Considering Laser Eye Surgery - Help/Suggestions wanted.

ozzy2016

Hi folks,

Due to my failing eyesight I have started to look into laser eye surgery. I'm not too knowledgeable on the subject despite my research so I thought posting here to get ideas or suggestions from other people would better suit me.

What I'm looking to know is what's a reasonable cost? and are there any areas in Dublin/midlands (Cavan)/Louth that have a good surgery clinic or can anyone recommend a surgeon themselves? Thanks very much.

Not too familiar on posting rules so sorry if I've breached any!

Gingko

ozzy2016 wrote: »

Hi folks,

Due to my failing eyesight I have started to look into laser eye surgery. I'm not too knowledgeable on the subject despite my research so I thought posting here to get ideas or suggestions from other people would better suit me.

What I'm looking to know is what's a reasonable cost? and are there any areas in Dublin/midlands (Cavan)/Louth that have a good surgery clinic or can anyone recommend a surgeon themselves? Thanks very much.

Not too familiar on posting rules so sorry if I've breached any!

I had Lasik done with Optilase two years ago in Ely Place, Dublin. My eyes were -3 both and became 20/20 just after a few days post surgery. I had some dryness issues for months after but that subsided and now my eyes are 100% and I'm very happy with the outcome. It cost me approx €3290 at the time. But there are seasonal discounts of €500 and there is also the referral discount of €100 which if interested I can give you. Send me a pm. Also as you refer people you will receive a cheque for €100 each time.

The consultation and check up before surgery was very thorough as was the post care and regular check ups. Overall Optilase did everything 100% for me. The Mater private is also meant to be very good with an excellent record however more expensive. And of course Optical Express who tbh I was not impressed with my consultation there which was hurried and broken into two parts with a non qualified person in charge of the first part.. bit like a second hand cars sales man! But I'm sure many have had no problems with them and were happy with their outcome too. It's more or less the same procedure with all of them.

EmmaH1997

Hi Ozzy I got my eyes done with optilase, I ended up getting Lasik and it cost around 3200 with a student discount. If you were to get Lasek it would be cheaper but there would be a longer recovery. My surgeon was Mr. Wayne Crewe Brown and he was very nice as well as the nurses.
I have also heard good things on boards about Mater Private or Wellington Eye Clinic if you are looking in Dublin and don't like optilase.
If you do go with optilase feel free to PM me for a referral to get 100 euros off your surgery.I would not advise getting a 500 euro seasonal discount because when you look in the terms and conditions,you are sacrificing your lifelong aftercare for a 500 euro discount and I don't think that is worth it when your eyes are obviously very important

***Also forgot to say my eyes were -6 and -5.75 and are now 2 lines above 20/20 so I'm delighted with my results !

Black_Knight

I had the LASIK procedure about 18 months ago with optical express in Dublin. Wellington road I think it is? My eyes were -6.5 each. They said there was a deal on, any procedure (I got the bells and whistles options), 3k all in (you can claim 20% back on the MED1 form too, so it worked out at 2.4k for me). I moved house about 8 months later and noticed my eyes a bit scratchy (dryness) and they had no problem seeing me and giving me whatever drops I need. I've come to realise that when I'm dehydrated my eyes feel it too. If anything this is a handy reminder to stay hydrated.

To begin with, I had dryness, and the usual bit if settling my vision for about 2-3 months. Nothing that seriously impacted my day to day life, and it settled down nicely. Best recommendation I can say is, I'd do it again. I also had instant perfect vision! Surreal feeling having had glasses for the last 25 years (30 now). Zero pain during the procedure, but pretty "onions in eyes" stingy after. A few paracetamol and a bed was needed afterwards, but maybe 3 hours later in evening light I was up and about and pretty much zero pain.

FYI, I've heard of people getting a consult, not liking the price, and basically waiting for the price to drop.

mcgiggles

I got PRK with Eamonn Holmes in Optilase the week before Christmas and I couldn't recommend it more. I was -4.5 and -5.5, and 4 weeks after surgery I was just under 20:20 after having worn glasses for 23 years!! I couldn't get LASIK as my cornea's were too thin. Yes, it has longer recovery but it is less invasive. They use alcohol to soften and then remove the cells, apply the laser and then put a clear contact on as a bandage for 5 days. Day 1 was fine no issues or pain, day 2 was annoying, every 2 hours for about the 24 hours, I had to use the numbing drops they supplied, they weren't sore as such, it was like chopping onions kind of stingy but the drops helped with that, but the worst part of it was the sinus headache I had from my eyes running so much! Day 3 the stingyness cleared up and my eyes were light sensitive, day 4 and 5 they just felt like I was wearing dry contacts lol.. got the lenses out and my eyes were at the legal requirement for driving although not fully clear - the cells overlap when they grow back and take a while to settle! Every day they got clearer and when I had my first eye test 4 weeks after the surgery I was just off 20:20 with a slight haze. Totally normal for PRK and I think it's actually gone now (2 weeks since test). I was told because I wore contacts for years my eyes would deal much easier than someone who never wore contacts as they were used to being poked and having things in them! Still using drops every day. They get tired a bit easier and as another poster said, I definitely feel any slight dehydration in them! So loads of water and fish oils to keep them from drying! Mine was 3500 got it for 2690 using VHI discount and Therapie customer discount! Any questions shoot me a pm :-)

54and56

Anyone had the procedure to correct presbyopia? I can't find any reviews or post procedure feedback (like the valuable experiences above) for presbyopia correction. Also, what sort of cost would I be looking at for their presbyopia correction procedure?

