Laser Eye Surgery Cost Cutting Tips

sophiejturner

Hi!

I've been looking into getting my eyes lasered for a few years now. My sister and aunt have both had it done and swear by it. Maybe 2 years ago I went for a consultation with Optical Express in Meadowhall (my sister had hers done there). They seemed really great and made me feel very comfortable with it all but in the end, the price quoted for me was about £3,600 (can't remember exact) as 1 of my eyes has an astigmatism so I wear a toric contact lens and also my pupils are apparently quite large.

A couple of months ago I spotted a half price offer for Optimax so enquired about that. They told me they have that offer on quite a lot but for obvious reasons don't actually tell anyone. I didn't have time for a consultation so ended up putting it off.

2 weeks ago I got round to having my consultation and when they were doing my assessment (at Finchley Road) I mentioned the half price offer. They seemed a little suprised I was aware of it but were happy to do it and my surgery is now costing £1995. That is for Lasik with Intralase and Wavefront.

So for anyone thinking of having it done, I highly recommend going to Optimax and mentioning the offer. I'm planning to have surgery later in the year.

I've got a link but it won't let me post as I am a new user so if you just google 'optimax half price' the link should come up.

Good luck!

emporer

I'd just like to share a word of warning for anyone considering Laser surgery, on the whole its safe but please don't take one consultation and be done with it. See an independant optician and verify what you have been told in your consutation. Let me explain my story.

I had my first Lasik in July 09, had a consultation and my eyes were both around -2.50 with astigmatism in both which I knew, nothing bad and they confirmed this. Now, I did a bit of research previous to my appt and the most common issues with Lasik are night vision and alot related to pupil size, I specifically asked the optometrist about this and my eyes and was repeatedly told my eyes are a perfect candidate for Lasik, so I paid my money and had the surgery a week later.

So I had the surgery, that and the 5 mins before the actual surgery were the only times I ever saw the surgeon which I thought was pretty bad service, I soon got the impression that it was get em in and ship em out. They didn't want to spend any time with me and it was only just before going in to see the surgeon that they gave the consent forms, no time at all to read them but just sign.

The surgery was ok, a few days later I noticed really really bad glare/smearing in my vision in the evenings and at night, its hard to explain but its like a smearing of cream or vaseline in the eye if you get my drift, just horrible. I had numerous appointments every few weeks for the next 9 months, trying everything they had from steroid drops to other wierd and wonderful fluids, most of the time I was told to just wait it out and it will get better, I knew otherwise because all the other temporary stuff with Lasik had long gone but this isse just wasnt going away, so I waited and waited and eventually pressed them so much they refered me to their Harley St clinic to see their top guy.

So in March 2010 I go to London and am seen by their top guy, he struggles to work out what the issue is, so they pay for me to see a specialist at Moorefields and he comes up with undercorrection, and does a report back to Harley St, a few more appointments down there and they treat me again, in Harley St with the Rolls Royce of treatments, this was August 2010, as the following days go by its very evident that it hasn't worked, it has helped maybe 10% but thats it, the issue is still very much there.

So, I have yet more appointments etc at Harley St, they try out some glasses over last winter but they didnt make a jot of difference. I had my last appointment there in March this year and they have come to the conclusion that I need to be treated with a different laser platform as the one they use just wont work for me apparantly, so the plan was to wait until they had this new laser installed which should have been around now, unfortunately it hasn't happened, they are now not getting the laser until the end of the year, they did look at paying for me to be seen and treated by another surgeon with the particular laser, but the surgeon they chose is out of action for a few months i'm told and they are still trying to find another surgeon with the laser polatform thats needed.

I'm dreading the thought of another winter with my eyes like this, in nice bright daylight its wonderful, but otherwise its awful, I cant drive in the dark as everything just looks like a big neon mess and its downright dangerous, I cant watch tv at night comfortably as its almost like looking through a piece of frosted glass at times, just awful.

