Testimonials Jan 07 - June 07

Review by Sally Coulter - Posted on 27/06/2007 - Rating:5/5
Surgery type - Epi-lasik Pre surgery prescription - right Sph -7.00, Cyl -0.5, Axis 120 left Sph -7.00, Cyl -0.5, Axis 100 RESULT - One line BETTER than 20/20 I had worn glasses since the age of about 5, and then contact lenses from the age of 14.

For the most of the time I found lenses to be a good solution. Admittedly they were a slight inconvenience everyday and evening, when flying (due to aircon) and when wanting to participate in watersports. However, over the last few years I have increasing been suffering from the effects of hayfever. With itchy eyes, wearing contacts was impossible. I hated wearing glasses. With such a high prescription, it was impossible to have really thin and lightweight lenses and because I'd worn contacts for such a long time, I felt that glasses no longer suited me.

For having contacts at the age of 14 I'd been very shy; contact lenses gave me confidence and wearing glasses again in my late twenties took me back to those awkward early teen years! I first seriously looked into laser eye surgery in December 2005. I visited one provider - who I can not fault, but they were unable to treat me. I have really thin corneas and with such a high prescription it was not possible. I was recommended to have implantable lenses. I really didn't fancy having such an invasive procedure at the time and having always been pleased with contact lenses, I didn't think about it any further.

From about March to July 2006 I found myself having to wear glasses again due to a particularly bad hayfever season. Decided enough was enough and that I would have implantable lenses. Before I decided on which provider to trust with my eyes, I made appointments with two other clinics for second and third opinions. The second clinic I visited was Accuvision and I was so pleased when they told me that they would be able to treat my eyes with laser surgery rather than implantable lenses. The third clinic, again recommended implantable lenses. I admit that I was so excited that I had already booked my treatment with Accuvision before I had attended the third clinic, but just wanted to make sure that I had as much information as possible.

I visited the Solihull clinic as this was within travelling distance. My consultant was Nick and he took the time to explain my eyes and the procedure fully and answer all of my questions. There was no hard sell at all - none what so ever, almost the opposite. Nick was very honest and told me that with my prescription I was unlikely to get 20/20 vision, but I should only need glasses for maybe driving and watching television. That was good enough for me.

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I booked my treatment for a Thursday (2 days before my 30th birthday) and arrived at the Solihull clinic with my mum for support. I was so excited that I didn't even get nervous until about 5 minutes before the procedure. The actual procedure was so quick and I can't really say that it hurt. Not pleasant, but not dissimilar to going to the dentist. I must have been in the 'operating' room for about 10 minutes max and the actual procedure only took about 1 minute per eye.

My surgeon Chad was wonderful. I spent half an hour in the waiting room afterwards with my eyes shut before Nick saw me again and told me that I was already above driving standard! As I had epi-lasik, the recovery time was a lot longer than normal lasik.

Others in the waiting room looked extremely comfortable, whilst my eyes were still very sensitive. I stayed in a nearby hotel with my mum on the night of the procedure, as my mum doesn't drive. I couldn't make it for dinner that evening (having normal lasik, I understand that you'd be back to normal within hours) and I was glad to have my mum on hand to administer the eye drops. Had an uncomfortable night (but not painful) and when I went to the clinic the following morning for my check-up, Nick was pleased with my progress.

I then made the journey home, by train, but spent most of it with my eyes shut as they were very very light sensitive. Spent the rest of the day at home with the curtains shut!

Saturday was my 30th birthday and my husband had arranged a surprise meal with my friends and family. He was nervous about having to cancel it, but with the help of some anaesthetic drops I was able to go out and enjoy my birthday. Sunday was a lot better, but still wearing my sunglasses when outside (sunny August though). However, by Monday I was as right as rain and back to work! I had another check-up on the Wednesday and Nick confirmed that I was one line BETTER than 20/20.

I have since had two further check-ups and am pleased to confirm that I am still better than 20/20. Although my recovery sounds a bit daunting for the first couple of days, please, please, please bear in mind that I had epi-lasik. Regular eye surgery is far less traumatic. I would go through the recovery a thousand times to get the wonderful results I have had. Implantable lenses is similar to having cataracts done. There is a two week recovery time for each eye and you need to have each eye done separately. My eyes were all done and dusted within 4 days.

I decided to have both eyes done at the same time. It's personal preference, but it was my belief that if I though something would go wrong then there'd be no way that I'd be having any eyes done! I'm pleased that I had them done at the same time.

Sorry it's such a long review, but when I was doing my research I couldn't find that many from people who had had to have epi-lasik, so hope this helps others. Visit as many clinics as you can. Accuvision specialise in 'specialist' cases - if you get a 'no' from one clinic, it doesn't mean that you're untreatable. Different clinics have different procedures, equipment and surgeons. Having laser eye surgery has changed my life and I can not recommend Accuvision enough. Thank you.

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Review by Gill Thom - Posted on 25/06/2007 - Rating:5/5
The people at Accuvision are so helpful and they really look after you and make you feel like a valued customer. They are really friendly and make you feel totally at ease. The surgery was not painful at all and the whole experience and after care was exceptional. I would highly recommend them to anyone.

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Review by Cathryn McQuaide - Posted on 19/06/2007 - Rating:5/5
Yesterday I had lasik surgery at the Fulham branch. I was referred by a friend who had also just gone through the surgery himself. I had previously been assessed at Optical Express in Southampton and due to their lack of everything never went ahead with surgery, not confident at all.
Not the case at Accuvision. From my initial assessment I felt confident in every aspect. The staff are very friendly and put your mind at ease at once. I was nervous but can honestly say it was painless, very professional and over in literally 10 minutes. They talk to you all the time while the surgery is taking place and I found this comforting as every step of the way you know exactly what is going on and what to expect.
I went again this morning for my post op exam and to have the bandage lens removed (painless also). My vision 24 hrs later is 20/20 which I find truly amazing. (10 minutes of slight discomfort for the rest of your life!!!!!!)
My eyes are quite dry but I was told to expect this for a few days, other than that I cannot fault Accuvision in any way whatsoever.
Accuvision are also much cheaper than anywhere else and with their advanced technology and superb doctors and staff, do yourself a favour and look no further.

