Optilase

Rosen · 05-09-2008 12:56PM #1

Hi,
I've been reading a lot of the posts on laser eye etc. and most are useful and really helpful. However I'd just like to ask those who went to Optilase to get their treatment how they got on. Im not really interested in price or health insurance just the experience you had in Optilase.

I have a pre-op tomorrow and I have booked the surgery for a couple of weeks after. I am thinking of getting the LASEK done as the risks seem less even though the recovery takes longer and also of going for Wavefront.

Im obviously nervous about the procedure and recovery so just wondering has anyone else got this done in Optilase and what do you think?

Any thoughts much appreciated and sorry if this question has been repeated in various forms throughout the forum. Perhaps it would be useful to start a thread on Optical Express, Wellington etc for ease of use?
Thanks,
Rosen

Toots · 08-09-2008 08:50PM

I had Wavefront Lasik with Optilase on the 23rd August and I'd definitely recommend them. The procedure itself was a bit gross for me, but I'm really squeamish so the fact that I was conscious for it and could see what they were doing freaked me out a bit. There was a lovely technician who held my hand for the whole thing

.

They were lovely, really friendly and went through all the details of the procedure with me before hand and then the aftercare too. I was given aftercare details at my pre-op so I had a chance to familiarise myself with them before the surgery. In my aftercare pack, I got the antibiotic drops, anti-inflammatory drops, and 3 bottles of those 'Blink' artificial tear drops. I also got plastic eye shields and tape. I had to wear the shields for about ten days after the surgery, at night.

In my first week after surgery I went through the whole three bottles of blink. (I just finished off the third one as I was going in for my weekly check up). They gave me more at my check up. I haven't had to use the drops at all for the last two days now, and my eyes feel pretty much normal. Very little halos or anything, drove down from Belfast last night and I was grand.

All in all, I found them very friendly and efficient, they answered all my questions and encouraged me to get in touch if I had anything else I needed to ask.

Good luck with the pre-op!:)

Bagheera · 10-09-2008 12:28PM

I just booked my surgery with optilase yesterday. So far I'm feeling very confident in them; they've been brilliant and very thorough. My surgery is on the 20th and I'm nervous but that's to be expected.

I'll let you know what I think of the surgery.

Rosen · 19-09-2008 03:43PM

Toots85 wrote: »

I had Wavefront Lasik with Optilase on the 23rd August and I'd definitely recommend them. The procedure itself was a bit gross for me, but I'm really squeamish so the fact that I was conscious for it and could see what they were doing freaked me out a bit. There was a lovely technician who held my hand for the whole thing .

They were lovely, really friendly and went through all the details of the procedure with me before hand and then the aftercare too. I was given aftercare details at my pre-op so I had a chance to familiarise myself with them before the surgery. In my aftercare pack, I got the antibiotic drops, anti-inflammatory drops, and 3 bottles of those 'Blink' artificial tear drops. I also got plastic eye shields and tape. I had to wear the shields for about ten days after the surgery, at night.

In my first week after surgery I went through the whole three bottles of blink. (I just finished off the third one as I was going in for my weekly check up). They gave me more at my check up. I haven't had to use the drops at all for the last two days now, and my eyes feel pretty much normal. Very little halos or anything, drove down from Belfast last night and I was grand.

All in all, I found them very friendly and efficient, they answered all my questions and encouraged me to get in touch if I had anything else I needed to ask.

Good luck with the pre-op!:)

Toots - thanks a million - very reassuring. Have booked in for the surgery.

Bagheera · 21-09-2008 04:34PM

I probably shouldn't be on the computer this quickly, but I just wanted to report that I had wavefront lasik done yesterday in Optilase and the results are fantastic. I've gone from -6.75 to 20/20 vision this morning in my eye test.

My life has changed for the better. I can't praise Optilase enough; they were brilliant. I'm so amazed! It was much easier than getting a filling done at the dentist

.

Rosen · 29-09-2008 03:23PM

Hi Bagheera,

Sounds like I got mine done the same day as you!
I went for the same (Lasik & Wavefront) - No problems here either. Bit blurry at times and eyes are tired from the computer but it's class not weraing glasses/contacts anymore.
I thought Optilase were great also, the surgeon (Dr Smith) was ultra professional and I found the entire process quite straight-forward because of the him and the rest of the staff.
I would defo recommend them.

Rosen

Paulie907 · 30-10-2008 06:21PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2745035.stm

Limestone1 · 31-10-2008 11:09AM

Pauli - whats the story ,judging by your 9 posts yesterday, you are an Optician with a dwindling customer base ?
Do some research, there is a lot more up to date scare stories available on the web .....

UU · 05-11-2008 02:20AM

I had a consultation with them before but I've decided to go to Dundrum Eye Centre which is Eye Laser Ireland. I thought Optilase seemed good but I thought Dundrum one seemed better despite the fact they are a bit dearer because they offer 3 years post-op treatment whereas Optilase only offer one year and I think the after-care treatment is so important but it's up to you where you feel is best for you but personally I'd recommend Eye Laser Ireland.

