Laser eye surgery

**Mad Moose** · 15/10/2009, 8:45 PM

I had a consultation on possible laser eye surgery this afternoon. I'm pleasantly surprised that my eyes haven't deteriorated as much as I thought they had and more pleasantly surprised by the cost. I have a quote of £995 per eye and its tempting to go ahead with the surgery. I can get an october special of 15% off so £1,700 for full vision and no need for glasses is tempting.

The draw back is I'm doing my MSc and so money is tight enough and Icould wait a year or so in reality.

Has anybody had it done and what was the cost?

**John83** · 15/10/2009, 8:57 PM

My cousin had hers done recently. I think the price was similar. She had complications in one eye, and had to have it redone at her own expense. In the off chance of that happening, I'd wait until money was less tight. Most people I know who've had it done are happy enough. I'm not inclined to undergo it myself though after discussions with people who work in the optics of the eye - the focal length of the lens is corrected, but at the cost of higher order aberrations.

**Scrufil** · 15/10/2009, 9:05 PM

There is evidence that after about a year the eyes can slip back to the previous condition. I would not do this without consulting a number of people who have had it done. I personally know of one case where the eyes went right back to their old condition and I was informed by this lady that there is a number of similiar cases all over Ireland.

**John83** · 15/10/2009, 9:46 PM

Originally Posted by Scrufil

There is evidence that after about a year the eyes can slip back to the previous condition. I would not do this without consulting a number of people who have had it done. I personally know of one case where the eyes went right back to their old condition and I was informed by this lady that there is a number of similiar cases all over Ireland.

There is probably literature on the rate of this sort of thing. I'm not sure to what extent the long term (decades) effects are established, btu for a year later, I'm sure there's been a study.

**don ramo** · 15/10/2009, 9:57 PM

to my knowledge you can check each clinics success rate, as far as i know you are entitled to know there track record, that would be an important thing to know before someone melts you cornea

**stann** · 15/10/2009, 9:58 PM

Did I imagine this too, or did I hear somewhere that you have to get it redone every so often anyway? Every ten years or so?
It's something I'd definitely think about if I could do it and have done with it for good.
Chap at work got it done and is delighted with it. Bit of a kerfuffle getting it done IIRC, one eye a week like, with no driving or heavy work for several days, that kind of thing. Must ask him more when he gets back off the holiers.

**Lev Yashin** · 16/10/2009, 8:49 AM

Originally Posted by stann

Did I imagine this too, or did I hear somewhere that you have to get it redone every so often anyway? Every ten years or so?
It's something I'd definitely think about if I could do it and have done with it for good.
Chap at work got it done and is delighted with it. Bit of a kerfuffle getting it done IIRC, one eye a week like, with no driving or heavy work for several days, that kind of thing. Must ask him more when he gets back off the holiers.

Mate of mine plays league if Ireland and he was off training and the like after having it done for a couple of weeks I think...but he swears by it now. I don't think there is any real study into the long term affects of it as it's a realativly new procedure but even if you had to go back every ten years and have it redone I still think if would be worth while rather than sticking your finger in your eye trying to fish out a lens....

**rambler14** · 16/10/2009, 12:02 PM

I had it done last Tuesday it cost me just over €1500 for both eyes. I can't play contact sports for a month but other than that I can do whatever the hell I want.
My vision is amazing, better than it ever was. It's changed my life.

**Wolfie** · 16/10/2009, 1:20 PM

A mate of mine got his eyes done a few years ago and was very happy with the results.

Sadly, he's passed away since.

Tragic - he breezily said to friends he was off to get a McDonalds Drive Thru and crashed into a petrol station. Kaboooooom!!

**First** · 16/10/2009, 1:43 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

A mate of mine got his eyes done a few years ago and was very happy with the results.

Sadly, he's passed away since.

Tragic - he breezily said to friends he was off to get a McDonalds Drive Thru and crashed into a petrol station. Kaboooooom!!

Taxi for Wolfie

**Wolfie** · 16/10/2009, 1:46 PM

Originally Posted by First

Taxi for Wolfie

Indeed.

**brianw82** · 17/10/2009, 3:04 PM

I thought about it a few years ago, but read a few horror stories online. Of course, that might be only a few percent of the total cases, but it was enough to put me off. Your eyes are your eyes, if something gets screwed up, you can't just get a new pair. I'd rather keep wearing glasses and contacts than have a condition like dry eye that would cause me constant suffering.

**Mad Moose** · 17/10/2009, 3:20 PM

I've decided to put it on hold for a year or so. Hopefully the price will continue to drop on cost of surgery and I'll consider it at that time.

Thanks for the opinions. Well all except Wolfie's really

. Thankfully I don't do McDonalds drive through and never will. However I don't consider it immature in the slightest to drive the wrong way in and hold up the thing.

**brendy_éire** · 18/10/2009, 6:20 PM

Originally Posted by rambler14

I had it done last Tuesday it cost me just over €1500 for both eyes. I can't play contact sports for a month but other than that I can do whatever the hell I want.
My vision is amazing, better than it ever was. It's changed my life.

Who was that with?