Clinic: Finchley Rd, London
Surgeon: Dr Patel
Treatment: Bilateral LASEK (+ contact lens 'bandages')

Before:
Right: -3.25
Left: -3.00
After (6 months later):
Right: -0.50
Left: +0.25

I was a candidate for LASEK or LASIK, but chose LASEK due to the lesser risk. The treatment itself is painless and over in a matter of minutes. I guess the smell of the cornea burning or the crackling sound of the machine could be a little disconcerting, but overall there is nothing to worry about. Once finished, you can happily get up & walk out, elated in that you notice an instant significant improvement. The eye anaesthetic works, very well, lulling you into a false sense of security for the 1st hour or so afterwards. Being driven home (don't even think about driving yourself), the effects start to kick in, to the point where I just had to shut my eyes, and keep them shut, for a further 36 hours. It's not so much a painful reaction, more an irritation, akin to rubbing shampoo into the eyes. My recuperation seems more enduring than some people have suggested on this forum, and I don't consider myself the stereotypical male hypochondriac (unless I'm after sympathy), so be prepared for the worst. I suggest writing off the whole week, forgetting work (especially if computers are involved), and if possible having someone on hand to help out, otherwise you'll be walking around the home bumping into things. I found it was best to just stay in bed and sleep as much as possible. Trying to open my eyes resulted in lots of tears and severe irritation, and putting in eye drops is a real nightmare. I'm just glad I didn't have the eyes done separately and have to endure all this twice over.
Day 3, and I was finally up and about and able to see properly. Day 4, and I was driving ? without glasses, weyhey! A few odd effects developed - sometimes the eyes would be painfully oversensitive to light hence the need for sunglasses, and close up work gave mild double vision, probably all down to the settling of the eyes' lenses. After a fortnight, anomalies gone, I started to reap the full benefits; but due to the long healing process with LASEK, sight continually improves over time. Initial eye-tests suggested that astigmatism had been introduced into one eye, which was worrying to hear, but eventually this just went away! The results for LASEK are not officially finalised until 6 months have passed so be careful not to pre-judge the treatment. With the left eye slightly over-corrected, combined long distance vision is better than I was expecting, and well above driving standard (my main objective & a Godsend if you ride a motorbike). Short distance was unaffected thankfully. I couldn't fault the staff - the optometrists and surgeon did an excellent job. Just be prepared for an uncomfortable time immediately after this particular treatment.
In conclusion, £495 well spent.