This is my first entry after just 3 DAYS of Bi-Lateral LASIK surgery on Friday, 4th August 2006 at a cost of £695 per eye. At nearly 51 years of age, I had worn glasses for almost 48 years of my life for short-sightedness! Since my early 20's, my prescription has been fairly stable at around -2.50(L) and -2.75(R) with mild astigmatism in both eyes. More recently, I have had trouble focusing on my PC monitor and keyboard, having glasses 'on' to see the monitor and glasses 'off' to see the keyboard - an absolute nightmare! I just could'nt read what I had typed without my glasses! Similarly, with contact lenses, I could see all about me from more than 2 feet away but could not read close-up. I was warned before surgery that I would still require 'reading glasses' for close-up work. HOW WRONG THEY WERE!!

I am now typing this feedback on the keyboard and, at the same time, I can read it on the PC monitor! FANTASTIC!!

I had a check-up on Saturday afternoon which revealed a slight inflamation of the corneal flap on the left eye. After increasing the dose of antibiotic eyedrops from every 4 hours to every 2 hours, and after a further check-up today (Monday), the problem has been resolved.

The 2-part LASIK surgery itself is TOTALLY painless although slightly uncomfortable. The worst part for me was having the corneal flap 'cut' to make the eye ready for the laser. Even after years of wearing contact lenses, there is still something not quite right about touching the eyeball!

However, once the 'flap' was created, within seconds the laser's 'ack-ack-ack' went to work and a large grin spread across my face as I likened the sound to that of an arcade game! Absolutely NO PAIN WHATSOEVER! That was just the RIGHT eye and I could SEE exactly what was going on in the operating room! Within less than a minute, the LEFT eye was similarly done!

On leaving the operating room, I had vision like never before - I could read the posters on the far wall - about 20/30 feet away - although the outer peripheral was a little hazy!

My post op check-up today shows that my eyes are 'perfect' and that I now have 20/15 (better than 20/20) vision in both eyes!! Not only that, I do NOT need 'reading glasses' to see just what's under my nose - and at my age!

Who do I thank? Everybody at OXFORD branch of OPTICAL EXPRESS, but especially my Optometrist, Mr Chris Gascoigne and, without doubt, my surgeon, Mr Stefan Koppler! Many thanks to you all!

Thinking about having LASIK? You really can't do better than Optical Express!