Lasek-One Eye at a time

starlight1

I am booked in for Lasek in the Mater where the practice is to do one eye at a time, rather than both together on the same day.

I was just wondering for people who have had it done this way what the experience was like for the week in between with one eye done and one not done? Could you drive/work? Any other advice on recovery or things to be aware of? Thanks in advance

Magenta

Hi there,

I had Lasek in the Mater last May. I just stayed in bed sleeping for most of it I got one eye done on the Friday and the other the following Wednesday.
I was able to get around with only one eye done but preferred to stay home and rest. I didn't go to work during that time, I took paid time off for about a week and a half for the whole thing.

starlight1

Magenta wrote: »

Hi there,

I had Lasek in the Mater last May. I just stayed in bed sleeping for most of it I got one eye done on the Friday and the other the following Wednesday.
I was able to get around with only one eye done but preferred to stay home and rest.

Thanks Magenta, appreciate the reply. I have booked time off work but will need to go in one morning so will probably arrange a lift to be on the safe side! In terms of the procedure itself is it quick enough? Am half afraid with getting them done a week apart that I wont want to go back for the second one!

Magenta

starlight1 wrote: »

Thanks Magenta, appreciate the reply. I have booked time off work but will need to go in one morning so will probably arrange a lift to be on the safe side! In terms of the procedure itself is it quick enough? Am half afraid with getting them done a week apart that I wont want to go back for the second one!

Procedure is about 5-10 mins and is absolutely fine I wrote a blog about my experience that might help you, https://dublinlasek.wordpress.com/
I have healed to 20/20 vision

starlight1

Magenta wrote: »

Procedure is about 5-10 mins and is absolutely fine I wrote a blog about my experience that might help you, https://dublinlasek.wordpress.com/
I have healed to 20/20 vision

Cheers Magenta-your blog has been really informative, will update when I can

markad1

Hi stsrlight1,
interested to hear how you get on, please do come back and update when you can,
Mark.

starlight1

markad1 wrote: »

Hi stsrlight1,
interested to hear how you get on, please do come back and update when you can,
Mark.

Will definitely do an update markad1-was very helpful to me to read about others experiences in deciding to go ahead and where to get it done so will try to repay the favour if I can.

Jasper_

Hi Starlight,

Can only echo what Magenta has in her blog. I also got Lasek done in the Mater late last year and it is easily the best money I have ever spent. Left Eye is 20/20 and right eye is two lines better then 20/20 apparently I still wake up and look out the window and smile at what I can see.

It is fairly blurry whilst the bandage contact is on the lasered eye. Not so blurry that if you only had that eye that you would be walking in to things or anything but fairly blurry none the less. Just stock pile a good bit of music/audio books and try and sleep as much as you can during this time.

I would add that each eye may well take to the procedure differently. My first eye was fairly uncomfortable straight after the procedure (uncomfort rather then pain, kinda like warm shampoo is in your eye), but healed very quickly and the vision was very crisp very quickly. My second eye had much less discomfort after the op, however healed much slower and took a couple of weeks longer then the first eye to reach full clarity. So just something to maybe be aware of.

Oh also... Right after you come out of the eye laser room they sit you down and explain to you what drops you have to take. They tell you how often and when to stop each one. They give you a piece of paper with all the details on it (Not the clearest thing in the world). On an ordinary day I would have been able to take in this info fairly handy, but sitting there just after surgery with valium and painkillers running through you seems like an ill-timed lesson. So maybe have someone there to listen to the docs orders.

Other then that good luck OP.

starlight1

Jasper_ wrote: »

Hi Starlight,

Can only echo what Magenta has in her blog. I also got Lasek done in the Mater late last year and it is easily the best money I have ever spent. Left Eye is 20/20 and right eye is two lines better then 20/20 apparently I still wake up and look out the window and smile at what I can see.

It is fairly blurry whilst the bandage contact is on the lasered eye. Not so blurry that if you only had that eye that you would be walking in to things or anything but fairly blurry none the less. Just stock pile a good bit of music/audio books and try and sleep as much as you can during this time.

I would add that each eye may well take to the procedure differently. My first eye was fairly uncomfortable straight after the procedure (uncomfort rather then pain, kinda like warm shampoo is in your eye), but healed very quickly and the vision was very crisp very quickly. My second eye had much less discomfort after the op, however healed much slower and took a couple of weeks longer then the first eye to reach full clarity. So just something to maybe be aware of.

Oh also... Right after you come out of the eye laser room they sit you down and explain to you what drops you have to take. They tell you how often and when to stop each one. They give you a piece of paper with all the details on it (Not the clearest thing in the world). On an ordinary day I would have been able to take in this info fairly handy, but sitting there just after surgery with valium and painkillers running through you seems like an ill-timed lesson. So maybe have someone there to listen to the docs orders.

Other then that good luck OP.

Thanks for the info Jasper-really good to hear from people who have actually had it done in the Mater as well. I'll make sure that someone is there when they are running through the info on drops etc.

I'm hoping the valium does the job and keeps me calm!

Wonder if they decide which eye gets done first or do you choose yourself? suppose it doesn't really make much difference anyway

Jasper_

No problem Starlight,

They do the weakest eye first, or if that doesn't apply they do the right one. Makes sense I guess.

