Laser Eye Surgery Cost Cutting Tips

Kaleidoscope27

I've just booked my consultation with Optimax for next Tuesday! I won't be able to have the surgery until February due to booking time off work and I've been told if I do that, I'll need a second consultation before then. Which is fine. If they say I'm good to go at my consultation then I can book the time off work the next day and then book my surgery date and a second consultation. Eek!

My friend had hers done at Optimax a few months ago so sent me her referral email. I think her's cost roughly £2,000, maybe slightly less. We're not sure if mine'll cost more 'cause I have astigmatism. So I'll be finding out next week! I have £2,000 saved up for it and I'll get £500 off with her referral. So I can probably go upto £3,000 in price if need be.

I wanted to say thank you to people for sharing their stories as well

RP2X

Hi Ive been considering optimax since there close by to me being in finchley area.

But I have ready on various forums and other places that other companies are better, Ive also read that Optical Express are far more reliable, they can do treatments to make sure there operations are more customized to yourself so you do not get any haze/halo effects.

I have heard quite a few people that have gone Optimax have got haze/halo as side effects where as people that went to Optical express didn't get any bad effects.

Has anyone that's had it done by Optimax can confirm this?

incaannica

incaannica wrote: »

Hi,

After reading a lot around the laser eye surgery I finally decided to go ahead and thought I share my thoughts on it too.

I booked my consultation with Optimax at Liverpool Street (end of June) and I thought that the staff were really helpful and answered all my questions. After a few eye test they recommended LASIK treatment for me which would have cost £395 per eye (as advertised). My presciption for both eyes was -1.25. Also, the consultant recommended wawefront treatment, which put the price up from £795 to £1580. I had noticed leaflets on the counter about getting £500 off if you know someone who had undergone the surgery so I told the lady that I have a friend of a friend who has done that - later I did an internet search for the vouchers, but on the treatment day no one asked me any details (and by the time I had forgotten it too!). That dropped the price down to £1080, which I think is ok for my budget. They also told me that if I would select the blade free treatment that would increase the price for another £1000 (without the voucher £2580 and with it £2080), I didn't opt for this (interlase) as I thought it is beyond my budget.

I had my surgery done at optimax (finchley rd) and I was slightly nervous, especially when they were running late and told me that I will be the last customer as the machine ('blade cutter') that is used for my surgery takes longer to calibrate (?!). All the other patients had gone for the full treatment with lasor so I started to doubt this a little. They operated a bit like McDonald's drive in... There were 6 of us receiving surgery that day and whilst you were getting your advise, someone was consulted by the doctor or filling out the forms. Then at the operation one was waiting for the anasthetic eye drops to work whilst the other one was getting their surgery (you can hear the machines and everything). I had to wait over an hour after my scheduled time so they were running considerably late...

Putting all the organisational things a side, the actual treatment was over in 10 minutes... It was quick, pain free (besides slight discomfort with the tapes placed around your eye). The doctor used blade to open up the flap which did not hurt at all, pulled the flap aside and then applied the laser. I think, I was more curios to 'see' what happens during the surgery so the whole experience felt like watching a sky full of stars and then staring at the red haze... The most painful for me was to get the tapes out of your face (LOL) they really stick to your skin and hairs so it feels like hair removal with waxing

My eyes did not hurt afterwards and, although my vision was blurry, I managed to phone a cab using my mobile and walk out of the surgery. Later in the evening I used the pain drops, took a couple of pain killers and put on the antibiotic drops and went to sleep with the horrendous eye shields that need to be taped on your face (!). I woke up the next morning and I was able to see perfectly. Again I had the problem removing the tape off my face... it really does stick!

My vision was 20:20 the next day and I am only wearing sunglasses to protect them - not because of the light.

My friend had her surgery done few weeks before me with another company and it ended up costing her £4K with Lasik, wavefront and intralase - after she reported that her eyes were extremely light sensitive and sore. I am not sure was this due to the fact that the flap was removed with a laser - it seemed like everyone booked for the day my treatment and who had flap removed by the laser had to be in a darkened room for 15 minutes afterwards. They seemed to be extremely light sensitive. So not sure if that had anything to do with it, but I didn't have to go through it...

The annoying thing is that I have to put antibiotic etc. eyedrops on every 4 hours (with 15 minute break between the 2 types) and then refresher drops (to prevent dry eyes) at least 4 times a day, but I feel like putting them on every 2 hours... Also, I cannot wear make-up for 2 weeks or go to the gym for one week

Other than that I am laughing :rotfl:I can finally see everything clearly without the glasses or contacts. It was definitely worth the £1000!