If only the optometrist at my consultation hadn't lied to me, and was truthful about my pupil size I wouldnt be in this situation, she said my eyes were perfect for it and the only reason she said that was to get the sale. It has since become very clear in all my appointments that pupil size is my issue and the lasers they use can treat only 6mm yet my pupils have been measured at 8.8mm so when it gets darker my pupils open up into this untreated area thus giving me the major problem.

To their credit they have paid for everything since my initial surgery, all my train fares and hotel stays in London etc, but i'm just so angry because my health was put secondary to their profit.

So, to anyone considering any eye surgery, please please take your findings at the consultation and have them verified at a proper opticians because it may save you being in the same boat as me. I've purposely not mentioned the company in question as i'm still under their care, but it is one of the major players.

Take care people, you only have one pair of eyes.

rolanda_hooch

Hi all

I have decided to have surgery with Ultralase who have offered me the top treatment (Ultra Elite) for £2500 if I do it tomorrow.....

My question is, what is the best way to pay for this? I am concerned about using a credit company (interest free 24 months) - I can't actually use it myself, would need to have someone have it in their name - and my parents are a bit sceptical about doing that for me because of horror stories regarding late direct debits and being charged loads of interest.

I was offered a deal whereby I can put down £1000 deposit and have the finance interest free through UL, for 24 months in my name.

Also considering paying up front. If I do this, should I pay on a CC or what? What is the best way to do this!! Help please!!!

marksyx

hi everyone - considering having this done and have consulations booked with ultralase and optical express in manchester.

are there any particular questions i should be asking in my consultation. seen pupil size mentioned a few times - will they give me all my info and test results to be able to take away with me?

also, can ask this at the time but thought someone here might know, what are they like for opening over the christmas period. does anyone know how soon after christmas they re-open?

plzhelpmesave!

HI

Has anyone every claimed for eye surgery with a Healthcare Cash Plan??

I was looking at joining one as need the dentist and opticians and many online plans offer immediate claiming so no waiting time and no contract!

One plan has a monthly £40 off premium and you'll get back £300 each on optical and dental and it includes laser eye surgery - sounds good to me once I have the guts to actually book in for surgery!

phague

plzhelpmesave! wrote: »

HI

Has anyone every claimed for eye surgery with a Healthcare Cash Plan??

I was looking at joining one as need the dentist and opticians and many online plans offer immediate claiming so no waiting time and no contract!

One plan has a monthly £40 off premium and you'll get back £300 each on optical and dental and it includes laser eye surgery - sounds good to me once I have the guts to actually book in for surgery!

Hello,

I did through Healthshield, who my work use.
They had a special offer on, where you could claim instantly, so it made it worthwhile for me, otherwise you had to wait and I would have paid in the amount I claimed back.

It ended up paying for my deposit!

When I was looking into it, there were not many places that let you claim for Laser Eye Surgery, on the optical.

marksyx

Does anyone know what size area the LASEK Wavefront treatment at Optical Express is able to treat? My pupils have been measured and 8mm and I also have thin corneas so i've been told this is the treatment i'd need. With posts about pupil size and the success of surgery I've been trying to find out if I really would be suitable for this surgery with 8mm pupils.

jemma6

Optegra are offering laser eye surgery for £995 per eye at their Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester centres until the end of October 2011

kimbles67

Has anybody had this procedure yet?
I have had consult at Optical Express and am not eligable for laser surgery.
My prescription is RS +5.00 RC -5.25
LS+2.75 LC -2.25
I have been offered Reflective Lens Exchange with Multifocal lenses at a cost of £5,390.00
They state I should not need reading glasses in the future.
I'm pretty scared of both the price and the procedure. So any words of wisdom or comfort will be gratefullt received.

suemichelle

I had Ultra Elite Lasik treatment with Ultralase on Saturday. I've now got better than 20:20 vision so am delighted although i'm experiencing some dry eye and light sensitivity which hopefully will go soon.
I was originally quoted almost £5000 but went away to think about it and a couple of weeks later Ultralase contacted me offering me the same treatment for £2400 so it seems to be worth holding out for a while.