Eye Laser Surgery

Robos F6 · 10-01-2012, 12:29 PM

Im looking at getting my eyes lasered.

Anyone done it in Melbourne and there experiences?

fou_bleu · 10-01-2012, 01:10 PM

I haven't had it done personally (my eyes are well beyond that kind of repair), but my pop had it done last year and he says the difference is just death-defying - he says he hasn't been able to see as clearly and far away since he was a teenager!

Kryton · 10-01-2012, 02:26 PM

Last time i looked into this (90's) they had to remove your eye lense all while your awake.
Dont know if they have advanced past that yet, but that turned me off straight away.

GTBenny · 10-01-2012, 07:52 PM

Many people I've spoken to that have had the procedure say it's the best thing they've done. But laser wont fix all sight problems so it's best to go and have a consultation. They don't have to remove your eye lense and the procedure usually only takes a few minutes.

Benny.

Matty4 · 10-01-2012, 08:03 PM

Yep...had it done about 4 years ago. Best thing I ever did.
The actual laser shaping takes approx 10-30 secs per eye depending on the amount of correction needed. They still cut your cornea to make a flap and then laser underneath that before folding the flap back. Felt like I had a bucketful of sand thrown into my eyes for the first night but after that it has been perfect.
I used New Vision clinic. Had my initial consult in East Melb and the surgery in Cheltenham. No problems from my end and it is totally pain free (if not a little bit freaky when your vision goes when they cut the flap, but they talk you through the entire procedure and explain everything that is about to happen)
I found that quite comforting TBH.

AC · 10-01-2012, 08:18 PM

I had it done about 3 years ago, I had the worst prescription(almost legally blind in one eye) on the day and now have 20/20 vision

I say if you can afford it and want it done, then don't let anything hold you back.

The procedure takes less than 10mins, you spend about 20-30mins in recovery with patches on while the flap from your eye heals, then your free to walk out. Although, you'll need someone to walk you out or drive you home as your vision will be limited, imagine the worst fog you've ever seen, you probably only see about 2-3meters ahead. If you don't live close to the surgery then stay in a hotel walking distance from the place. Net day is significantly better, but you can drive, but in turn also good excuse for taking a day or two off while your vision clears up. With any luck you'll have a good girlfirend/Mrs, parent or mate who can stay with you for the first 24hrs. Makes it easier all round.

They'll give you a run down when you go.

Definitely the most worth while investment I've ever made

zak88 · 10-01-2012, 09:42 PM

Had my done more than 10 years ago. It was money well spent. Gave me 20/20 vision.

V8kado · 10-01-2012, 09:56 PM

Yep, had mine done about 4-5yrs ago too! Couldnt be happier, it will change your whole attitude and confidence completely.

Below is exactly the discription I would give it too, right to a T!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matty4

Yep...had it done about 4 years ago. Best thing I ever did.
The actual laser shaping takes approx 10-30 secs per eye depending on the amount of correction needed. They still cut your cornea to make a flap and then laser underneath that before folding the flap back. Felt like I had a bucketful of sand thrown into my eyes for the first night but after that it has been perfect.

The only thing I could add is to wait until your eye sight is STABLE before attempting as it will only correct your sight to "now", and if your sight continues to deteriorate over the coming years then there goes your laser eye surgery too!

Best of luck, give it a crack!

sneaky · 10-01-2012, 09:58 PM

just out of curiosity what is the procedure worth roughly? hundreds? thousands?

No.6 · 10-01-2012, 10:03 PM

My sister had it done a few years ago and she had pretty bad vision, now she can see better than i can. I believe it was a couple of thousand dollars, so its not a cheap procedure.

Robos F6 · 10-01-2012, 10:50 PM

Thanks guys, looks like its a go ahead for me.

So any places to avoid or they pretty much all the same.

Cost is around $4k for both eyes.

PimpMyHubcap · 10-01-2012, 11:34 PM

Had it done 14 years ago up in Townsville by Leigh Lenton who (I think) bought the procedure into the country. While he was doing it, he was talking to other eye surgeons via video conferencing (they were watching him working on my eyes).

Only thing that worried me was my optometrist that referred me to him refused to get his eyes done (still wears glasses) because of the risk factor (.05% of people are worse after surgery - only found out about this 5 minutes before the surgery when I had to ready 15 pages of disclaimers and sign them)

He did them around 8pm at night and I was asleep by 10pm that night with just a slightly irritating feeling in my eyes. When I drove home the next day (100kays) I bought a pair of normal sunglasses and have ALWAYS had to wear them in sunlight as my eyes were very sensitive to light after the surgery. I still think some on-coming headlights at night are on highbeam.

Agree with everyone. Best $4k I have ever spent. I had coke bottle glasses since the age of 9 and they were causing dents in the side of my nose.