Limestone1 · 05-11-2008 01:22PM

Got a pre op next week with a Dr Nylander - anybody 'been done' by him ? He has carried out over 5,000 procedures.

lemeister · 26-11-2008 02:57PM

Limestone1 wrote: »

Got a pre op next week with a Dr Nylander - anybody 'been done' by him ? He has carried out over 5,000 procedures.

I'm booked in for LASEK surgery with him on 06/12. I have to say I found him a little indifferent, but he certainly seems to have all the qualifications you would want and plenty of experience.

Have you booked in for surgery yet?

mikekerry · 26-11-2008 05:13PM

got lasik treatment done 2 days ago and eyesight is perfect now.
would recommend opitilase, very professional and very friendly.
if you have health insurance you can get 1000 off the op.

tk123 · 26-11-2008 06:46PM

lemeister wrote: »

I'm booked in for LASEK surgery with him on 06/12. I have to say I found him a little indifferent, but he certainly seems to have all the qualifications you would want and plenty of experience.

lol same here!! Had lasik done on sunday. One eye is a little dry and blurry but getting better each day.

mikemac · 26-11-2008 06:50PM

Had Lasek in 2004
Was -5.5 & -6.5 and went 0.0 & -.25. Can't ask for more then that

The surgeon was some Indian guy, don't remember his name
Optilase weren't as well known back then, they are doing major advertising nowadays.

lemeister · 26-11-2008 11:55PM

micmclo wrote: »

Had Lasek in 2004
Was -5.5 & -6.5 and went 0.0 & -.25. Can't ask for more then that

The surgeon was some Indian guy, don't remember his name
Optilase weren't as well known back then, they are doing major advertising nowadays.

That's a good result alright micmclo. How long did your recovery take? My surgery is on a saturday and I'm hoping I might be able to use a compute come Thursday.

tk123 · 27-11-2008 12:27AM

I had mine on sunday and was back on the comp yesterday for a good while and dialled into work for my troubles atm!

Limestone1 · 27-11-2008 12:42PM

lemeister wrote: »

I'm booked in for LASEK surgery with him on 06/12. I have to say I found him a little indifferent, but he certainly seems to have all the qualifications you would want and plenty of experience.

Have you booked in for surgery yet?

Yeah - did it 2 weeks ago . LASIK and all went very well - eyes are tip top and I can see better than I ever did with lenses or glasses.The procedure itself was almost painless apart from pressure on the clamp during the op. My eyes stung afterwards but I went to bed for about 4 hrs and when I woke up that was pretty much gone. Took the next day off work and was grand after that.
The glare thing turned out to be no more than I would see with glasses on and dry eye was noticeable for about a week - I still put drops in but apart from first thing in the morning I'd say there is probably no need now.
Had a good chat with Dr Nylander on the pre op, Ifound him to have a dry sense of humour and he answered all my queries/worries very well - I would recommend him. For the op, after the preparation you are straight in, sit down and its over in 10 mins.

mikemac · 27-11-2008 02:24PM

lemeister wrote: »

That's a good result alright micmclo. How long did your recovery take? My surgery is on a saturday and I'm hoping I might be able to use a compute come Thursday.

Oh, I'm an bad example.
After LASEK, I had to take 3 weeks off work and go back to the clinic several times. Man, it was painful!

But don't let that put you off. I wore glasses since I was 11 and LASEK got me in the top 3% of the population for eyesight.
Oh so they told me anyway!

But I was very slow to recover, they said I was an exceptional case

UU · 01-12-2008 01:25AM

micmclo wrote: »

Oh, I'm an bad example.
After LASEK, I had to take 3 weeks off work and go back to the clinic several times. Man, it was painful!

But don't let that put you off. I wore glasses since I was 11 and LASEK got me in the top 3% of the population for eyesight.
Oh so they told me anyway!
But I was very slow to recover, they said I was an exceptional case

Yeah I know what you mean! I got my right eye done yesterday (got my left done the previous saturday) and I was in agony yesterday so I just took the painkillers and the anesthetic drops and sleeping tablets. Just went to sleep for 12 hours and woke up and was grand! Bit red today and went blurry this evening but I can say €3000 well spent for myself who had glasses since I was 6 and was gettins worse and worse during my teenagehood!

My advice to anyone getting LASEK, your eye (I'm saying eye because only one is done at a time with a week's duration between both) is that it may cause much discomfort and some pain on the day you get it done but just remember to put the Chloromycetine in for every hour for 5 and take the painkillers and use the Proxymethacaine if you experience sever discomfort. And the only thing you can do is rest and sleep and you'll be grand. The vision will start goin blurry by the end of day 2 but will clear. and improve from there. Just remember to take all the eye drops and give yourself time to recover and you'll be grand!

