eye laser surgery

[Linda51]

I am toying with the idea of having laser eye surgery. I am short sighted and have been wearing contact lenses for years, but just recently I have been finding them quite irritating. Has anyone out there had this done or have any useful information on the subject for and against.
Thanks.

[parkesquay]

I have recently contributed to a similar question having myself had laser surgery 4 years ago. If you put 'glasses' into the search(bottom of list of topics) you should come up with what I wrote. In addition if you also put 'laser eye surgery' you will come up with more previous answers to this topic. To start you off go to the following site:

http://my.ultralase-eye-surgery.co.uk/

Yes I thoroughoughly recommend it.

Anything else - please ask.

[Dollie]

my mate at work thinks its the best move she's every made. She recovered quickly and hasn't looked back since. Good luck Linda. Doll xx

[Madgirl2]

I had it 3 years ago. I was blind as a bat (I had astigmatism) and I can honestly say it was life changing. Immediately after the procedure I could already detect improvement in my vision. The following morning I was able to read my alarm clock for the first time in years. I found that my eyes became tired and dry as the day wore on but this eventually disappears over a few weeks. The procedure is not painful although a tad uncomfortable.

I would say go for it!!!!

[Linda51]

Thanks very much for your very helpful replies. I have got all the leaflets and there are a few different types of surgery Wavefront, Lasik, Lasek and Lasik plus, do the consultants examine your eyes and tell you which is the best for you.

[soozmac]

yes, it all depends on your eyes and what is best for you. Wavefront is very expensive - I had it done 3 weeks ago, and yes it's uncomfortable and kinda freaky, but in no way painful. One eye took 10 seconds, and the other took 15. Every day I waken up and am amazed at the difference. I can wear eye make-up all the time, I can fall asleep on the sofa, I can go out all night and not worry about my stupid lenses, I can see first thing in the morning....

It sounds like a clich�, but it really was the most amazing thing I've ever done. The novelty will never wear off.

But they can only do it for certain prescriptions, so don't get your hopes up till they know that you are suitable. Go to www.ultralase.com and enter your prescription to get an idea of whether it's possible for your particular eyesight.

[nect4r]

I am also toying with the idea but have a question -

I know that they give you a local anasthetic, but does that immobilise the eye? If not, how do they stop you moving your eyes around so they can laser them?

I can't wait to be able to have it done - I'm 20 now and all the sites I visit say I have to wait til I'm 21.

[soozmac]

yes, they won't do you (so to speak) too early in life, as your eyes are still changing.

The laser will allow for any slight eyeball movement, so if you flicker, the laser will move according to where your eyeball is.

They use a clamp to hold your eye lids open, and I think it might somehow also very gently hold your eyeball in place, but I'm not sure. I only think this as I had a bruised right eyeball, and when I asked what the pain was, was told that the clamp on my eye had bruised me, and that it'd go away like any other bruise. I hadn't quite realised up until that point that the clamp was also on my eyeball. Maybe it's better that I didn't know that at the time! You also stare at a fuzzy orange light, which is really easy. It's easier to stare at a fuzzy light than a clear one.

The only anasthetic you get is drops into the eye. You are fully awake and alert through the whole thing - all 2 minutes of it!