If anyone else is considering this treatment please feel free to contact me and I will tell you more. I also received the £500 money off vouchers so I am happy to send them to those who need them.

Hope this helped someone.

Hi again!

I just wanted to update on the progress I have made since my surgery.

I ended up using the medical drops for 1 month as advised by Optimax ("Use them until the bottles finishes") and also applying the refresher drops. Since then I really haven't needed any drops on my eyes and I have been able to see perfectly and finally managed to get rid off the habit of looking for my glasses every time I watch the telly or go out

I have had no complications and my eyesight is now perfect - better than 20:20!

I would definitely recommend the treatment and if you wish I can register you to receive £500 off from laser surgery with Wavefront and intralase. This registration is immediate and you do not need to wait for a vouchers to arrive by post or do anything else other than PM me to find out how :T

incaannica

RP2X wrote: »

Hi Ive been considering optimax since there close by to me being in finchley area.

But I have ready on various forums and other places that other companies are better, Ive also read that Optical Express are far more reliable, they can do treatments to make sure there operations are more customized to yourself so you do not get any haze/halo effects.

I have heard quite a few people that have gone Optimax have got haze/halo as side effects where as people that went to Optical express didn't get any bad effects.

Has anyone that's had it done by Optimax can confirm this?

I didn't get any halo effects at all!

I believe the machinery they use is the same quality with all the places - at least this was informed on a leaflet they gave me... so perhaps there are some individual differences (as they are in other medical operations as well) or perhaps the people who were notified about the halo effects were looking out for them and more sensitive to report it (never know, it could all be psychological!)

Why don't you go for the free consultation in both companies and try to find out?

simon_young

Hi there

To reduce the risks of haloes etc you should consider having wavefront laser eye surgery. This takes into account all the tiny imperfections on the surface of your eye that can cause this night vision problems. Having wavefront will not guarantee you dont have night vision problems such as haloes but it certainly reduces the chances

Si

chocciemonster

I had my eyes done at Optical Express in Edinburgh in January 2009. My initial consultation was great. They were really patient with me as I had a list of questions from forums like this which I wanted the comfort that they knew about. They went through all the options and I decided to go for the lasik with interlase. I booked the treatment and went in on a Saturday. They were very professional, and informed me of everything that was happening. I was incredibly nervous as it was my very first 'operation'. It went off without a hitch and a short time later I was recovering in a dark room. They checked my eyes before releasing me with all my drops. I went straight home and slept for 3 hours as my eyes felt like they had sand in them. When I woke up I could see straight away and it was an amazing feeling. The next day I went for my 24 hour test and I was better than 20/20 in one eye and 20/20 in the other.

I mostly kept to the schedule of drops and did as they said. After the first few months, although my eyesight was great my eyes were dry. At my 3 month consultation they changed the drops for gel. It helped me intra-day for dryness but I was still dry in the morning. At the 6 month check-up the lady told me that my ducts were blocked in my eyes and they weren't lubrictaing themselves. She told me to get some johnson's baby shampoo and mix it 1 drop to 3 drops in my hand. Take a clean cotton bud, dip it in the solution and run it along the lid where the ducts are. If it stings then you need to mix in more water. I did that for 2 weeks morning and evening and initially my eyes were gummy but that soon cleared and it made such a difference! I very occassionally need drops and when my eyes are dry they have the halo effect. This is caused by your eyelid causing tiny scratches on the surface of your eyes because they are dry, so as soon as they are lubricated again it disappears.

1 year and 8 months later my eyes are still the same as they were the day after and it was the best thing I have ever done. I've always felt nervous about swimming (especially in the sea) and white water rafting as I have a fear of not being able to see (because I've lost a contact) and now I'm able to do these activities whenever I feel like it!

I have some vouchers which will give you £150 your laser eye surgery at Optical Express. Please PM me your address if you would like one. And best of luck! It's worth it

Browntoa

and as a referral post , only allowed on the referral part of the forum (where there are people offering better deals than £150 as it goes)

geordie_ben

A lot of people have advised people should do some research into their surgeons etc.... where and how? Is it just a case of finding out their name and googling them? What if I want to do it before I know who my surgeon is? Are lists of surgeons at each branch listed somewhere?

geordie_ben

Unfortunately that site just seems to contain generic blurb and not much specific to the branches in newcaslte. Should help me read up on any possible surgeons tho.

Avs_2

Geordie_Ben,

This is a good website for general info, reviews of specific clinics and some surgeons....it helped me a lot anyway.

http://www.lasik-eyes.co.uk/Surgeons/Default.aspx?MenuId=8