Optical Express

Date: 25th March 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Surgeon : Dr F.Rodney Eve I had bilateral simultaneous LASIK treatment on the morning of Thursday 25th March 2004. I chose Optical Express (formerly The Eye Clinic) as they seem to have been running the treatment the longest in Newcastle. This was after investigating other providers in Newcastle (Optimax, Ultralase). My eyesight prior to treatment was Left -3.50, Right -2.75 The treatment took about 2.5 hours in total from walking in to leaving. Usually 5 people are seen each session, the actions of which was as follows: 1. Taken to see the surgeon to check everything still OK/still want to go ahead. At this point a tablet is taken to calm nerves. 2. After about 30 minutes, and depending on order arrived (I was last), taken to a side room, where eyes are cleansed, and hat and shoe covers put on. 3. Taken into the actual Laser room (VISX machine). Here there are 4-5 people working away setting up the machine, the surgeon then applies the pressure to the eye and adds the speculum?(to stop the eye closing). Not sure what happened after this, but told to look at the red flashing dot. Eye not being lasered was covered at this point. 4. This repeated on second eye. The time the laser was on my eyes were 28 seconds left eye, 20 seconds right eye. 5. Taken to the side room, where Dr Eve checked the results. All appeared "very, very good". Then applied plastic covers to wear for the next 24 hours. At this point I am allowed to leave and go home. I was sent with 2 tablets to help me sleep. I managed to get home OK, for the first 2 hours or so water constantly coming from eyes whilst I try to fall asleep. Managed to nap on and off, but the tablets weren't that good. Instead kept eyes closed and listened to the radio all afternoon. After about 2 hours though, all was fine, no more water from eyes, and can actually see very clearly (despite plastic covers on my eyes. Next Day I returned to get covers taken off, had a quick eye test and could read all 3 lines on the chart. The top one (biggest writing) is 20/20 vision, so suspect my sight is even better than that, just 1 day later. Given a supply of drops to take, to ward off infections and the like, and have to wear plastic covers when sleeping for the next week Would like to thank everyone from Optical Express who aided in my treatment. Thanks to you all. Hope others find this useful. Matt

LASIK eye surgery, Monday 22nd March 2004. Consult in Edinburgh Optical Express (OE) 20th March and Surgery in Renfield Street, Glasgow. PX Left -6.25 Right -6.00 This has been a truly brilliant experience. From the Edinburgh assesment which was very thorough including counselling (and a special mention to Gwen Homer the Optician/Laser eye assessment specialist who was very attentive and professional). I must mention at this stage for those building their hopes up pre-assessment that OE turn down approximately 40% for the surgery mainly due to a person having insufficient Corneal Tissue and OE have strict tolerance levels which is re-assuring. It also makes the assessment quite nerve racking wondering if you are a successful candidate. Anyway enough waffling and on to the surgery itself. Very friendly in Glasgow and 90 seconds later I was back in the recovery room. The surgery itself is painless and a weird sensation actually which is difficult to describe. I must onfess though it was difficult to open my eyes and I decided to immediately take the pain killers and a sleeping tablet which are all provided.Took the second sleeping tablet when I got home and 8 hours later, back to 20/20 vision and goodbye contact lenses and glasses (why did I go through this for 25 years??). Although I still think it a tad expensive, another way of looking at it is when you consider £15 a month for Contact lenses and the £100-£200 and sometimes more every two years for glasses, it's probably not bad really. The 10 months interest free also eases the pain. Make no mistake, this is a magical way to re-discover clarity of vision and believe me there is lots you miss wearing lenses or glasses. Go on you can do it. Finally for anyone who have had tattoos, laser eye surgery is a piece of cake in comparison. Cheers Optical Express

SAD NEWS.I have read several good reports about PROF CLIVE MORTIMER at the eye clinic in Shaftesbury avenue. I have a consultation at Regent street to discuss my suitability next week with him in mind. I was informed today when i popped in to check something and mentioned Prof Mortimer, that he died in the last few weeks. I have been assured they have other good surgeons. but thought i would mention this to you all incase you were considering Prof Mortimer too.

Does anyone have experience of monovision? I am booked for my surgery for May so have plenty of time to consider this option but would appreciate any information. Thanks.

They cancelled at short notice, just after organising a week off work and arraning for my wife to have time off to accompany me. Very frustrating.

After doing lots of research into Mr Aziz and then deciding to go ahead with LASIK surgery I was told that Mr Jain would be carrying out the procedure. Has anyone any comments on his work?

