Optical Express

LASIK SURGERY AT BIRMINGHAM STORE.24 HOURS POST-SO FAR -SO GOOD-ECSTATIC EVEN!NO PAIN -VISION SO FAR EXCELLENT-CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!BRILLIANT AM ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED.

LASEK TREATMENT 04/03/06.BIRMINGHAM. WELL WHAT CAN I SAY!I CAME FOR MY FIRST CHECK UP AND MY LENSES OUT.THE PROCEDURE WENT SMOOTHLY.I DIDN'T HAVE LONG TO WAIT BEFORE GOING UPSTAIRS TO HAVE LASEK.THE TEAM PUT ME AT EASE AND MR GEORGE WAS LOVELY.THE ACTUAL PROCEDURE DIDN'T HURT AT ALL,JUST ABIT OF A STRANGE SENSATION WHICH PASSED IN SECONDS.WENT TO GET MY DROPS AFTER SURGERY AND THE NURSE TOLD ME I WOULD FEEL GRITTY AND MY EYES WOULD STREAM ONE THE ANAESTHETIC WORE OFF.THEY WERE A LITTLE LIGHT SENSITIVE BUT NO STREAMING AND NO GRITTINESS!WENT BACK HOME AND WENT STRAIGHT TO BED.OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS HAD RELAXED THE EYES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND THIS HAS HELPED NO END!FIRST CHECK UP-LENSES OUT.CHECK DONE TO SEE HOW MY EYES WERE PROGRESSING.BETTER THAN 20/20 VISION ALREADY!DEAD PLEASED WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND ANYONE HAS IT DONE-ITS ALREADY CHANGED MY LIFE AFTER 3 DAYS!THANKS MR GEORGE AND HIS STAFF. LYNDA xx

Surgery took place in Birmingham on 21 jan 06. Lasik -7.5 each eye. Had the procedure yesterday back today for the first check up.After the treatment was done i sat up,i cried!For the first time in over 20 years I could read without the need of glasses or contacts! I had no pain afterwards,had to resist rubbing my eyes & to stop "pushing my glasses up." By this morning (22/01)my vision cleared up quickly still no pain/grittiness,but abit blurry.Still can't get over the fact that i might not need glasses. I would like to compliment the staff & would highly recommend the treatment to anyone!! THANKYOU VERY MUCH FOR MY NEW VISION.

I had the lasek treatment done in Belfast was well worth it. Was a bit uncomfortable for the 1st few days but it was expected and after bout 2 weeks or so have had 20/20 vision since. Also staff in Belfast are very nice and friendly!!

An update following my bandage lense removal on day 4 following bilateral Lasek wavefront. Just prior to my lense removal I had noticed a slight worsening of the gritty feeling in my right eye and mentioned to the Optomotrist in Liverpool where they where being removed. She told me when the lenses are removed it would probably smart as the oxygen gets on to the eye. She had a look to see if the lenses were moving and not stuck, which she said they were ok. Oh boy smart was not the word!. As soon as the right was removed straight away the eye was painful and watering like mad. She checked both eyes with a stain and said the fronts were Ok vision in both was very good and would experience some issues as the "epithelium "tags" would rub off with eye movement. Well I had brought my sunglasses with me and walked outside and my right eye started going rapidly downhill. I was driving and dont know how I managed to get home effectively with one eye. My right vision had now gone to a blur, useless. The pain level was becoming unbearable soothed only by the modified "blink" solution which I believe has some pain relief in it. The next 24hrs were the longest experienced, for anyone who has had eye pain will appreciate! You cant do anything like hold or touch it, only "scream." I rang the emergency number they gave me and a lady rang me back suggesting advice and stay still in darkened room. The view was some of the tissue on the front of the eye had been "dislodged" I didnt feel comfortable with the advice only and wanted to see someone as the pain and los of vision was scary. This was when a major factor was brought home to me. After a further telecon with Liverpool, as it was Sunday, there was apparently "no laser trained optomotrist at any of the branches!" Decided to go to the Liverpool Eye Hospital St Pauls and the consultant there who agreed to see me was excellent. Yes they were most unhappy that they were picking up the pieces when they said there should have been someone available to deal with this, but they gave me fantastic primary care. After a thorough exam, she identified two issues; Firstly I had grown a small ulcer infection around 1mm size on the top edge of my iris and secondly "all the epithelium layer that was in place behind the bandage lense had come away and therefore the reason for the extreme pain/ sensitivity. The rest of the Sunday was painful, but at least some of the worry had eased as I had been examined. I still had concerns about my vision so decided to ring the help line again that evening. The lady rang me back and explained the vision would improve, was surprised about the infection but would speak to Manchester in the morning to fit me in. SHe advised it was probable the culture would not find anything beccause at the time I was already taking antibiotic drops but there action would be to dose with a wider ranging antibiotic in addition to the hospital treatment. Monday 5th March and culture results negative, condition still the same, but at least no worse on the infection front. Manchester did a further check and took the case notes. I became a little concerned when the person looking at me was taking more into account of what the eye hospital had said than there own opinion. I explained to the person I was told that I was supposed to recieve further antibiotics and she went away for authorisation as she couldnt prescribe herself. I was intending a planned 4 business trip to Poland but it would have gone against their advice and therefore I decided to cancel, last minute So now Wednesday and this morning after a further day of no change and continued painkillers, I woke up to find improvement, I can see again!! Ok the vision has deteriorated a little as the day has moved on, but I am so pleased I'm back on the mend agai. So lessons learned? 1) Choose a company who can cover the what if something goes wrong scenario and that means 24/7 emergency access and if necessary consultation. 2) If having Lasek, assume the bandage lenses may be stuck even if it is thought they are not, so there is lubricant applied before removal, in case all that good work is undone. 3) Trust your instincts, if you feel something is not right, there is a good chance it isnt and not worth taking a risk leaving. I could easily have been away in a foreign country with a rapidly growing infection assuming this was "normal" 4)If you need to rest, make sure you do as the longer you do the faster you will heal! I hope this helps anybody with similar issues. Regards I was given a crash antibiotic course to get hold of the infection and they took a culture sample. SHe asked me to return the following morning and they would provide me the results and the case notes to take on to Optical Express in Manchester, the nearest surgical clinic.