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Review by David Brigden- Posted on 23/06/2007 - Rating: 5/5
When I had an eye test at the age of eleven I can recall them telling me that I had a week right eye but I had no idea how bad it was and didn‘t pay much attention to it.

I took up target shooting when I was 16 and couldn’t understand why I couldn’t hit anything until my coach told me I needed to shoot using my left eye - what a difference! A visit the optician revealed that there was a problem with the right eye and nothing could be done, so I carried on with the other one. This wasn’t a problem and I have won many medals in world and European Championships.

I am now at the ripe old age of 61 and still competing internationally but recently several things happened. My left eye had degraded to such an extent that it has affected my shooting, laser treatment for long sightedness became available, and more importantly, it has become affordable!

In February 2006 I took the plunge and went to Accuvision for an examination; to my surprise they said that both eyes could be done. I went ahead and had the right eye done first, fantastic! Not only were they able to improve the vision, I now have 20/20 vision in the right eye for the first time in my life

I have now had the left eye done and because I had 20/20 in my right eye, they were able to offer me a choice - I could have it set to normal vision or I could have the focal length altered so that I could read and watch television without glasses, wow! I decided to have the focal length set to about arms length - just about the distance of pistol sights to be preciseJ. The train journey home was a revelation, it’s as if a cling film screen had been removed, distant object were clearer and sharper and I could even read the paper of the person sitting next to me.

The clinic itself is clean modern and welcoming and the staff could not be more friendly and helpful but the most significant thing is to see the smile on the faces of the patients as they leave the treatment room - you don’t get this at the dentist!

I haven’t been to the range yet but holding the pistol at home shows the sights crystal clear - now all I have to do is get rid of the shakes!

Now that I have had both eyes done I can see clearly for the first time in my life. I can’t thank Accuvision enough, it’s a first class professional service in a clean and friendly atmosphere- I wish they could laser some of the other parts of my body.

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Review by Usha - Posted on 11/06/2007 - Rating: 5/5
It's been four weeks since I had lasik surgery at Accuvision in Solihull. Having worn glasses for 13 years and having a strength of -6 in both eyes, I can't begin to explain how fantastic it is to be glasses and contact lens free. I chickened out before when I went to a different clinic but Accuvision were fantastic. My consultant, Vikash, was lovely, really put me at ease and took time to explain the procedure and was very patient with me even though I must've asked him the same questions over. The surgery was quick, painless and I could see as soon as it was over. I'm going for my second check-up appointment in a couple weeks time and I'm confident that everything is fine. Accuvision also worked out cheaper than the other two places I got quotes for and one of the other clinics I went to, told me that I was not a suitable candidate when I really was! Have recommended the clinic to all glasses wearers, my mum is booked in next month and my husband is going for a consulation. As I said, would recommend to anyone - very friendly staff, they haven't tired with my phonecalls and they answer all questions.

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Review by Adam Davies - Posted on 08/06/2007 - Rating: 5/5
I had my surgery on 31 May at Fulham and found the experience excellent value for the money when compared to other services offered by competitors. The surgeon talked to me throughout the procedure to put me at ease and as it was all over within 10 minutes or so you dont have enough time to think of any negative thoughts. It was similar to having a filling at the dentist but with the belief that no more visits would be required!
Overall no complaints at all and I am left with perfect vision.

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Review by Helen Campbell - Posted on 02/06/2007 - Rating: 5/5
I have just had my eyes checked again at Accuvision,13 months after I had my eyes done, purely to make sure that all is on track, as I have not had any problems however did so just to be on the safe side - they are in execellent condition and have better than 20/20 vision. I am still thrilled with the results and the professional care I received from Accuvison - would strongly recommend as my experince has been 100% positive.

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Review by Sally-Ann Hardwick - Posted on 05/06/2007 - Rating: 5/5
I am in my 30's and was fed up with contact lenses and not be able to see when I went swimming. I was -5.25 in both eyes with astigmatism. My optician advised me not to get my hopes up and I would probably end up needing glasses for driving ( a -1). I was so nervous but the staff were wonderful, the lady even held my hand whilst I had it done. It is not at all painful and by that evening I was watching TV with only a slight blurring. The next day I returned to have my bandage lenses out and within a couple of hours could see well enough to drive! 6 weeks after I saw my optician who was very excited to check my eyes. He said the healing was good and there was no scar on my cornea. He said another optician wouldn't even know I had it done. I was perfect in one eye and slightly long sighted in the other. He said this would fluctuate for a while but he said I couldn't have hoped for a better result. I have my 3/4 month check up tomorrow and I am sure that will go well. I had slightly dry eyes for 2 weeks but the drops I was given fixed that. If in doubt go for a consulation, I wished I had done this years ago!

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Review by Caroline Newman - Posted on 22/05/2007 - Rating: 5/5
After thinking about having eye surgery for 18 years,I am so pleased that I chose Accuvision. The whole experience was professional from the time I picked up the phone to discuss a possible appointment through to my aftercare. Thinking about eye surgery and actually doing it is a big deal, and they dealt with it excellently. 10/10

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Review by Suky Paul - Posted on 16/05/2007 - Rating: 4.75/5
As with most people I spent a lot of time looking into laser correction. 1 appointment at Optical Express left me unimpressed, and Optical Express left me disappointed. They told me I would probably never achieve 20:20 vision! Accuvision didn’t make any promises, but were extremely professional, clinic was clean and modern, and I discovered 2 friends had had it done there with amazing results. Their prescriptions were worse than mine!!

My eyes were -4.0 each eye before my consultation, but they measured -3.25 during the consultation. Was a little worried but Accuvision assured me that they were correct readings and it was better to be under rather than over.

I had Wavefront LASIK surgery (Solihull) on the 8th May 07. The whole procedure was quick and painless. The eye clamps were a little uncomfortable but that’s all. Cutting of the flap was surprisingly quick (less than 10 secs) and I was surprised that the 1st eye was done so quickly!

20 minutes after waiting in the recovery room (eyes closed) I was checked, given my eye drops and I could go home. Spent the evening with eyes closed and relaxing. Next morning had the protective lenses removed and had near 20:20 vision. Was a little disappointed that they weren’t 20:20 already!

