Laser Eye Surgery - Experiences???

[Mr_S]

Having had enough of losing contacts whilst riding (especially at TA4 :mad: ) I've booked in for an assesment for this surgery, and hopefully will have it done later next week.

So, I'm just trying to get a feel for peoples recovery experiences, and I know there's a couple of people on the board who've had this done.

I'm interested in knowing about recovery times more than anything, and what peoples real world experience is compared to the official line.

Will probably opt for Wavefront. I'm just over the limit for Lasek / Epi Lasek so Lasik is the other option.

So, how long before I'm back riding / driving?

[LesPaul]

I had Lasik 6 years ago, had surgery in the morning eye started to get sore about an hour later took pain killers and went to bed, woke up a couple of hours later and went down stairs to crash on the sofa and noticed that it was 4pm, then realised I was looking at the clock the other side of the room and able to tell the time without glasses :D
I was told I had to wear the clear plastic patch at night for a week (just incase you rub your eyes in your sleep) and to avoid going swimming for a couple of weeks.
My surgery was on the Monday and I took the rest of the week off work and was fine from Wednesday really ;)

Darren

[dickieducati]

i had lasik in one eye and lasek in the other due to cornea thinness. went really well better than 20/20 now definitely recommend it. do plenty of research into your chosen surgeon and company. i used ultralase and requested a specific surgeon as he seemed to have very good reveiws and had operated on some of the other surgeons.
i work in front of screens all day and was in the next morning. it was a little bit odd as the lasek eye still had a temporary lens in it. but was ok to drive etc.
if you have lasik you will be able to see pretty much perfectly in an hour with lasek it was maybe a week or so.
the suction pump they put on your eye and the feeling of them cutting the eye are "interesting" as is the smell of your eye being burnt when the laser is on!
no pain though just a bit odd.
would do it again though.

[Dibble]

Hello,

I had the "Lasik" surgery just over 2 years ago, and based on the following chart "Wavefront" should have similar recovery times to "Lasik".

http://accuvision.co.uk/eye/surgery-options-available.htm

I had both eyes done on the same day at Optimax in Croydon.

I had the surgery at 4pm on the Friday afternoon, went home, took 2 sleeping pills and a painkiller and slept the initial discomfort off on the advice of my Dr.

Woke up Saturday and although exceptionally light sensitive there was definite clarity to my vision. I spent the day in the flat, curtains closed and just chilled.

Woke up the Sunday and the light sensitivity had subsided so i wandered round to the newsagents and got a paper, still need sunglasses but eyes had stopped watering when subjected to light. I then read the paper without the aid of glasses for the 1st time in 17 years. That was good. About mid afternoon I then felt confident enough to drive, so took the 10 minute drive to my mums, all was well.

I have then driven virtually everyday since.

10 days after my op was TA1 at Mallory and I did that with no issues at all and 10 days after that i rode from Biarritz to Andorra along the Pyrenees.

The only inconveniences were:

1. Having to wear eye shields in bed for 7 nights (to stop you rubbing your eyes)
2. Eye drops every few hours for 2 weeks.
3. Night vision was impaired for about a month while the halo'ing settled down, in that time I minimised night driving and didn't ride the bike at night.
4. For reasons beyond the surgeons control my right eye needed a minor tweak, that was taken care of last year and I am now discharged from all aftercare.

It was without a doubt one of the best things I have ever done, I would suggest you identify your surgeon by recommendation if possible as thats how i found mine.

Hope that answers your questions .... if you need anymore info u2u me for my mobile number.

Dibble

[LesPaul]

The suction pump they put on your eye and the feeling of them cutting the eye are "interesting" as is the smell of your eye being burnt when the laser is on!
no pain though just a bit odd.
would do it again though.

singed hair anyone :lol:

Darren

[andyb]

I had lasik @ ultralase( same bloke that did Clive woodward) 3 years ago on one eye counteracting stigmatism. Ditto the above comments, i used the bottle of whisky method to sleep off the grief....... results.....fantastic!

[Mr_S]

Thanks guys, complete and honest answers as usual.

