I had it done February 2019 at optical express. I think my eyes were around -4.5 and -4. The year before I’d gone to optimax who told me to wait as my eyes where still changing. So I’m 2019 I went to somewhere local it wasn’t a large company, it was one surgeon in a hospital and he examined me and said I could have it, I told him what optimax said and he said it’s fine but then he was having his suite redone so was a long wait. As I was concerned about having it done too early I also went to optical express for a second opinion and told them the same thing. They said it was fine so I ended up booking with them.
It was super quick I think it was lasik I had, go into the room and they put eye drops in. Wait a little while for them to work and then they put some equipment to keep your eye open. Then they spun me to one machine where they cut the flap into my eye and lifted it, goes all black then spun to the laser, it was about 30 seconds and they count down at the end. Then spun back to the first machine and they put the flap down and some liquid stuff over it was like a window wiper. Then I could see, repeat with the other eye.
I would definitely recommend taking both paracetamol and ibuprofen straight after. I was getting the train home, and the anaesthetic drops started to wear off on the train and it was very painful and my eyes watered a lot. I probably looked very strange with sunglasses on and tears pouring out. I had only took paracetamol but had to take ibuprofen once home as I couldn’t sleep without due to the pain. You are meant to sleep for a few hours after, they give you glasses to prevent you rubbing your eyes. But once I woke up from that nap I could barely feel anything just felt in one eye like there was something in it slightly. The next day they both felt fine, went for the post op check and everything was fine - I took sunglasses but didn’t really need them but there was a young boxer who had it done at the same time and he was there for his check up, had his hood up, sunglasses on and was being guided by his mum
. One thing to be aware of they do the checks post op one included the pressure check which was blowing air into your eye - someone was complaining about this. But my mum had the contact lens implants and the pressure checks were very important for her so I assume it’s the same for laser.
I had took 2weeks off work (work with animals so didn’t want to risk hair getting in) but I could’ve gone back sooner. You have drops to put in I think it was 4 times a day. Also pre op due to my job they gave me antibiotics to use just incase.
I went to I think 3months, 6month and 12month check. My eyesight started to get worse I think at around 6months but the guy wasn’t bothered. At 12months I ended up going to a different location and the woman seemed better. She said I needed a top up (which they say before the initial surgery could be needed). I had to go through a week of using eye drops to see if it was just dry eye causing the issue. But they didn’t help so I had my second lasik surgery in April 2020 the week before lockdown (luckily).
The second surgery was easier as they didn’t need to cut the flaps again - the worst part being because they were using the same flaps he put anaesthetic drops in and drew around the flaps on my eyes, one eye the drops didn’t work so it was painful he kept adding more but it didn’t help until the third attempt. Anyway same procedure without the flap cutting. The recovery was even easier, I took both paracetamol and ibuprofen straight after and I didn’t have any pain at any point.
A year and a bit later my eyesight is great. I mean it might not be 20/20 but I’m 100% happy with it. I can see tree branches and leaves now and not just blobs of green that is one of the main things I noticed. I only went to the one day post op check second time around due to covid the later one was on the phone and I got signed off.
I do suffer with dry eye still but it’s usually just in mornings so a few drops and I’m fine.
One annoying thing though, I had this so I don’t have to wear glasses but because of covid we have to wear safety glasses at work!
This is a long post but I thought I’d share my experience as I had to have it twice. I was 22 when I had it and I am still scared it won’t last long, but I think I’d rather be glasses free now than when I’m older even if that’s in 5years (hopefully it lasts that long at least!). It was about 5k for the first one and the second was free as it was within a year that it was needed to be done again.
Any info would be great, thank you.
also the healing afterwards sounds quick. I am -6.5 in my left eye and -8.00 in my right so was worried whether that would be too short sighted.
