Optical Express

Have recently had a consultation in Liverpool. My prescription is -1.25 right and -5.50 left. I was told I may get away with having just left eye done (lasik). I'm currently wearing just one lense in my bad eye to see if I can get used to it. Have done it for 4 days now but am having problems adjusting. The clinic were talking about Monovision, has anybody got any experience in this? By the way, the consultation was fine, they were all very friendly and took time to explain pros and cons etc, actual test took about an hour and was very thorough. I'll have no qualms in using Optimax if their surgeons are as friendly, down to earth and thorough as the Liverpool staff.

Well I went for my consultation on Sat. 5 June and found everyone there very friendly and helpful. I was pleasantly [??] suprised to be able to book an appointment to have the Lasik surgery done on Weds. 9th June - only 4 days later - which was great, especially as it meant only a few more days of walking around blind as a bat with my contacts out. Anyhow, I knew it was all a bit too straightforward. On Tuesday late afternoon I got a call from the optometrist who did my consultation telling me that apparently I have an irregular cornea (I think that's what it was - at least an irregular something). Basically instead of being round as you would expect an eyeball to be, I had a slight ridge. This could have been caused by my excessive wear of my contacts (I wear them at least 12 hours a day) as with contacts flattening part of your eye it could push other parts out (sounds wonderful!) Anyhow, I went in on Weds for another scan, as if it had sorted itself out I would be okay to have the surgery. Alas, it wasn't. I now have to go down to Birmingham to have an Orb Scan, and if everything is okay, and the irregularity was caused by the contacts, I can have the surgery done. If not, they will not be able to go though with it for me as if it is just my eyes and not the contacts there is apparently a danger it could destablise my eyes.

I have a consultation booked for Friday 18/06/04 in Liverpool and hope to have Lasik surgery, in Manchester, as soon as possible after this. Has anybody had surgery in Manchester? How long is the recovery period (approx)? I have 3 kids and need to organise school run etc, how long before it is safe to drive? and above all, DOES IT HURT?????

My contact lense company was Optical Express in London. They’d always been very good at giving me lenses, and I’d been impressed at the ease with which I could get appointments, the way they gave my eyes very thorough checks every few months, and the free biscuits. This, then, surely, would be the perfect company with which to entrust my sight? Er, well not quite. Whilst I can state with pleasure that the surgery was performed very competently, the same cannot be said for the associated admin. Which is odd, as you’d think the admin would be the easier of the two to get right. But after my initial suitability check (a procedure that widens your pupils and so leaves you looking like a bush baby for a few hours) I phoned to see if I would be suitable for Wavefront, which gives you vision like superman. Someone said they’d call me back. They didn’t. I phoned again. No answer. And again. And again. And (can you believe it?) again. Eventually, I was very horrible indeed to someone slightly less stupid than all the others, and was finally told that I wasn’t suitable, as my pupils were too small. You have to have the surgery within three months of the initial consultation, and the three months were almost up. In a moment of impulse, the like of which I’ve never before experienced, I told slightly-less-stupid that I would like the surgery I could have, LASIK, and was booked in for the end of May. The surgery was deeply unpleasant, without being in any way painful. I was given a tablet to sedate me, which didn’t work. I was checked over a final time, and had a quick consultation with the surgeon, Dr Jain, who went over the risks again, and then dismissed me. I felt he was a bit quick, and I didn't feel reassured having seen him - I'd have liked him to have been a bit more caring, but hey ho. I had to write out the phrase “I understand that my vision may be worse as a result of this surgery.” I went all shaky. The waiting room is full of cards that say things like “I can see I can see!” and “Thank you so much.” Many of the cards had cats on them, presumably confirming the cat’s status as an animal with very good eyesight. (And who, therefore, would never need LASIK.) The surgery itself was very quick. I went into a dark room with lots of masked people in it and sat under a machine. Dr Jain taped my eye lashes back (OK), covered one eye (FINE), dropped anaesthetic into the other eye (I AM DEALING WITH ALL THIS REMARKABLY WELL) and then inserted a plastic ring into my eye (OH GOD STOP IT LEAVE MY EYE ALONE). A nurse said “Suction on” and it went suck, and everything went black (THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD I’LL NOT WANT…). I was told to look at the red light and he made the first cut, which I didn’t feel, and then the front of my eye was peeled back. This is conceptually hideous, but is not painful, and so a bit of a relief after the hieronymus bosch-style horror of the suction. The red light in front of me looked all blurry. A nurse said “45 seconds laser” and then it made a toc-toc noise and Dr Jain did the deed. I’d read that you can smell burning flesh for this bit. I breathed through my mouth, and so cannot confirm whether or not this is true; although it is clear from my behavior that I am very sensible, as well as brave. The lasering stopped after 45 seconds (the nurse was counting down –for my benefit? I shall never know) and the whole process was repeated with the other eye. I was very brave all over again. Then it was all over. I gave the nice nurse her hand back and was lead, shaking and a bit teary (question – do people ever cry after LASIK? And if they do, does it wash the fronts of their eyes off?) and was lead to the waiting room. Then followed the gift of a small green bag filled with eye drops and masking tape and a scary bus ride home. I lay with my eyes shut for two hours, as they hurt (it was like getting suncream in them) and then opened them to see a glorious new world… Immediately after surgery my eyes were screaming “Keep us shut! Something is not right!” However when I forced them open for a few seconds to negotiate roads I could see that my vision had already improved enormously, although it was very blurred, I couldn’t focus and light hurt. After a few hours with my eyes shut my vision had cleared and I was staggering round the flat looking at things. My vision was still blurred for anything at a distance of greater than a metre but close up was already great. The next morning was glorious. Despite gunky eyes from all the drops, my vision was awfully good. The next day check up confirmed that my vision was already driving standard, with my left eye slightly better than the right. I reckon it has improved even further since then, although day-by day in week 1 my vision would shift in each eye. This gave me headaches, and the constant desire to shut one eye and peer at something, and then peer with the other one to see which was better. But, of course, its wonderful. I get a little thrill every time I remember – I don’t need glasses any more. A little coda on the continued communication brilliance of Optical Express. On the Tuesday morning after surgery I woke up to find the vision in my right eye was extremely blurred. I panicked, and then did the most reasonable thing at 7.30am and went back to sleep. At 9.00am everything seemed OK again. I rang Optical Express to see whether I should be worried and was told someone would call me back. Did they? Did they f*** ! So well done on the treatment, Optical Express, but your customer care needs serious work.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY FEEDBACK ON THE SURGEON MR GILEDI ? I HAD SURGERY BY MR JAIN. GREAT CHAP. BUT THE WIFE COULD BE USING MR GILEDI THANKS

