[hot potato]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has had corrective eye surgery done recently. There are some older posts but I'm not sure if there have been advances in the last few years. If anyone has experiences to share I'd love to hear them.

Thanks

[toby/lisa]

Hi

I went to Fendalton Eye Clinic in Christchurch last year. They were really helpful and full of information. They will do alot of tests and ask you many questions before they consider whether laser eye is suitable for you. Dr Kent was a very skilled man and the practice have been really helpful. I am so glad I have had it done. Well worth it.

[Georgebulldog]

I had mine done in Wellington in January this year, best thing I ever did, had it done at the Wellington Eye clinic by Dr Andrew Logan, finished my free follow up appointments in May. There is a big eye post on here if I can find it I'll add it in case you haven't seen it. PM me if you need any further info as don't always get chance to catch up

Here it is, easier than I thought

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=8759&highlight=laser

[hot potato]

Thanks that's really helpful. I'm in Wellington and saw an ad for the Wellington Eye Centre so presume that's the same place. What method did you use? I tend to have dry eyes (too uncomfortable to wear contacts all the time) so I don't know if that means that I'll be more prone to dry eyes afterwards. Did you need time off work?

[Georgebulldog]

I had the Advanced Surface Ablation method, where they don't create a flap, supposed to be the best method available & the only one they do the Wellington clinic now.
I suffered dry eyes too but I've been lucky & they have been fine ever since, a bit of trouble when I get up in the night or the morning but not every day, I must get this sorted as I've been a bit lazy.
I don't work but I couldn't drive for I think a week as it can take at least that amount of time to get your vision back to normal, you can't watch TV or a computer for the first day either
Here is their website http://wefixeyes.co.nz/
When I mentioned who did it to a kiwi friend they knew straight away who he was so he must be good, I have no complaints

[beanbeanz]

I'm looking at getting this done too. I'm in Christchurch so I've got to decide between one in Fendalton or on Papanui Road. I think I'll probably have an assessment done at both places and see what negatives they have to say about their competitor.

[bobo]

I'm looking at getting this done too. I'm in Christchurch so I've got to decide between one in Fendalton or on Papanui Road. I think I'll probably have an assessment done at both places and see what negatives they have to say about their competitor.

SIL had it done at the Papanui road one and everything went well for her.

Do you think they will slag each other and if so you would believe what they say ?

[beanbeanz]

Well, I've had a look on their websites and they use different technologies...so I'm curious as to why they think theirs is superior to the one their competitors use.

As for how much impact that will have on my final decision... well, I think I'll probably go with whoever I feel more comfortable with.

[Georgebulldog]

Well, I've had a look on their websites and they use different technologies...so I'm curious as to why they think theirs is superior to the one their competitors use.

As for how much impact that will have on my final decision... well, I think I'll probably go with whoever I feel more comfortable with.

So what are the differences? The one I had is supposed to be better & safer although the healing time is longer, saying that I don't know anyone that had the old surgery & had problems & that was the one I was after & it was only becasue they didn't do the flap surgery that I had this method done, I'd looked at it in the UK but couldn't afford it, no choice here

[beanbeanz]

As far as I know both Christchurch clinics create the corneal flaps, but one uses the microkeratome to make the flap and the other uses the laser (bladeless).
Advanced surface ablation (LASEK) was also something I want to ask them about.

What was your healing time/pain like? How about your night vision... any halos? Do you mind letting us know what the cost at the Wellington clinic was to have both eyes done.

[beanbeanz]

Ah, I have just done some googling and must correct myself. The Fendalton Eye Clinic does offer the surface ablation method mentioned above (PRK, LASEK and EPI-LASEK)

Something to note though about surface ablation; although they do not create a corneal flap they do create an epithelial flap using either a spatula, brush, alcohol or a microkeratome. So really, all procedures do create some sort of flap... either the surface of the cornea or the cornea.

At this point I'm quite partial to the all laser method probably because (and I DON'T recommend this) I watched some corrective eye surgery gone wrong videos on youtube and would prefer that human hands have a minimal amount of eye touching time.


As far as I know both Christchurch clinics create the corneal flaps, but one uses the microkeratome to make the flap and the other uses the laser (bladeless).
Advanced surface ablation (LASEK) was also something I want to ask them about. .

[napiers]

Well, I've had a look on their websites and they use different technologies...so I'm curious as to why they think theirs is superior to the one their competitors use.

As for how much impact that will have on my final decision... well, I think I'll probably go with whoever I feel more comfortable with.

I would totally agree with that. Although I wasn't able to have my eyes done in the end (corneas too thin :( ) I did go to a couple of places for the initial consultation. Even after the first one told me I wasn't suitable (which made me feel like I was made wrong!) and simply sent me on my way the second one suggested I went to see them anyway. They were much more thorough in the tests etc that they did and explained what they were doing and what the problems were, in short more professional but, importantly for me, also more sympathetic and understanding when they told me it couldn't be done. I know I was already expecting them to tell me but even so...

If I had been OK then I know who I would have chosen to do the surgery; despite them being further away and more expensive!

Good luck anyway.

[Georgebulldog]

As far as I know both Christchurch clinics create the corneal flaps, but one uses the microkeratome to make the flap and the other uses the laser (bladeless).
Advanced surface ablation (LASEK) was also something I want to ask them about.

What was your healing time/pain like? How about your night vision... any halos? Do you mind letting us know what the cost at the Wellington clinic was to have both eyes done.

