I had Lasik at Newcastle on 7th Nov at a cost of £695 per eye (which is about what I was expecting). My appointment on the day was for 8.30 am, and by 10.00 am I was in the car being driven home. The staff were very good, obviously used to being asked silly questions and dealing with overly nervous patients. As for the procedure itself, having the flap cut was very unpleasant although not painful, but the laser was no problem (despite a smell like hair burning while the 2nd eye was done)and having the flap smoothed down was weirdly soothing. As the anaesthetic wore off I found I was hardly able to open my eyes, and when I did they watered like a hot waterfall. I went straight to bed when I got home, and I had to take some Ibuprofen for the pain. My eyes were aching and every few minutes I had sharp, shooting pains through both eyeballs. In fact for the first 2 hours I wondered if I had done the right thing. But the tablets kicked in and eventually I fell asleep. By that evening I was watching TV.

Since then my eyes sometimes feel a little dry, and a bit achy, as if I have been using the computer for too long. Overall though I have had very little problem, and minimal variation in vision. I have just been for my 1 week check-up, and I have been told that I have gone from a prescription of -2.50 to having no prescription at all. I can read the bottom line with my right eye, and the line above with my left eye.

This is not pleasant, and is not completely pain-free. You have to remember that it is a surgical procedure. I was wiped out for a couple of days afterwards. But as long as you are prepared for that, and have a few days off work, I would say that it is worth it. I have been wearing glasses since the age of 12 and now I am 25 and can see!!!

As for Optical Express, they were the most convenient clinic for me to get to, and I found them to be great. There was no pressure to go ahead, and it was accepted straight away when I said I did not want wavefront. Every appointment I have been for I have either been seen within 5 mins of the appointment time, or have in fact got in early. I went fully prepared to feel as if I was on a 'conveyor belt', as previous comments have said, but I found the whole experience to be personal, and I cannot fault the staff at all.