Mr Sheraz Daya

CENTRE FOR SIGHT / DOCTOR SHERAZ DAYA REVIEW

I have been meaning to write this review for a long time to show my gratitude to Dr. Daya. Selfishly, I’ve been so busy enjoying my new life with perfect vision that I haven’t made the time to sit down and start writing! What follows is a detailed account of my experience, since you are no doubt as anxious about the procedure as I was. Hopefully, this will put your mind at rest once and for all! ☺

My eyes / booking an appointment:

I have suffered from poor vision since age 11 (starting with myopia at -2 and getting to -5.5 WITH astigmatism by age 28). I’ve never enjoyed wearing glasses, since I don’t think they suit me and every time I would look up, down, or to the sides, everything was still a blur. I started wearing contact lenses at age 14, but after 14 years of trying various types, the discomfort increased to the point where I could only wear them for about 3 hours before my eyes became dry and I would get headaches. Since I had waited long enough for my eyes to stabilise, and I had cash to burn for the first time, I decided to take the plunge and get laser eye surgery!

Luckily for me, I got a consultation very quickly. I called in early September 2013 and was told I could go for the free consultation in mid-October and get the surgery done a week later. So I pre-emptively booked for a surgery slot on 21st October 2013. At the time, I didn’t realise that although you can have your consultation in London, the surgeries will only take place at the hospital in East Grinstead, Sussex. I only found out when I received the letter, as the staff hadn’t made that explicit on the phone or in person, and I misinterpreted the website. So if you also have a tendency to skirt over the logistical details, now you know!

The free consultation:

By comparison with another free consultation I had previously had with another big chain of high street opticians, this one was much more thorough, so I’m glad I researched the high street one properly and pulled out of having surgery with them.
At Centre for Sight in London:
•Slightly different machines were used and I was told what each one tested.
•A dry eyes test was done, which the high street chain had failed to do.
•I was shown educational short videos, including one about eyelid hygiene (washing your eyelids with a cotton pad and boiled water), another aspect not covered by the high street chain (and something important to ensure sound hygiene before surgery!)
•I was able to choose and meet with the top ophthalmologist before my surgery, another service not offered by the high street chain.

All this was very reassuring, and the staff (one lady in particular, quite short, middle-aged, with glasses) was absolutely lovely. After an hour and a half or so, I was taken upstairs to meet Dr. Daya in his office, so he could explain the test results. He told me that since my eyes showed absolutely no risks of high-order aberration (halos, starbursts, floaters), there was no need for me to undergo the more expensive, more modern procedure called “Advanced Wavefront CustomVue”.

I confirmed my appointment for the 21st October, and arranged to pay the total amount, £4000, on that day (though you can arrange 0% interest payments in instalments over a long period of time!). But when I got home, I figured I should do more online research on the differences between procedures. Why was Wavefront heralded by the big chains as universally better for all patients? With all the aggressive marketing they used (if it’s good enough for NASA, it’s good enough for you!) I started thinking I would be missing out and risking the frightening prospect of aberrations!

Unsure that I had agreed to the right procedure, I wrote Dr Daya’s secretary an email to stress the fact that I didn’t mind paying the extra cash to ensure the best possible outcome for my eyes. However, being the ethical doctor that he is, Dr Daya turned down the money and reassured my panicky ramblings, insisting that Wavefront was utterly unnecessary in this case, and that IntraLASIK Aspheric algorithm surgery was in fact the best procedure for me. So I stopped believing in the misleading information online and decided to trust him completely.

On the day of the surgery, I got the train tickets for myself and my boyfriend (you need to be accompanied by someone!), and I’m happy to report the journey was cheap, short, and pleasant: we watched an episode of Breaking Bad on a laptop, so it was over in a second. We got a cab for £5 from the station to the hospital (5 minutes or so), and arrived in the waiting room. I was asked to do another couple of tests, one that blew a puff of air onto my eyeball, which had to be done about 10 times because my eye kept closing automatically– but they got the result they wanted in the end. After a little more waiting, I was taken to another waiting area just outside the operating room, given some plastic protection covers to put on my shoes for hygiene, some drops in my eyes, asked to close them, and given a valuum.

The operation:

After these took effect, I was called into the operating room. There was Dr Daya and two nurses, who asked me to lie down on a comfortable surgery chair. He asked me how I was, and explained each step as far as was necessary – we were going to start with my “difficult” right eye, the one with the most astigmatism. Mostly, he and the nurses focused on their work and I focused on breathing calmly!

First, the chair swivelled under a machine that pushed back my eyelids – I just felt a tiny bit of pressure on my eyeball, nothing unpleasant. Then it swivelled gently back under the laser. A laser created the flap, and then I saw his hand holding the metallic device used to open the flap, and still – no pain. The only difference was that the laser, which had up until this point appeared to me as a small sharp red circle, became huge and fuzzy as my flap was opened. That’s when the laser did its magic – at this point, you focus your eye on one of the red dots (I wasn’t sure I was doing that properly, but I obviously must have!), you can smell a bit of burning, it’s a little noisy, and you can see the outline of your eyeball’s veins in a fascinating kaleidoscopic effect, but there’s still no pain. It took 60 seconds. The second eye a little less.