It’s been a week, some dry eyes for 2/3 days. Some ‘fog/haze’ for a day or two, then settled down. Right eye not as good as left, constantly checking by covering each eye (number plates on cars, road signs etc).

Had my 1 week check up yesterday – I can just about make out the 20:10 line on the chart (two lines better than 20:20 vision), so I am absolutely overjoyed.

The dryness is worse last thing at night and when I wake up in the morning, but its getting better. Eyes feel a bit ‘sticky’ and I blink to focus on far things – guess that’s my brain adjusting to being able to see so far! I’m reassured in knowing it’ll take a while for the eyes to heal and vision will fluctuate up and down.

Will post more comments in June after my 1 Month check up, but I recommend the Solihull Accuvision clinic immensely. Cost me £1500 all in!!

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Review by Sharon (update) - Posted on 13/05/2007 - Rating: 5/5
Just to update - I had my 3 week check up last Wednesday, and everything is fab! I've still got a bit of dryness, so have been supplied with more drops, but overall its much less uncomfortable than wearing contact lenses. To be fair, I never really had a huge problem with contacts other than losing them, I just kind of got used to my eyes feeling slightly odd and never really thought much of it. I think the main reason I notice the slight dryness more now is because I'm conscious of not being able to rub my eyes!

I've been driving with no problems since day 4, and was told at the recent check up that I can now resume swimming, kayaking etc so I'm really pleased about that as I was expecting to have to stay out of water for much longer.

The 'smeariness' I mentioned has gone, apparently that was do to with my tear film, and even night vision is a lot better.

Overall really, really pleased and well worth the cash and stress!!

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Review by Dr Lorna Steel - Posted on 11/05/2007 - Rating: 5/5
Truly amazing results. I have been wearing contacts for ten years with no problems, but a friend of mine had laser correction a few years ago and I have thought about it ever since. I sent off for info from about 5 clinics, but I went for Accuvision for several reasons: free consultation, reasonable prices, latest technology and close to where I live. There was no pressure to sign up, and I was even shown a very explicit video of an operation and shown into the operating suite (I wanted to know exactly what would happen). I was fairly sure I was going ahead, but I wanted to think about it, so I took away a list of dates for the next few months. Having thought about it for a couple of weeks, I booked for Feb 22nd. Obviously it was very scary, but the staff do their best to keep you relaxed, and each eye only took a few seconds. Afterwards, I could see better, but it felt like being underwater. This is due to swelling of the tissues, which soon subsides. On the way home I felt very photosensitive, and over the next few days I wore sunglasses. My eyes were dry first thing in the morning for a couple of weeks, but that didn't persist, and neither did the night halos around street lights. I had 20/20 vision on my first check up, and now my prescription is zero in both eyes, which couldn't be better. One month after my surgery I went on holiday and was able to enjoy swimming without worrying about getting my contact lenses wet. This set me back £1800, but I'm paying it back over 10 months interest free. I would strongly recommend Accuvision, I just wish I'd done it sooner. I think it's good that pre-op and post-op patients sit together, that way the pre-op people know what to expect and the post-op people can reassure them!

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Review by Helen Reynolds - Posted on 07/05/2007- Rating: 5/5
I had my surgery done on 4th April 2007 at Solihull. I cannot fault the care from start to finish. Both my eyes were approx -3.50 My left eye has better vision than I had with my glasses and my right eye is as good as if I were wearing my glasses. To say I was nervous of the procedure was an understatement, but I can honestly say nothing hurt during the procedure and the level of discomfort afterwards was minimal and very short lived.
I rested my eyes as instructed and I do believe this is crucial to a fast and painless experience. I know everybody has different pain thresholds and different healing rates - but I considered both mine to be low!
I now feel like I've never worn glasses as my vision now is so good and so natural I would never have believed it was possible. Thank you Accuvision.

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Review by Zoé Wilson - Posted on 25/04/2007 - Rating: 4.75/5
Had lasik at the Fulham branch just over a week ago. Despite being very nervous, the experience was extremely positive and I am already recommending Accuvision to my closest family and friends. I have no regrets of opting for Lasik or choosing (after lots of research) this clinic. I had 20:20 vision 24 hours after the surgery, which was quick and did not hurt. As a result I have been freed from painful lens use and I only wish I had been able to do this earlier. The single thing which could have been improved is the fact that post-op patients and those awaiting surgery sit in the same area – the obvious discomfort of an earlier patient (who I later found out had undergone a different procedure) certainly exacerbated my nerves. Having said this, every member of staff I encountered at Accuvision was extremely kind, caring and professional; I cannot thank them enough for my ‘new eyes’.

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Review by James - Posted on 25/04/2007 - Rating: 5/5
I had wavefront lasik at their Parsons Green clinic in London a couple of weeks ago.

Consultation was great with no pressure to book up, which was refreshing as i felt under pressure to go ahead at the other consulatations I had. I went to 4 different places before deciding to opt for Accuvision. I chose them as they made me feel at ease, seemed honest, were not pushy, and they seem to have greater experience of dealing successfully with poorer prescriptions like mine. They were also competitively priced.

The actual surgery day was quick and comfortable. They have been professional, polite and curteous at all times. I was only there about 1.5 hours on the day of the surgery, which included them rechecking my prescription, etc.

Immediately afterwards my vision was a bit foggy/blurry but by the time of my check up the next day i could see ok. I had -9 eyes before! Ive now had my one week check up and have 20/20 vision in my right eye. Not quite there in my left eye yet but will update you after my 1 month check up. This may be because they altered their assesment of my left eye prescription slightly on the day of surgery saying it wasn't quite as bad as before. I suspect if they hadnt tweeked it that eye would be perfect now also. I will withhold verdict on this though until my 1 month check up. Anyhows, im glad I did it. I'm at -0.1 in my right eye and -0.3 in my left at the moment with no problems which is alot better than -9 eyes! I can now live my life completely free of glasses or contact lenses.

