So, one of the guys at work is booked in to get surgery done on his eyes and it's something I've been thinking of doing for a while now. I've been as blind as a bat* for a long time, so the idea of getting it sorted obviously appeals. However, I don't relish the prospect of actually being blind if something were to go wrong (I'm not sure that can happen, but I know what my luck is like!).

Was wondering if anyone on here has had it done or knows someone who has and what the general opinion is (good/bad/otherwise)...

*Hmm good choice of username now that I think of it.

I know probably half a dozen people that have had the op and had no problems. As long as your eyesight has been stable for a few years and glasses and/or contacts give you the shits - do it

Ive heard the treatment lasts for about 10 years and you can only have it done twice, whether thats real or not ive no idea, my short range is starting to go on very small detail stuff (yes in your 40s all kinds start falling off haha - bring a bag), ive considered having it done myself but my eyesight really isnt bad as yet

I only know one person who had it done and apparently all went well, although I know like Rob said its not permanent.

His was for purely cosmetic reasons, he hated wearing glasses, having pictures taken with his glasses on etc

I used to run an optical lab but have pretty limited knowledge on laser eye surgery to be honest, apart from the fact that I once watched the procedure on TV and it put me off completely

Thanks for the input, guys. I've been wearing glasses since I was about 5 or 6 and fulltime since just before I was a teenager, so I'm not really used to not wearing glasses. Been wearing contacts for the past couple of years or so, mostly for playing football and the like. Having peripheral vision with contacts in is great; trying to take them out when pissed can be an adventure though!

Been doing a bit of reading up and the operation/technology I find fascinating. Although, not sure if I'd have the same feeling when it's my eyes being operated on

A no pain no gain situation i reckon, altho i dont think it will be that bad - when i need it ill be getting it i think

An update to this, (a guys wife at work works in an opticians), you get one go with no second chance, sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt, it will or wont last a lifetime, you just have to hope it works for you.

Crumbs. An expensive mistake if it doesn't work then.

What do they charge for it?

Around about £1.5K - 2K.

OOF yeh pricey, ill probs get it done thru work

I'm sure you can probably get it done cheaper. Not sure i'd feel comfortable going for the "cheap and cheerful, Dr Nick from the Simpsons" option though

Haha, mind you lasers are cheap on Ebay these days LOL

Well I finally bit the bullet and had the surgery on Saturday. So...this is what the world looks like then!

Well....how many fingers am i holding up?

Tank1252 wrote:

Well....how many fingers am i holding up?

Now that's just rude! It's not even your finger you're holding up Put it away, man

Man, that laser surgery must be better than i thought, you now have microscopic vision!!

Seriously, all gone well? A huge improvement? I've not heard anything bad about it yet.

Tank1252 wrote:

Man, that laser surgery must be better than i thought, you now have microscopic vision!!

Seriously, all gone well? A huge improvement? I've not heard anything bad about it yet.

Yeah, so far no complaints at all. It'll take a couple of weeks or so for my vision to settle down a bit and I'm taking about 3 different types of eye drops to prevent infection and dry eye. Also a wee bit light sensitive and get some glare from lights at nighttime, but that should go away after a wee while. At the moment I can definitely recommend it. The surgery itself only takes a few minutes and I could notice the difference as soon as I sat up afterwards (you're conscious throughout). To go from my old quite high prescription to near 20/20 vision (and hopefully better once everything has settled down) just like that is phenomenal.

BatintheBelfry wrote:

Yeah, so far no complaints at all...

you just saw Tim's non finger, I'd be asking for your money back Seriously, glad it seems to have gone well. Crickey, I can imagine getting your eyes operated on while you're conscious would be scary as hell

aussiejames wrote:

BatintheBelfry wrote:

Yeah, so far no complaints at all...

you just saw Tim's non finger, I'd be asking for your money back Seriously, glad it seems to have gone well. Crickey, I can imagine getting your eyes operated on while you're conscious would be scary as hell

It is a bit surreal (the operation, not Tim's sticky wicket). They cover up the eye they aren't operating on, so you can't see out that. Then when they start cutting the flap in your other eye everything goes white/grey and you can't really focus on/see anything until they're finished.

There's nothing quite like that moment where they bring the laser down to start cutting for the first time and all you can think is "I hope the anesthetic works"!

Damn reading "they start cutting the flap in your other eye everything goes white/grey.." made my eyes water. eeeek, almost as bad as Jabba on SWF talking about getting the snip

Wow, too much information for me. My eyes hurt just reading that.

I'm glad i read this thread.One day i'll probably need Lasik.I think it's been around long enough now were they have the procedure down pact.

Dan.

Glad to hear the op was a success & you're on the mend Alex!

DarthStanley wrote:

Glad to hear the op was a success & you're on the mend Alex!

Thanks, Mark. Appreciated

And, yeah, sorry about the gruesome details, lads - not a topic for the squeamish!