Optimax

Hi, I travelled to the Leeds Clinic on Sat 19th feb to have epi-lasek on both eyes. I have to say the staff were excellent with me, and Dr Samuel made me feel really at ease. I wasn't too worried about the operation itself, i was more concerned with the pain I expected to kick in afterwards.

Anyway I was given a bag of pain killers and ointments. The op was done at 2.30 and there was no discomfort at all. About 30 mins later we had just got back to the car park and i could feel my eyes getting heavier and then they just clamped shut, it didn't hurt too much,just a mild stinging sensation. i went home to bed and didn't open my eyes until sunday evening, apart from when my husband had to put some drops in for me.
I wasn't really in pain over the weekend,it was more discomfort because my eyes just kept streaming, could have filled a couple of buckets.

Sunday evening i was relieved to open them and see fuzzy shapes, better than nothing. On Monday things were still blurry but they weren't watering anymore, and on Tuesday i had to go back to leeds to have the contact lenses removed. my vision kept coming and going and i couldn't read the eye chart at all, this was scary but i was told this was perfectly normal and it should improve each day. On weds I woke up and looked out the window and could see right down the end of our road, i put the telly on and it was amazing watching it. everything was really clear, but when i turned on my pc i couldn't read any of my emails. i was quite tired and had to keep resting my eyes. Friday and today have been brilliant. there is no discomfort, my vision has settled down, hence i am now using the computer.i am going to take the car out tomorrow. i can see further than i ever could with glasses, and i am going back to leeds on Monday for another check up. i won't have any problems reading the chart now! This is the best decision i have ever made, it has taken me 3 years to pluck up the courage, but has been money well spent. I say go for it if you don't mind a few days discomfort! Back to work on Tuesday hopefully.

I had Lasik at the London clinic last week, 9th Feb. All I can say is that it takes a lot to impress me, but oh boy am I impressed!! I knew that it may not be possible to treat my eyes due to my prescription – long sight (+3.5) & astigmatism & a lazy eye. From the moment we entered the clinic we noticed the calm atmosphere. No-one was rushing round in a flap, everyone was so friendly & polite, and there was very little waiting around. Organisation was fantastic. Dr. Patel is such a wonderful man, he took all the time in the world to explain everything & make sure we really understood it all. What impressed us was when he said that he only treats patients that he knows will get a positive result from the procedure, thus keeping their success rate to its maximum. So I went ahead & had the Lasik. And they were right, it was totally painless! Dr. Patel talked to me all the time, he was very reassuring, I was only in there about 15 minutes & could see so much better when I sat up. My eyes felt a little gritty so I went home to sleep. Hubby woke me 2 hrs later for the drops, and the gritty feelings had gone! That night we went out for a while, & I could read the menu easily. I can honestly say that I've had no pain at all. And the best news? A week later I now have better than 20/20 vision, something that couldn't be achieved with glasses! I can't stop telling everyone & urging them to have a consultation! It truly is just wonderful. Go for it!!!

What sold Optimax to me was an encounter with a woman at the clinic while waiting for my initial assessment. She was bringing her daughter for the treatment having had it herself 5 months earlier. I am 100% happy with my treatment. My eyes are much healthier from not using contact lenses and I don't suffer from eye strain, as I did when wearing glasses. Optimax Ipswich staff are excellent – professional, decent and trustworthy.

I had epi-lasek at Liverpool clinic last Friday evening 4 February, prescription -3.75 and -4. The surgery itself wasn't painful although I have to say I wasn't fully prepared for the burning smell. I couldn't believe it when I walked out of the treatment room and could see without my glasses!! I spent that evening and the next two days like a gremlin avoiding bright lights. I wouldn't say my eyes were sore just very watery and it was difficult to open them to put the drops in.
I returned on Monday to have the bandage lenses removed, this was a litle uncomfortable-I was 80-85% healed. I have been back to Optimax today (11.2.05). My right eye feels perfect but my left is still catching up. I'm back to driving standard and have to return in 2 weeks when I should be back at the standard I was with my glasses/contact lenses. I wouldn't say my eyes have been painful, dry or gritty. They do become tired a bit quicker and those dark sunglasses really are a must.
I would certainly recommend epi-lasek so long as you are realistic about the recovery time (don't think I really was). When the advice booklet says it can take upto a month then the likelihood is it will!! All that said I can still see clearer now after a week than I have been able to unaided for the past 15 years or so……

I had Lasik surgery on both eyes on the 22nd January 2005 and am very pleased with the results.
One thing that I was unhappy with was the service/reception team at the Croydon surgery.
There were a couple of times when the surgeons assistants, wearing scrubs, would exit the fire door next to reception, leave it ajar, and stand there smoking. You could smell the smoke! They would then re-enter the reception put their cigs away and then head straight for the surgery room. They did not appear to wash their hands or freshen up!
The reception staff made occasional slip ups with mentioning private client details with a clear voice that could be heard across the reception area.
My surgeon was great though, so it's not all bad news.
I would recommend anyone to have the surgery on their eyes. But maybe look at a different location.
I wish that I would have had it done years ago.