Optimax

I had PRK for both eyes at the Manchester Clinic in mid August. They had offer on at the time (£795 for both eyes). I didn't know this when I booked and so the saving was very pleasant surprise when I came to write out the cheque. Dr Garston did the treatment, and he and all the staff were very professional. The procedure wasn't at all painful and I was surprised that I could see afterwards, although rather blurry. They ask you to have someone to accompany you home, but as I had to have someone at home to look after my children, this wasn't possible for me. The staff were fine about walking me to the taxi rank (less than 50 metres from clinic)and I had no difficulty as taxi dropped me at the door. Driver offered to help, but in fact I could see well enough to manage. The clinic nurse told me that most people don't experience much in the way of pain after PRK, but men seem to be more affected than women. She predicted that I wouldn't experience pain and she was right. I took the painkillers first couple of days but this was really a preventative action. Didn't need the sleeping tablets as slept fine without them. Found it very difficult to get the antiseptic eye cream in my eyes when I couldn't see them up close. Eyes were sensitive to light at times and sunglasses essential wear outdoors for first week. (But then my eyes were bit like that beforehand - I used to wear reactolite glasses.) The main problem after treatment was boredom as I couldn't read or watch TV. Visits and phonecalls from friends helped, my children took some turns to amuse me, and glad I'd thought to get a couple of audio books beforehand. My vision was poor at follow up appointment 7 days after the laser treatment. I couldn't read the largest letter on the eye chart with either eye. The ophthalmologist told me that my eyes were just a bit slow in healing and that my vision would improve within a couple of days. Sure enough it did. I reckon my sight was good enough to drive at 10 days, but waited until further check up before doing so. At 14 days my eyes were -0.5 in right eye and +0.5 in left. The clinic warned of possiblity of regression. It is now about 6 weeks after laser treatment and right eye has become a bit more shortsighted, although left eye remains fine. However, I've discovered there is advantage to having a slightly shortsighted eye, as I am in my 40s and this allows me to read okay, and both eyes together are fine for distance vision. I know that if my slightly shortsighted eye were at 0.0 then I would need to wear reading glasses. So I'm hoping it stays like this as I've got the best of both worlds at the moment - not needing glasses for either shortsightedness nor reading. I'll leave another post here in some weeks to let you know if any changes. I can thoroughly recommend optimax and PRK. Although PRK takes a bit longer for recovery, please do consider it if you are thinking about LASIK. Retaining the integrity of the eyeball seems to me to be a big plus, especially in case of accident/blow to the eye in future. Good luck!

I had bi-lateral LASIK on both eyes last Thursday at Optimax Finchley Road. The Admin staff could be better but the Dr during the consultation was very professional. He answered all of my questions and was not pushy at all. I felt very confident with getting the procedure done in fact after the consultation as I left feeling that there were very little risks & I now knew that the Dr who would be treating me had performed this procedure more than 8000 times. The op went well. Little discomfort on the first day, which disappeared by the evening following a short sleep. I noticed by that evening that vision in my right eye was very good but left eye not quite as good (original prescription was -6 L -4.5 -R with a stigmatism in both eyes). I go for my week after care this Friday & am hoping that my left eye might settle down by then. The thing I am finding most annoying is the bad night vision. I get a lot of glare from the street lamps and both on coming cars and the red lights of the cars in front. Even watching TV in the evening I experience glare / ghosting. Not ideal :( .However I new the risks and still went along and got it done. When I asked about glare during the consultation I was told that this normal occurs at night if you pupil dilates to larger than the laserd area. I was also told that as I had normal size pupils I should be okay & not experience this glare. I am hoping that this improves and will post again in the future. Would be nice to hear from people who have had this procedure done and did experience the nighttime glare. Does it get better? People considering this procedure should know this is my biggest problem with it. Other than the currently bad nighttime vision I can see very well.