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Review by Sharon - Posted on 15/04/2007 - Rating:5/5
I was done on Thursday at the Solihull clinic, have gone from -6.5 in right eye to -0.25 and -3.75 in left to -0.5. Absolutely amazing, the team there were really good. Things are still a little smeary, which I was assured will get better - it feels a bit like having contact lenses which have been in slightly too long. Info on this site was hugely helpful, enough people have described what the actual procedure is like so I won't bore you! I was very scared, and the surgical team had to keep reminding me to try and breathe normally as I was hyperventilating for the whole of the first eye. Of course that meant I got an extra dose of that gross smell, which even though I had been expecting it was quite unpleasant. The smell does go on for the full 10 seconds, for some odd reason I was surprised by that. I think it's really good that they have everyone in the same waiting room, as it makes you feel they have nothing to hide that way. Next check up is Thursday so will update then. All the best to anyone else who is going in!

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Review by Richard Wise - Posted on 12/04/2007 - Rating:5/5
I wanted to give you a brief step by step guide through the process from initial enquiry through to surgery and the follow up.

I have been wearing glasses for around 10 years now and being in my late 20's and still playing a fair bit of sport & surfing; I had become increasingly annoyed with wearing glasses and uncomfortable, tired eyes after a day of wearing contact lenses.

After my initial enquiry I received an appointment confirmation & DVD in the post the next day. I found this fantastic in giving me an idea of what to expect during the initial consultation and provided I was a suitable candidate, what I could expect from the next steps.

Upon arriving for the first appointment, I was impressed to hear that Accuvision treat a lot of the patients other laser surgery clinics cannot - already I began to feel more assured!

I had my eyes tested which I am always quite frustrated about, having to admit to myself that my vision is just not at all good!

Then, on to the more specialised checks which I found very reassuring, given we have only one set of eyes, I for one want to be sure that the best available technology will be at the surgeons disposal.

I was a suitable candidate for Accuwave Lasik treatment and booked a time to come back in for my surgery.
I arrived on the day, being sure to have followed all of the pre surgery requirements and was ready to go - slightly apprehensive, but this was more due to the unknown. I watched the testimonials from the DVD though & I was never scared or in doubt of having the surgery done.
I was taken though after my first checks were done and lay down ready to take the next steps in regaining my vision.

The process was literally 5 minutes per eye and not in the least bit painful, even though I was preparing myself for some discomfort there was none of it! I had to wait in the reception before going back in for a quick check, my surgeon Dr Brett Halliday, did notice a bit of debris but upon removing the protective contact lens found it was on the contact lens itself - so no need to worry and sent me home to rest.

I have been for my one day follow up and am overjoyed in that I left with 20-20 vision and was told by Vic that it will still get better as things tighten up and the eye continues to heal!

I can thoroughly recommend the clinic, staff, surgeons and the procedure and have already suggested my wife and family consider having it done as this will be truly life changing!

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Review by Sandy Johnson - Posted on 06/04/2007 - Rating:5/5
I found the testimonials both on this site and lasik-eyes.co.uk invaluable so thought it only right to add mine.

My prescription Right Eye; Sphere minus 8.00 / Cyl minus 3.25 / Axis 25. Left Eye; Sphere minus 8.25 / Cyl minus 2.75 / Axis 158

Friday 16th March 2007 I went to Optical Express in Birmingham and must say the experience left me cold! It felt much like a cattle market and not at all personal.

I was told I would be suitable for treatment and was encouraged to pay a deposit there and then in order to secure my operation as soon as possible. This gave me the feeling of a sales-orientated environment and not one whose MAIN goal is the improvement of the patients eyes... (This comes from a woman who is a qualified independent mortgage adviser – who would never resort to ‘hard sell’ tactics).

Suffice to say I did NOT pay a deposit and told them that I intended seeing at least one more clinic before deciding.

I had already booked my initial consultation with Accuvision on Friday 23rd March. From the moment I arrived at the Solihull clinic I felt comfortable with the environment. Vik was great he carried out the various eye checks and said I was suitable for Accuwave Lasik treatment. He explained the procedure, answered all my questions and said that should I proceed my surgeon would be Brett Halliday.

I left the clinic with 4 dates when the next treatments would be conducted, no pressure to pay a deposit and book the surgery there and then. I was already 95% sure that I would return to Accuvision, but thought it through over the weekend. I rang the clinic first thing on Monday and booked my treatment for the earliest available date and I underwent surgery yesterday, Wednesday 4th April 2007.

I must confess to having doubts right up until the moment I was in the laser room, in fact the day before I was removing my spectacles saying to myself it wasn’t so bad wearing contact lenses and spectacles (I had worn spectacles since I was 6 and gas permeable contact lenses since I was 17).

My appointment was 12 noon – I arrived to find about 5 people calmly sitting in the reception area with their eyes closed due to the fact they had each already undergone surgery. I joined the few that were awaiting their pre-op tests.

When one of the pre-op tests was conducted it showed that the surface of my eyes had altered which suggested that my prescription had altered. I therefore had my vision checked by Vik once more to confirm the current measurements. At this point I was worried I would not be operated on that day. I voiced this to Vik who assured me that they would indeed be proceeding.

I eventually had my surgery just before 3pm. There is absolutely nothing to be worried about. I did get a little concerned when I was told to watch the green light and I said ‘I can’t see a green light’ – but was reassured that this was normal!

WOW! I could see without visual aids!!!!

I left the clinic after a final check from Brett and the instruction to rest my eyes for half the time. I spent last night watching a little TV then closing my eyes. I inserted a drop in each eye every hour, as instructed. At 11:30pm I decided it was time for bed and my partner attached the eye shields and had a chuckle at my expense! I woke up several times through the night, which is normal for me. At 6:30am my eyes felt a little gritty and I thought I would like to rub them and sat on edge of bed willing myself to ignore the sensation – my partner suggested inserting drops which was a good move and I went back to sleep for an hour and woke up with no feeling of sore or gritty eyes.

I went back for my 1 day check up at 11:45am (sitting in the waiting room reading a magazine!). They were happy with my progress – not yet 20:20, but was reassured that my vision would improve day upon day.

As you can see from this diary entry I am using my laptop computer with no problems seeing the screen or keyboard. I say again WOW!

I really do wish I had been in a position to have undergone this surgery when I was younger – I am now 43, but hey better late than never.

I will endeavour to post another one or two diary entries as time goes on and hope that it helps you to make up your mind.

