye at +0.5. This is mighty strange as I have been short sighted for most of my life and to now be long sighted is weird. To be able to read properly, or view a computer screen I had to buy a cheap set of reading glasses. They have now given me a contact lens for my left eye at +0.5. So, now I still wear contacts just as before. Basically no further forward and the pocket a damn sight lighter. Just the other day I had an eMail from the current affairs editor of the BBC, who are doing some research on Laser eye treatment, and it's successes or otherwise, although I'm sure it's the others they are particularly interested in. Don't know if I'll contact them or not, don't really fancy being on the telly! So, this site really does work, keep it up.

Treated with PRK on 21st December at the Optimax clinic in Manchester. My eyes were roughly -3 and -2. The surgery experience was ok overall but I am still unhappy with the results. I was told by the surgeon that bandage lenses were not needed, wrong!! I had to get a doctor out the night of the surgery to prescribe some proper pain killers. The tablets provided by Optimax were completely inadequate. 4 weeks later and I still do not have driving vision in either eye. Despite all the information available on PRK I still do not know if my eye sight will improve over time. Most people seem to be clear within two weeks. I have a second check-up next month and I pray I do not have to go through another round of surgery. Any comments on experiences of healing times appreciated.

I had Epiflap PRK (LASEK) on both eyes on 31st Jan 03 at the London Optimax Clinic. The op was strange and a bit scary, but not in any way painful. I was -3.25, and -3.5 with a degree of astigmatim in both eyes. I believe the astigmatism in my left eye was worse. After treatment, for a week, clear vision was not an option! It was like looking underwater with your eyes open. Any light just caused a haze effect, and I found it hard to focus on anything. Now after 12 days, my right eye has 100% sharp vision, for distance and closeup. My left eye, I am starting to worry about. Currently, I have a light ghost image below anything I look at, and sight is no where near as sharp as my right, around 70%. This seconday image is causing havoc with my brain! This seems to be much worse indoors under false lighting. I have had my first aftercare appointment recently, but the person checking seemed rather disinterested, even when I expressed my concerns. The only thing I managed to get out of the lady before being ejected was that I was slightly long sited, but this should improve. Optimax get docked a few points here, and so do I for not pushing it harder at the time! I have a secondary check booked for 1 months time, but my conclusion is rapidly being formed that my left eye is far from a success. Does anyone know if my issues are down to the healing process being different in each eye? Or the astigmatism being greater in my problem eye? Has this occured to anyone else? Any reassurance/experiences/advice will be gratefully received! I am hoping the average rating will go up given time. I will post again with the results. Thanks.

I had PRK Epiflap yesterday (19th Feb) on both eyes at the Birmingham clinic. It seems they always have special offers hence I paid £850 including the consultation for both eyes. I was first in line but due to some problems (computer crashing, someone fainting) I ended up in the hot seat over 1.5 hours late. My surgeon Mr Anand seemed slightly nervous but was a nice chap and all went well. I have to say, the first 3/4 hours were pretty uncomfortable even with pain killers but the discomfort lessened throughout the day and I slept OK last night. I feel pretty good this morning and wont be needing any more painkillers. I feel as though I haven't experienced too much pain (maybe because Mr Anand uses bandage contact lenses). I'll update after they are whipped out on Saturday. My eyesight is fuzzy and sensitive to light and still a bit gritty but getting better all the time.

I had treatment on the 6th of Feb at Liverpool. Had been considering it for over 12 months and the £200 offer swung it for me. I had lasik on both eyes, (minus 1.5 left and 2.5 with astigma right) Treatment went well, and after had one eye bandaged and one covered with a clear dust shield. No tea and biscuit after surgery, not impressed. Anyway, friend helped me to car, and as my left eye was not covered it was agony all the way home from Liverpool in the car. Got home, boyfriend went mad about why both eyes were not bandaged, as both had been operated on, good point. He bandaged eye and put me to bed. Woke up later in terrible pain, and with acute welders flash in both eyes. This subsided after 1 day, but I was not expecting it!! Day two, could not see properly, lots of pain cant tolerate light. Day three, my long site is fantastic and night vision very good. Left eye not as good as right but think, give it time. Went last Monday for post op appointment. Just told I was doing very well and to come back in six weeks. Dont know what prescription my eyes are now, he didnt tell me?? My left is good long distance but blurry on close up, and as this is my dominant eye its making my job in an office very difficult. I am still struggling with close up stuff and getting bad eye strain, just feel I need reading glasses for work. Will persevere, and add to this site after my follow up, just a bit naffed that my better eye that did not have an astigma is not near as good as my bad eye!!! Will let you know how I go on, and If any improvements happen between now and then.

Have been treated with LASIK (eyes being -5/-6) on 31st of January. I wanted to go for LASEK as the optometrist had told me that I, with my prescription, was suitable for both and that the two eyes could be treated at the same day with LASEK too (one of my criteria). At the day of surgery however, my surgeon Mr Chatterjee, told me he would recommend LASIK because of less chance in developing haze. The first week after the op was fine- could see absolutely perfectly! The second week however, my vision started to deteriorate. I went back to the clinic as I started to get worried and seemingly I am shortsighted again (do not know my prescription but is far less than before). Still, cannot see that good and I am not even driver's standard any more. Very, very frustrating as I could see perfectly the whole first week. I have been told to come back in 4 weeks, to see if there have been any improvements due to fluctuation. If not, I probably need an enhancement treatment. Not what I expected, as this only happens in 2-3% of people and mainly in people with very high (i.e. -10) prescriptions. In the mean time I cannot really see clear, which ocassionly makes my eyes tired. At the moment I am thus not very happy, but if an enhancement treatment can solve this then I will be over the moon. If somebody has got any advice or similar experiences, would love to hear from you as I am a bit worried and rather disappointed.