DingDong · 02-12-2008 01:40AM

I booked myself for an assessment with optilase after putting it off for long time. I only wear contact and was told I would have to leave them out for a full week before hand is it vital I do this for the full week, as I only have an old pair of glass with an old prescription but they probably will do. From reading about the different options I think I'll go for Lasik(maybe with wavefront is it worth it) if I'm suitable. I'm -3.75 in both eyes and have to use toric lenses. Anyone else who has an astigmatism had laser surgery done?.

mikemac · 02-12-2008 01:48AM

UU wrote: »

My advice to anyone getting LASEK, your eye (I'm saying eye because only one is done at a time with a week's duration between both)

Not so, I did LASEK with Optilase and did both eyes at the same time.
Just to repeat this was 2004 so maybe this is no longer the procedure but they certainly did it with me back then

Hey Dingdong, yes it's vital to leave out the contact lenses, follow the advice they give you. No need to invest in new glasses, the old ones will do for the week.
-3.75 isn't that bad, I don't have info on astigmatism or toric lenses, don't actually know what they are tbh. Myopia is the term I understand in my case

Have you private health insurance? I believe the wavefront is 1k extra but you can claim it back, I know I did with Vivas, now Hiberian

Limestone1 · 02-12-2008 10:52AM

micmclo wrote: »

Have you private health insurance? I believe the wavefront is 1k extra but you can claim it back, I know I did with Vivas, now Hiberian

If using Optilase, tell them you have private healthcare (even if you don't)when you are paying and you get a grand off. They don't claim it back from the health insurer or anything like that and I don't think they can even confirm if you have it or not.

DingDong · 02-12-2008 02:00PM

Yeah I have VHI so I get a grand off which is nice I'm looking forward to it now. Does everyone get the 40% off this year or does it depend on your tax bracket.

lemeister · 03-12-2008 12:32AM

DingDong wrote: »

Yeah I have VHI so I get a grand off which is nice I'm looking forward to it now. Does everyone get the 40% off this year or does it depend on your tax bracket.

Depends on your tax bracket, so you only get 41% relief if you pay 41% income tax

Berty · 03-12-2008 01:06AM

I had my surgery done in Optilase in May 2006 and have not looked back since( pun intended

)

I opted for wavefront surgery with Lasik done against the advice of the consultant. He said my eyeball was very soft and "may" not heal as well.

I decided against his advice because he said "I can only advise you the safest, the risk is minimal but there is still a higher risk".

I arrived on the day and took my valium. I queued up with two others in my blue coat, blue hat and blue booties. I was taken in second and it took all in all around 13minutes. Around 11 minutes of that were prepping my eye lids etc. Very painless just different having people clamp your eyelids open. Necessary of course.

The laser time is different for everybody but the laser itself only operated for around 15 seconds per eye. Having the scalpel cut open a flap on your eyeball may sound dangerous and uncomfortable but you cannot feel it and your vision is blurred but you can just about see the shine of the blade. Its not as though you can close your eyes.

After that I suffered some major discomfort. It was like constant grit on the eye. It lasted around 4 hours. I was told too sleep but back in the hotel I could do nothing but roll around the bed because you cannot rub your eyes.

The next morning was like waking up to a new world. I went out to the shop and usually dont use my glasses for walking so did not bring them. I walked outside the hotel and lit up a cigarette. I was reading a sign on the back of a bus and then realised the bus was around around 800mtrs down the road. I knew then it was all worth it. I returned for my morning check up and they said my eye sight was nearly perfect already. My vision was not very bad to start out with.

Im sorry If my description sounded grim but you should know everything in advance. They are great in Optilase and really make you feel at home. Your friend that goes with you(you must be accompanied) is allowed if you like to watch from behind a window but my GF did not want to so stayed upstairs in the reception drinking water and watching a movie. The nurses along with the valium(optional) really make you feel comfortable.

I cannot recommened them enough. I know 4 people who have had the surgery done on the back of my recommendation and were all the happier for it.

Book with confidence.

DingDong · 21-12-2008 03:19PM

Do they use a microkeratomes for doing Lasik in optilase or all laser surgery?

tk123 · 21-12-2008 03:24PM

DingDong wrote: »

Do they use a microkeratomes for doing Lasik in optilase or all laser surgery?

I know they used them for my lasik because I could see it happening - I was chilled out on the Valium thou so it was all good! :pac:

DingDong · 21-12-2008 04:46PM

tk123 wrote: »

I know they used them for my lasik because I could see it happening - I was chilled out on the Valium thou so it was all good! :pac:

I read they have to cut a deeper flap using the blade and the eye is never as strong again. So I was hope for the all laser method. I might go for Lasek instead now

tk123 · 21-12-2008 04:59PM

Doublecheck with them - i could be wrong But i'm pretty sure they used it on me. I went with LASIK because of the recovery time and I'm glad I did. A month on and no probs.

DingDong · 21-12-2008 11:45PM

tk123 wrote: »

Doublecheck with them - i could be wrong But i'm pretty sure they used it on me. I went with LASIK because of the recovery time and I'm glad I did. A month on and no probs.

Yeah checked with them and they still use a microkeratomes

. Don't think its a major thing but just the idea of having a weaker eye afterward kinda puts me off plus there is less risk with Lasek.
Thanks tk

Lisie247 · 27-07-2009 01:24PM

tk123 wrote: »

I know they used them for my lasik because I could see it happening - I was chilled out on the Valium thou so it was all good! :pac:

Which is better- lasik or Lesek?

Optilase

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