For the past 40 years since I was 19 I have been short-sighted and always wore spectacles for distance vision. Over the years this myopic condition had slightly got worse, but it was relative. Where does long-sight finish and short-sight begin? At first I could watch television without glasses and only needed them for driving or outdoor pursuits, but gradually the ‘distance’ became shorter and shorter. Until recently I needed them all the time except for anything that was less than 3 feet away.

I have never used contact lenses only spectacles and I made enquiries about laser eye treatment. It proved to be expensive and at that time beyond my means, until talking to friends who all had laser eye surgery, and three of them were patients of Optimax.

I telephoned and made enquiries and received the booklet, and was surprised at the cost, which made it affordable for me. Pondering over a weekend I made the decision and booked a consultation, which was about 4 weeks in the future. I was informed that on the same day of the consultation a timeslot for the actual surgery had been reserved, subject to the consultation result and my agreement.

Time off was booked at work following the date and eventually it arrived. My wife drove me to the clinic and even though we were about 30 minutes early, I was immediately examined in the topography room in preparation for my consultation with the doctor. Again earlier than anticipated I met the doctor who examined the topography results gained earlier, I read the eye charts and was eventually viewing them through the mechanical spectacles which was my new ‘prescription’. I qualified for the Epi-Lasek treatment and I was given three options and a decision was needed as to which treatment I wanted – or none at all, if I decided not to go ahead. I could have both eyes under corrected, which would greatly improve my distant vision and still give me some long-sight for reading, or I could have Monovision. Only one eye is corrected for distance vision, whilst the other remains long-sighted for close-up work. The brain then compensates and a compromise is reached giving distance and also reading vision. The third option was to have both eyes fully corrected, but at the expense of having to wear reading glasses for close-up work. I chose the latter, and I was asked to return at the appointed time for the surgery.



I was escorted into the treatment room and asked to lay horizontal on to a bed platform. Anaesthetic drops were applied to both eyes and the bed was then swung sideways underneath the laser instrument where I was asked to stare into the coloured light. My right eye was treated first. At some stage a small clip was applied to keep my eyelid open but I cannot remember or feel it being connected. A transparent film appeared to be applied over my eye with slight pressure but no pain or discomfort was experienced. I then saw the epithelium being slowly peeled back and it was at this stage that I had to concentrate on to the light. The laser was switched on and I heard a clicking noise and also a ‘sparking’ sound and I could also detect a slight singeing odour. After what appeared to be a few seconds cold water was then dropped on my eye, the epithelium was folded back and a bandage contact lens was fitted. I was then asked to close my eye (the clip must have been removed by then, although I could not tell) and a compress was applied for a few seconds. The whole process was then repeated on my left eye.

I am not squeamish by nature and during the whole process I remained calm and confident and the whole treatment was completed in about 15 minutes! A nurse then took me into another room and gave me my medication pack and explained its use. The anaesthetic would wear off in about 30 minutes and I should be prepared to take the painkillers. She said that the next 48 hours would be uncomfortable and the best recovery would be aided by sleep, and included in the pack were two nights sleeping tablets. During the ride in the car home, all I wanted to do was keep my eyes closed so I did. I did not feel any pain only slight soreness, and I did not even bother with the painkillers. Once home I took my sleeping tablet and went to bed. The next morning the soreness has gone and I have experienced NO DISCOMFORT since! The ensuing few days I religiously applied my eye-drops as prescribed and wore a comfortable pair of sunglasses, more to protect my eyes from dust and foreign bodies rather than the sunlight.

My vision has improved immensely after all those years and within 1 week, both eyes had returned to 20/20 vision for distance viewing. I know that I must now wear reading glasses for close-up work but this is a small price to pay for my distance vision. It was a question of priorities – I had the treatment to improve my quality of leisure life as I enjoy country walking, gardening and photography. I can now look through a camera eyepiece or use binoculars without the hindrance of spectacles. To me these factors were more important than my working environment behind a desk, where I now accept wearing reading glasses. I do not regret my decision and would recommend Opimax to anyone – it is a painless, very quick procedure – and you do not miss anything under anaesthetic as you see everything that occurs!