I had my treatment on 2nd March 2007 - Femtosecond Lasik

My glasses prescription was
L +3.75 cyl -0.75 Ax 165 Reading +0.75
R +3.50 cyl -0.75 Ax 170 Reading +0.75

I was treated by Dr Ayoubi at the Reading clinic.

There were a few delays on the day, I was booked in for 14:30
but my surgery didn't start until 15:45.

I was called into the treatment room and lay in the dentist style
chair between the two laser machines (the Femtosecond and the lasik
laser... the gap between the two isn't very wide so mind your head).
The numbing drops were put in my eyes and the eye-lid clip (which
stop you blinking) was fitted, then the suction ring was applied
to my left eye - Out of the whole procedure that was the
most uncomfortable part. Although you can't really feel anything
I could sense the suction on my eyeball - sort of felt like it was
pinching and everything went dark. The chair is slid over into position
under the Femto laser.

I could see some blue lights at this point, and the machine
was lowered down until it was resting on the suction ring. The Doctor
tried to reposition my head a fraction - I didn't feel I could move
it as the headrest on the chair seemed to be hugging my head.
Dr Ayoubi was really very good and explained everything that was happening.
He told me when the Femto laser was starting and he counted down as it
was working. There was no noise, no sensation at all - I couldn't tell it
was doing anything. Took about 60 seconds.

After it was finished the laser was moved away and I was slid back to the
central position (between the two machiens) and the suction ring was removed.
The flap was lifted and my eye was wiped and I was positioned under the Lasik
laser. Took a minute or so for the machine to be setup and then I was told to
look at the red light (which I could only make out as a red smudge). This part
of the treatment isn't painful but the noise of the laser (sort of clicking and
an electrical noise like something shorting out) is a bit concerning and the
smell isn't nice (reminded me of the smell when a piece of coal used to pop out
of the fire and burn the carpet) - I tried to breathe through my mouth so I wouldn't
smell it as much. It went on for about 60 seconds.

After that my eyeball was wiped and rinsed and the flap was repositioned.
I could see but it was a bit blurry.

The same happened with my right eye. I felt better with this one as I knew
what to expect. I would say the suction ring is really the worst part of it
all. The Femto and the lasik laser were used as before and my eye was wiped
off. I had two eye-guards fitted and was escorted to the recovery room for
about 10 minutes and was given my Optimax pack (antibiotic drops, anti-inflammatory
drops and Refresh drops, and instruction leaflets) before going in to see
someone (I would imagine she is a qualified optician) who checked my eyes.
She had to get Dr Ayoubi to double check as it looked like there was some
'debris' under the flaps. So, I had to go back into theatre (after about
a half hour wait) and have the treatment area rinsed out on each eye (again,
no pain at all, I didn't like the water running down the side of my head).
Then back into the waiting room to wait to be checked again. This time I
was given the all clear and let go home.

When I got home I had something to eat and took the first of the 800mg
slow-release Ibuprofen tablets and used the drops for the first time in
each eye (which did sting a bit to start with) and went to bed about 7.30pm.
I can't say I really slept as it felt like someone had put sand in my eyes
but it wasn't as painful with my eyes closed. I got up around 11.30pm and
had a cup of tea and used the drops again. The FML (anti-inflammatory) drops
really helped ease the pain. Went back to bed and slept through until about
6am. My eyes still felt gritty but not nearly as bad. I wasn't sensitive
to light, particularly.

I used the drops every two hours (as directed) and went back in the afternoon
for my check-up. I was given an eye test and was told that I may have been
over-corrected (making me short sighted). I can't say that I was particularly
upset by this as it meant I could read without glasses (infact I could see
really tiny print like 'swiss made' on the front of my watch).

I returned yesterday (Thursday) for my fortnight check up (it's just under
a fortnight) and I've been told I'm still short-sighted but it's early days
as your eyes can change a lot in the first couple of months. To be honest
on Wednesday my eyesight seemed almost perfect as I could see things in the
distance really clearly, too, so I'm hoping it will regress a bit (from
short sighted towards long-sight) and maybe even end up 20/20.

I would recommend Dr Ayoubi and the staff at Optimax in Reading and
would also recommend having the Femtosecond (Intralase) as I think it's
much better to rely on a laser-made flap than one cut with a blade.