It occurred to me that I am very fortunate to have been able to undergo this surgery and wanted to donate my old glasses to a worthwhile organisation. I searched the internet by entering 'donate spectacles'. You may be interested to do the same.... I opted for the second sight project on the following link: http://www.secondsightproject.com/index.php you can enter your name and address and an envelope will be sent to you - they require a £1 donation to process.

Feel free to e-mail me.

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Review by Doreen Weber - Posted on 03/04/2007 - Rating:5/5
Ops on 15Mar07, -5 on both sides with tiny ast. in right. Had checked lots of websites (incl this one, invaluable!!) and decided to check out Accuvision, Optimax and Optical Express. Narrowed it down to Accuvision and Optical Express and made appointments for the consultation. Got the paperwork from Accuvision the next day, Optical Express didn't even manage to send the promised material within a week (and subsequently I cancelled the appointment).
Consultation went well, thicker than average cornea and small pupils, both things apparently very promising. Took a couple of days to decide (no hard sell whatsoever, no chasing or anything) then booked the op. Surgeon was B. Halliday with excellent reputation. Got a nurse to hold my hand during the op, no pain whatsover (still nerve-wracking though)just a bit uncomfortable. Then a few hours of pain, I think the protective lenses they put in seriously irritated my eyes - tears streaming down my face, didn't want to open them and had to take really strong pain killers. But vision was good (took the odd peek, couldn't help it) and the pain subsided towards night time. Went to bed with the funny eye covers on (small minus point: no reference made how best to fit them) and woke up the next morning pain free and seeing pretty well. Checkup was bril, already 20:20, and then the lenses came out (talk about pain then!). Since then quite sensitive to sun and wind (sun glasses are essential) but very good vision. I returned to work after 4 days, apart from slightly dry eyes no problems.
Happy about the whole thing, was well worth it.

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Review by Sam - Posted on 03/04/2007 - Rating: 4.75/5
Well, I had my eyes done in October. The first week, everything was quite misty and my eyes felt gritty. Once the mist cleared my vision was really good, apart from first thing in the morning. I did suffer with my eyes being very dry though and was quite reliant on drops for the first couple of months. I have left it this long as I wanted to write a fair report. It is now almost six months and my eyesight is fantastic, I never allowed myself to hope that I would see this well. The dryness has now gone, and the only slightly negative thing is that I get starburst effect at night. However, this is not uncomfortable and doesn't bother me much, since I used to get it with contact lens and to a certain extent with glasses anyway.

I felt that Chad Rostrom did a great job. The only criticism of the service I can give is that I felt that I was rushed out into the waiting room whilst still feeling faint. The aftercare was great though, I was worried about the itchiness in my eyes and was advised to come straight away to see someone, and they even posted me eye drops when I couldn't come to the clinic. All in all, it was the best thing I have done and I am so glad that I took the risk

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Review by Sally Gilbert - Posted on 22/03/2007 - Rating: 4.75/5
I was -9 in both eyes, so was delighted when Accuvision were able to treat me in April 2006. I had previously gone to Ultralase who advised that I was not suitable, so to have a positive response from Accuvision was great. I was a bit concerned when they said they could do it as I had already been told I was unsuitable but they reassured me that they had more advanced machinery and could treat patients with a higher prescription.

I was made to feel comfortable at all times and the treatment and aftercare were brilliant. I now have 20/20 vision which is amazing as I was so short sighted before. Both my friends and family were amazed wtih the results and I would recommend Accuvision to anyone.

Don't put it off any longer, go for it - it's well worth the money.

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Review by Mark Hearne - Posted on 15/03/2007 - Rating: 5/5
I had my surgery done back in September as a couple of my friends had had their done at this clinic earlier the same year. I have been completely satisfied with all aspects of the car I have receieved and with the quality of my vision etc which is now better than 20/20 in both eyes. My pre surgery prescription was -5.00 in the left eye and -4.75 in the right eye, it is a pleasure to not have to worry about lenses anymore !

Both of my friends have also been more than satisfied with their results and I have subsequently referred 2 people on to accuvision in the last few months with again the same results.

I am sure we all know the risks etc but accuvision are good from the consultation period (no pressure to sign up and good info !) through to the day of surgery and after care. I would completely recommend their service and wish anyone who is considering having surgery luck.

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Review by Benjamin Davis - Posted on 12/03/2007 - Rating: 5/5
I had my treatment at Accuvision in Fulham and the service they provided me was absolutely amazing.

I had previously had a consultation with Optical Express on Shaftesbury Avenue in London. I was appalled by their consultation and sales methods and I knew 100% that I would never let them near my eyes. Their advertising was so misleading. They say their fees start from £395 per eye but they ended up quoting me £3040. Then in the actual consultation they put the drops in my eyes that dilate the pupils. It severely blurred my vision but they insisted I then read and sign an 8 page document. I told her I couldn't see it properly because they had blurred my vision with the drops but she insisted that I tried. I then said their fee of £3040 was more than I had been expecting to pay. She started pressuring me to hand over a £200 deposit so they could start processing a loan for me to cover the fees. I told her I didn't want to take out a loan and I wanted time to think about it. She then started telling me that they were getting very booked up and if I didn't pay the £200 deposit then I may not be able to have treatment for a couple of months. It was a very uncomfortable experience and I would never recommend them to anyone. At one point in the consultation I was left sitting there for over an hour. They kept telling me someone would be with me soon. They only really seemed interested in the money and showed no concern for the needs of individual patients.

I discovered Accuvision by doing a search online. I was attracted to them because they only offered Wavefront which was the treatment I was interested in. I booked a free consultation with them. During the consultation I learnt more in 5 minutes than I did in 2 hours with Optical Express. Accuvision carefully explained everything that could go right and everything that could go wrong. They were so thorough and explained every possible detail of the proceedure. They told me absolutely everything I should do before and after the treatment. The clinic was beautiful and clean and modern and I felt I could trust them. I booked myself in for treatment a week later.

They charged me £1700 for Custom Wavefront Lasik. My prescription was -5.00 and -3.25. I was getting a better treatment for half the price quoted by Optical Express.

