My Lasek Experience

starlight1

I thought I would update whilst everything is fresh in my mind to share my experience as I found it really helpful reading about other peoples experiences when I was first considering eye laser surgery.

So prescription wise I am -5 (left) and -4 (right), also with astigmatism. Mid 30's now and wearing glasses since about 9/10 and contacts since 17ish. Finally had consultation with Mater in February last year to assess suitability and for a few different reasons only went ahead this week (mainly that I knew the year that the assessment lasts was coming to an end so felt like it was now or never). Cant really remember much about the assessment itself except it was fairly thorough and I was deemed only suitable for LasEK as my corneas were on the thin side.

Day of Surgery: Wednesday
Was told I needed to be in the Mater in the afternoon and should expect to be there for approximately 2 hours in total (the actual procedure/laser bit only takes about ten mins). I was actually a little late and was ready to leave within about 1hr 40mins which was great as there was hardly any waiting around. When I arrived I checked in, confirmed details, paid. confirmed someone would be taking me home and back to waiting room. Nurse then came along with valium and water which I nearly snatched out of her hand!! had another few scans to ensure eyes were still same as assessment or no other problems present. Was brought for a couple more scans and advised right eye would be done first.

Was given information from the nurse about drops and tablets etc that needed to be taken from that evening and over the next few days and was given these instructions in written format too. She also administered a number of anaesthetic drops to make sure the eye was well numbed before the procedure. Met Professor O Keefe again who just confirmed it was lasek and not to worry, had I any questions etc. Oh the nurse also marked over my right eye just to be doubly sure they did the correct one!

Into the laser room then, lie on a bed with a groove for your head which laser comes over. Left eye patched up and eye cleaned and prepped. Wont go into much more detail as I know not everyone likes to hear it but feel free to pm me if you have any questions. What I will say is that this is the part that I was nervous/anxious about and it literally wasn't a bother-didn't even feel like the ten minutes that he said it would take. Was afraid that after getting the first eye done I would not want to go back for the second but I have no anxiety at all about that part of it for next week. A nurse holds your hand throughout which is actually really reassuring and Prof O Keefe talks you through what he is doing (not in gruesome detail) but just generally so you know what is coming next eg you'll feel some water now. A bandage lens was applied at the end of procedure, they sit you up, bring you to another room where the doc checks you again in about 15 minutes, goes through medication instructions again and then deems you fit to go.

While I was waiting for them to check me before I went home I was giggling to myself in the room because I could already see from the eye!!Really surreal.. Have been told to expect vision to fluctuate over next while as eyes heal.

By about an hour and a half later when I got home anaesthetic had worn off and pain kicked in. Id say the following few hours were very painful but I just followed instructions regarding drops/meds etc and after those few hours while sore it was more manageable. Thursday was still quite sore but just stayed in dim room with eyes closed as much as I needed too and slept when I could but definitely improved from day to day. Had check up Thursday and they were happy with how it was healing. My eye/face had swollen a bit so don't be worried if this happens as it comes back down within a couple of days. So back in this morning (Saturday) for another check up and to have the bandage lens removed. (I was kind of dreading the thoughts of the bandage lens coming out but I didn't even feel it). I can read further down the chart now but didn't ask anything about what vision is or anything like that. So a lot better today and able to use computer, watch tv a bit so definitely feel like the worst is out of the way.

So am back in on Wednesday for the second eye to be done and another check up on the first. One of the reasons I had second guessed going with the Mater was they only do one eye at a time (I think this is for all procedures). Considering how sore I was Wed eve/Thur I'm actually glad I did it this way as two eyes like that could have been much more painful. In saying that I have to go through it all again next week but am more excited than nervous about it this time around knowing what to expect.

Sorry for the novel and please post or pm if I can help at all. Either way I will update if anything changes between now and Wednesday or after the second eye heals enough for me to see :cool:

Magenta

Great post!
I had the exact same prescription

starlight1

Sorry for delay in updating on the thread. Not a huge amount to add as I think I covered most of the detail in the first eye experience.

Second eye (left and weakest) was done a week after the first. All was straightforward in terms of the procedure etc. It was more painful than the first the evening of the surgery and felt like the anaesthetic wore off quicker but after about 3 hours the pain started improving. Again just took it easy for a couple of days and pain reduced. In hindsight I should have used the anaesthetic drop they give in case of bad pain and not tried to struggle through it.