Has anyone had the laser surgery in Belfast? i would appreciate your comments Thanks

Had my initial consulation in Belfast and the team there could not have been any more helpful and put me at ease. Decided to book for Lasik at the Glasgow branch for 22/5/04. Arrived early but was dealt with immediately. Again, the whole team were superb and could not fault anyone or anything. The surgery itself was very quick, Mr Jain and the team were all very thorough and professional throughout the treatment. The part of the surgery where the flap is cut did catch me by surprise, it stung a little bit and I found it hard to keep my eyes open but it is over very quickly. Finished surgery at 3.40pm and was sitting with a glass of wine and a chinese meal at 8.15pm. How's that for a recovery !!! Would definitely recommend putting up with a little discomfort for the result. The check up yesterday morning went very well and everything is fine, vision perfect. Was back at work today, and will be driving from tomorrow. Hopefully my 1 week check up in Belfast goes well on Saturday. I feel great and am so glad I did it. Please feel free to e-mail me if you want re-assurance.

Well, it is now 12 days since my surgery. In the end I opted for LASEK because I rub my eyes a lot with hay fever and have large pupils. I was hoping that Mr Jain would make the decision for me, but he repeated what I already knew and said it was up to me. When I opted for LASEK he said he thought it was the right choice. The procedure was exactly as they had described, so no surprises there. It was a little freaky and I have never been so still in my whole life! But not actually any worse than going to the dentist. Completely painless and the team were very kind and reassuring. I was the first appointment of the day, arrived just before 8.30, went in at 9.30 and 20 minutes later was back in the wating room chatting with the next 2 people. Home by 10.30 which was amazing. The rest of that day was fine, rested as much as I could but wasn't in any pain all day. The next day was much worse although I still wasn't actually in pain, just really uncomfortable. I found it incredibly difficult to open my eyes, they just felt so heavy and I was really tired. Spent most of the day asleep. Even making phone calls was really difficult, especially looking up numbers and then dialling! I couldn't believe how pathetic I was feeling. The next day started the same, but much better by the afternoon. On the Wednesday I had my first check-up and they removed the contact lenses. My sight was already above driving standard, although I still found it hard to open my eyes for long! There was some concern as they thought I had an infection in one eye. Dasi, the optometrist (FAB!) tried to call Mr Jain, but he was unavailable, in a conference I think. She then asked if I could go to London immediately to see a different surgeon but I said I couldn't go then, maybe the next day. So I went home and we had sveral phone calls back and forwards to decide what to do. Dasi spoke to Mr Jain eventually, who prescribed some antibiotic ointment for use at night and increased the antibiotc drops to every hour! So it was back to MK just before they closed to pick up new cream, but still a lot better than an impromptu trip to London with not great vision! I have to say that Dasi was fantastic and I cannot rate the MK team highly enough. By the time I went back to the Clinic on Wed eve I felt like a different person. I could open my eyes, and sat in the waiting area without sunglasses (it's very bright in there) looking about and reading the paper! By THursday pm I was helping my daughter's class with their sewing, but after about an hour I had a bit of a headache! I had another trip to the Clinic on Friday. They decided that the "infection" is really a cluster of white blood cells, part of the body's immune system, and changed my antibiotic drops, and now only 4 x a day. I was back there today for another check up. They all greet me by name now and are very friendly! I am very pleased that this is all included in the cost! My vision is still settling and is better in my right eye than left, but it feels better to me than it ever did with glasses or lenses. Sometimes I have trouble when staring at things or trying to look at things for too long but have been told this will improve. My eyes are also still quite sensitive to light and have been in shades most of the time outside. I have to say I haven't yet been out at night, so not sure what my night vision will be like. Overall I am thrilled with my new eyes, looking forward to my vision being completely settled and no more drops. Cannot praise the MK team and the surgery team including Mr Jain of course, highly enough.

