Optical Express

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.

I am due to see Mr Jain at the Birmingham branch Any info from people who have been treated by Mr Jain would be really aprpeciated!!

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

Walked past the Optical Express store – saw promotion, collected flier and business card. Phoned to ask for Surgery information and success/turn away statistics and information on surgeons and company brochure. Received nothing. Few days later called again to book free consultation and ask for above information again. Was told that I couldn’t wear soft contact lenses for a week. From internet research and other Laser companies brochures I knew that for toric soft lenses you have to leave at least 2 weeks without lenses, so I booked for 2 weeks. Still received no documentation. Arrived at consultation. There were two ladies behind the reception desk, I was given forms to complete, and then I was left waiting for about 30 minutes. One of the ladies behind the reception desk lead me to one of the testing rooms and started a number of tests (Oh, so she is the Optometrist, then? – I still haven’t a clue what her name was). I am inquisitive so I was asking – what is this test for, what does that one do? I felt uneasy because of the lack of communication – compared to other people’s reviews of their consultations. One of the drops I was given made my vision very distorted and fuzzy, even with my glasses on, I felt very disoriented. I was told that I was suitable surgery. I was told that my eyes are slightly dry and that I would be given special eye drops to prepare the eyes for surgery. But I will be explained everything in the patient counseling. I was then back in reception and was given a company glossy brochure to read by the other lady at reception. (It was very difficult to read because of the drops, my prescription seemed to be in reverse!). She had written her name and contact number on it, she then told me it was to come with her for patient counseling. (Ok, so she is the patient councilor not the receptionist). She explained that Lasik they cut the flap, laser for seconds, go home, come back for check ups, eyes might feel dry and gritty in the beginning, blah, blah, blah. (The glossy brochure – parrot fashion) Oh, and half way through the explanation, I was asked if I minded sharing this session with another patient who was having the same procedure. Yes, actually I do mind – as “I don’t see how you can give me personal information about my circumstances when I am with someone else”. After the speech, I felt very uneasy and too disoriented to think clearly – What about the risks, I asked? What about having dry eyes, and flap complications and over and under correction, night driving. I was told that I would be given drops to easy the dryness if it occurred (very rare) and that I would be able to have free follow-up surgery if required, antibiotics if I have infection (also very rare) and since she has been working here there has never been any serious problems. If I had difficulty driving at night with the light (I already do), I could be given glasses to cut out the glare (all very sugar coated answers). I was asked to sign something outlining the risks (just for her records) and pay a deposit to book the surgery, which would be refundable if I changed my mind. I would not sign something I could not read (even if I was given a copy to take home) – and asked if I could have sometime to try to read it in reception (thinking-why was I not given this before the eye drops), “But it is only for my records, it is nothing legally binding” and also I was not going to consider booking until I felt confident and had more information. “Well, I can’t guarantee how long the special is going to last, it could end in the next couple of days”. (classic sales pressure) I don’t think money should be a consideration it comes to your eyes, or you should go ahead if you feel uneasy. Dodgy Consultation aside, a further look on this website made me feel confident that the surgeons at least were excellent and professional and I could not find any bad press about Optical Express. So I called to Book. I chose a date, said that this was conditional that I receive full information on the surgeon. I was told that she would call me back to confirm date. Three phone calls later, some assertiveness (“I feel really nervous and uneasy about your company”) and a day later I finally got to speak to my councilor, who asked again what day I would like to book and then promptly confirmed. The assertiveness must have worked because she was very attentive and friendly and thorough from then on. I was told an information pack would be sent to me about my surgeon. I asked about my special eye drops. Saturday, I went back to store to sign forms and again I asked about special eye drops, was given name of drops to purchase from Boots. Told that surgeon pack was sent out to me already. Tuesday, still no information on surgeon – I assure you there is nothing wrong with postal deliveries to my house. Called and was told that I would be called back with the surgeons name. That was hours ago. So I sit here a week before my surgery – Still not knowing -; what is their % rates for “touch-up” surgery?, their success % for 20/20 vision? (not just lasik’s success rates), will the surgeon himself examine me and test me before procedure?, who is my surgeon and is he/she a full “consultant surgeon” and their background. what is my personal risk to Starburst effect and dry eye syndrome, what is my personal forecast of success? Am I crazy to go through with the surgery, should I cancel or am i being too fussy or . Is it a classic case of you get what you pay for. I have just been told by someone at Optical Express that my file hasnt even been sent to the surgery get (she had a problem locating it, thus the delayed call back), so a surgean has not been allocated to me, so when they told me that the details had been posted to me - was that a lie, I am confused? The Counciler is on a business trip, so I will have to wait a few more days. At worst case,I think I am going to go through the pre-op consultation only if it is with the surgean.If he is utterly professional and thorough/detailed and if he can answer all my questions and put me at ease, then I will continue with the surgery. If not then, I will have to avoid temptation and walk out.

Refer to earlier sad news of surgeon passing away. Appointments for surgery appear to have been affected as I had a phonecall this morning, my surgery is due on Wed 14th April in Milton Keynes and the team are having to postpone or transfer... I await a call on 13th to advise if surgery goes ahead. I would advise you to call the centre if you have an appointment next week to confirm arrangements are still in place. They may transfer me to another location - has anyone had to stay over in a hotel following their lasik - is this a comfortable thing to do or stay local to get home? Thanks