I had lasek wavefront on 14th feb at Birmingham. When I got there I was told they didn't have me booked in. They did have my notes but Meadowhall hadn't bothered to phone through to book an appointment, not a good start. The team at Birmingham were great though as they fit me in anyway and were fantastic throughout the treatment. The first 12 hours I was fine felt quite comfortable and could see quite well but in the middle of the night my eyes started streaming and felt painful, I continued putting in the drops but they didn't help. Spent the most of the following day in bed in pain trying to sleep but couldn't open my eyes. After another sleepless night I telephoned Birmingham asking for help they made me an appointment at meadowhall. When I got to meadowhall the optomotrist told me the lenses were stuck to my eyes but he would try to remove them. When he took them out my eyes felt sore and gritty but not as painful, I was then sent home with no lenses in even though it was only 2 days since surgery. That evening the pain was unbelievable every time I put the drops in my eyes burned. I have two kids but giving birth was a breeze compared to the pain I was feeling by now. The next morning I couldn't open my eyes and I was in agony I telephoned Birmingham and was told I was probably sensative to the drops and needed the preservative free ones so my husband went straight out to get some as Meadowhall didn't stock them! The new drops did not help at all so I once again rang Birmingham who told me that meadowhall don't have anyone qualified working there on fridays and could I go to Birmingham (2 hours away). I asked if nottingham could see me and managed to get an appointment there. I saw a wonderful lady called Neetal she put me at ease as I was in a real state of panic by the time I got there. After getting a second opinion she cleaned my eyes up and informed me that I should have had new lenses put in immediately and because the lenses were not replaced my epithelium had come loose and was 'flapping all over my eye'. Not only had meadowhall caused me a lot of pain it turned out they had neglected to put any of this in my notes so as far as nottingham were aware my notes said my origional lenses were still in. Neetal told me the damage was repairable and the other optomotrist was going to have a word with meadowhall as he was disgusted about the ommisions in my notes. After putting new lenses in I was told I would need to have them removed in 4 days time. I asked Neetal if I could have all my aftercare with her at Nottingham because I did not want anyone at meadowhall coming near my eyes again. I have since had 2 more appointments at nottingham and neetal says my eyes are healing suprisingly well considering. I have very good vision now but suffer with quite bad dry eyes. When you spend the best part of two thousand pounds you expect better service than I received from meadowhall. I can recemmend the treatment but I wouldn't advise anyone to have the consultation or aftercare at meadowhall.

The best decision in recent years was to undergo laser treatment. I am very pleased with my new "freedom". Would thoroughly recommend the procedure and was very impressed with all staff at Optical Express Belfast.

I now have better than 20/20 vision it feels great and the surgery was painless

All I'd heard was true! After 50 years wearing glasses I am now normal. Lasik surgery yesterday. No pain. Only slight grittiness. Very light sensitive for about 3 hours. Great monovision almost instantly. Was -4 and -8, today "better than 20/20". Highly recommend Glasgow Renfield Street Clinic for professional caring staff. Thanks to all. - May

Had bilateral wavefront Lasek on Tuesday at the Birmingham facility. Lovely staff and facilities. Gave my wife the opportunity to sample the new Bullring shopping, which may prove expensive if you are kept waiting too long. Treatment was excellent and Mr George puts you at ease with his relaxed and friendly style. Had a bit of a journey back to Liverpool with the wife driving. Dont forgt your sunglasses! Even though it was nighttime traveling home the glare of vehicles/ roadlights can be quite harsh. They fix you up with all your medication including local pain relief drops if you need them. Found I needed it first morning, but coping fine with the lube drops since, but had to keep light levels low. Eyesight is fine and its a great feeling knowing you dont need glasses anymore. Due to have my bandage lenses out tomorrow. Still its been nice to have had 4 days out of work too Yes most definately wished I could have done it sooner!!