You really have zero reason not to be calm. The first thought when you get up after they finish the procedure is going to be "is that it?!"

Any other questions give me a shout

Mousewar

I got one eye done nearly two years ago by Lasek. Still haven't bothered going back to get the other eye done. It's grand as it is to be honest.

starlight1

Mousewar wrote: »

I got one eye done nearly two years ago by Lasek. Still haven't bothered going back to get the other eye done. It's grand as it is to be honest.

what was your prescription in each eye Mousewar? I'm just over the first eye and cant imagine being able to manage with one done and one not in the longer term though maybe it adjusts/adapts as time goes on. Thanks for your previous posts, I found them helpful in the lead up

will update on experience so far in separate thread so will be easier for people to find as title of this probably doesn't cover actual experience

Mousewar

-2
To be honest it worked for me right from the start. Not for everyone though I'm sure.

Magenta

Mousewar wrote: »

-2
To be honest it worked for me right from the start. Not for everyone though I'm sure.

yeah -2 is pretty low so thats prob how you got away with just getting one eye done

MickH503

starlight1 wrote: »

what was your prescription in each eye Mousewar? I'm just over the first eye and cant imagine being able to manage with one done and one not in the longer term though maybe it adjusts/adapts as time goes on. Thanks for your previous posts, I found them helpful in the lead up

will update on experience so far in separate thread so will be easier for people to find as title of this probably doesn't cover actual experience

Hi, how was it inbetween getting the first and second eye done? Could you see ok, could you drive? I'm trying to work up the nerve to make an appointment! How did you arrange your apt with the Mater ... their website for the Eye Dept doesn't have a phone number that I can see?

Gingko

I'm starting to think people are over thinking eye laser! That includes myself before I had it done. It's the same procedure and technology everywhere. Things to note are.. experience of surgeon, reputable company / clinic, and lifetime warranty.

Had mine done at Optilase in Ely Place over 4 months ago. Vision is perfect! Have a little dry eye now and then but not a problem and gets less and less as I move on. Will subside completely in time.

I'm now contact lenses and glasses free! My eyes were -3 both and now left is 30/20 and right 25/20. Have a referral discount here if anyone needs one.

Magenta

Gingko wrote: »

I'm starting to think people are over thinking eye laser! That includes myself before I had it done. It's the same procedure and technology everywhere. Things to note are.. experience of surgeon, reputable company / clinic and lifetime warranty.

Had mine done at Optilase in Ely Place over 4 months ago. Vision is perfect! Have a little dry eye now and then but not a problem and gets less and less as I move on. Will subside completely in time.

I'm now contact lenses and glasses free! My eyes were -3 both and now left is 30/20 and right 25/20. Have a referral discount here if anyone needs one.

It is not possible to overthink surgery that can ruin your life if done incorrectly.

Regarding "reputable company/clinic".
Optilase offer referral discounts (ideal for bargain hunters) and further discounts for people who have the surgery within a week of consultation (further incentive for bargain hunters to rush into surgery without thinking it through).
Their "consultations" are done by sales staff who are required to hit sales targets. Does any of this sound reputable to you? They are a commercial clinic who are set on sales targets. You don't see the Mater Private offering discounts- they have ethics.

Secondly, 30/20 and 25/20 is not "perfect vision". You went in shortsighted and are now longsighted ie you still have a refractive error. You basically paid money for a different kind of vision problem.

Gingko

Magenta wrote: »

It is not possible to overthink surgery that can ruin your life if done incorrectly.

Regarding "reputable company/clinic".
Optilase offer referral discounts (ideal for bargain hunters) and further discounts for people who have the surgery within a week of consultation (further incentive for bargain hunters to rush into surgery without thinking it through).
Their "consultations" are done by sales staff who are required to hit sales targets. Does any of this sound reputable to you? They are a commercial clinic who are set on sales targets. You don't see the Mater Private offering discounts- they have ethics.

Secondly, 30/20 and 25/20 is not "perfect vision". You went in shortsighted and are now longsighted ie you still have a refractive error. You basically paid money for a different kind of vision problem.

Magenta, my vision is 100% trust me. I have excellent vision both short and long sighted. Perhaps the 30/20 left eye vision is more to do with the eye tests in consultation room re chart etc.. when out and about no problem. She did tell me that prescription will most likely lower. The sales person that did my consultation is a qualified optician herself and was very thorough. They do turn people away too.. I know of three people to have been turned down for a variety of reasons. Their not cowboys. The referral scheme is there as they are competing with optical express and others, and they are growing their business here. I actually had a previous consultation with Optical Express and was less then impressed with them. They contradicted each other and rushed the consultation..pressured me into getting a date fixed for surgery too.. now they were sales people! No such pressure with Optilase.

That said of course the Mater is excellent! I considered going there too as well as the Wellington. But I did a lot of research over quite some period of time and also a background check on the Optilase owner and was more then happy to go with them and save money too. Its like ryan air make foreign destinations a reality for those with less money, they still get you there safely and on time. Imo The Mater, The Wellington and Optilase are all 100%. Best of luck in eevryones choice and I'm sure the Mater will be 100%! Not having a go at you Magenta and really wish you the best!