Apparently when my eyes start going again, I can just get the surgery done again and they will be like new (optometrist at last eye test confirmed this). Last eye test confirmed that they are just like any persons eyes and getting worse slightly (slightly to me means anything less than perfect). Thin black words on white backgrounds arent too good for me as I see them with a "shadow" but the optometrist assures me this is normal for the distance I was trying to read at.

Cheers

AC · 10-01-2012, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneaky

just out of curiosity what is the procedure worth roughly? hundreds? thousands?

Mine was $1500 per eye.

Better than the $4900 per eye that I was quoted in 1998.

Geez Louise · 10-01-2012, 11:58 PM

I wish I could have it done. I am not a suitable candidate.

I know heaps of people that have had it done and they all say, it is the best decision they ever made.

TheSneakiness · 11-01-2012, 11:38 AM

I looked at it roughly 12 years ago at a specialist clinic on the Sunshine Coast and they told me then I wasn't able to have it done.

I now have glasses with one overcorrected lens and my other eye has normal correction. Neon signs or plastic signs with fluro lights behind them are my downfall. I cannot read the text unless I get up close to it.

I do need to go back to my optometrist again, it's been two years since my last consultation.

TZENU · 11-01-2012, 11:56 AM

I will be looking into this in the next couple of years... I currently use bi-focals and have been told by my optomotrist that it wont suit my eyes, but that was quite a few years ago..

cupic · 11-01-2012, 02:12 PM

Is there a age limit for this procedure?
As I have started to wear glasses for the last 5 yrs,I am now in my late 40's

cheers

FGII-XR6 · 11-01-2012, 07:32 PM

I looked into it ( pardon the pun) and as it is only my close up vision it is not appropriate for me to improve my close up vision it would reduce my distance vision so make sure it is the best option for your condition

Iggypoppin' · 11-01-2012, 08:17 PM

Seriously considering this procedure as I am
over contact lenses.

tahzan · 11-01-2012, 08:22 PM

I had it done in November and am very pleased with the result. They do not guarantee being able to read the 20/20 (now 6/6) line but I can do that now. Throw in the convenience and it seems well worth the $6800 I paid for the procedure. There is a 20% tax offset for the expenses over $2060 so that should reduce the cost by a grand or so.

The procedure itself could be unsettling for some but they give you a small dose of valium beforehand to help you stay calm. Your eyes are anaesthetised by drops and held open with forceps when being worked on. You lie still on a bed and are moved a short distance between machines. During the flap creation my eye was held still with a suction tube which also made my vision grey-out (probably a good thing). The actual correction burn is quite short (approx 10 secs) where you have to focus on a light point. I think the machine can track your retina movements and adjust for small movements.

Then the flap was smoothed back into place - this was the longest part as the surgeon sort of spreads it back into place with a spatula to make sure the edges are well aligned. A temporary contact lense is then placed on the eye to aid healing and keep out infection I suppose. Then plastic eye covers with air holes were taped over my eyes - you wear these until you return the next day for a check up.

I could see the improvement immediately with my wife driving me home. The worst part about the first week is the number of eye drops you have to use, but after a week it is down to 4 drops a day with one solution for the rest of the month. The eyes were definitely dry and gritty initially but the drops do the job. Bright lights also have a bit of a halo effect but this has reduced to the point where it is not very noticeable.

I am 37 so my prescription was stable and my distance and close vision are now good, but apparently my close vision will deteriorate in my 40s. Nothing to do with surgery, just a part of getting old. He did say he had lasered some people with one eye for distance and one eye for up close, sort of built-in bifocals.

My corneas were ultrasounded as part of the process and were plenty thick enough but some aren't so lucky. A colleague of my wife had this issue and had lenses implanted permanently in his eyes - amazing what they offer nowadays.

Finally I must warn that I did sign away all my outcome rights as part of the procedure - I don't want to overplay the risks as the success rate is very high, but you do sign away most of your rights with regards to the outcome.

brenx · 11-01-2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC

Mine was $1500 per eye.

Better than the $4900 per eye that I was quoted in 1998.

I've been refered to the same place your went to. I've also had a consult with Vista eyes for $2500 or $2600 per eye. Every time I save the $5000 something else needs the $.

Kieron · 11-01-2012, 08:57 PM

Havn't had it done myself, by my FIL had it done in Malaysia so I looked into it but the one thing it can't correct is the need to use reading glasses.

ie, you can have your long or short sightedness corrected, but if you have bi-focals, you will need to buy reading glasses as well.

Feathers · 11-01-2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

Seriously considering this procedure as I am
over contact lenses.

I'd love to even be able to use contacts, but I have a 'freckle' in my eye, and it makes the surface of my eye uneven, so contacts are out for me.

My biggest phobia is things near my eyes. After years getting my eyes checked because of this 'freckle', I can't deal with it. So being awake would be out of the question for me.