Patser

Had lasik done with Optilase, Ely place 2 years ago, and can't recommend them and the procedure enough. I'd worn glasses since I was 15 and didn't realise how much of a concession they were in daily life. Lasik gave me perfect eyesight, which for simple things like haircuts (and seeing what they were actually doing) and football (much better than even contacts). Best 40th present to myself.

As for Optilase. I initially went to Optical Express as they'd advertised a great price. But after my check up, I was then told it be €1200 per eye (-2, - 1.75), still cheaper TV and Optilase but only if I signed up now, special offer! Hard sell. Felt like I was being pushed into it.

Took time to think about it, went to Optilase for alternative view and was told they'd price match no problem. Friendly check over, told to take my time to think about. Just much less pressure and more professional feel.

Operation is very quick, and painless. Went home and slept, by time I woke up a few hours later already noticed huge sight improvement. By next day near perfect, and maybe I was lucky but no dry eye at all (did follow drops instructions closely)

Johnny_Fontane

My wife went to Optilase, Optical Express and The Mater.

She got three completely different options, where Michael O'Keeffe told her (last appt) that she couldnt have Lasik or Lasek and needed Lens implants.

Optilase, quote €3,500 odd, optical express quoted €6,700 (we're not the cheapest, but we are the best was used) and the Mater is €6,000.

So, it comes down to who can you trust? bit ridiculous that they are looking at 3 different ways of making her see. (shes up around the -7.5).

Thoughts?

Black_Knight

Johnny_Fontane wrote: »

My wife went to Optilase, Optical Express and The Mater.

She got three completely different options, where Michael O'Keeffe told her (last appt) that she couldnt have Lasik or Lasek and needed Lens implants.

Optilase, quote €3,500 odd, optical express quoted €6,700 (we're not the cheapest, but we are the best was used) and the Mater is €6,000.

So, it comes down to who can you trust? bit ridiculous that they are looking at 3 different ways of making her see. (shes up around the -7.5).

Thoughts?

I was up around the -7.5 mark too, but never was suggested to get implants. Does your wife have some condition as to why it was suggested she get lense implants?

6k+ seems OTT for me, but if there's some extra factors around your wife's eye's I can't compare it to my experience.

If it were me, I'd be telling Optical Express that i'm interested, but the price is way too much, same with the Mater. FYI: Optical express gave me 2 quotes when I went with them. ~4.6k, but I could claim back some on my insurance and then 20% on the MED1. OR, 3k (some offer they had on at the time), and I could claim 20% on the MED1, but nothing on insurance. Easy decision for me.

I didn't hear great things about Optilase so I didnt bother with them (any little thing would of had me second guessing myself had I went with them).

Gingko

More then two years have passed since I had Lasik at Optilase and my eyes are 100% and I am fully satisfied with their surgery. I reckon OE are actually the chancers in town from the two consultations I had with them. They were pushy and separated the consultation in to two parts.. first part with a salesman who seemed like a car salesman and then the second part with a qualified eye specialist. But their pushiness was a disgrace. That was 3 years ago so perhaps that has changed now. The % chances of surgery not being a success are very small regardless of which of the three options one goes with.

Black_Knight wrote: »

I was up around the -7.5 mark too, but never was suggested to get implants. Does your wife have some condition as to why it was suggested she get lense implants?

6k+ seems OTT for me, but if there's some extra factors around your wife's eye's I can't compare it to my experience.

If it were me, I'd be telling Optical Express that i'm interested, but the price is way too much, same with the Mater. FYI: Optical express gave me 2 quotes when I went with them. ~4.6k, but I could claim back some on my insurance and then 20% on the MED1. OR, 3k (some offer they had on at the time), and I could claim 20% on the MED1, but nothing on insurance. Easy decision for me.

I didn't hear great things about Optilase so I didnt bother with them (any little thing would of had me second guessing myself had I went with them).

MadamRazz

I got it done through Optical Express 3 years ago. Best decision I ever made. I had to have two bouts of it done because after the first session my vision was still less than 20/20 so I actually got both Lasik and Lasek done. Neither or them hurt or caused any issues afterwards. I did suffer from dry eyes when I first woke up for a few months, but blinking once or twice would always fix it. If you're with VHI you get a discount. If you viable for it then I would definitely recommend getting it done. Its fantastic.