As with first eye, checkup within 24 hours (Thursday) and then again on the Saturday when the bandage lens came out. This time he put a drop in the eye to numb it as the lens was a bit tighter.

The approach they have for post op check ups is really good as you can just drop in anytime between certain hours during the morning which was great as if you were a bit slower getting ready in the morning it was much less pressure. Post op patients are also prioritised so even though one of the mornings the waiting room was quite busy they will call post op patient first/as quickly as they can which was brilliant as you didn't have to wait around when still in discomfort. this is just for initial 2 post surgery appointments but is a really good idea I think.

Now vision wise I feel like my left eye is still not as good as my right. From the beginning it felt blurrier/slower to improve than the first eye. On the first eye I was able to use the computer/see my phone clearly by the Saturday but this was not the case with the second eye. Now don't get me wrong vision is good, driving fine etc but it is still a bit blurry (just the left) and not as sharp as the right eye-almost like you have a contact lens in that needs to be cleaned.

I was told with lasek that vision improves and stabilizes gradually so am not too worried yet but am hoping that this will improve soon. I do have another check up this week so will ask then. Would be interested to hear from anyone else who has had lasek whether this is typical or not?

Jasper_

Very typical Starlight.

Think it took about 8 or so weeks for my right eye to catch up fully to my left. You will notice minor fluctuations every few days. Ups and downs for a good few weeks. I wouldn't give it a second thought until maybe week 12 or so.

Magenta

Jasper_ wrote: »

Very typical Starlight.

Think it took about 8 or so weeks for my right eye to catch up fully to my left. You will notice minor fluctuations every few days. Ups and downs for a good few weeks. I wouldn't give it a second thought until maybe week 12 or so.

+100000!!!!

I was all in a panic about 3 weeks in because my eyesight all over the place. My eyes would literally change every few hours, perfect vision in the morning then blurriness in the afternoon, perfect in sunny weather but awful in a bar... It's all part of the process! It was 12 weeks to the dot til mine really got to 20/20.

starlight1

Jasper_ wrote: »

Very typical Starlight.

Think it took about 8 or so weeks for my right eye to catch up fully to my left. You will notice minor fluctuations every few days. Ups and downs for a good few weeks. I wouldn't give it a second thought until maybe week 12 or so.

Magenta wrote: »

+100000!!!!

I was all in a panic about 3 weeks in because my eyesight all over the place. My eyes would literally change every few hours, perfect vision in the morning then blurriness in the afternoon, perfect in sunny weather but awful in a bar... It's all part of the process! It was 12 weeks to the dot til mine really got to 20/20.

Thanks Jasper and Magenta-really appreciate the replies. So reassuring to know that its normal and all part of the process!! Even though I hoped it was there was a slight fear lurking at the back of my mind and was imagining needing re-touches etc

and it is exactly as you both describe, no real pattern but exactly as you both describe-that it fluctuates, not consistently blurry and not stopping me from doing anything, just more irritating than anything. thanks again for the replies and will try to be a bit more patient!

Magenta

starlight1 wrote: »

Thanks Jasper and Magenta-really appreciate the replies. So reassuring to know that its normal and all part of the process!! Even though I hoped it was there was a slight fear lurking at the back of my mind and was imagining needing re-touches etc

and it is exactly as you both describe, no real pattern but exactly as you both describe-that it fluctuates, not consistently blurry and not stopping me from doing anything, just more irritating than anything. thanks again for the replies and will try to be a bit more patient!

I actually got quite down during my healing period. Everyone you talk to who had laser surgery says its the best thing ever, their eyesight is amazing now etc but with Lasek it takes so long to get there. I felt like I should be really happy but wasn't. It is frustrating as it is totally out of your control how your eyes will be from one hour or day to the next. It's all worth it in the end though!

starlight1

Magenta wrote: »

I actually got quite down during my healing period. Everyone you talk to who had laser surgery says its the best thing ever, their eyesight is amazing now etc but with Lasek it takes so long to get there. I felt like I should be really happy but wasn't. It is frustrating as it is totally out of your control how your eyes will be from one hour or day to the next. It's all worth it in the end though!

Thanks Magenta, feeling much more positive now after hearing that it does take time-maybe I'm just being a bit too impatient!

