Laser eye surgery?

Cianos · 09-03-2007 01:08PM #1

I couldn't think of a better place for this, if a mod can feel free to move.

So has anyone here got laser eye surgery? Any thoughts on the whole thing? Are you put under anaesthetic, and then are you stuck in the place to recover for a few days or do you go straight home? Is it sore for a few days afterwards? After how long can you take off the bandages etc etc!

And also, has it made a big difference and do you think its worth it?

Crucifix · 09-03-2007 01:12PM

I've never had it done, but I know you aren't put under a general anasthetic. Which would kind of put me off.

Keith C · 09-03-2007 01:20PM

Sister had it done, they put drops in your eyes which numbs them, think your in & out in 30mins & have to wear eye protectors for a few days & take drops to keep your eyes from drying out for a few weeks after. People I know have said its the best thing they've ever done however most of them went to blackrock & paid €3-€4k
There was a write up about it in the Metro/herald am a few weeks back.
Have been thinking bout switchin from VHI to AVIVAS & getting the surgery done thru them. Anyone on boards go that route??

Cianos · 09-03-2007 01:49PM

I may recall seeing an ad for a surgery up the north that were charging around €600 per eye.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 09-03-2007 01:51PM

i'm getting my right eye done on the 30th of this month, not sure when I'm getting the left done.. probably soon enough after

it's a bit of a pain in the arse that I can't wear my contacts for a week or so before the surgery, I hate glasses.. and I'm gona have to get my glasses fecked around with to put a regular pane of glass in place of the right lense after I get the eye done.. hopefully it will be well but I've got a horrible feeling it's going to be kinda disconcerting

the price is around 1500 per eye, but my dad is claiming whatever he can back from uh.. someone

Cianos · 09-03-2007 02:00PM

Does it last forever or do you have to get it done again a few years down the line?

Can anyone describe the procedure? is it really uncomfortable not being able to blink for half an hour? Better start practising my staring competitions!

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 09-03-2007 02:04PM

they numb your eyes, and then they have a clamp to keep your eyelids open. the machine they use also tracks your pupil, so if your eye moves at all the laser either automatically shuts off or there is a pedal that the surgeon presses to shut it off, and then correct it before starting again.

It should last until you reach old age and then you're more than likely going to need glasses for reading, there's nothing that can be done about that.. although my dad said he is getting some sort of surgery to correct his far-sightedness so I don't know.. but the actual laser surgery itself should last for a pretty long time.

different procedures have different healing times, and different levels of comfort.. I think the one I'm getting heals after a day, but there are ones that take a week or so.. you're best off asking somebody who actually performs the procedure.. shouldn't cost too much to get a test done at an optician.

Caliden · 09-03-2007 02:05PM

I'll let you know on the 23rd march ^^

bruce wayne · 09-03-2007 02:06PM

i got mine done with Orbit last September, and I highly recommend them. Very Very professional and friendly, the actual surgry took ten minutes for both eyes and was no bother.

total cost was 995 per eye, plus extra 400 for wavefront per eye so that equaled 2790, less tax back of 1100, net cost was 1690 or 845 per eye. And their surgery is based in West Point so thats only 15 minutes from my house....I would highly recommend getting it done (but only if your suitable), and I would highly recommend getting it done with Orbit.

PM me if you want any other info

Malteaser! · 09-03-2007 02:27PM

i'd love to get this done but my eye sight is too poor for it to work so i'm stuck with contacts forever!

super_furry · 09-03-2007 02:30PM

Keith C wrote:

Have been thinking bout switchin from VHI to AVIVAS & getting the surgery done thru them. Anyone on boards go that route??

Have been considering that myself. Anyone?

Mitzy · 09-03-2007 02:32PM

I had mine done about 4 years ago with Dr. Benedict Smith in Terenure. I can honestly say that it was the best thing ever. Total freedom from glasses. There are 2 different types of lazer surgery. Lazix or PKR. The type of surgery will depend on whether you have a stigmatism or not. They anaethise the eyes with drops and the procedure itself only takes about 30 seconds per eye.
I was in pain for a couple of days afterwards but loads of my friends have had it done since & were fine (i was just unlucky).
It is meant to last for years but I would have it done every 5 years if i had to!! I was quite blind but have 20/20 vision now. Go for it. Feel free to pm me if you have any other questions.