I had very little pain, a little like eye strain as I remember. Healing time I think was about a week, that was when the contact lens patches came off, they were quite scratchy & at night I had to wear plastic patches taped to my face so I didn't scratch my eyes. vision took a day to settle back down again after that. My night vision is fine, I've driven at night a few times & it's fine no halos, I was worried about this but I don't think you can tell who will suffer & who wont, again I'm just lucky Cost was $5k, $2.5 each eye but soooo worth it, at the time I remember thinking whqat have I done as I was so scared about losing my sight as I'm a bit of a pnicy one but now I wish I did it years ago I just thought I wouldmn't be able to

[beanbeanz]

Although I wasn't able to have my eyes done in the end (corneas too thin :( ) .

Napiers - did you have the consultation recently? I only ask because the new PRK method (EPI-LASEK) is supposed to be targeted specifically for people with thin corneas who aren't suited to regular LASIK. Maybe you can have it done after all.

Georgebulldog- thanks a lot for answering my questions. My biggest worry is the night vision and halo thing because it seems to be the 'side effect' that you most commonly hear about. I think that with the newer technologies this is becoming less prevalent than when LASIK first started.

[napiers]

[QUOTE=beanbeanz;312476]Napiers - did you have the consultation recently? I only ask because the new PRK method (EPI-LASEK) is supposed to be targeted specifically for people with thin corneas who aren't suited to regular LASIK. Maybe you can have it done after all.

QUOTE]

Thanks for that :nice1. Funnily enough after posting yesterday I had a little look around online. I'd had an email from one of the places I saw (the nice one!) a few weeks ago saying they may be able to help me now but I dismissed it without reading it fully. I hadn't realised it was a new method I just assumed it was a method I'd not heard of - I get lasek/lasik etc etc confused! Perhaps I'll have another look ......

[Manks]

I can't comment on NZ surgeons as I had my surgery in the UK, but I can give you my experience.

Like Georgebulldog I had a LASEK treatment. This is actually the older version of the treatment than LASIK, where they use a laser to create a "flap" (or at least it is in the UK) and, because of this, was actually cheaper than LASIK. Most places in the UK were only offering LASIK at this point so it was good to find a place offering both.

With my treatment (EPI-LASEK I think) they didn't create a flap at all (turn away now if you're squeamish!!)



Instead they thinned the layer over your cornea (begins with E but I forget!) and then they push it to one side. This exposes your cornea for the laser treatment. As soon as the laser treatment is done, the layer is returned to place and job done. Then onto the other eye!

LASEK has a longer recovery period than LASIK but is less risky apparently. It is also recommended for people with less severe correction requirements.

I would agree with Georgebulldog's experience of needing a few days to recover. It didn't hurt as such but my eyes got extremely light sensitive within an hour or two of having the surgery, such that I couldn't keep them open outdoors. I couldn't watch TV or look at a computer for a day or two for these reasons. I had my surgery on the Tuesday morning but by Thursday morning I could wander around the house even with the curtains open. Was completely fine by the weekend. it also felt like a piece of grit in your eye for a couple of days.

I had the "contact lens bandages :laugh ) on until the Friday, had the hideous plastic eye covers for a few days and then it was just a case of using antibiotic eye drops for a couple of weeks, then it was all over.

That was six years ago now and I have almost perfect vision. I couldn't recommend it highly enough!

[beanbeanz]

I had LASIK yesterday!! I actually did it!

Ended up going with Fendalton Eye Clinic as opposed to Laservision. It was pricer, but I wanted to go with the bladeless option. I also felt a bit more at ease with the way my questions were answered and the detail in which my eyes were assessed at the free pre-assessment. Laservision claimed to have a newer laser, but used a microkeratome to cut the corneal flap. FEC used a laser to make the flap and said that although their laser itself was older it had been upgraded with add-ons. In the end, both admitted that their lasers would produce comparable results...so it was really the making of the flap that was the difference.

Anyway so I had the surgery yesterday and went for my post-op check this morning. I currently have AMAZING 20/10 vision (I can see at 20 feet what 'normal' people can see at 10 feet) but that might fluctuate over the next few weeks. I'm currently really happy with how things have gone...even though it's only the 2nd day. It was amazing to be able to wake up and see clearly (although out of habit I moved really close to the alarm clock and squinted to read it .... SO didn't have to)

[L00pback]

Well done beanbeanz, glad to hear it all went well and you have now ditched the glasses/lenses.

I had the blade free eye surgery done on Thursday (8th) at Bridgewater Eye Clinic in Hamilton. They use a laser that creates bubbles in the eye which join together to create a flat.
I wasn't given lenses to wear afterwards but do have to wear eye shields at night for 3 nights following surgery (tonight is my last night with them :clap). I am wearing sunglasses most of the time to protect from glare :cool: (and little fingers poking my eyes by accident - as kids do)

I was told before surgery that my eyes would never see 20/20 as they have never learnt to see this well. My right eye vision is great, slightly better than with glasses, but my left eye is very blurry and worse than my vision with glasses.

I know my surgery was only a few days ago but you hear people saying that their vision was brill straight away after surgery, so has anyone experienced it where their vision wasn't brill but did improve as their eyes healed.

I have my next check-up a week on Monday but am having a small panic over my left eye's vision. Did anyone else experience anything like this?

Cheers
Emma

[Georgebulldog]

Well done both of you for having it done, amazing how it can free up your life esp with summer coming, time for a nice pair of sunnies :)

Can't realy help Emma with your problem, mine wasn't great for a few days & when I had the contact lenses off it got worse again but took just a few days before it then got a whole lot better, hope yours does too