Well, I just had my initial consultations at Optimax (Finchley Rd) and Accuvision. See comments under each clinic. At Optimax I met Mr Patel who is very experienced and answered all my questions, with absolutely no hard sell and in a manner which was neither patronising nor hurried. He was particularly open about LASEK, which in many cases becomes regular PRK if the 'flap' cannot be replaced - the softened epithelial layer disappears naturally anyway during healing. Discovered my pupil size is >7mm fully dilated which may lead to some post-op haloing if I proceed. They also give you a copy of their consent form right upfront - and it's absolutely required reading for anyone considering laser correction; if you still go ahead after reading that, then you really do want it done badly! One thing to note: they share their clinic with a hair removal practice, and the operating rooms are right next to each other - not sure what this does for air purity - I wouldn't want someone's armpit hair floating underneath my flaps whilst I'm in the chair! On the other hand, might bring the missus along and see if they'll do us a special 2 for 1 offer - my eyes, her legs. The main thing I gained from the day though, was to realise how being myopic (I'm -2.75 & -3.5) can stop you needing reading glasses when presbyopia kicks in in middle age. I'd read about this on the web before, but now I've seen for real. Here's what happens: when they put the drops in your eyes to dilate the pupil, it also paralyses the lens, which stops you being able to focus close up. (I may not be exactly right about this – I'm not an optician, but I think that's the way it was). I found I wasn't able to see my watch with glasses on, but only had to lift my specs, and my trusty short-sighted mince pies could see the time clearly - case closed. So, you have to trade off losing some good near vision in later life, against great distance vision from now on. At least that's how I see it.