The actual day of the proceedure went very smoothly. I arrived at 10am and was finished by 10.25am. First they took some more measurements and compared them to the ones taken a week before in my consultation. I was then taken into another room where I met the surgeon and signed the consent form. Then it was straight through to Laser room. I was told to lay down on the bed and they immediately got to work. They put drops in my eyes so I couldn't feel anything. My left eye was covered while they worked on the right one. To be honest I kind of switched off and didn't really know what was happening. You see some lights and you feel a bit of pressure when they cut the flap. It's quite intense but I almost felt like I was asleep and having a strange dream. You hear a small motor noise as they cut the flap and then it all goes blurry as they pull the flap back. You feel no pain at all. Then the laser pulses for a few seconds and you smell a bit of burning. Again, there is absolutely no pain. Then you see the surgeon putting the flap back in place and covering it with a bandage contact lens (like a daily disposable contact lens). Then it's done and they start on the other eye. I think the nurse took my pulse at this point but I was fine.

Ten minutes later I was sitting up and could see. My vision was a little hazy but I could see perfectly through the haze. I walked back to the waiting and sat there for 20 minutes with my eyes closed. I couldn't resist opening my eyes every couple of minutes as I could see so clearly. It was like a miracle. Then the surgeon put some more drops in my eyes, gave me some instructions for the next 24 hours and sent me on my way. It was so quick and easy and I couldn't believe that an hour earlier I couldn't even walk around without my glasses on for fear of bumping into things.

I was so impressed by the service given to me by Accuvision and their unbeatable and honest pricing. It's rare to find an organisation that shows such care and attention to their patients. I felt completely at ease and I knew I was in safe and experienced hands. They next day they took out the bandage contact lens and I had better-than-perfect vision. My results were even better than they had expected and they said my vision would continue to improve over the next few days, which it has. I cannot thank them enough.

Accuvison don't give you a choice of different lasers like Optical Express do. They tell you what is best for you and they don't offer the choice of using a cheaper, less effective laser as is the case at Optical Express.

I cannot praise Accuvision enough for offering the best and latest technology at reasonable and honest prices. Our eyesight is so precious and should only be trusted with the best lasers. That's what Accuvision offers. They don't compromise on quality, they don't overcharge, they don't do misleading advertising and they don't pressure you at any point.

If you want the very best then only go to Accuvision.

Benjamin Davis, London

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Review by Sarah Brooks-Sayward- Posted on 11/03/2007- Rating: 5/5
On Wednesday 28th February 2007.I had a life changing eye operation. I lead an active life and Accuvision have improved my life style drastically for the better. The thought of never having to worry about contact lenses or glasses is WONDERFUL.From the minute I entered Accuvision I experienced a high level of professionalism and honesty.The staff are very friendly and made me feel at ease at all times. I was as expected on the day of surgery quite nurvous and was really pleased with the care and attention I was given.I would recommend Accuvision highly and I'm extremly happy with my new eyes.

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Review by Andy Mcfarlan Smith - Posted on 09/03/2007 - Rating: 5/5
I was -1.75 and -2.25 that was until Wednesday 28th of Feb; I then had my laser treatment at Accuvision Fulham. I chose them through a good friends recommendation, the cost of £1,100 for both eye looked good value. The team were friendly, the environment clean and there's plenty of tea. My operation was quick (pain less), my recovery swift. I've had two check ups, 24 hours later and 7 days. I already knew my 'new' eye sight was brilliant, but they did the checks to confirm 20:20. There are a few more checks to go before fully discharged, but for me no regrets.

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Review by Mark Rader - Posted on 09/03/2007 - Rating: 4.75/5
I had lasik surgery done in both eyes at the Fulham clinic, in January 2006... ie over 1 year ago. Purposely didn't write any comments immediately after surgery, because I wanted to see how things worked out long term, before giving a verdict.

Overall am extremely happy with the results. I had -3.5 in both eyes, and now my vision is 20:20.

Don't have to worry about contacts and glasses anymore, and my vision is so good that I have no regrets whatsoever about doing the surgery...although that's not to say that I haven't noticed various slight side-effects to my vision, post-surgery.

Night-vision isn't quite as good as before, reading in low-light is more difficult, and at night, light sources appear to have a lot of 'glare' around them. This last point has improved over 12 months. Also, as time goes by, I'm getting used the changes, so they just don't bother me as they did right after surgery.

In the months after the op, my eyes tended to get tired and dry at the end of the day. Happily this has now cleared up.

I got my surgery for just 1300 pounds was because in January 2006 they were offering new-year discounts. Not sure if they do that every year!

The staff at Accuvision were extremely professional, caring and helpful. Joan Griffin was my first point of contact and was there to see me throughout my appointments at the clinic. The surgeon (Chad Rostron) was also very professional and nice to deal with.

The procedure itself was quick and not painful, although momentarily uncomfortable!

There was a minor complication in my surgery, which Chad Rostron noticed when I returned to clinic for my 7-day check-up. Apparently, when the opened corneal flaps were put back into place at the end of surgery, they did not set properly. In the days after surgery, I was feeling some discomfort every time I blinked, as if my eyes were gritty. Chad advised me to go back into surgery to have the corneas re-lifted and re-set. I was very anxious about this, not wishing to put my eyes through any more stress than they had already undergone. However the process was quick, and I'm happy to say, effective. Afterwards, my eyes immediately felt much better.

Despite the minor problems, I would unreservedly recommend Accuvision. They maintained a high degree of professionalism throughout my treatment, and I'm very happy with the results. Two weeks after the surgery, I left England to go to live in Brazil, and I've been here ever since-- driving, swimming, surfing, and experiencing the sights of a new country, all without the hindrance of bad eye-sight. I haven't for one moment regretted having the surgery.

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Review by amanda weddell - Posted on 28/02/2007 - Rating: 5/5
i am very pleased with my experience at accuvision, the staff are friendly and explain everything clearly and make you feel relaxed. i had my eyes done a week ago and it has been a life changing experience, i have to pinch myself each day! the surgery did not hurt at all and the surgery took a few minutes for each eye with no discomfort at all, i was even driving the next day!!! i just wish i had known about accuvision years ago!! three of my friends have had the surgery in the last month and my husband is planning his appointment soon. excellent.

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Review by Katherine Allcott - Posted on 26/02/2007 - Rating: 4.75/5
The staff were helpful and it was very easy to get appointments. The only glitch was that apparently despite several attempts, the pre-operation pack did not get to me and the staff got a bit ratty with me for not having received it. The surgery was well explained and the people attending were reassuring. I had 20:20 vision walking out and 20:15 within a week. Very happy!

