Laser eye surgery

KlodaX · 13-09-2004 02:35PM #1

I'm not sure where to put this thread .. and I can't find any like it .. so here it goes...

Has anyone had laser eye surgery? Successfull or not.

I've been advised that its cheaper to get it done up north and that the laser eye clinic in Belfast is probably the best. I'd just like to hear of people that have had it done. I heard on the radio that a load of people that had it done in boots where called back cause there was something wrong with the machine.

fletch · 13-09-2004 02:40PM

I know a friend of mine who got it done and had to get it done again about 3yrs later and still does not have 20:20 vision. Also not everyones eyes are suitable for surgery so you have to go see if your able to get it done.

RuggieBear · 13-09-2004 02:43PM

KlodaX wrote:

I'm not sure where to put this thread .. and I can't find any like it .. so here it goes...

Has anyone had laser eye surgery? Successfull or not.

I've been advised that its cheaper to get it done up north and that the laser eye clinic in Belfast is probably the best. I'd just like to hear of people that have had it done. I heard on the radio that a load of people that had it done in boots where called back cause there was something wrong with the machine.

I had it done in the wellington clinic (something like that anyway) in nov 2000
I was minus 3.5 in both eyes and and my eyes are perfect(:D) now. Took 20mins and a little bit of discomfort and i went to bed straight away with a sleeping pill and when i woke up the next day....i could see without grabbing me glasses or contacts.
Very expensive but worth every penny!!!

monkeyfudge · 13-09-2004 02:45PM

I can't say the idea of Laser Eye Surgery appeals to me... I'm happy with my glasses... even if they do give me headaches.

Have a look at this website

It's an organization founded by people with longer-term complications from laser eye surgery.

FX Meister · 13-09-2004 02:47PM

I'm the same as pekelly, it's a bit sore for about 24hrs but the drops sort that out. But I don't think it's expensive, €3 for a muffin in Arnotts is expensive, €4500 for perfect eyesight is very cheap

bandraoi · 13-09-2004 02:49PM

I was all set to get this done but then I discovered the 30 day continuous wear contact lenses. They give me perfect eyesight without the risks of the laser surgery so now I couldn't be bothered.

FX Meister · 13-09-2004 02:56PM

when I heard about them I was a bit unsure, 30 days and you dont ever take them out, sounds really bad to me.

bandraoi · 13-09-2004 03:47PM

it's not, they're more porus than normal contacts or something. I've been using them for six months and have yet to have a problem. I had monthly disposables and daily disposables before but I rarely used them. There was too much hassle with putting them in and taking them out and washing your hands and trying to dry them ever so carefully without getting any bits of fluff on them.

Now I just have the hassle one morning a month and they are literally the equivalent of perfect eyesight.

KlodaX · 13-09-2004 04:13PM

I can't wear contacts ... well I can but I've dry eyes so they just irrate ...I can only wear them every so often... and I've a tendancy to break glasses and keep touching my face when I wear them.. really annoying .. just never got used to glasses..... so I'm left with no other option. I really want to be able to see. People keep saying to me that their auntys or cousins have it done and its great.... but I don't know where they are getting it done? I'm looking for recommendations of someone who has had it done successfully. I'm pretty certain I'm getting it done... I just need to find a place. Likewise if anyone has had difficulties .. where and when did you have it done?

where is the wellington clinic?

Eurorunner · 13-09-2004 04:30PM

I looked into having this done some months ago and ultimately, I decided against. Whilst most people on here will tell you of the positive outcome (and i'm sure its true), there is still a 5% chance of things not going to plan.

If they get this type of surgery wrong, its near to impossible to set things right again. There are many people out there who have problems with night vision as a result.

As regards price, If i were to have it done, i certainly wouldnt have it done in ireland for 3/4k. Its possible to have Lasik done in the far east for €1k for both eyes - at a specialist surgery with state of the art equipment, good reputation and western trained doctors. One drawback of this would be if its required that you go back for 'touch up' surgery, then it may not suit....in which case, belfast may be a better option for you.

In addition, this procedure can be claimed back against tax at the end of the year regardless of where you have it done - just keep your receipts, etc.

There are at least 4-5 Lasik threads on boards which will definitely be of interest to you - just do a search.

FX Meister · 13-09-2004 04:42PM

But you also need to go back for checkups anyway. After a week and then six months. Add the cost of those flights on to your total. It's only 4 grand, why skimp on your eyesight

Eurorunner · 13-09-2004 04:48PM

@FXmeister: Yeah - and thats why i said Belfast may suit him better.

The checkup after one week can be covered by the one trip. Depends on your circumstances - if your likely to travel over there quite a bit or can tie it in with a holiday, then it works...if not, then it doesnt.

As regards 'its ONLY €4k', i wish i was earning enough to convince myself of this! Furthermore, it annoys the hell out of me to be overcharged by at least 2k - out of principal alone, more people should be prepared to make every effort NOT to give in to this type of irish extortion.

is it any wonder we are ripped every which way we turn in this land of ours

FX Meister · 13-09-2004 04:55PM

I guess I'd just want this done in Ireland, I spent a lot of time researching getting it done and researching the doctor performing the operation. Belfast might be a good option. When I had it done I wasn't earning a lot of money but again I'm looking at value for money and for what I got it was worth every penny. Can it be claimed back if you spend the money in another country?

