I found the testimonials both on this site and lasik-eyes.co.uk invaluable so thought it only right to add mine.

My prescription Right Eye; Sphere minus 8.00 / Cyl minus 3.25 / Axis 25. Left Eye; Sphere minus 8.25 / Cyl minus 2.75 / Axis 158

Friday 16th March 2007 I went to Optical Express in Birmingham and must say the experience left me cold! It felt much like a cattle market and not at all personal.

I was told I would be suitable for treatment and was encouraged to pay a deposit there and then in order to secure my operation as soon as possible. This gave me the feeling of a sales-orientated environment and not one whose MAIN goal is the improvement of the patients eyes... (This comes from a woman who is a qualified independent mortgage adviser – who would never resort to ‘hard sell’ tactics).

Suffice to say I did NOT pay a deposit and told them that I intended seeing at least one more clinic before deciding.

I had already booked my initial consultation with Accuvision on Friday 23rd March. From the moment I arrived at the Solihull clinic I felt comfortable with the environment. Vik was great he carried out the various eye checks and said I was suitable for Accuwave Lasik treatment. He explained the procedure, answered all my questions and said that should I proceed my surgeon would be Brett Halliday.

I left the clinic with 4 dates when the next treatments would be conducted, no pressure to pay a deposit and book the surgery there and then. I was already 95% sure that I would return to Accuvision, but thought it through over the weekend. I rang the clinic first thing on Monday and booked my treatment for the earliest available date and I underwent surgery yesterday, Wednesday 4th April 2007.

I must confess to having doubts right up until the moment I was in the laser room, in fact the day before I was removing my spectacles saying to myself it wasn’t so bad wearing contact lenses and spectacles (I had worn spectacles since I was 6 and gas permeable contact lenses since I was 17).

My appointment was 12 noon – I arrived to find about 5 people calmly sitting in the reception area with their eyes closed due to the fact they had each already undergone surgery. I joined the few that were awaiting their pre-op tests.

When one of the pre-op tests was conducted it showed that the surface of my eyes had altered which suggested that my prescription had altered. I therefore had my vision checked by Vik once more to confirm the current measurements. At this point I was worried I would not be operated on that day. I voiced this to Vik who assured me that they would indeed be proceeding.

I eventually had my surgery just before 3pm. There is absolutely nothing to be worried about. I did get a little concerned when I was told to watch the green light and I said ‘I can’t see a green light’ – but was reassured that this was normal!

WOW! I could see without visual aids!!!!

I left the clinic after a final check from Brett and the instruction to rest my eyes for half the time. I spent last night watching a little TV then closing my eyes. I inserted a drop in each eye every hour, as instructed. At 11:30pm I decided it was time for bed and my partner attached the eye shields and had a chuckle at my expense! I woke up several times through the night, which is normal for me. At 6:30am my eyes felt a little gritty and I thought I would like to rub them and sat on edge of bed willing myself to ignore the sensation – my partner suggested inserting drops which was a good move and I went back to sleep for an hour and woke up with no feeling of sore or gritty eyes.

I went back for my 1 day check up at 11:45am (sitting in the waiting room reading a magazine!). They were happy with my progress – not yet 20:20, but was reassured that my vision would improve day upon day.

As you can see from this diary entry I am using my laptop computer with no problems seeing the screen or keyboard. I say again WOW!

I really do wish I had been in a position to have undergone this surgery when I was younger – I am now 43, but hey better late than never.

I will endeavour to post another one or two diary entries as time goes on and hope that it helps you to make up your mind.

It occurred to me that I am very fortunate to have been able to undergo this surgery and wanted to donate my old glasses to a worthwhile organisation. I searched the internet by entering 'donate spectacles'. You may be interested to do the same.... I opted for the second sight project on the following link: http://www.secondsightproject.com/index.php you can enter your name and address and an envelope will be sent to you - they require a £1 donation to process.

Feel free to e-mail me.