Hiya, I was just wondering what experiences people have had from Optical Express when having laser eye surgery. I'm thinking of having it done but want to be sure it is worth it.

I'd also like to know what the costs were too if possible?

They show you on the advers and flyers and everything else that it would be £395 per eye but i can garauntee you, you won't get it for that amount.

They will tell you that your pupils are to big for that treatment and it will end up around £1500 per eye. Even more if (grusome bit) you want the eye opening with a laser and not a blade

Even at that price though ill be having it done when i can afford it

My mother in law had hers done there a couple of weeks ago, and she says it's the best thing she's ever done and wishes she'd done it years ago.
I'm not sure how much it cost though, think it was about £1500 for both eyes.
It only takes about 10 minutes and she said it didn't hurt, it only stung for that night (like when cutting strong onions) but when she woke up the next day it was fine.

My mate is one of the leading consultants in this field and has worked right across the globe. He spends time at the Meadowhall branch every few weeks. It can vary a lot, hence the wide range of cost.

It varies that much that not everyone is suitable for it and many people are refused it. It all depends on if you eyes are suitable and what extent of laser surgery you need.

Obviously they state their lowest prices as “starting from” as they are a business.

I had mine done there last year it was fantastic not to wear glasses again The aftercare is exceptionally good too. The cost for mine was £2000 but my glasses were varifocals and I had to wear them all the time .I certainly would advice anyone to go there .

Had mine done with Boots over 8 years ago for £2500. Really glad I had it done, but am getting to the stage where I need glasses again now for driving etc. I've just got a bit more short-sighted over the years.

my sister is thinking of having it done, but were afraid she'll still need glasses after, has anyone had a surgery which was completely successful?

my sister is thinking of having it done, but were afraid she'll still need glasses after, has anyone had a surgery which was completely successful?

Sometimes people need glasses just for reading afterwards.

Thanks for your replies. I have a consultation booked for next monday so I suppose I'll find out if laser treatment is for me or not.

my sister had it done 3 weeks ago ...best thing she ever done , within 15 mins of operation , we went to the car and she could see number plates , although a bit fuzzy ....totally amazing

and she could have paid £395 as advertised , that option was offered , but she chose to have the best option , cost £2500

there are discounts available if you push ;) so ask !!
they also do an interest free scheme over 10 months which might help some people

all in all overall wonderful , i did go with her throughout the consultations and surgery , and i must say the complete service was professional from start to finish , nice coffee too :)

just go for the best option you can afford , its your eyes after all , good luck xx

Hi

Mine was just over 3k for both eyes but I was really, really short sighted. That was nearly 2 years ago, the op took about 10 minutes and I had a ton of aftercare appointments. After 6 months I noticed my right eye seemed to be slightly blurry and I went back to be told it had a very small prescription in it but my vision with both eyes together still is 20/20. They offered me a contact lens to use in that eye but it was more trouble than it's worth so I've left it as it is. If the right eye gets worse I can have it corrected with surgery again for free within 4 years.

I found the surgery itself to be a bit stomach churning, and I had much more pain than I expected on the first night but I just took some sleeping tablets and knocked myself out til morning by which time it didn't hurt at all anymore. Just had to wear dark glasses for 2 days then I was back at work, with bright red eyes though which made me look demonic :)

It is well worth having it done though...I don't regret it one little bit!

My Haridresser had hers done earlier this year. She did have complications and ended up having to go to leeds for another laser treatment to correct things but she doesnt regret it at all. Like many of the other comments she wishes she had it done years ago. It cost her £3k for both eyes.

I've just had both my eyes done (3 days ago) at Meadowhall so thought I post an up to date review.

My op cost £3590 but I had a very high prescription (-7). I have had no pain at all, no grittyness and no watering!, but that could just be down to luck.

The thing I wasnt prepared for was my lack of near and middle distance vision. My far distance vision is fab but I am struggling to read, use computer etc. Have just been and bought some reading glasses which are helping to a degree but its hard going!!

Maybe I was being very naive but I believed what I read and saw on TV - that after the op you just sat up and could see!! That wasnt the case for me but as I said I did have a very high prescription.

Ive now found out it could take three to six months before my vision is OK. Not sure how this is going to affect my work - Ive had this week off and am dreading going back next week as I work in an office, computer work etc.

On the plus side the after care from Optical Express has been brilliant - I had a problem with my left eye and they have kept a very close watch on it.

So not sure yet whether its been worth the £3500 but watch this space and I'll keep you informed.

my sister had it done 3 weeks ago ...best thing she ever done , within 15 mins of operation , we went to the car and she could see number plates , although a bit fuzzy ....totally amazing

and she could have paid £395 as advertised , that option was offered , but she chose to have the best option , cost £2500

there are discounts available if you push ;) so ask !!
they also do an interest free scheme over 10 months which might help some people

all in all overall wonderful , i did go with her throughout the consultations and surgery , and i must say the complete service was professional from start to finish , nice coffee too :)

just go for the best option you can afford , its your eyes after all , good luck xx
did she have it done at meadowhall xx

Three days is extremley early to expect perfection especially as you had a high prescription they will take time to heal and you will be fine I had mine done twelve months ago and am highly satisfied with the result I had them done at meadowhall and the aftercare was superb did they advise you to get a pair of reading specs as they told me to wait at least 6weeks I must say I took a week off work as due to the intense laser they were quite sore and my sight wasnt too good but after the week I was fine keep using the drops !!!

