Laser eye surgery

GlasweJen

Sncjw wrote: »

No I work in an eye department and there's many people who have laser treatment . Cataracts isn't done by laser

I don't think the OP is looking to get YAG done or any PIs lasered in, also doubt anyone with bleeds or detachments would be wanting lasik/lasek

GlasweJen

C_Mababejive wrote: »

I understood that femtosecond laser pre preparation was not available on the NHS and that they only practised the traditional ultrasonic technique? Femto is used for private cataract surgery so does this mean NHS patients get a second class operation?

Fetmo is being trialled in some NHS centres and if it's successful will possibly be more widely available in the future. I know one of those centres is Moorfields.

C_Mababejive

nimbo wrote: »

I've had it done twice.

The first time surface of eye cut with machine. Healing time not too bad. I had to have 24 hours off work. Booked a week and went back 9 days later to an air conditioned building - which wasn't great but I had to manage.

Second time alcohol to rub it off. Had to have a full week off. Had no annual leave left.

Second time due to the first not working as it should.

I have terrible night time glare. I still need drops - one year after the second surgery. After the first I was using drops for 2.5 years.

The second version was Horrific. I was depressed and unable to do anything for a week. Went back to work with sunglasses on. To be fair I was too bored not to go back.

I do love the fact that I don't have to wear glasses still. Although accept the fact I may need reading glasses. But the healing from version two was horrid.

I went in the day after (24 hour check was standard for both versions) begging the optician to clean my eyes as they were so sticky and gunky. He started saying that couldn't happen for a week - and then when he saw me totally caved. The smell was gross as all of the sloughed off surface of my eyes was gunked in my eyelashes. and yes that is gross to talk about. But you have to be prepared for the possibility.

I still have to go back to get the ridiculous drops. To buy they're £18 a bottle. I do get them free but it's a ball ache to go for them.

That sounds horrific. Can you say which organisation provided the operation? Are things ok now?

C_Mababejive

GlasweJen wrote: »

Fetmo is being trialled in some NHS centres and if it's successful will possibly be more widely available in the future. I know one of those centres is Moorfields.

Hi Jen

Yes i have read the brief on the long term study that has been initiated by the Surgeon at Moorfields. I think it is a blind trial started in 2014 and still running. Cataract patients are randomly selected for one of two streams, i.e either the traditional ultrasonic full manual route, or the Femto preop prepartion rote. I am very interested in seeing the end results of this study when its done.

GlasweJen

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Hi Jen

Yes i have read the brief on the long term study that has been initiated by the Surgeon at Moorfields. I think it is a blind trial started in 2014 and still running. Cataract patients are randomly selected for one of two streams, i.e either the traditional ultrasonic full manual route, or the Femto preop prepartion rote. I am very interested in seeing the end results of this study when its done.

I'll be interested too. Our ophthalmologists overall opinion is that it's a gimmick and the patients won't notice one way or the other. As for clinical outcomes, we've already got a very good success rate in our health board so I don't see us getting one.

teddysmum

I have cataracts developing (slowly at the moment) and dread the day that I may need an op, as I have a phobia of anything, including plain water, going into my eyes.


The latter would be enough to put me off laser surgery just so I don't need glasses (failed with contacts, as I'm an eye wimp), but an optician once told me that he wouldn't risk it for himself and I also hear a couple of SpecSavers staff discussing the number of patients who had problems, including infection, post surgery.

nimbo

C_Mababejive wrote: »

That sounds horrific. Can you say which organisation provided the operation? Are things ok now?

Things are ok. I just wanted the op to hear it's not all sunshine and roses.

The procedures weren't too bad. The week after wasn't great and the outcome wasn't as positive as I'd hoped.

I do feel the aftercare was not as good as it could have been and o had it done by optical express.

Undervalued

teddysmum wrote: »

I have cataracts developing (slowly at the moment) and dread the day that I may need an op, as I have a phobia of anything, including plain water, going into my eyes.


The latter would be enough to put me off laser surgery just so I don't need glasses (failed with contacts, as I'm an eye wimp), but an optician once told me that he wouldn't risk it for himself and I also hear a couple of SpecSavers staff discussing the number of patients who had problems, including infection, post surgery.

I don't have an eye "phobia" and used contact lenses for a number of years. However it dumbfounds me that anybody is willing to take the risk of invasive eye surgery for vision problems that can be corrected by glasses.

Obviously with cataracts it is a completely different matter. When it reaches the point that you can no longer see adequately then surgery is the only answer. There is no realistic alternative but to accept the tiny risk involved. One friend with a similar phobia to yours had their's done under a short acting general anaesthetic. It was a total success.

C_Mababejive

teddysmum wrote: »

I have cataracts developing (slowly at the moment) and dread the day that I may need an op, as I have a phobia of anything, including plain water, going into my eyes.


The latter would be enough to put me off laser surgery just so I don't need glasses (failed with contacts, as I'm an eye wimp), but an optician once told me that he wouldn't risk it for himself and I also hear a couple of SpecSavers staff discussing the number of patients who had problems, including infection, post surgery.

You may well find that with mild cataract, using daily disposables will provde a very acceptable increase in clarity of vision.

If you reach the point of needing surgery, they will insert an IOL . Take comfort in the fact that it is the commonest surgical procedure in the world, fairly quick and bread and butter stuff for skilled opthalmic surgeons.

You may read studies which suggest that consumption of bell peppers is beneficial to eye health due to their high leutin and zeaxanthin levels. This has yet to be fully proven though munching one now and again couldnt do any harm !

mickeymouse303

I had consultation with Optimax and it went great. They were really friendly & informative about the options available to me. They explained the payment options which I really liked.