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Review by angela zapettis - Posted on 26/02/2007 - Rating:Not Applicable
I had lasik (monovision)last July at Accuvision in Fulham.Today I had my 6 month check up and have been signed off. Everything was excellent as I had expected as I have had a very smooth recovery.My eye sight is fantastic,better than I could have hoped for and I don't wear specs at all even when driving at night. Close vision is also excellent so I have the best of both worlds. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone at Accuvision especially Vik, Chad Rostron and the whole team for thier excellent care throughout.

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Review by Jyoti Choudrie - Posted on 26/02/2007 - Rating:5/5
I never imagined that I would see with my eyes (without my glasses and contact lens). I consulted many other laser eye specialists, but I was told that laser will not help. However, thanks to Accuvision I have managed to get near perfect sight, which is something that I never expected. It has been 3 months since my operation. I had -4.5 and -5 with an astigmatism and thin cornea. I was told by Accuvision that my sight may not be perfect, but I should be independent of glasses and contacts. I thought that the risk was worth it in the end. I have been to the Fulham clinic today and the verdict was that I have 20/20 in my right eye and a very slight prism in my left eye. My eyes are healing well and generally, they and I are really heppy. of course, it could also be that my eyes will be completely perfect, so there is another visit yet. However, Accuvision in Fulham saved me as I was told that laser eye surgery was out of the question for me. I had epi-lasik and the operation itself was for 5 to 10 minutes. The surgery was such that I did not feel any pain. The team was excellent and even now when I go back they are really welcoming. I would highly recommend Accuvision and laser eye treatment.

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Review by claire newman- Posted on 24/02/2007 - Rating:5/5
Wow! I was so lucky to find accuvision as no one else would treat my prescription. They were so professional and friendly. The results were far greater than I ever expected. I would recomment accuvision to anyone, it's changed my life completely.

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Review by Peter - Posted on 14/02/2007 - Rating:4.5/5
I had laser surgery at Accuvision in London in September 2006. I was -5.5 in both eyes with mild astigmastism. My Corneal thickness was apparently just below average.

Nearly 6 months on I have better than 20:20 vision in both eyes.

My advice is this: - take reviews written by folks 2 days or 2 weeks after the surgery with a pinch of salt. Initially its pretty euphoric to wake up and start to see things clearly!!!

I purposely held off making any comments until things had properly settled down and I'd gotten over that "Oh my god I can see!" stage!

My own personal experience is that I'm chuffed with my distance vision but there are minor side effects.

a) I now have 'floaters' - small black dots I am vaguely aware of at various points in the day (usually the morning). Your mind kind of ignores them but I know they are there. I didnt have these before surgery.

b) my night vision has been very poor until very recently. Strong halos and starfire effects on bright lights. This is a common side effect and it HAS improved with time. Currently I would say it is on a par with my pre surgery spectacle vision - which wasnt great. I hope this will continue to improve over time and Accuvision say it will.

c) in low light conditions my vision is 'grainy'. Definitely more so than when wearing contacts/specs before. I have seen no improvement in this.

d) In situations where I'm dealing with strong contrast eg watching telly with the room lights off - I get blurring at the edges.

e) reading small print (eg magazines) at the end of the day is sometimes difficult.

So overall regarding my vision I would say that overall the result has been "very good to excellent" but it certainly hasn't been perfect.

With time some I hope some of the above will improve and I'll update on here in another 6 months.

Commenting on Accuvision themselves I'd say:

a) Excellent surgeon (Chad Rostron) - highly recommended.

b) The Procedure itself is painless but I did find it mildly disturbing! Be prepared to be momentarily blind!!

c) After the procedure I was left sitting in the general waiting room for an hour before being allowed to open my eyes. This was supposed to be "15 minutes" so I wasn't too pleased at being left so long wondering if it had gone ok!! I also think there should be seperate rooms for pre and post surgery customers.

d) the consultation process wasnt as good as it should have been. I booked the consultation and surgery on the same day, with the surgery slot dependant on my eyes being suitable and my obviously wanting to go ahead. But at no point did anyone actually ask me if I wanted to proceed with the surgery - it was simply assumed I was going ahead.

e) Accuvision were excellent value for money for me - I paid £1700 all in and I had every faith in their technology and Mr Rostron.

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Review by Sarah Whittall - Posted on 02/02/2007 - Rating:5/5
Update.....

Just been back to Accuvision Solihull for my 6 month check up, and have been advised that I have 130% vision, fantastic, think I must be bionic now.

All painless and truthfully the best decision I have made in my life, please do not be put off by the scare mongering that goes on, the results these days and the technology that these guys use are second to none.

It is unbeleivable to be able to have the vision that I now have, my pre op presciption was -7.00 in both eyes, they are now better than any of my non glasses wearing friends!

If anyone requires any advise, or hand holding please get in touch, I would love to help guide anyone through this amazing procedure.

Thanks again to all of the staff at Accuvision, what a truly rewarding job you do, you are all miracle workers and dream makers. xxxx.

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Review by Nick Dries - Posted on 30/01/2007 - Rating:5/5
I had my operation at the the Fulham clinic on the 18th January and one week on I am really pleased with the result. I looked into it for a long time and had a consultation with optical express but then a friend recommended Accuvision to me. I was not impressed with Optical Express at all because they were very unprofessional, I went into their high street kensington branch to pay for my the operation but there was no one there to arrange despite being told on the phone that it could be arranged on anyday. They then told me that I would be able to arrange it at Shaftesbury Avenue but they too were unable to take my booking. I also thought it cheeky that they advertise it as costing from £395 per eye but I have yet to hear of anyone who has had it done for this price. They wanted £2,600 for my prescription which was only -1.25 in each eye. I therefore decided to have another consultation elsewhere.

Accuvision have been superb from the start the staff are all very friendly and they put you ease. The operation was very quick and not painful at all. It lasts about 10 minutes in total. Everything is explained thorougly. When I went back the next day my eyesight was of driving standard but as the week has progressed my eyesight has improved and it is now 20/20. They do not offer intralase but they explained why they have not chosen to introduce this yet. I paid £1,500 for my treatment but was prepared to pay a lot more for the best result. Having it done at Ultralase or Optical Express would have cost me at least £1,000 more.