Decided on investigating laser surgey after a cousin completed the treatment with excellent results. I selected Optical Express as they perform the procedure locally. Also they have always received good feedback according to the reports I reviewed. I had avoided writing about my excellent impression of the preparatory consulation (incase that was later shown to be mis-leading as a result of poor follow-up) However, I completed my LASIK 18-Mar PM. This was not painful in the least - less so than going to the dentists. For me, the only unsettling aspect was having someone work on the preparation of the eye, though I stress that was totally pain-free. During the lasering itself (40 secs right, 32 secs left) there was no problem. Full processing took only 30 mins. After surgey I could see immediately. After the local anaesthetic wire off the natural tendency was for my eyes to close in reaction to natural light (rather than due to them being sore). However within 2 hours, I could open and see without problems. After a sleep (with the help of the provided sleeping tablet), things got even better - I didn't even think about using the painkillers supplied as they were not needed. Follow-up consultation today confirms that my astigmatism, short-sightedness at a level averaged at 4.7 is now 20:20 and improving as my eyes settle. Assuming that I avoid any type of infection, then things have gone great. I had followed this forum during the lead up to the process and used it to monitor how people felt about their treatments. For anyone reading this as part of a similar 'pre-op' activity, I would conclude by saying that the many good reports posted about Optical Express are spot on. Mr G Eve and the Glasgow team put all concerns at ease before and after surgery and made the treatment infact enjoyable. I would not hesitate to advise anyone to go ahead with the treatment - it changes things in a way that you would never believe.

I am going to Newcastle next week (Monday) for assessment. Does anyone have experience of this particular clinic? I would be very interested in comments. Thanks.

Hello there, I am back from the eye clinic /optical express Milton keynes. No good news yet i am afraid. Read my post below then you will understand i supposed to have my Lasik/Lasek surgery today sunday March 14 at 10 am. I am quiet excited really this morning, cant wait to have my surgery done. I was told 2 months earlier by the eye clinic consultant (chris) that I could have either lasek or lasik as my eyes seems ok and no problem with my eye prescription at all, prescription seems stabil in the last one year . I got to the clinic half an hour earlier, some other people also already there, they are also having eye surgery same day with me but different time. They asked me to sign the consent form for lasik and lasek as I cant decide yet which one should i go for. And they advised me that the surgeon would help me in choosing the one thats right for me. A really nice lady (sorry dont know her name) asked me to go to the consulting room where she took my eyes pictures with a special machine (you have to look through a machine and blink couple times), and the computer will take the picture of the eyes. After the picture taken, i was asked to wait in waiting room. I didnt mind this as some other people are also there, very friendly people and chatting with them made me relax a bit. The lady came again to me and asked if i could go to the surgeon's room as the surgeon need to talk to me. His name Mr jain (katillal jain). When arrived at the room, he asked me to have a sit. He was having some discussion about my eyes with the lady nurse. I noticed they looked very serious that time and i was a bit worried. Mr jain asked me about having lasek instead of lasik and I said to him yes thats ok, I do not mind that (i have read carefully about the two of them)so i am prepared to have any of them , really. Then, He asked me to read some letters on the wall, testing me with several different lenses. I couldnt read the top letters with 2 of the lenses. After 5 minutes testing, he said that he couldnt operate my eye with Lasek as he found that my left eye adding extra -1 cylinder in the last 2 months. So, it will have to be lasik he said. He said my prescription too high for lasek so its not suitable for it. He said that i may experience severe starburst/haloes (if with lasek)specially with my prescription. Another thing also Mr Jain mentioned, my eyes pictures are not clear. When i asked him again, he said its the surface of my eyes not seems very clear on the picture. He asked me if i have been wearing contact lenses, and i said no, i have always been wearing glasses. And he asked me to come again to the clinic in one month time for another test with the eye consultant. If after one month time, my eyes still not stabil, they would have to cancel my surgery. But if after one month time, my eyes are ok and stabil as the prescription, then they will arrange another surgery date for me (usually one month time from the last test). I was so devastated when being told like that as i had arranged everything before(child minder, days off from work etc). I dont blame anybody, not their fault, its one of those things...i respect Mr Jain's decision of course, this may be a good thing before its too late i suppose. The surgeon just want to make sure that everything ok before the surgery. Well, i will post again here within one month time and I will let you know the updates about my eyes.

Hi every body! I would have my lasik surgery on Sunday March 14 at the eye clinic (Optical Express now) Milton Keynes. Starnge isnt it..? i am having it on the sunday. Maybe the surgery too busy during the weekdays and the surgery been reschedulling the operation date couple times. But anyway, I am looking forward to it though I am abit nervous so lets see what happen. The Milton keynes staff are always busy but they are nice and friendly to me. My surgeon would be Mr Jain, anybody knows? I have read 2 reviews of him on this site and they seems really good. I shall post review/comment too as well about him on this site later on next week. Wish me luck !! Cheers.