Thanks Brian. Your claim about refractive surgery seems to be that either you do what an expert tells you to do or you reach a decision on the basis of what people who have had refractive surgery tell you about their experience. I dislike it when people try to claim credibility by dint of their qualifications, but I have a PHD in the social sciences, I have spent a fair amount of time reading on the Philosophy of Science, I do think there is something very suspect going on in refractive surgery at the moment and I do think I made clear my reasons for saying this. Perhaps the words of the Royal College of Opthalmologists will serve better than my own; "The refractive and visual results for ...  More...

And the FINAL comment on this subject goes to the Corneal Surgeon!! I think Craig has made his point and continues on with his immense level of cynicism. My response is partially in defence to Brian and also to try and allay browser anxiety that may stem from confusion as a result of this discussion. If Craig is really interested in evidence based medicine, then the only way to know which procedure is better is to perform a prospective randomised controlled trial. Quotes from surgeons and one liners from papers are hardly science and not very different from a viewpoint expressed by a surgeon to a patient at the time of consultation. Looking at Randomised controlled trials: Oph ...  More...

I've been quite disturbed by the postings of Craig Ross. Whilst he's obviously spent a considerable amount of time researching refractive corrective surgery his knowledge cannot in anyway approach that of a corneal surgeon. This site has been designed to assist individuals reach an informed decision as to which treatment is most suitable to them. Non experts like ourselves should really restrict our advice to our experience of eye surgery consultations rather than present a one-sided view on our preferred surgical technique. I had lasik surgery performed in May of this year. I previously had a prescription of -4.75 in both eyes. Shortly after surgery I had a zero prescription and 6/4 res ...  More...

I'm thinking about having LASEK treatment in Leeds. I’m 26 years old and I'm short-sighted; right -1.25 and left -1.75. If anybody got a surgeon to recommend, or any info or tips, I'd be very grateful. Thanks a lot. Mags  More...

It's great that a surgeon has taken the trouble to reply. Very quickly; all of the problems he/she notes for LASEK and LASIK are presumably included in the stats relating to the success of the procedures. A number of years ago a prospective randomized study on pretty high myopes (-6 to -15, average -9.5) found the same result using PRK and LASIK (minor differences, PRK better uncorrected, LASIK better best corrected visual acuity, neither difference statistically significant). Now most providers claim (just as this study did) that the results of the two procedures are the same, so we don't have to get bogged down in comparing problems. All of the problems noted by our surgeon have big eff ...  More...

Thanks Craig - in spite of studies to demonstrate equivalency of both procedures, Lasik remains the predominant procedure worldwide. Yes Surgical eyes has discussed problems following Lasik and these are not just flap related, but include zone size etc. - problems with slightly antiquated US technology. The impact of haze, irregularity and ectasia no matter what procedure is a major problem and again unpredictable following Lasek. Vitamin C and shades - relics of the PRK days -perhaps useful but not absolute. As a LasEk sceptic, I frequently receive emails from ophthalmologists (very respected ones US and UK) who have a less than ideal experience with this procedure indicating their f ...  More...

Craig Ross seems to be on a LASEK mission ! He also is a bit cynical of doctors. Having been in the business of refractive surgery since 1990 and having performed RK, PRK, Lasik, Lasek, CK and a whole host of other refractive procedures, I must confess to performing LasIk for even -0.75D. I have the following points to make: 1) As a tertiary referral centre and trouble-shooter of problems - I have seen Ectasia, grade 3 haze, persistent epithelial defects, recurrent erosions, corneal meltdowns to near perforation and infections following LasEk. These problems (except ectasia - poor selection by the surgeon) are not influenced by the surgeon - and UNpredictable. As a surgeon, I persona ...  More...

I'd like to find out if anyone has had 'INTACS'. These are the semi circular inserts that are planted into the Cornea and, I believe, put pressure onto the eye to 're-shape' it and therefore correct the vision. I have had consultations at both Boots and Accuvision ref. LASIK, and although I was generally satisfied with both experiences, I still cannot bring myself to have a flap cut on my eye! Two of my friends have had LASIK. One is absolutely fine, the other not so happy. I feel that I could consider this for years, but I doubt I will ever be able to bring myself to go through the LASIK procedure (I wear specs, but hate them, and cannot get on with contact lenses).Has anyone had IN ...  More...

I had someone contact me privately to ask me to show them my medals; i.e. what qualifies me to say anything in an area like this. There are a few points that I think might be worth making. 1) The fact that someone has had surgery qualifies them to speak about it in the same way that being shot makes you an expert on ballistics and trauma management (that is, it doesn't qualify you in anything but a very limited sense). I would have thought that if anyone wanted to attack informed shooting of the breeze, it would rather undermine the whole point of an Internet board. There are people here who are qualified and are trying to sell something; laser eye surgery. There are people here who are ...  More...

Sunil Shah is Consultant Opthalmic Surgeon at the Midland Eye Institute in Solihull, Vinod Kumar is Corneal Fellow at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre. What do they say in a recent paper? - "LASEK has no significant surgical risks and is universally suitable for a large range of corrections, unlike LASIK. Initial results are as good as LASIK with few of the problems associated with either LASIK or PRK. In the authors' opinion, it should be the choice of procedure unless the risk of surgical cut and related flap problems are exceeded by perceived individual benefit from speed of recovery". When considering refractive surgery why not ask your surgeon why he wants to run a razor blade ...  More...

The Advertising Standards Agency has recently upheld 2 complaints against Accuvision: 1. Whether they could demonstrate that their treatment was superior, as their advertisements seem to imply. 2. Accuvision's claim that "Such is our expertise we routinely treat people rejected by other clinics" which implied that they treated patients that other clinics rejected because their treatment was superior. Full details of the hearing can be viewed at the ASA website http://www.asa.org.uk under the Adjudications section.  More...

