Optimax

I am attending Birmingham for my consultation today, I had a bad experience on the phone line to optimax initially but once I had booked the procedure I rang back for some advice and Lisa was excellent with replies to all my questions - I have opted for the prk epi-flap consultation and all being well both eyes will be sorted today. My only concern for this procedure is the recovery time as I have 2 small children and cant really be off my feet for too long. I will update as soon as I can on the Drs name and procedure

Went to finchley road on 22/3/02 hopefully for PRK as only mild shortsight - -1.75 & - 2.25 with astigmatism. Unfortunately unable to have treatment as discovered i had corneal neovascularization in both eyes probably caused by contact lenses (blood vessels on cornea) and also eyes not recoved from wearing gas permeable lenses (be warned may take longer than the recommended 3 weeks)I am going back in 2 months to see if possible to have it done then. My surgeon Mr Ayoubi very nice but had not treated anyone with this condition before so very wary. Very happy with clinic and all staff very friendly. If anyone has also had this condition pls e-mail me.

Had bi-lateral PRK on 25/3/02. Five days on and my eyesight is improving daily. Long distance is now excellent and reading close up is no problem but only for short bursts. My surgeon was Dr Ayoubi and he was absolutely supberb. He explained the procedure in detail before surgery and during surgery he talked me through each step as it happened. I am due back at Optimax in just over a weeks time for my first check-up and I am looking forward to finding out my new sight prescription. I am delighted with how things are progressing and very pleased that I chose Optimax and had Dr Ayoubi as my surgeon.

I did have a prescription of -3.25 & -4.50 with astigmatism in both eyes and I now have eyesight that doesn't need correcting for driving.

I went to Optimax in Finchley and saw Dr Patel and had bi-lateral LASIK on 3/4/02. The added bonus of LASIK is that your eye heals a lot faster and you don't have as much pain. Friends who have had PRK have taken sleeping tablets for the first couple of days!

The worst bit was where they were putting the suckers on to my eye, this hold's it in place while they cut the eye. But other than that it wasn't too bad. It took about 15-20 mins for both eyes and then I had to wait in the waiting room with these wonderful clear plastic lenses over my eyes before the doctor checked that they were okay. They were both stinging like mad for the first couple of hours and I spent the 45 minute journey back to my friends house with my eyes closed. By about 3pm (I had it done at 10.30) they felt fine and it was just a bit hazy (as if my glasses were really mucky!). I had to use three lots of eye drops (every 2 hours, 20 minutes apart), one of which is artificial tears to keep the eyes moist. I now have to start weaning the drops off over the next few months. One I take 6 times a day for 4 days, then 5 times a day for 4 days etc!

I went back for a check on 4/4/02 and the doctor said the hazyness is due to swollen cornea's and that will go down over the next couple of weeks. I spent all day yesterday desperate to rub my eyes - bad move when you have had a flap cut into your eyes! I also have large red splotches on my eye-balls due to the suckers but they will also go down ovr the next few weeks.

I'm really glad I have had it done though and I think DH will have it done now!

I arrived at Birmingham in plenty of time for treatment and was very nervous, my Dr was Dr David Infield who answered all my questions and tried to put me at ease! I decided to have the one eye done with prk epi-flap rather than both because of the family, and on the advice of Dr David Infield. I am pleased I did, the pain kicked in as the drops wore off nearing home approx 2 hrs later. The next 2 days I couldn't open my eyes either one. Counting down minutes (you cannot do anything else!) for the next pain killer. I have never been so bored or depressed for those 2 days in my life before! Thurs aft 3 days later eye opened with help! Very runny and not able to see anything but the other eye although still short sighted kicked in. I kept some saline and cotton wool available for the eye which bought relief occasionally. I found both eyes appeared rather itchy whilst using the drops, this has stopped now I have finished treatment. I am now on day 12 and for the past 3-4 days I have perfect sight in my left eye, I am back at the Gym and also back at work although on limited hours, my eye does get dry and sore when working with IT in a air conditioned atmosphere with false lighting. But the good news is I am going back to Birmingham on Tuesday 3 days time for my follow up on the eye and I am opting to have the other eye done with Dr David Infield but this time I will be prepared for the procedure. I have some talking books and lots of friends to visit after day 2!
Will update later in the month on the outcome.

I had bi lateral LASIK treatment on 11 April performed by Dr Manek Patel. Previously -8.25 in my left eye and -7.75 in my right eye I was warned that I may still need glasses for driving, but within 24 hours my eye sight was already at legal driving standard and can only get better over next month. No pain and very quick recovery. Only criticism of Optimax was the wait before surgery - appt at 2pm but I was not treated until 4pm and no one told us what was going on. Having said that now that I have been treated the wait was definitely worth it. Fantastic result and I would recommend this treatment to anyone.

