Hi all. Has anybody had laser eye surgery? I'm seriously thinking about it. Would you recommend it?

Have a word with IndigoLake on here as I know he has been struggling with his eyesight

Not had it done personally, I was advised against it due to my age (early 40's when I enquired). It would have corrected my short sightedness, but I would have still needed glasses within a couple of years for reading, as it happens I'm on my first set of varifocals for that very reason.

A work colleague who was in his 20's had it done and would reecommend it though. Do you research into what to go for though, not all laser eye surgery is comparable.

I am an optometrist
What would you like to know?

gtclaret wrote:I am an optometrist
What would you like to know?

How long recovery takes mainly. Also, I'm 44 so would I immediately need reading glasses? I have astigmatism in both eyes but they have deteriorated when it comes to reading.

My daughter had it done a few years ago, prob about 7 or 8, when she was in her 20s. She has had no problems and has never regretted it.

As someone else has said, do your research. She had it done with Ultralase but I think they are now part of Optimax.

You would need to have a consultation. Many years ago I had enquired but my short sightedness was too severe to undertake laser surgery. I have since, following many years of problems with floaters, had vitrectomy to both eyes and lens replacement at the same time. You might consider this as it is possible to address your short sightedness and close up vision with this option. It is more costly, however.

I had mine done in 1998 when it was fairly new. It was the best thing I've ever done. I was very short sighted and it brought my vision up to where I could read the bottom line with ease. I'm 45 now and have just had to start wearing glasses again to read and to drive at night. It's only a slight deterioration and I was told from the beginning that my eyes would deteriorate with age.
I would thoroughly recommend it.

Just remember that any eye surgery like any surgery can go wrong. If you find your present problems sufficient to risk the loss of sight in one eye -then go ahead. Blindness is a rare complication. 1 in 1000 cataract ops- I was quoted-so far less for corneal laser treatment but there is a risk.

I once looked into it but couldnt see a ----ing thing...lol.

my eyes were awful...plus 6 one eye and plus 5 1/2 the other
couldnt get them lasered as not suitable for me.
had inter ocular eye surgery instead.
basically they insert a lense in your eyes permanently.
operation completely painless and less stress than going to dentist.
cost me 4 1/2 grand total for both eyes.....glad I got it done.

Pearcey wrote:Hi all. Has anybody had laser eye surgery? I'm seriously thinking about it. Would you recommend it?

Yes, both myself and the Mrs have had laser eye surgery.My advice would be to research very carefully the choice of surgeon
We both went to Bradford Eye Hospital with the same surgeon

Pearcey wrote:How long recovery takes mainly. Also, I'm 44 so would I immediately need reading glasses? I have astigmatism in both eyes but they have deteriorated when it comes to reading.

Recovery is normally quick you can get flaring with bright lights and it is possible that you may need steroid drops for a while
You may not immediately need reading specs but at 44 it may not be long before you do. Ask for the possibility of mono vision which will hold off the inevitable.
A lot will depend on the severity and type of astigmatism

An other option is lenticular replacement. This is more expensive but. will. correct. all forms of. astigmatism

Thanks for the replies, they're really helpful. My eyes are not as bad as some have mentioned but I'm fed up of wearing glasses and contacts don't work very well.

Not had it myself but am considering it. Glasses are an inconvenience at times, particularly for sport. Contact lenses cause quite a lot of irritation to my eyes of late. My wife had laser eye surgery years ago and is happy. I believe it's much more affordable nowadays.

IndigoLake wrote:Not had it myself but am considering it. Glasses are an inconvenience at times, particularly for sport. Contact lenses cause quite a lot of irritation to my eyes of late. My wife had laser eye surgery years ago and is happy. I believe it's much more affordable nowadays.

It is a lot cheaper nowadays. £595 per eye for the basic treatment. I guess it depends which treatment is suitable for your eyes. I'll book a consultation and see what they say.

Pearcey wrote:It is a lot cheaper nowadays. £595 per eye for the basic treatment. I guess it depends which treatment is suitable for your eyes. I'll book a consultation and see what they say.

Would be interested to know how it goes! I assume it's well worth the money over time, particularly for those who have to buy contact lenses every few months like myself. Cost does add up!

I have considered it but after wearing contacts for over 40 years I am quite used to them now. I buy mine online and they cost me 13 quid per month...I know over time it would be more cost effective than surgery but I just don't have the readies to do it....

IndigoLake wrote:Would be interested to know how it goes! I assume it's well worth the money over time, particularly for those who have to buy contact lenses every few months like myself. Cost does add up!

I'll let you know. Consultation is at the beginning of October.

Had mine done 18 years ago and still got 20-20 vision

I can even see Burnley staying up again this season..

Marney&Mee wrote:Had mine done 18 years ago and still got 20-20 vision

I can even see Burnley staying up again this season..

Me too and one of my eyes is shot!

I am 64. Need glasses for reading. Always had one good eye and one not so good.

This year's test...could not read anything on the chart with my left eye.

I am fine for driving but wonder if I can get lasered to get the duff eye put right? Is that feasible? Also, there are different types. How does one know the right type to use?

Wjrtr csn u grt tgus dine?

Laser scalpels are pointless.

I had it 5 years ago.



Bloody hell, the wife is ugly!

Ian . it's perfectly feasible that they might prescribe surgery on one eye only.
I had just one eye done about 15 years ago.
My right eye - lasered- is now dominant for distance, and the left one for "reading".
I can read to the bottom of the chart if I use both eyes . (The brain "balances" it out), and I can read perfectly with both eyes, though it is slightly better when I close my right eye. (I only ever do this though if print is absolutely miniscule.[i.e. smaller than you would expect in a regular sight test].
Surgery had no impact on my Claret tinted lenses.

Had my consultation and I’m not suitable for laser and too young (44) for lens replacement. Oh well. Thanks for the info though.

I've had cataract surgery done. It was covered by government health insurance over here. They offered laser surgery, but I would have had to pay for it out of pocket. They did each eye 3 weeks apart. It's been clear sailing ever since.

nil_desperandum wrote:Ian . it's perfectly feasible that they might prescribe surgery on one eye only.
I had just one eye done about 15 years ago.
My right eye - lasered- is now dominant for distance, and the left one for "reading".
I can read to the bottom of the chart if I use both eyes . (The brain "balances" it out), and I can read perfectly with both eyes, though it is slightly better when I close my right eye. (I only ever do this though if print is absolutely miniscule.[i.e. smaller than you would expect in a regular sight test].
Surgery had no impact on my Claret tinted lenses.

Thanks for that. I will ponder. There are different systems. Anyone know the difference?