I am considering lasik treatment, my prescription is -2.75. Most of the reviews I have read are from very recent treatments, is there anyone who can tell my how their vision has been in the longer term, say 2 years after treatment? I would be really interested.  More...

Does anyone know what Optical Express is like for Lasik treatment (especially the Glasgow clinic)? I had a consultation there, and they seemed OK, but I can't find any reviews of them anywhere.  More...

I notice we have someone complaining about the pain of LASEK. We also have someone on the board at the minute who has specifically asked for LASIK despite a very low prescription. If LASEK = pain and LASIK = "advanced" how will people ever be made to understand that the results are the same, and therefore having your cornea split edgewise with a motorized razor blade is really not a smart thing to do? I would never have believed that British medicine could operate like this had I not watched it happen. Craig Ross  More...

Hi, I had Lasik treatment a few months ago and I'm really impressed with the results. I still try to adjust my glasses occasionally! but only have positive things to say about the whole procedure. It was no worse than having slept in lenses pain wise, but go for the Valium!!I have another check up in a month's time and will post my comments after that. Regards, Seema  More...

Hola - I wrote in the 13th of November, 3 days after having LASEK with Zyoptix wavefront. I am now pleased to say that I have no pain and I am gradually adjusting to my new contact-lens free life. Every night I find myself on the verge of sticking my fingers into my eyes to remove my lenses, and then I remember silly me, I don't wear lenses any more ! :) I was operated monday the 10th, here in Barcelona. By Thursday I was feeling quite OK and was fortunate enough to watch the season's finale of 24 hours! The next day, I had a check-up with the surgeon. Any previous impressions of the doctor being informal and cold were erased. He was very kind and caring, not to mention quite attractive!!! H ...  More...

Hi, I'm an ex-pat who had PRK surgery in Holland at the Rotterdam Eye Hospital special LASIK/PRK clinic. This is a warning! Although my doctor spoke excellent English it was techno babble and I was eventually told after an hour and a half consultation that I was not eligible for LASIK and had to have PRK. I am short sighted -4.25 in both eyes with a thin cornea so agreed to have it done as it was for my 10th wedding anniversary trip to the Maldives and I wanted to scuba dive and see what was down there!. The operation was perfect(right eye first as that was the worst), no problem. I was only given one Pethedine tablet and one sleeping pill and the pain was beyond belief, I had to go ba ...  More...

I am interested to hear first hand results of LASIK surgery to correct higher level short sightedness . I have readings of -10 and -5 sphere . What is your experience of Optimax (any centre)? For those of you going into this treatment with similar sphere readings What level of sight is reasonable to expect post treatment ?  More...

I know someone who has been offered 2 reductions of £250 each because she decided against laser surgery, and from one of the main players in the field. Surely this goes against the regulations of any contract that has been signed stating they have not been put under any pressure or given biased advice etc.  More...

hi, I actually live in spain, but wanted to comment on my experience anyway. I had LASEK with Zyoptix performed on monday morning. The operation itself wasn't painful, but of course it was uncomfortable. I was also a bit disappointed with the formal attitude of the doctor and his staff. Apparently there was some difficulty with making the flap in both eyes, so the operation took longer than I had expected . Additionally it seemed as if the anaesthesia was wearing off on the 2nd eye, so I had to ask for more. This consequently made me more nervous and I remember the doctor insisting several times "stare at the red light, you need to cooperate" The first 24 hours were extremely painful, actua ...  More...

I would be interested to read reports of after a few years down the line! MOst reviews are from people who have recently had their operations done when it is absolutely great to see anything without lenses/spectacles. I wonder if there is much regression or problems in time.  More...

Hi everyone, i am thinking of having laser surgery and have been trying to investigate what treatment would suit me best, but keep finding more and more information that points me in different directions!? I have mildish short sight of -4 in both eyes, slight astigmatism and quite thick corneas. I also get dry eyes first thing in the morning and have huge pupils at 8mm! My evaluation so far concludes that 'Wavefront - Lasek' might be the way forward, the dryness being kept minimal by LASEK and the large pupils (currently slight night-time halos) addressed with Wavefront. Can anyone offer their opinion? I would love to hear from anybody with any comments or experiences. I'm not a rej ...  More...

Can anybody tell me if they have been treated with nistagmus - involuntary eye movement? I visited a clinic in Bolton yesterday and am waiting to discover if the procedure will be possible. Would appreciate any response. Many thanks Sarah  More...

I am gutted that I have [again] failed my eye sight test for the Police Force. I am thinking about treatment. Any advice?  More...

Over the next couple of months this site will be going through yet another re-write. So should you have any thoughts on what you would like to see featured of the site please email us with your comments. Regards 'Zeus' - Webmaster  More...

My eye condition is (right eye Sph +1.75 Cyl +1.75 Axis 90 ) (left eye Sph +2.25 Cyl +1.25 Axis 100 ) I was told years ago that my condition could not be treated. But time has past and thing have moved on and I would like to now if it is treatable now. Thank you . Peter Marks  More...

Hello I’ve been visiting your web site for quite some time now, and while I do not support the idiots who deliberately set out to discredit clinics by multiple postings of a sour nature, when your honesty of running the web site is questioned, it looks suspicious on your part when you just pull the comments off the site without a word. We would like to make an informed choice of the surgeon/ clinic we would like treatment at we need to read the good and the bad comments of the surgeons/clinics. Having said that, I find the site very good and helpful, I have emailed quite a few people who asked for advice and made a few friends who, even after treatment i am in contact with. I hope this h ...  More...

Something has changed on this web site I think…… Something to do with “free speech”. Regards Patrick L Capald  More...