I had my lasik at shaftesbury avenue last friday, 14th may. The procedure was totally painless. Everything was explained to me from the moment i arrived. I was first given a couple of eye tests to map the eye and cornea. Then i went to meet the surgeon Mr Jain. He did a standard look at the eye chart and see what you can read type test to ensure my prescriptopn was accurate. Then offered me LASEK or LASIK i still insited on LASIK for a quicker recovery. So he gave me a valium pill (did not help much!) after signing the consent form. I then waited in a room with 2 others, 1 had been operated on and looked dreadful. I was slightly concerned until her mother said she was always a wimp. Then my time had come, off to the laser room. The nurse cleaned my eye with liquid and gauze. My head was positioned where they wanted and kept still by a head cushion, shaped appropriately. Then Mr Jain came in and talked through what was about to happen. I needed to look at the light above and would feel pressure as the flap cutting machine, for want of better words, was lowered onto my eye. This did not cause me any discomfort. Then he raised the flap out of the way and cleaned my eye, then it was case of staring at the red light and trying not to move my eye as the laser was applied. Again, no discomfort. After this, Mr Jain cleaned my eye and repleaced the flap, he seemed to take great care doing this. I was impressed/releived. Then the second eye was done the same way. My prescription was only about -1.50, so the actual laser took just an amazing 11 seconds. Mr Jain the saw me in an adjoining room to look very carefully at the eye and make sure he was happly with the flap etc. Again no problems. I went home less than an hour after surgery. My eyes stung like anything for the next 4/5hours despite sleeping as advised in a darkened room. Then came the real grittiness. This was very uncomfortable. That evening i had to use the eyes drops provided. One was a lubricating drop for dry eyes, an antibiotic, and also a steroid drop in case of any inflammation. The first time i used them i.e. night of surgery, the drops stung like hell. But they were fine the following day and beyond. Sleeping with the plastic eye shields is fun, not. But you get used to it,the wife says i snore, so must be sleeping ok! I had an eye exam the day after surgery and my vision was 2 lines better than 20/20, absolutely amazing. I just stare down the road and cannot believe it. You do get used to the eye drops, although the steriod one is awkward, it is a milky liquid and very messy. Tomorrow i go back for my 7 day check up, see what happens then. All i can say is my close up vision is not brilliant, maybe my age, 41. Or maybe i have overdone it at work on the computer, who knows. I was told the eyes are just adjusting. The whole experience is as i say amazing, go for it. I must also say thank you to Mr Jain and ann at shaftesbury avenue. They were great. ps.sorry ann about all the questions, you were very patient and the wife is coming to you next.

Does anyone have any experience of having LASEK/LASIK treatment at the Reading branch of Optical Express. Or being treated by Mr Sundeep Kheterpal. I've been for my initial appointment there which was handled very well and was very thorough. Though for some reason they give you things to read and sign after you've had drops in your eyes and can't see anything. Additionally they didn't have an info pack on the surgeon nor could answer any of my questions about him, and success rates etc. However they have arranged an appontment for me to see him. Still undecided at this stage. A lot will depend on my meeting with the surgeon.