Optimax

Went for my 10 day check up & the vision in my right eye is perfect, my left eye is slightly short-sighted & was told there is still time for improvement, tho if it doesnt im still perfectly happy with the results, its just mildly irritating at the moment, because im not use to the `slight difference, im sure in a few mths time when I come accustomed to it, it wont bother me at all.

I have just returned from the one week post-op consultation. I still find it incredibly hard to focus on both far (like number plates) AND near (like computers/newspapers). Its because my left eye feels very blurry. Its been the same since the day after the op.

I am 27 years old and was -6.25 in both eyes (with perfect close up sight).

This is my eye test results as of today (1 week after op).
R +.25 / -0.50 X 70
L + 0.50 / -0.50 X 135

As you can see, both short and long sight are now affected and it’s causing me great focusing difficulties which is a big discomfort.

I was told by the optometrist that it will ‘probably’ improve slightly, but I don’t feel very confident as it’s been the same for this week from day 1 after the op.

I asked the optometrist what happens if it does indeed stay this way, and was told if it does not indeed improve, then I will probably need glasses because of the focusing issues. Also, he says with my prescription now, it is incredibly hard to have corrective surgery. I am very depressed with this piece of news. I am not very happy as I feel I was much better off with specs + £1500 extra in my bank, but I suppose I have a ray of hope.

I would very much like to hear if anybody else had similar results after 1 week, and whether they did indeed get better. I am very anxious and its seriously affecting my work (web design).

Please contact me if you feel you can somehow help with my anxieties :) I would love to hear from people in a similar position.

p.s my * rating will improve if my eyes do get better :)

Hi all, after my previous post expressing serious concerns about my left eye after having both eyes zapped (Posted on 12 Feb 2003 ~ double vision, un-clear vision etc), here is the update 1 month post op.

The best advice about EPIFLAP PRK (LASEK) I can give is GIVE IT TIME FOLKS after the op. Ignore the ‘miracle stories’ on this message board, and if your eyes take a while to adjust, as did mine, it will only push you into forming rapid conclusions that are not necessarily true. I am now slightly over 1 month post op, and my eyes are still changing.

The double vision has now settled down. It is now only very minor and improving day by day, and no longer noticeable under normal light. The sharpness of vision has gone from 70% to 100%. My right eye has regressed slightly from 100% back to around 95%. Don’t do what I did and form a new conclusion whenever something changes. I was on my 4th conclusion, but now I am wiser and I am giving it time to heal and adjust properly!

The lady DR (whose name I have never managed to get) who carried out my procedure read my previous comments on this web site, and phoned me to check everything was OK. This was a surprise, and I would like to thank her for this. The Optimax DRs have web access like the rest of us, and do read this board!

If there is a slight criticism of Optimax, then it is that the supporting literature does not really go far enough to explain and re-assure about post-op changes to your sight before it settles down. The first check-up did nothing to re-assure me either. The lady DR did do this when she phoned me today, so bonus points here.

My previous rating was 3 Stars, this has now gone up to 4 Stars as the op has been a really worthwhile experience, and the goal has been more than achieved. If the Optimax aftercare experience improves on the 10th March, then I will rate the experience as a 5 Star Experience. Hint- I am not a number…I have a name!!

Thanks once again to the Optimax (Finchley Road) DR who called me today after reading this message board. I do not have your name! If you would like to mail it to me I would like to leave appropriate comments.

Don’t forget – GIVE IT TIME TO RECOVER!!

I too had lasik treatment at Birmingham by John Hill on 27 Feb 2003, as did my brother. My prescription was -6.00 and -7.00 and my brother was around -10. We both felt totally reassured by the confidence of John Hill and went ahead with the treatment. It went brilliantly and neither of us experienced any pain. I was reading number plates on the way back to our hotel just 30 mins after treatment. We are both amazed by the results-my brother was out playing in his band on 29 Feb which is quite remarkable. I just keep thinking I have my contact lenses in because it just doesn’t seem possible that I can see unaided.

Feel free to contact me if I can be of help to anyone that is considering treatment.

p.s. Glad your treatment went well, Avril!

I had my Lasik treatment 28 February at the Birmingham Clinic, my Surgeon was John Hill, he explained every detail of the procedure, I was very reassured.

He gave me an explanation about my two main concerns, ‘dry eyes’ and ‘night vision. He explained to me that the dry eyes normally only effects patients who already have dry eyes, and the ‘night vision’ problem normally only effects patients with large pupils, 8mm and over, he measured mine at 5mm.

I felt no pain during or after the surgery I could see straight away although my vision was blurred, the following morning my vision felt almost perfect. I returned to the clinic for the aftecare appointment the following day, I was told that my eyes were healing nicely and I had 20/20 vision.

I have not experienced any pain at all and am glad that I went ahead with the treatment after all the bad publicity I had read in the press.
I can recommend the lasik procedure, Optimax and John Hill, the surgeon.

Thanks to the other patients who responded to my request for their experiences and information.