My friend had it done at Meadowhall two years ago and followed their instructions to the letter. She has never looked back .... so to speak!

I had my eyes done at meadowhall 2 years ago. I paid the advertised £395 per eye and it has been amazing. As soon as I came out I could see things I couldn't see before without my glasses. Definately worth it!

did she have it done at meadowhall xx

yes meadowwhall
a few months down the road now , and the best thing she ever had done , and no problems at all , totally briliant xx

I've just had both my eyes done (3 days ago) at Meadowhall so thought I post an up to date review.

My op cost £3590 but I had a very high prescription (-7). I have had no pain at all, no grittyness and no watering!, but that could just be down to luck.

The thing I wasnt prepared for was my lack of near and middle distance vision. My far distance vision is fab but I am struggling to read, use computer etc. Have just been and bought some reading glasses which are helping to a degree but its hard going!!

Maybe I was being very naive but I believed what I read and saw on TV - that after the op you just sat up and could see!! That wasnt the case for me but as I said I did have a very high prescription.

Ive now found out it could take three to six months before my vision is OK. Not sure how this is going to affect my work - Ive had this week off and am dreading going back next week as I work in an office, computer work etc.

On the plus side the after care from Optical Express has been brilliant - I had a problem with my left eye and they have kept a very close watch on it.

So not sure yet whether its been worth the £3500 but watch this space and I'll keep you informed.

i hope everything is ok hun , but i agree that i think you are a bit earlier to be making judgements ...give it time , at least a week or more , they have to settle down , its a laser after all xx

Me my mum and now cousin have had our eyes done at meadowhall with Optical Express. Eyes watered a bit after the laser but could see perfectly by the afternoon. No problems 2 years later.

my sister is thinking of having it done, but were afraid she'll still need glasses after, has anyone had a surgery which was completely successful?

I've got 20/20 in my right eye and better than that in my left, and it's 18 months since I had it done (with ultralase in Leeds).

It does hurt though, not immediately, but an hour after the procedure it's like you've been poked hard in both eyes and have also got sand in them (but can't rub them or touch them). Gets better quite quickly though, the next day is much less sore.

The actual couple of minutes doing the procedure, very unpleasant, not in a painful way, more in the psychological way of will this work or am I going to be blind in a few minutes.

Cost me £4k in total.

Edit - It took at least a month before my eyes stopped fluctuating.

Do you actually have it done at the store in meadowhall or do they refer you to a private hospital. Call me old fashioned but if I wanted it doing I would go with the choice of a private hospital rather than a room in an opticians shop. Has there any research been done on whether your eyes deteroirate in the future and leave you ending up needing to wear glasses again. If I was paying that kind of money out for treatment I wouldn't be happy if in the future I had to go back to wearing my glasses again as it would have been a waste of money. I'll stick with wearing glasses.
Also if the procedure is supposed to give you perfect vision, how come you aren't allowed to be a train driver if you have had it done?

When I had mine done, Marty Feldman was in the next cubicle :shocked:

Do you actually have it done at the store in meadowhall or do they refer you to a private hospital. Call me old fashioned but if I wanted it doing I would go with the choice of a private hospital rather than a room in an opticians shop. Has there any research been done on whether your eyes deteroirate in the future and leave you ending up needing to wear glasses again. If I was paying that kind of money out for treatment I wouldn't be happy if in the future I had to go back to wearing my glasses again as it would have been a waste of money. I'll stick with wearing glasses.
Also if the procedure is supposed to give you perfect vision, how come you aren't allowed to be a train driver if you have had it done?

The procedures have been happening now for 25 years, so there's plenty of research. Your eye sight may deteriorate after surgery, but if your prescription was stable then there is no reason to think that it would. Natural age related degeneration will still take place, so you will probably become long sighted as you get older (like many people).
Ultralase offer a 'top up' procedure for free whenever needed (if ever) and whilst ever your eyes are still suitable for it.
I've no idea why you think train drivers can't have laser surgery, they can.
http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Traffic%20Operation%20and%20Management/Codes%20of%20Practice/GORC3561%20Iss%203.pdf
See appendix B

Hiya, I was just wondering what experiences people have had from Optical Express when having laser eye surgery. I'm thinking of having it done but want to be sure it is worth it.

I'd also like to know what the costs were too if possible?

I got a price of about £3000.00 about 18 month ago I also looked it up on youtube which put me off and I'm not really sqeamish but the flap!! As with everything you will hear good and bad reports but I'm not 100%. An optician not offering the service will try nad talk you out of having it done as mine did as well, they are loosing your business but I understand you still need regular eye tests as the results can last only a couple of years if I remember rightly but it all depends on treatment used, your age, health etc as with any other medical condition.