It is one of the best decisions I have made. I know from my own experience that whether to undergo the operation is a very difficult decision to make but I am so pleased that I decided to go ahead.

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Review by Shelly Doran - Posted on 27/01/2007 - Rating:5/5
I went to see an eye consultant after noticing my left eye had started to squint inwards. He advised me to have lasik laser surgery instead of doing a squint operation as he said lasik would improve my vision making my eyes stronger and so reducing the squint.He reccomended Accuvision in Fulham so off I went for a consultation.The staff there were fantastic. During my consultation they were very honest and said that although the lasik would improve my vision they could not guarantee it would help my squint. After much though and on the advice of my eye consultant I decided to have the lasik done and I have never been so glad!!! My eyes were a bit hazy for about a week after but my vision was unbelivable.Not only that but my squint had virtually gone to the point where i am not half as consious about it.I cant believe it! Am so happy with the result and cannot reccomend accuvision enough,they are honest,friendly and so proffesional.Im so glad i had lasik done!

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Review by Karoline Nakken - Posted on 18/01/2007 - Rating:5/5
I have spent countless hours wondering what it would be like, to wake in the morning and see everything in my room clearly as soon as I open my eyes. To be honest, I never really thought much could be done about it and simply settled for going through my morning ritual of groping for my lenses and poking my eyes to put them in. I think the thing that bothered me most, was feeling helpless until I put on my lenses. I have never liked wearing contact lenses. They make my eyes terribly dry when I wear them too long and besides that they have given me a couple of eye infections too. I dislike glasses even more, as they are so cumbersome. However, I am studying for my master's degree so I need to see clearly as I put my eyes under strain for many hours of reading, so there wasn't really an alternative, or so I thought. Your eyes are so important and I think a lot of people take their vision for granted. People around me started to say lots of great things about laser eye surgery. I'm 24 and thought I might be too young but the idea really appealed to me. At the same time I was really afraid of the thought of it. My vision was bad but was I really sure that I wanted to risk what poor quality of vision I did have? I thought about have laser eye surgery for a long time. I'd go from extremes, one minute thinking it was a great idea and that I should do it as soon as possible and the next minute I would put myself off through fear. So I did a lot of research on the internet and decided to face my fears and go and speak to Accuvision, who were highly recommended to me by close friends. The people who met me there were incredible. They checked my eyes very thoroughly, explained everything about the surgery and showed me pictures of my eyes. I even saw in one picture how my extended use of contact lenses had scratched the tissue of my eye. They really took their time answering all of my many questions, and didn't rush me into anything. I really appreciate that. Looking back now, I do not understand what I was so nervous about. The procedure lasted only 5 minutes and was completely painless. The staff talked to me the whole time, explaining what they were doing and making sure I was OK. Right after the surgery my sight was a bit blurry, but I could already see far better than I had done with my contact lenses! When I woke up the next morning, I went straight to the window and stood staring at everything for 15 minutes. I couldn't believe my eyesight was perfect. I can't emphasis what a wonderful shock that is. It really stuns you being able to see perfectly on your own. I don't know how to thank the staff at Accuvision. They have changed my life. What they have done for me is amazing. They really care about the people they treat. The day after the surgery I went back to check my eyes and they have made sure I will go back again soon for another check- up. They have even called me to make sure everything is fine. They really believe in what they do, and feel rewarded by their job. You don't find too many places like that today! I am enjoying my new eyes everyday and I can't find words for how grateful I am and glad that I trusted Accuvision with my eyesight. Karoline Nakken, Miss Norway 2005

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Review by Geoffrey Paul Adams- Posted on 16/01/2007 - Rating:5/5
Having worn contact lenses for many years particularly for sport, the freedom i have now with excellent vision is unbelievable.
My vision is 6/5 which is better than normal.

Best decision I have ever made

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Review by Andrea Ewing- Posted on 07/01/2007 - Rating:5/5
This tesimonial is for those with a high prescription and long sighted.
Those people with higher prescriptions may only understand the stigma of having to wear glasses that magnify your eyes to the siize of golf balls! I have worn contact lenses for years and although I had no problems with them, I could not be without them. I wore them too long and worried about the long term affects. I required my golf ball enhanced glasses when I woke up in the morning prior to putting my lenses in. I could not open the door to anyone incase I gave them a fright at the magnitude of my lenses (even though I'd paid a fortune to have slimmer lenses they could not hide the fact I had exceptionally poor vision. They also enhanced my wrinkles). My prescription was +6.0 in both eyes. Other companies would not touch me. Accuvision were the only company to give me a consultation. I wasn't promised 20/20 vision but although that would have been nice, all I wanted was the ability to function without the aid of ugly magnified glasses or the inconvenience of contact lenses.
I was thrilled when I was told they could help me. I had the laser treatment in October and haven't looked back. I can drive and function without the aid of glasses. However I do require glasses to read small print, I just bought some cheap glasses from the supermarket, which makes a huge difference to the price I was paying for my previous prescription. My life has been enhanced as I can see the clock in the morning and I don't have to get up half an hour before to allow my eyes to wake up prior to putting my lenses in. I can be more spontaneous if Im visitng family and stay over as I dont need my contact lens cleaning kit.
All I can say is thank you accuvision - you have given me the most precious gift. If you are like me and are in a dilemna don't think twice just go for it - you wont regret it.

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Review by karen - Posted on 07/01/2007 - Rating:5/5
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone at Accuvision a Happy New Year.

It is now 3 months since surgery at Fulham and I am very pleased with my vision-special thanks to Chad Rostron,Daryus and Vik who answered my long list of Pre-Lasik questions in detail.I would not hesitate to recommend Accuvision for their expertise.The operation was very short and painless.

My Vision pre op was -5 and I had worn rigid contact lenses for 29 years of which for 17 years they were gas permeable .

For the last 2.5 years rather than wearing reading glasses I opted for Monovision lenses where one eye had lesser correction to enable me to focus close up.

I was able to have corrective surgery with monovision.It is truly amazing after 40 years of shortsightedness to be able to see both distance and close up without visual aids.

Karen

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