Well, I just had my initial consultations at Optimax (Finchley Rd) and Accuvision. See comments under each clinic. At Accuvision I was examined very thoroughly by a knowlegeable and enthusiastic member of staff. They also carried out wavefront analysis, which gives a far more precise picture of the optical defects than refraction alone. Overall a very impressive setup. I was blown away by the high-tech kit they have there - obviously a huge investment, so they must be pretty confident about recouping it with sufficient patient revenues over the next few years. They've only had about 450 patients so far, so everything's still very new & shiny – and you can take a peek through the window into the op room. Met one of the members of staff who'd had LASIK done there - and was invited to see her eyes under the microscope! (which I graciously declined - they looked just fine to me) The only disappointment was, I didn't get to meet a surgeon as it wasn't an operating day - but they said I was very welcome to come back & see one if I liked. One benefit of Accuvision & wavefront: their laser would remove approx 30 microns less cornea (40 vs 70) than the Nidek at Optimax, due to the custom ablation profile. The more cornea I can hang onto, the happier I'll be!
The main thing I gained from the day though, was to realise how being myopic (I'm -2.75 & -3.5) can stop you needing reading glasses when presbyopia kicks in in middle age. I'd read about this on the web before, but now I've seen for real. Here's what happens: when they put the drops in your eyes to dilate the pupil, it also paralyses the lens, which stops you being able to focus close up (I may not be exactly right about this – I'm not an optician, but I think that's the way it was). I found I wasn't able to see my watch with glasses on, but only had to lift my specs, and my trusty short-sighted mince pies could see the time clearly - case closed. So, you have to trade off losing some good near vision in later life, against great distance vision from now on. At least that's how I see it.

I had PFK treatment to my Right Eye last Wednesday 24th April at Croydon. I can only say everything was wonderful. Appointments were on time. The Consultant and Nurse were fantastic especially as I was very nervous. No pressure was put on me at all by the staff and I felt very much that it was my decision and they did not want to rush me. I cant wait to have the left eye done so I can finally be without glasses. I could not have received better or more proffessional treatment if I had paid triple the amount. I will post a follow up when I have had my left eye treatment and I would advise anyone to go to this clinic.

I underwent bilateral LASIK treatment in November 2001 at this clinic. The staff at the clinic were very friendly and welcoming. They were able to address most of my queries and referred me to the ophthalmologist when necessary. The surgeon was very reassuring before the proceedure and was happy to explain everything to me. During the treatment the surgeon explained what she was doing which I found very reassuring. The treatment seemed very quick and straightforward. Afterwards I went home and straight to bed to rest. My eyes felt irritated but no pain. The next day I woke up to perfect vision - AMAZING! When I went back to the clinic the next day I was told that I had 6/4 vision in my left eye with 6/6 in my right. 6 months after treatment my eyes have healed well and my vision is still exellent.

Back again. Last week I saw Dr Saboor for the first time since i had posted my experience on this page. I also sent a copy to Optimax's head office. I got a letter back from them within 2 days. If only their Glasgow clinic was as efficient. After speaking to Mr Eugene Coyne on the phone on the Monday i got a phone call from the Glasgow clinic saying that Dr Saboor was desperate to see me...funny that it takes a phone call from his Operations Manager in London, after he has spoken to a very very unhappy patient who let rip about the overal service, before he is so keen to see me. The only problem was that i was having to wait over 6 weeks for the bloody appointment. I arrived for the appointment for 3 pm prompt, was taken by one of the girls to measure my eyes etc before dr saboor took me. I had my right eye done and then was told to move so they could do my left. At this point i asked if i should remove my contact that i now have to wear. The girl was all surprised when i asked this and taken aback. Even when i explained why i had to wear one she was still all worried, she then left the room very quickly, leaving me totally bemused. She then came back about 5 minutes later and asked why i was here! I told her, and she said, "Oh right, it is just that we have got you down to have both your eyes treated today."
What a shambles! Do they not even chack their records?! I didnt know whether to laugh or cry. Hardly fills me with confidence. Eventually got to see Dr saboor who had obviously seen my email as he had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He checked my eyes and basically told me that what i have in my left eye is what i will have for the rest of my life. I asked if this included the ghosting, he said yes. He then said that he had warned me about the halos i could suffer cos of the size of my pupils, did he f@!k. I asked him during the consultation about my pupils and he said they were fine. At this point i am really pissed off and so is he! I disagreed with him and he was not happy, arguing that he had as he tells all his patients with pupils like mine that this is an issue. I argued that he mentioned halos, not ghosting, he said "Halos are ghosting"! Liar! There where other things that he sadi that where just plain lies. Also, one of the points i made to the OPs manager was that it seemed to me that i had been forgotten asbout and brushed under the carpet...and this was confirmed when Dr saboor first spoke to me, asking me when i was treated and what i had had done. I was raging. Thw problem i have is that i want to get my left eye done cos the contact i wear is really annoying at times and i want to get into the police.However, do i go back to the shambles that is optimax Glasgow or go somewhere else to get it done? Dr saboor will do the op in oct or nov, if i want him to. He was really not amused with my email and kept saying he could refer me to one of his colleagues who would do it earlier if i wanted. I dont. That is another thing, he told me that he would do a PRK treatment first to remove the scar on my eye then do another to remove the rest of my short sightedness as he did not want to operate when the scar is still there, although i didnt want this it is a bit un-reassuring when he then tells me that he will now just do a LASIK treatment, cutting under the scar.
To be honest, i would not recommend optimax Glasgow. Twice now i have gone for appointments with them and they have got them wrong, hardly fills you with confidence does it? Feel free to email me.