Sleipnir · 13-09-2004 05:06PM

KlodaX wrote:

where is the wellington clinic?

Wellington Road, oddly enough!

It's in Ballsbridge in Dublin.
http://www.wellingtoneyeclinic.com/

I had my eyes done there about 10 years ago. It was different back then, one eye done, in bed for a week on codeine and all sorts of junk then back for the next eye a month later. Then codeine etc again.

Best thing I ever did.

Eurorunner · 13-09-2004 05:11PM

Can it be claimed back if you spend the money in another country?

Yeah - i checked this out, and it can be claimed back regardless of what country it is.

Discovering · 13-09-2004 05:13PM

Your not 'skimping' getting it done outside Ireland as the machine does all the work and they are all very new and similar.

In fact I do not think the Zyoptix done in Ireland which it the new and much better type of Lasik.

Here is a link to the place in India which has the very latest equipment and the clinic building itself is in the shape of an eye!!

600 euro for both eyes!!!

http://www.dragarwal.com

Pity the flights make it way to expensive.

Discovering · 13-09-2004 05:15PM

You can claim 20% or 42% depending on your tax bracket.

rabbitinlights · 13-09-2004 05:24PM

Im going away for 2 years travelling and would love to not have the hassle of Contacts etc while away, Im looking around at getting it done, but would love to be able to go home afterwards (with some valium!) Im based in galway and was looking for somewhere local? Anyone have any ideas?

sliabh · 13-09-2004 05:24PM

Eurorunner wrote:

Whilst most people on here will tell you of the positive outcome (and i'm sure its true), there is still a 5% chance of things not going to plan.

If had it done last year in the Mater and I did a lot of reasearch beforehand on it. The failure rate is lot lower than 1%. 98% of people that have it done say that they would do it again if in the same situation. The main reason for the 2% is not that there were complications but rather that it doesn't meet their expectations. For some people and in some situations you still will need corrective lenses (though your sight will be better than it was before).

I was lucky. I ended up with better than 20/20. But that is not the norm.

As for contacts, they didn't suit me. I climb, surf and scuba dive. So contacts just were not good enough.

Saruman · 13-09-2004 06:34PM

Firstly read the previous posts.. yes there are loads, best way is click search and type LASIK (the most common type of procedure)
Secondly i had it done in Blackrock clinic for a little over €4000 and about €1600 or so i got back in tax! maybe less i cant remember but it was a nice but of money. Anyway it worked and my eyes were better than when i wore glasses. I ended up being slightly long sighted but dont need reading glasses, i always read with books far away from me anyway.

my eyes are perfect in the day and as good at night but in dim light they dont work so well.. So i like to have lights on if im watching a movie for instance, anyway thats better for your eyes than darkness. I would do it again if i had to. Its quick and painless. Go for it.

luckat · 13-09-2004 06:53PM

KlodaX wrote:

I can't wear contacts ... well I can but I've dry eyes so they just irrate ...

Klodax, I think one of the contra-indications for lasik is dry eyes, because it can make your eyes dryer.

KlodaX · 14-09-2004 11:53AM

I know .. but there is no harm in checking it out... they might let me do it.

Thanks for the suggestions ... apparently going private and paying the 4 grand seems to really pay off ... I'll search the other threads

Sandy2004 · 14-09-2004 04:57PM

A friend of mine got it done. She says it is the best thing she has done in her life. She was like a new person after she got it done. She spent a fortune on designer specs in d past so she has well made her money back. She has hers done 4 years now and her vision hasn't deterioated!

luckat · 14-09-2004 07:48PM

Zyoptix sounds good, but the only place in Ireland that does it seems to be the Waterford Eye Clinic (?whassat?)

My main worries about sight correction surgery would relate to later complications - I've heard, though I don't know if it's true or not, that there are numbers of people whose eyes are reverting to the same short sight they had or worse some years later. Has anyone else heard this?

Blisterman · 14-09-2004 08:31PM

Someone I know had it done and went from being far sighted to being near sighted and still have to wear glasses> Could be the other way around.

sliabh · 14-09-2004 08:32PM

the surgery leaves your eyesight pretty much fixed (they only will perform it if your perscription is stable to begin with). However as you get older your eyesight declines with age anyway. This is a different mechanism that caused the original problem.

So laser surgery will cure shortsightedness until your 50's or 60's but you are very likely to become longsighted then anyway.

luckat · 14-09-2004 08:40PM

It seems the Mater Private does zyoptix:

http://www.materprivate.ie/NS/PatientInfo/OutPatient/eyelaser.asp

Yeah, you're supposed to get long-sighted in your middle years all right, but in my case that would mean I'd only be semi-blind, not blind as a bat!

It's tempting... the wonderful thought of being able to swim without a machine on my face, of talking to people without them seeing me as some stern teacher type, of waking up at midnight and not having to grope around for the specs (which I've probably used as a bookmark in whatever I was reading).

The statistics I'd really like to see, though, are on whether doctors themselves get their myopia corrected by surgery.

Blisterman · 14-09-2004 08:58PM

It was right afterwards, though.

luckat · 16-09-2004 05:40PM

Ah, 500th post.

Am I right in thinking VHI and Bupa don't cover this?

Discovering · 16-09-2004 05:44PM

They consider it cosmetic surgery (IE not essential) therefore you are correct in your assumption

luckat · 16-09-2004 05:55PM

What about Bupa in the UK?

Laser eye surgery

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