Eye laser treatments, experiences please?

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nelly

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Hi,
i am thinking of getting this done,
can you share an expreience good or bad,
where is it carried out
how much per eye, (i believe the price varies per hospital / clinic)

i would love to be glasses free but hate the thought of anything going wrong and having less than the quality of sight i have now.

thanks for your help
 
Re: eye lazer treatments, experiences please?

Hi Nelly

I am looking to get procedure done soon aswell. Cost is about €2,990 for both eyes in Optilase Laser Eye Clinic located in Ely PLace in Dublin 2. Have no affliation with them but I have heard they are good.

You may not be aware but VIVAS Health Insurance refund €1,000 (for both eyes, €500 for each) on completion of the treatment of laser eye surgery at this location. Transferred to them from BUPA recently.
 
Personally no experience, but a member of the family has recently had it done.

I'd suggest googling as much information on it as possible to make you comfy with the choices and options available.

There are, from brief conversations so I'm far from an authority on the matter, two (if not more?) different types available. One where a cut is made pulling back a section of the cover of the eye, the laser work done and then the flap replaced over the eye where it then "heals" and another where the covering of the eye is basically scraped away, the work done and the covering allowed to then grow back (the second means that eyes must be covered for a period and need frequent drops to avoid infection and keep the eyes lubricated following the operation - drops for a number of months following the operation).

The second is commonly used by athletes etc because risks of the skin flap not postioning correctly and other potential problems is reduced I believe. The family member chose the second option and is extremely delighted with the results.

Three months after the operation eyesight is now better than 20/20 (was 20/30 after a month from what I recall) and puts the eyesight of most friends without glasses to shame. His worked out extremely well but as with any medical procedure things can (and have) gone wrong.

Its also worth noting that not everyone has the option of laser surgery available. Depending on the correction needed and the size of the .... (not sure if its cornea/iris/which specific element) some people are outside of what the doctors will consider suitable. I know there are a number of places in Dublin who will do the checks as some friends have had it done (none took the step of going ahead with the surgery and not all were deemed suitable).
 
Hiya Nelly,

I had my laser surgery done at Optilase in Ely Place last August and am now glasses and contacts free at last.

They are professional and efficient and I would recommed them.

They also provide the necessary claim form for the tax man.

Got my tax refund back very quickly.

No problems with my eyes but stayed dry for quite a while after. Grand now though. They do free consultation so make an appointment.

Johnon71
 
I've had it done (Lasik) in Wellington Clinic in 2000. At that time it was over 3k for both eyes (Irish punts). Claimed tax back on MED1 form. Anyway, now to the nitty gritty! I'm squeamish at the best of times. It wasn't a problem, honestly. I had both eyes done same time. I would go through it again rather than have a tooth filled or a blood test!! You are given slight relaxer (valium) first. Then you are brought into 'theatre' which is just like a dentists chair really, except lying back. Eyes are numbed with drops. Job is done (about 10 mins per eye). No feeling at all. You are given anaesthetic drops to take home in case you need them. After a while I did need to put the drops in (eye felt like it does when the wind blows grit into your eye, and for a moment it's unbearable), however the drops worked INSTANTLY and just numbed the area again. Never needed them again after that. Went back next day for check up (which is compulsory) and haven't looked back since (if you'll pardon the pun)!! My niece had it done more recently. She was sorer than me. She was also more bloodshot than me.

I would recommend it. It's wonderful to be able to swim and see simultaneously. And to drive and see simultaneously. All without specs of any sort.
 
I had both eyes done at the Blackrock clinic over 2 years ago (Michael Browne) - best thing I ever did! My eyes were sore for a day or so but I was able to drive myself to the follow up examination the next day. After wearing glasses for 30 years the freedom is unbelievable.

Sarah

www.rea.ie
 
What sort of prescriptions did any of you have before getting lasered? There are so many horror stories on the web, I am getting put off the idea...
 
I had my four year check up there on Monday and everything is fine. My eyesight was quite bad before, 4.75 in my right eye and 4.25 in my left. The results were spot-on, I have 20/20 vision now.

I couldnt recommend it enough. I got it done in the Mater private, found the surgeon very friendly & reassuraing. He then does the check-ups therafter so you dont end up seeing a different person each time you go in.
 