Hope that helps!!

Can you be put under or have some kind of sedative when you have this done?

I was hysterical when I had to have a camera put up my nose, so I've got a feeling I wouldn't react too well to this.

What is wrong with wearing glasses? unless you have a real problem with work or some other health issue, why risk this complicated and expensive procedure?

I wore glasses and contact lenses for about 18 years, the difference it makes to me is to have complete freedom from them, and that's actually quite a big deal.
I can wake up and see straight away, I never loose my eyeballs. My eyeballs don't steam up when I walk into a warm place, or indeed when I snowboard, I don't get snow stuck to my eyes when I snowboard either, I've never had my eyes knocked off when doing martial arts or any other contact sport, I can spot my friends when I walk into the swimming pool as I'm still wearing my eyes, I don't have to buy a prescription dive mask for diving. I can wear whatever sunglasses I like and still be able to see.
The benefits are huge, IMO, having done it I'd recommend it to anyone that can afford it.

Regular eye test (ie every couple of years) are recommended for everyone. The results of the surgery are permanent, but you eyes can continue to change if your prescription had never stabilised. If it was stable, it will probably remain so until age starts to make you long sited.

my partners aunt had it done and still has to wear glasses, so it does not work for evryone.

What is wrong with wearing glasses? unless you have a real problem with work or some other health issue, why risk this complicated and expensive procedure?
I have worn spectacles for 48 years and always look forward to my new ones every year.

When I had mine done, Marty Feldman was in the next cubicle :shocked:


OMG! How did he look? Or could you see :hihi:

I had laser surgery there. Quite a bit more expensive than advertised as I had strong asygmatism but still worth it in the end ater a day or two of uncomfortable eyes.

my partner thinks I should have it done, but I am really very shortsighted so not sure if it will work, plus I am a coward. lol

The procedures have been happening now for 25 years, so there's plenty of research. Your eye sight may deteriorate after surgery, but if your prescription was stable then there is no reason to think that it would. Natural age related degeneration will still take place, so you will probably become long sighted as you get older (like many people).
Ultralase offer a 'top up' procedure for free whenever needed (if ever) and whilst ever your eyes are still suitable for it.
I've no idea why you think train drivers can't have laser surgery, they can.
http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Traffic%20Operation%20and%20Management/Codes%20of%20Practice/GORC3561%20Iss%203.pdf
See appendix B

I thought that as someone who works in the rail industry told me that they have been told they cant.

What is wrong with wearing glasses? unless you have a real problem with work or some other health issue, why risk this complicated and expensive procedure?

Im with you on that, I'll stick with my glasses.

my partners aunt had it done and still has to wear glasses, so it does not work for evryone.

They've never claimed that it's perfect and it depends on the prescription you start with. If you ask your partners aunt, the glasses she has now are probably less powerful than the old ones.

I've just had both my eyes done (3 days ago) at Meadowhall so thought I post an up to date review.

My op cost £3590 but I had a very high prescription (-7). I have had no pain at all, no grittyness and no watering!, but that could just be down to luck.

The thing I wasnt prepared for was my lack of near and middle distance vision. My far distance vision is fab but I am struggling to read, use computer etc. Have just been and bought some reading glasses which are helping to a degree but its hard going!!

Maybe I was being very naive but I believed what I read and saw on TV - that after the op you just sat up and could see!! That wasnt the case for me but as I said I did have a very high prescription.

Ive now found out it could take three to six months before my vision is OK. Not sure how this is going to affect my work - Ive had this week off and am dreading going back next week as I work in an office, computer work etc.

On the plus side the after care from Optical Express has been brilliant - I had a problem with my left eye and they have kept a very close watch on it.

So not sure yet whether its been worth the £3500 but watch this space and I'll keep you informed.

I thought that this is normal when short sightedness is corrected. Weren't you advised about your expected vision at different distances?

My vision is approx -7 in both eyes, but I can see clearly to read without any aid at anything between 2 and 12 inches. At times I find this very useful. The fact that I believe I would lose this is one of the reasons I haven't gone for surgery.

I thought that this is normal when short sightedness is corrected. Weren't you advised about your expected vision at different distances?

My vision is approx -7 in both eyes, but I can see clearly to read without any aid at anything between 2 and 12 inches. At times I find this very useful. The fact that I believe I would lose this is one of the reasons I haven't gone for surgery.


I was advised I would need reading glasses which I dont mind about because my eyes were so bad. I couldn't see beyond the end of my nose before!!

Anyway I am now six days post op and my sight is really good. It does get worse as the day goes on and by late afternoon I am struggling again but I can defo see that I am improving every day.

I've always been happy with the monthly disposable contact lenses. Put them in at the start of the month and leave them in until the start of the next month.

I might have been happy with those as well alch, but with an astigmatism they weren't an option. I'm extremely happy with not needing any correction at all though.