Ditto comments of John Ennals re. advice, price etc. Had PRK Epiflap on both eyes on Saturday (7th September) at the Birmingham clinic by Dr Infield and so far so good. I experienced absolutely no pain at all (didn't use any of the painkillers given to me), just very mild discomfort. They send you home with a couple of days worth of sleeping pills in case of pain during the night but the discomfort was so minimal that I used them during the day to keep myself from doing anything other than rest (they say it's best to go to bed for 48 hours or to at least keep your eyes closed). I was very surprised to be able to see instantly after the procedure, albeit blurry (a bit like having your glasses on but looking through a dirty window) which I think was due to the contact lens bandages (check that your treating doctor uses these as they don't all use them). Bear in mind if you have these then you have to return to then clinic 3 days later for removal). Have read on this site that it's painful having them removed but again I felt nothing at all. A little gritty for a couple of hours after removal and thereafter vision seemed to improve almost hourly. My right eye seems to be doing much better than the left which concerns me slightly but the clinic was really good and they're seeing me on Saturday instead of next Thursday due to my concerns although they say that by then it'll probably be alright anyway. I'm just getting checked before starting a new job on Monday so I'm probably worrying unnecessarily. I'll update next week but, pending the left eye catching up with the right I would thoroughly recommend this procedure - much better than LASIK where they actually cut a flap which apparently never heals. This procedure is altogether less invasive and well worth the extra bit of recovery time - anyway - how often are you going to be told to go to sleep for 48 hours and do absolutely nothing!!??!! I can honestly say that, coming from Oxford, the travelling to and from Birmingham was the worst part and it only takes an hour each way - that's how simple it is. Emails welcome.

I have been for a consultation to the new aberdeen clinic. The staff there were very helpful and had lots of patience to anwer all of my questions. I have since booked my treatment which takes place on 8th october with Dr Saboor. I would like to hear from anyone who has had LASIK treatment done at any of the advanced laser clinics or like myself about to get it done.

After many hours of research on the internet, I have taken the plunge and booked to have bilateral PRK Epiflap (LASEK) treatment by Dr Ayoubi at the Finchley Road Clinic, London, on 26 September. I have decided on PRK because I have a comparatively mild prescription of -1.5 for both eyes and the treatment is more established and less invasive than LASIK. Why Optimax? Firstly I must emphasise that it was not because they are comparatively cheaper than other clinics (although this is a bonus). I felt that they were very open and honest about both the negative and positive aspects of both procedures. I thought it was very much a big plus for them that they recommended the cheaper treatment for my prescription, rather than try to sell the more expensive option. When looking at other clinics, it did disturb me that the PRK Epiflap treatment was either dismissed as outdated or not even mentioned at all. I will report back with further comments after I have had the treatment.

Had PRK epi-flap performed right eye 19/12/01 left eye 2/2/02.Initially,after approx 10 days, vision seemed very good, however regression started shortly after. My prescription prior to surgery was -5.00L -5.25R it is now -0.75L -1.75R. I have some enforced astigmatism in both eyes and no longer have best visual acuity in my left eye. I still have corneal haze in both eyes and suffer with poor vision in bad light. I also find it difficult to drive at night due to severe glare from oncoming traffic. I am still returning to the clinic for aftercare and hoping things will improve.

Why are so many patients unhappy with their LASIK results? Admittedly being 6 you would hope for 20 -20 vision. On paper it looks a good company but if you ask patients what is their vision like. I feel they 3 out of 5 would say they are unhappy with the result. Poor night vision, being left having to still wear glasses, being left vision of -1 or-2 people need to be made aware.

I have read through the comments various people have posted on this site. I was contacted by Optimax at the weekend advising me of their special offer at the Croydon branch of £995 for LASIK (both eyes). I am trying to confirm that the decision to go with LASIK rather than PRK will be a good one. I am short sighted with astigmatism in both eyes -5.25 in left and -4.5 in right. I need to return to work within 3 days of having surgery, so have ruled out PRK on this basis. LASIK sounds alarming with the flap that never heals and the procedure hasn't been carried out for as many years as PRK. I am scheduled to have the consultation on 21st September and the surgery on 4th October. So far Optimax have been very friendly and helpful. I would really welcome some advice from people who have had both treatment types.

Hello. why is it that optimax can charge so much less than other clinics ? also, would most of those who've had LASIK say it's best to go to more than 1 clinic for consultation before deciding which to go with ? is it true then that the flap that is cut never heals ? and finally, i hear people say there have been horror stories of surgery gone wrong but what exactly is the worst case scenario ? please reply, i really want the surgery as i've worn glasses since 4 yrs old now 31 and am v short sighted with astigmatism in left eye. thank you. this is a very useful web site.

I did a lot of research before choosing Optimax as the clinic that I wanted surgery at. Optimax was both the best value and most honest about the procedure and the results out of all the clinics. I had bi-lateral LASIK 3 weeks ago and have had no problems and can see perfectly (I was -6 before). I am very pleased with the results but would still advise anyone having it done to think carefully and do a lot of research before deciding the procedure and the clinic.