I did the research on the surgeons straight after TA4, and have had to wait until now whilst they were on holiday. Being done in Southampton.

Lasik or Wavefront will be decided on friday, although wavefront's twice the cost of Lasik I'm of the opinion that where eyes are concerned cost isn't relevant.

[andyb]

With the right choice of surgeon at a quality clinic you wont go wrong.

What you will see as you wait, they are clever in having returning clients at 1 week 2 weeks etc etc, fortheir check ups.

The buzz these people give you with their stories of how great their sight is, is a remarkable piece of PR...........

[Mr_S]

Nothing like a good testimonial to support sales :)

Forgot to ask, how long does it take? Minutes, hours?

I guess the actual process is quite short, but suspect there's a bit of time before and after getting prepped etc.

[dickieducati]

yes literally minutes actually getting it done but i recon its was about 1.5 hours in there in total. most of thet being recovery in a dark room just after.

[Dibble]

Originally posted by Mr_S
Nothing like a good testimonial to support sales :)

Forgot to ask, how long does it take? Minutes, hours?

I guess the actual process is quite short, but suspect there's a bit of time before and after getting prepped etc.

Not sure about Wavefront but I was in and out of the operating room ina about 10 - 12minutes having had both eyes done ...

That includes the local anaesthetic (eye drops), clamping, cutting, lasering and re-fitting of the "flap".

And Dickie, thanks for eminding me of the smell ..... uuurgh

[Nigel C]

Not for me ! until they come up with a non invasive method i'll stick to glasses and contacts.

currently using Daily diposables complete field of vision and they don't cause probs when on my bike that'll do me fine for now thanks

[Edited on 17-8-2005 by Nigel C]

[Dibble]

Originally posted by Nigel C
Not for me ! until they come up with a non invasive method i'll stick to glasses and contacts.

currently using Daily diposables complete field of vision and they don't cause probs when on my bike that'll do me fine for now thanks

[Edited on 17-8-2005 by Nigel C]

whinge whinge whinge whingw whinge ....

might get the webteam to sort you a proper new name .

WebWhinger ??

WhingerNinja (hey I like that) ??

WorthingWhinger ??

Whinger C ?

:lol:

[JPM]

Must admit I've thought about it, and I don't fancy people prodding around in my eyes, and the long term effects of having it done.

Both my eyes are useless without correction, and I've done the same and lost contacts while out riding, once on a track day, and once in the middle of Wales in the middle of nowhere at night, and no street lights (Dibble will remember me telling him this story!).

Just call me cod-eye :lol:

[Mr_S]

Originally posted by DIBBLE
And Dickie, thanks for eminding me of the smell ..... uuurgh

Burning bacon???

[LesPaul]

smells like singed hair

[Dibble]

Originally posted by Mr_S
Originally posted by DIBBLE
And Dickie, thanks for eminding me of the smell ..... uuurgh

Burning bacon???

you wish .. :(

[psychlist]

Go for it, you wont regret it ;)

[Mr_S]

Thought I'd follow this up after having it done this weekend.

Dibble's experiences pretty much match mine, had the surgery done on saturday afternoon at 4pm, took about 30mins, and was on my way home by 5pm home by 6pm and slept for 2 hours (Ali G goggles, are not becoming..).

Up around 8pm and could see reasonably clearly, although eyes were tired the pain had gone and they just felt a little dry (I was given a months worth of artificial tears for this though).

Next morning, 8 am WOW!!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Reading reg plates at the end of the road unaided, and a very happy chap.
A bit sensitive to light still, but it is a very sunny day at the moment.

Follow up consultation was 2pm yesterday (24 hours after op's planned time) and I was better than 20:20 in both eyes, and that's set to improve over the next week :)

I strongly recommend this to anyone, wish I'd done it years ago.

Wife's getting a bit annoyed at the, I can read this, I can read that stuff, but I think she'll be getting hers done quite soon...

I've got some free consultation referral vouchers if anyone's really interested in getting it done U2U me your name and address ( no need to post in the thread) and I'll add you to my form.