slipss · 09-03-2007 03:01PM

Yeah, I had mine done in Optilase about 2 years ago, cost 1400 for both eyes if I remember corectly, probably cheaper now. Have only good things to say about the place. I can't really add anything about the precedure that hasn't been said but here is a video of the actual precedure being carried out. You might not want to watch it if your already nervous about having it done, then again it might ease your nerves to know before hand whats involved. The procedure shown is Lasik. Although it looks a little ehh, uncomfortable, there is absalutley no pain or sensation during the procedure. I can't remember now if I had lasik or lasek but the one I got done they said was the best option for me because I do contact sports and with the other option repeated impacts to the eyes can tear the cornea flap back open. I'll try to find out which I had done and post. If you have more specific questions, post them and I'll awnser them for you.

http://www.break.com/index/lasix_eye_surgery_up_close.html

Stephen · 09-03-2007 03:17PM

I've been considering this myself. I have pretty poor vision in both eyes - short sightedness. I've no idea if i'm suitable or not though. I've been wearing glasses since I was 12.

Keith C · 09-03-2007 03:24PM

So whos the blindest on boards??

Im -4.5 in both eyes

Judt · 09-03-2007 03:48PM

I've been considering it... I suppose the most valid question I can ask is what's the procedure for getting a consultation? Go to your local Specsavers optician, or Blackrock (or a similar clinic) yourself?

F1fan · 09-03-2007 03:53PM

I had mine done in Optilase in Belfast in November. It cost 1300 euro for both eyes. It was so well worth it. I really do regret not getting it done sooner,all those contact lenses I've been through! I found it too be 'uncomfortable' rather than sore,but it only lasted a short time. Can't recommend it enough.

slipss · 09-03-2007 04:03PM

Judt wrote:

I've been considering it... I suppose the most valid question I can ask is what's the procedure for getting a consultation? Go to your local Specsavers optician, or Blackrock (or a similar clinic) yourself?

basically you just ring up whichever clinic you are thinking about getting it done in and they will arange a consultation date and time for you over the phone and probably send you out a letter and some information on the procedure and the clinic.

BaZmO* · 09-03-2007 04:05PM

What type of tax relief do you get on the cost of the surgery?

mcdonnst · 09-03-2007 04:08PM

Cianos wrote:

I may recall seeing an ad for a surgery up the north that were charging around €600 per eye.

That is Optical express. €599 an eye free consultation.

They are big in UK and Europe.

Heres a link http://www.opticalexpress.ie/

I got glasses from them, very cheap.

slipss · 09-03-2007 04:17PM

BaZmO* wrote:

What type of tax relief do you get on the cost of the surgery?

Its around 50%, i can't remember the exact figure but its roughly half the cost.

Judt · 09-03-2007 04:19PM

I'd wanna be certain the place has a good rep before I let them do a Star Wars job on my eyes, though. I would assume that Blackrock isn't in the habit of blinding its rich patients... where else is good, on top of the west point clinic?

Tuesday_Girl · 09-03-2007 04:28PM

I had it done in January and so far my eyesight has been corrected from -9 in both eyes to -1 and 0.5 so it's been a huge improvement but I'm not yet seeing perfectly. I need to wait for the stabilisation period to end (July) at which point my sight will be 20/20 or thereabouts or else I will need a top up for the final -1/-.05.

Really glad I did it though, I am now free from glasses after being totally dependent on them for 25 years! It cost E3,000 for both eyes, and the procedure was painless although my eyes did burn for a few hours afterwards.

Judt · 09-03-2007 05:00PM

Razzle wrote:

I had it done in January and so far my eyesight has been corrected from -9 in both eyes to -1 and 0.5 so it's been a huge improvement but I'm not yet seeing perfectly. I need to wait for the stabilisation period to end (July) at which point my sight will be 20/20 or thereabouts or else I will need a top up for the final -1/-.05.

Really glad I did it though, I am now free from glasses after being totally dependent on them for 25 years! It cost E3,000 for both eyes, and the procedure was painless although my eyes did burn for a few hours afterwards.

From -9? I assume your pupils would have been quite large... I thought that was a bar to laser eye?

shakaman · 09-03-2007 05:21PM

There's 2 ways of getting laser treatment done:

a) As described by Senor Kenny C
b) You go in under general anaesthetic and what they do is cut a flap in the skin of the eye with a tiny blade and then lift that flap to allow a laser pass through to the lens to correct it. This method has a much quicker recovery time.