People probably forget those early days/weeks as time goes on so I've been hearing/reading lots about the end result but not that it takes a while to get there.

Panthro

Hey folks, can I ask a question.
Is the pupil cut with a blade or what happens?
The thought of having my eyes sliced open would petrify me to be honest!

Daisies

Panthro wrote: »

Hey folks, can I ask a question.
Is the pupil cut with a blade or what happens?
The thought of having my eyes sliced open would petrify me to be honest!

There are 2 options LASIK and LASEK. LASIK has a call cut using either a microkeratome (small mechanical blade) or using a laser to make a flap in the cornea. This has the quicker healing time. LASEK has no flap made. The top surface of the cornea is dissolved using a mild alcohol solution. This has a longer healing time but there is no flap made.

starlight1

Panthro wrote: »

Hey folks, can I ask a question.
Is the pupil cut with a blade or what happens?
The thought of having my eyes sliced open would petrify me to be honest!

Panthro I can completely identify with this fear and that and a couple of other things made me put it off for years. I had visions of my head being clamped down and obviously as you can't close your eye that you would just see a scalpel heading straight for your eyeball and not be able to do anything about it!

BUT the thoughts of it are so much worse than the actual procedure itself. I was so worried about the procedure bit but another poster advised me that I would think 'is that it!' immediately afterwards and honestly that was the case for me.

They do lots of things to make it as easy and comfortable as possible-valium :P, taping one eye shut, anaesthetic drops that completely numb your eye so you cant feel a thing, a nurse beside you reassuring you and giving you the amount of information you are comfortable with about what they are doing/how long is left etc. You are unaware of anything other than lights/blurriness and the only sensation I felt at all was cold when they rinsed the eye and they warned me before this happened.

Now bear in mind that I had lasek rather than lasik but both procedures have elements that made me a bit squeamish. In my case I was only suitable for lasek so maybe think about a consultation if you haven't had one already to assess suitability.

I'm now just over 4 weeks (right eye) and 3 weeks (left eye) and my only regret is I didn't go for it years ago. any other questions just shout.

lemmno

Starlight I can see (pun intended) you had lasek just a little before me. I'm at the 3 month mark now. Vision is really good, but I'm suffering quite badly with dry, red, veiny eyes. Did you have this? Sorry for hopping on here but it's quite difficult to find people who have had lasek/prk!

Faith+1

I'd love to get laser but my prescription is +2.5 and +3.0. Went for an assessment about 4 years ago with Optilase I think but was refused. They told me only about 1 in 10 are non suitable.....Just my luck.

lemmno

You might be suitable now, things are changing all the time. Maybe get a second opinion.

starlight1

lemmno wrote: »

Starlight I can see (pun intended) you had lasek just a little before me. I'm at the 3 month mark now. Vision is really good, but I'm suffering quite badly with dry, red, veiny eyes. Did you have this? Sorry for hopping on here but it's quite difficult to find people who have had lasek/prk!

Hi lemmno,

Sorry just saw your message now. Am afraid I'm probably not much help-I fortunately haven't had this experience. I do experience some dry eye but its not consistent and only usually happens at night time when I wake during the night or first thing in the morning and for a split second its very sore when I open my eyes.

I'm putting it down to dry eye and what seems to work is if I use the hylo care drops right before I go to sleep and use them regularly (nightly or every second night)

It sounds like what you are experiencing is quite severe though. Was it something that was flagged as a possibility in your pre-surgery tests? Have you had your 3 month check up yet? could be something to mention there too. Hope you manage to get some relief, sounds very uncomfortable

lemmno

Yeah I've brought it up at many appointments and in many phone calls and emails. They've told me to wait it out and that I'm just in the unfortunate percentage of people whose eyes are taking longer to heal. I had my 3 month check the other day, I was told my eyes weren't even that dry, although they look and feel dry to me! I'm to wait it out til my 6 month check and if it's not resolved itself I may need plugs fitted. They think it will resolve itself and I was told it can take up to a year for the nerves to heal themselves fully.

lemmno

Any chance the split second pain you feel on waking is quite piercing/severe? In my quest to figure out what's wrong with me I know that particular pain is a corneal erosion so please be careful and use a gel drop at night for that! I suffered with that in the first month.