I also had my eyes done in the Mater - Michael O'Keeffe was the surgeon - but that was 13 years ago.

Was back last year for a routine check and everyting is still great. My prescription before I had the procedure was 1.75 and 1.5.

It was the best decision I ever made. I remember feeling a bit guilty at the time because of the cost - it was £975 per eye back in 1993 but would do it again tomorrow.
 
Friend of mine got it done at the Mater Private - said it was the best thing she ever did. I don't know how much she paid but she claimed most of it back in tax as it can be marked down as a medical expense. They do one eye at a time so if something goes horribly wrong at least it's only one eye affected. She had to go back the following week to get the second eye done and has had no problems in the two years since.
 
I got mine done by Susan Fitzsimmons in Mater Private 3 years ago. Total of 4800 and got 1800 back in tax.

I could not receommend them highly enough and it was the best thing I ever did.

Mater are the longest providers of this service in Ireland and I would strongly recommend them over some of the new, more specialised clinic. In total youhave 7 consultaions in the year following the operation (eyes done seperately, one week apart)
 
Metallo said:
I also had my eyes done in the Mater - Michael O'Keeffe was the surgeon - but that was 13 years ago.
Click to expand...
I believe he's one of the pioneers in the field and also a critic of the cheapo operations that have sprung up all over the place.

I've perfect vision but I honestly don't understand why people try and get eye surgery done on the cheap. Just seems mad to be messing about with such a vital thing.
 
Hi there,
Got LASIK done on both eyes in the Wellington eye clinic in 2003 - money very well spent ! I was -7.5 & -8.
I went back after 9 month to get one eye done again (it wasn't far off but a little bit). It's free within a year of the first op.
I still wake up and think it's a miracle that I can see. Getting a filling from the dentist is 10 times worse than the procedure.
I was very impressed with the clinic - had Dr. Cummins and he explained everything in detail to me, the alternatives, risks etc.
Anyone who can get it done should the quality of life gained is unbelievable.
M
 
Why would anyone undergo an elective cosmetic procedure that could blind you and whose long-term effects are not well understood?
 
"Why would anyone undergo an elective cosmetic procedure that could blind you and whose long-term effects are not well understood?"

I think having been half blind and having had to wear jam bottom glasses or contacts since I was 8 years of age is a pretty good reason. But even for someone who is not that bad it adds hugely to your quality of life (swimming, fogged up glasses, sand under contacts, staying somewhere but your own place over night).

What long-term effects are you talking about ? The fairytale that all of a sudden over night your eyesight gets bad again and you will be blind ?

M.
 
MugsGame said:
Why would anyone undergo an elective cosmetic procedure that could blind you and whose long-term effects are not well understood?
Click to expand...
Well there doesn't seem to be any medium term effects (Laser Eye Surgery is at least 15-20 years old at this stage).
 
Good link here with lots of info and opinions...

[broken link removed]

Considering having it done myself, but the more I read the more worried I get. There is a small chance of complications with all procedures I guess.

Mourinho
 
Mourinho said:
Considering having it done myself, but the more I read the more worried I get. There is a small chance of complications with all procedures I guess.

Mourinho
Click to expand...

ditto, hense the post.
Wearing glasses & contacts is a pain in the ass.
 
Mugsgame
Do you honestly think that major sports stars such as Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington, to name but two, would have undergone this sort of surgery if they/their advisors were of the view that the risks far outweighed the potential rewards? Of course, as with any surgery, there may be complications but the success rate with this surgery seems very high.
 
there doesn't seem to be any medium term effects (Laser Eye Surgery is at least 15-20 years old at this stage).
Click to expand...

Longer. The Russians pioneered it. Problem is the in vogue method changes every five years. What follow-up studies have you found on the long-term effects? What percentage of patients have complications? How important is your night vision?

Do you honestly think that major sports stars such as Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington, to name but two, would have undergone this sort of surgery if they/their advisors were of the view that the risks far outweighed the potential rewards?
Click to expand...

I don't really care what celebrities think of the risks. I looked into it seriously -- I lose or damage glasses so often that financially I'd be much better off if I went for it. Personally I'll be waiting till at least the doctors I know have their eyes done.

An interesting alternative I found is OrthoK. You wear rigid lenses while sleeping which reshape the cornea, allowing you to see normally unaided during the day. Anyone experience of this in Ireland?
 
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