Fourteen years ago I made what was probably the worst decision of my life. I had corrective eye surgery. Not laser surgery - that was still in the experimental stage at the time - but the old so-called "Russian Operation" or to give it its proper name Radial Keratotomy (RK). This had had some amount of publicity back in the late 1980s. At that time I had worn glasses for myopia for 16 years. I had loathed and detested them from the outset. At age 16 I progressed to contact lenses (my father bought me them as a present for passing all my 'O' Levels, probably the only reason I did any revision!) I subsequently wore them morning, noon and night and ended being told by my optician that my eyes would inevitably reject them at some time in the future. Panic set in until I saw an article about RK. It involved making between 4, 8,12 or 16 microscopic incisions in the cornea which would then flatten it, thus reducing the myopia. To cut a long story short I had the operation in June 1989. The plan was to do my slightly worse right eye first then follow on with the left when this had stabalised. I went into the operating theatre confident that it would work. I was sadly disillusioned. The refraction was reduced by a paltry dioptre and I was left with eight scars on my right eye. I was devastated. Fortunately I was still able to wear contact lenses but the fit on the right eye was never as good as the left. As the years went by and laser surgery began to gain momentum I bitterly regretted having the RK - if only I had waited. I was led to believe by various opticians that I should count myself lucky I could still wear contacts and that no laser clinic would ever touch my damaged eye. Then I discovered this web-site and posted an account of my problem. Accuvision were the only clinic to return a comprehensive reply. On studying their web-site and the comments made on lasik-eyes I soon realised that if anyone could help then they could. The only thing I found slightly off-putting was the location - I live in Leeds - but I didn't feel any of the local clinics could offer their level of expertise. Subsequently I booked a consultation on August 11th 2003.

I went to the consultation thinking in the back of my mind that Accuvision would not be able to help. I was wrong. After a thorough 2 hour assessment I heard the words I had been waiting for for so many years - I could be helped! I was to have Customised Lasik which would correct the defects to my own individual eye topography not just my prescription. I was made aware they may not "hit zero" with the right eye due to the scarring but I was prepared to take the risk as I had such confidence with them by this stage.

4th September was the day of reckoning. It went like a dream. No pain, no needles, just a slight feeling of pressure when the clamp was put in. The next day my -4.75/-.75 left eye tested at just under 20/20. The right eye (previously -3.75/-.75) had been left with a bandage contact lens overnight so was not quite as good but as soon as the lens was removed it seemed to glide into place. A week later I returned to the clinic to find that the right eye had obtained 20/15. The left eye was slightly behind (but still very good) which had been done deliberately due to my age (42) to allow a longer time before I need reading glasses.

I realise there are a lot of people out there who have had sub-optimum results from eye surgery and I would not hesitate to recommend a consultation with Accuvision. They are, quite simply, the best.

I never thought I could be helped. I was. I feel as if my life has started over. Fourteen years ago I made the worst decision of my life. On 11th August 2003 I made the best.

To everyone at Accuvison .. Thank You.