Ultralase

I have always had restrictions with regards to my sight. wearing contact lenses after a long day would start to hurt and i had to put my glasses back on. now i have perfect vision and the treatment was done quickly and efficiently and i drove back to cornwall the next day! should had it done ages ago!

We are very impressed with the service provided by the clinic.

The official price for my procedure listed at ultralase website at the actual date of my surgery (14/12/2012) was 800 GBP lower than the one on my contract signed at the end of October (my surgery was initially scheduled for November, and I was told December is ‘full’; however, the procedure had to be postponed due to conjunctivitis). I have not questioned the price initially, wrongly considering it to be a fixed price for a health product rather than a negotiable business deal (or something bound to change during the ‘full’ December?)

The procedure went fine, all was explained properly, the surgeon was kind, calm and reassuring, taking the effort to announce constantly that we are all doing fine.

I am less enthusiastic about the aftercare. On the second day check-up, I was adviced to double the frequency of predforte drops (mild inflammation in both eyes) but without upgrading my predforte stocks and with the next visit scheduled in 4 days time (Wed). I ran out of the preforte drops on Monday morning, I learnt the cambridge clinic is closed on Mondays, and the ‘on call’ staff together with the peterborough clinic offered that I can come and pick up the drops in Peterborough (optimax), which I did (no other options offered) and after about 8 hours break resumed my hourly treatment with every intention not to spill a single drop.

I’m currently 3 months post-op and am left with a residual prescription of L(-1.0, -0.75) R(-0.75,-0.25).I’m below legal driving standard and forced to wear RX glasses for any activity requiring distance vision: driving, tennis, TV etc. (My pre-op prescription was about -5,-1.25 both eyes). Obviously I am not yet satisfied with the results given that I had the most expensive (and hyped) treatment option – the ultra elite.I’ve been told that it is a waiting game between now and 6 months post-op at which point I will be assessed for and likely require a LASIK enhancement surgery to achieve full correction.

Here is a recap on my experiences with LASIK and Ultralase so far: I’ve been considering lasik for many years now, but the recent advancements in bladeless Intralase flap creation gave me the confidence to take the plunge. At my first consultation with Ultralase in Jan 2011 I was asked to hold off a further 12 months due to ensure my prescription was stable. I was happy with the risk averse attitude and lack of pressure to proceed with the surgery. After a subsequent assessment the following year I finally had the LASIK procedure done in May 2012. The optometrist (Rachna) in the Reading clinic with whom I’ve had my consultations and follow up has been very professional and helpful. I’ve been able to reach her on the phone for advise and setup additional follow up sessions to address concerns. The surgeon, Osama Giledi seemed to be well qualified and trusted based on my research and was pleasant to deal with. I was able to consult him in person prior to surgery (in Guildford) to have some questions answered.The procedure itself was quick, if a bit stressful at one point when I was asked not to move my left eye so much, but I had no idea that I was moving it in the first place or how to stop it! I had bruising in both eyes from the suction ring (harmless side effect – subconjunctival hemorrhage) which went away in 2 weeks. There was some initial stinging and light sensitivity after the anesthetic wore off, but no major discomfort beyond the first 24 hours. Luckily symptoms such as dry eyes, halos and starbursts I had read so much about have not been a problem.

In conclusion, I have much improved vision, but still dependant on glasses and weary about prospect of having the lasik flaps lifted and the eyes re-lasered. I’ll update this review in 3 months time … watch this space!

I had my eye surgery four weeks age at the Birmingham clinic. I was aware that the Lasek treatment was a slower recovery and I found this the only niggle, although looking back it wasn’t that bad at all!
The first half an hour was great, instant vision and pain free, until the anaesthetic drops wear off! I didn’t open my eyes from 5pm Saturday until late Sunday morning, it was painful and gritty but I found pain killers, the drops and keeping my eyes shut kept it at bay. You need to have someone with you to help with the drops as there are three lots every two hours, and prising your eyes open yourself can be a challenge! The afternoon after surgery I could watch TV but found the light difficult to cope with – I wore sunglasses for 48 hours or so.
I had hoped to go back to work on Monday, but I couldn’t be in the light, so stayed home with curtains drawn and sunglasses on! Tuesday was much better although the protective lens became dry and irritable in my one eye, I did go back to work though and used a computer all day. When it was time to go back for the lens removal on the Wednesday, I really had had enough of the lenses as they were rubbing the underside of my eye lid, painful!
Vision was great from day two, but the lenses and the drops do hinder it, and it’s not really until the lenses come out that you can appreciate the difference. My vision took a week to be very good and a fortnight to be perfect. A month on I only use the drops in an evening as I have dry patches in my right eye – nothing worse than a bit of hayfever.
It really is life changing and my vision is much better than it ever was with glasses, even colours seem better! It is amazing to walk out of the door and see leaves on trees, clouds and rooftiles without specs! I have even bought trendy sunglasses for the first time in my life! If you are debating surgery just go for it….if you’re lucky enough to be able to have LASIK, even better are the recovery is quick. If you need LASEK then keep three days aside and be prepared to do nothing, very boring but worth it in the long run! Best money I have ever spent and the service at Ultralase is exceptional from start to finish! :)