Optical Express or the Mater Private?

Obrieski

Recently had a consultation with Optical Express for laser eye surgery and they said my prescription is perfect for laser eye. I'm -1.0 in both eyes, not bad I know but I play a lot of sport and just want to remove the hassle of having to wear contacts. However, in the meantime, I had my own annual eye check up in Vision Express and whilst chatting with the optometrist there she recommended the Mater as being the place she would go to, in fact she said she had tried to get it done there but due to personal complications she didn't get it done.

So I was wondering what different people'e perspectives of these two places are, the other threads have a lot in them but with other things thrown in. I was quoted at €2550 as being my price in Optical Express with wavefront etc, as I play sport I needed the top treatment. Would the Mater be able to match this price? Quite nervous as well because, as with most surgeries, always afraid of the things that might go wrong! I can also get a voucher off a friend who got it done in Optical Express as well as the discount with health insurance! Any opinions?

easychair

This might sound silly, but I wouldn't consider any sort of eye procedure without first getting the go ahead from my GP. I know someone who had the sight in one eye considerably damaged (the retina was damaged resulting to a loss of +-90% of their eyesight), and why anyone would let someone carry out a procedure on on or both eyes, without first double checking with their GP or eye consultant and being referred for the procedure.

lahinch_lass

seriously if your prescription is as low as -1, I wouldn't even consider getting laser done... wait until your 40 and you'll be +1 ! I would have started out with that sort of prescription in primary school and only wore spec's for long-distance stuff until my eyes hit -2.5, and I kept playing sport without spec's or lenses for another year or 2 after that !

Hobbitfeet

I worked for Optical Express in Dublin and they are very good. To be honest your prescription is not that bad and maybe you don't need wavefront. How is your eyesight at night time? Do you get a lot of glare from lights? This is what wavefront will fix the basic will fix your prescription just fine.
Which Optical Express are you thinking of going too?

Obrieski

lahinch lass, you're probably right, but I just hate wearing contacts and having to bring glasses going to matches and for college and stuff! Thinking of going travelling next summer and want to be able the experience fully without having to worry about having enough contacts etc for it you know!

Hobbitfeet, I already got a consultation in Dundrum, I think they use the Ballsbridge centre for their surgery? Glare can be a problem alright but as I said above I just want to have good eye sight, sorry perfect eye sight! After further research looks as though I will be getting it done with Optical Express around Christmas time hopefully! Have to go in for a consultation again because it has been over 3 months since my last one! I know you work for them so obviously you can't discuss too much, but if you were an outsider would you recommend Optical Express? Obviously, the eye is so delicate and I don't particularly want it to go wrong or my eyes to go bad ya know! :eek:

Hobbitfeet

Used to work for them The clinic in ballsbridge is very good the do have a few different surgeons so ask who will be doing your surgery and research him.
Wouldn't bother with wavefront if price is an issue you won't see much of a difference in my opinion except in your pocket because your presription is quite low!! Remember the consultant you saw is still trying to sell you something and works on salary and commission so they will always push wavefront. You will get very good after care with O.E
It's about 5 years ago since I worked there so my views are based on the clinic and staff at that time but I would recommend going to Ballsbridge they didn't have a clinic in Dundrum when I worked there so not sure about where your surgery would be.

lahinch_lass

I think one of the reasons for wavefront being recommended to some people is the size of your pupil at full dilation. mine were measured at 7.8mm, in the past I couldn't have gotten laser at all as the laser wouldn't have been able to handle a pupil size larger than 7mm.

Suffice to say a month on and my eyes are still settling down, I still experience quite a bit of glare at night from car headlights/tail-lights, and notice a haze on white text on a black background on TV. My left eye still feels bruised if I rub anywhere around the eye socket area.

Honestly with a prescription as low as -1 I just can't comprehend the decision to take the risk. I was bordering on -5 by the time I got it done and still spent a long time agonizing over the decision because of the risks involved if something went wrong.

A word of warning about OE though on my original consult I was told surgeon X would be doing the procedure, when I got the letter it was surgeon Y, but then I got a call a couple of days before the surgery to move the procedure time and when I went in for the op it was surgeon Z whom I knew nothing about. so check ALL the surgeon's listed on the irish AND UK websites. And it was Ballsbridge that I went to for the operation.

Hobbitfeet

lahinch_lass wrote: »

A word of warning about OE though on my original consult I was told surgeon X would be doing the procedure, when I got the letter it was surgeon Y, but then I got a call a couple of days before the surgery to move the procedure time and when I went in for the op it was surgeon Z whom I knew nothing about. so check ALL the surgeon's listed on the irish AND UK websites. And it was Ballsbridge that I went to for the operation.

Yes this happened quite a bit when I was there. Good to research all surgeons