I got mine done through method b) in 2002 and it cost £1200 back then, I was back in work in 4 days. When I got it done they gave me this mad pair of Terminator 2 specs because your eyes are so sensitive to the light, must admit I was worried but knew it went well as when I was getting a lift home was able to read all the signposts out the window of the car! They give you painkillers and some serious elephant sleepin pills, I went to sleep at 6pm and woke up at midday the next day.

I was -7.5 in one eye and -5 in the other and it's the best thing I ever got done, as I hated my specs and play alot of sports.

On how long it lasts, the surgery fixes your eyes but your eyes as per everyone who's short or long sighted will deteriorate over time, so you generally get 10-12 years before you need to get specs or have the surgery again, I for one will be going for the surgery again!

littlebug · 09-03-2007 05:31PM

I'd love to get my eyes done but i've read that the worse your eyesight is, and the older you are the higher the risks so at 37 and with -8.5 and -8 I'm not sure i want to risk it!

or maybe I'm just a chicken!
So do I have the worst eyesight on boards now that razzles eyes are fixed?

Tuesday_Girl · 09-03-2007 06:27PM

littlebug wrote:

I'd love to get my eyes done but i've read that the worse your eyesight is, and the older you are the higher the risks so at 37 and with -8.5 and -8 I'm not sure i want to risk it!

or maybe I'm just a chicken!
So do I have the worst eyesight on boards now that razzles eyes are fixed?

I'm 35 and I went for it : )

Tuesday_Girl · 09-03-2007 06:29PM

Judt wrote:

From -9? I assume your pupils would have been quite large... I thought that was a bar to laser eye?

I was not suitable for all procedures and had Lasik in the end, but I don't remember any mention of large pupils to be honest, or anything else that might cause an issue.

I don't know if my strong presription is the reason I didn't get to 20/20 in one go, or if I'm just one of those few who didn't have full success first time around. Hopefully I can get it resolved within a few months either way.

Vmaxer · 09-03-2007 06:45PM

littlebug wrote:

I'd love to get my eyes done but i've read that the worse your eyesight is, and the older you are the higher the risks so at 37 and with -8.5 and -8 I'm not sure i want to risk it!

or maybe I'm just a chicken!
So do I have the worst eyesight on boards now that razzles eyes are fixed?

I was -6.75 in both eyes and got the surgery done 2 Years ago in the wellington clinic. Got both eyes done together and were fine for the first month or so then
gradually went slightly short sighted again. so 6 months later I got one eye done again with wavefront and it was such a success I insisted on having the second eye done again also. 2 Years on and I have never had such good eyesight even at night I can see peoples faces in the distance which I never experienced with glasses..

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 09-03-2007 07:50PM

i don't know where optical express get that figure of 599 an eye from, I saw the same on the window of the place I went to get tested and they quoted me 1690 per eye

dotsman · 09-03-2007 09:16PM

Got both eyes done with the LASEK treatment (with Wavefront) last Autum for €3K in Optilase (just off Baggot Street, D2). Vivas gave me €1K for it and I claimed another €850 approx back in tax so total was approx €1,150

Optilase do both LASIK and LASEK, but as I was suitable for both, they recommeded LASEK (less chance of infection or something). With LASEK, surgean numbs the eye with a few drops, clamps your eyelids, scrapes the eye and shoots the laser. Total op takes about 20 minutes. No pain, just feels weird.

First 2 days are spent pretty much in bed. No pain unless you have your eyes open for more than half an hour at a time. The next 2 days, you can have your eyes open the whole time and no pain unless you watch tv or use a computer etc for more than half an hour. By day 5, everything fine. (Vision is pratically perfect the whole time). Night glare for about a month (mildly annoying, but even if it had been permanent, I still would have ben glad to get it done).

LASIK is where they cut a flap in your eye, shorter recovery time (2 days I think), but because they actually made an incision there's more of a chance of infection or something else going wrong. I know loads of people who have gotten both treatment and none have had horror stories (worst case seems to be that it takes a day or 2 longer longer to recover etc or the night glare lasting for a couple months)

The consultation is free and (don't know about other places) Optialse are open late in the evening and saturday mornings. Even if you don't thhink you will be suitable, go and talk to them. Consulation last an hour and they do all sorts of cool laser tests..

Laser eye surgery?

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