After that, with the googles on, I was taken outside to sit in a dark room for a bit, where I nearly fell asleep (the valuum). And ten minutes later, into a bright room where an ophthalmologist lady asked me to read the letters chart – already! It was all blurry and my eyes were really wet and a bit sore at this point, so it was a struggle to open them – however, underneath all that blur and water I could tell there was a sharper vision, reminiscent of wearing wet glasses. Still, I was a little worried that I couldn’t read the line, but altogether too tired to care! I went back to see my boyfriend in reception, who’d arranged for another cab to pick us up, and we were driven to this very nice B&B that I had booked, again just 5minutes away or so: http://www.grinsteadlodge.co.uk/. The room was affordable, the man very friendly, and he cooked us a delicious large English breakfast the next day!

I was led up the stairs by my boyfriend and into bed, where I napped for 4 hours, as suggested (you’re supposed to keep your eyes closed for the first 12 hours or so). I could definitely feel discomfort and some pain, like having tiny bits of grit that sting a little, but really no more than is to be expected and nothing to write home about! When I inevitably opened my eyes slightly after resting, I could tell that everything was much clearer already, though still a little fuzzy and dark (the goggles).

We ordered Chinese food and listened to a radio show. It was a lovely experience being out of London for a day and a night, getting this miraculous operation and being so well taken care of by my amazing man (who also enjoyed taking a day off from work). I did my 3 different drops as I was instructed to, and slept a full night. Worryingly, when I woke up, my goggles had come off – but that didn’t affect me in the long run, so don’t panic if that happens to you once or twice. By then, I hadn’t figured how to fasten them on securely and tightly with hair clips.

Post-operation:

The next morning, I had my first post-surgery consultation. A lady asked me to read the smallest lines I could twice, and it was the tiniest both times. Then I saw Dr Daya’s wife and she said I had better than 20/20 vision! I went off to London with my drops and goggles, which became part of my daily routine for the next month.

Then I saw Dr Daya again for my one-month post-op one-hour consultation in London, and after some tests, it was confirmed I have 6/4.5, which is better than 20/20 vision!! Now, almost 3 months after surgery, the little pink that I had in my eye from a burst vein is completely gone. I’ve stopped automatically searching for my glasses in the mornings, and I felt so much satisfaction at throwing my contact lenses away. It’s still amazing to always be the first person to see which bus is coming, and to be able to read all number plates from miles away! I hadn’t had such good vision since age 9 or so! I’ve also started playing netball again for the first time in years. After surgery, be sure you don’t wear makeup for as long as possible, and then buy all brand new makeup. It’s great being able to put it on without having to fiddle around with contacts first!

If I could give the centre one piece of advice, it would be to have a collection box for people to donate their glasses and contacts for charity during their post-surgery check-ups – that would make for a very satisfying feeling, and I’m sure many customers don’t know what to do with their unnecessary optical crutches post-surgery!

I was recommended to see Mr Daya by Dr Condon in Waterford, Ireland.I have not been disappointed by the service, care and results. I just wish I had the procedure done earlier!

I got to know about Centre for Sight through my search on the internet. I had Implantation of Phakic Intraocular Lens implant at Centre for Sight. The entire procedure was always very professional. Thanks a lot.

– Elaine Doublet

Very happy with results. Care and politeness of all concerned superb. Everyone from reception, clinical and theatre staff to surgeon gave me wonderful attention and treatment.

Brilliant in all ways and so is the rest of the world, now that I can see it as it always was but in focus!!Told I have great vision and can now fly a jet - wonderful! I could'nt believe it and cant wait to try!!!Thank you(p.s. rest of the family to follow!)

In July of 2012 I attended the Centre for Sight Clinic in Central London to see Mr Sheraz Daya. He was assessing my eyes after a leading high street clinic had made some previous laser surgery errors with my eyes.I can only say the examinations he performed on my eyes were second to none, only comparing it to as if I walked from ASDA into Harrods!"The checks performed were so extensive and advice totally amazing as I felt in safe hands. Mr Sheraz Daya advised me on my options and corrections on the surgical errors that were needed to bring my vision back to normality.He is a very friendly and charming man who gives professional advice which is honest. You truly will not need any other surgeon as this gentleman knows his trade, and gives an examination with pin point accuracy!All the best SherazKind RegardsAshley

I have been very pleased with the service provided by the staff, consultant and nurses at Centre for Sight. My queries were answered and procedures explained thoroughly. The treatment it's self was painless and my sight has improved quicker than I expected it to. The only pain was for 2 - 3 hours after the procedure as the anaesthetic wore off.VERY HAPPY!

Very thorough process and very professional staff.

It is only 24 hours since my surgery, but already i can see clearly- it is wonderful as I have been short sighted all my life, and it is liberating to be able to see! Many thanks to Mr Daya and staff who were patient with a very nervous patient.I would only entrust my eyes to the very best!

Time will tell - Staff superb, very efficient. No pain whatsoever before, during or after procedure - amazing.Local, convenient, good reputation.