I had epi-lasek with Wavefront carried out at Optimax Birmingham on 10th July 2008. The surgery was carried out by Dr Massilimani. I was -5 in my left eye and -5.75 with astigmatism in the right. I also have large pupils at 7mm. An added complication was that I have a partially detached retina repair in my left eye carried out 4 years ago.

My initial consultation was with an optometrist who suggested I could have IntraLasik, which I was happy with, as it is the gold standard treatment. On treatment day, I was seen by Dr Massilimani who asked more about my previous eye surgery ( who did it, where and how it happened) and then said that he would only carry out epi-lasek surgery as it carried less risk of damaging my repaired retina. This made me extremely nervous as my research on laser eye surgery indicated that quite short sighted people were more prone to haze. The surgeon was confident that I was a low haze risk but I was still very scared.

The surgery itself was very quick and painless but extremely nerve racking. The worst part is when you realise that burning smell is your eyeballs!! and then you start praying that it all goes well. I had bandage lenses fitted after surgery and it was amazing that straight away I could see, a bit blurry mind, but I could see.

On the way home, my eyes were scratchy and sore, and I spent the next two days mostly in bed with the curtains drawn against the light. My eyesight was very blurry. After 3 days, I was about more but always with my sunglasses on, even in the house. The lenses were taken out on day 4 and the optometrist commented how well my eyes were healing. But things were still quite blurry and I was rather scared things wouldn't improve. Once the lenses were out my eyesight started to improve steadily and I could drive after a week although computer work was very difficult for about three
Comment : weeks. I'm about 7 weeks post surgery and my eyes are fine. I can see at least as well as I could with glasses with only minor halos round streetlights at night, and no starbursts which I got with my glasses. I can live with these after effects.

If you are considering this surgery I would say do your homework, know the types of surgery on offer, ask questions about corneal thickness etc, but don't automatically assume that the best treatment is the most expensive. Remember Lasik will cut a flap in your cornea and eye surgeons don't know if it ever truly heals, whereas epi-lasek is a surface treatment which means no flap and less structural damage to the eye. The end result takes longer to achieve with epi, could be up to 3 months, but it does get there. I'm glad I had epi-lasek rather than Lasik for this reason.

Epi-lasek has more discomfort after surgery than Lasik but I did not find it unbearable. You must take dark sunglasses for after the surgery as normal daylight seems blinding, and wear them everywhere for the 1st week to protect yours eyes. There is gallons of eye drops to use and you will get used to putting them in.

Above all, remember this is a one-way procedure, whichever you have, and there is NO going back. Most people are very happy with the outcome but there are always a few where it goes badly wrong. You must weigh up the pro's and con's of the surgery versus wearing glasses/ lenses.