Eye Laser Surgery Testimonials

Review by Dave Burns
Posted on 13/12/2003
Rating: 5/5

I had my surgery three weeks ago after what has amounted to a seven year deliberation. My prescription was -10 sph, -2.75 and -12 sph, -1.5 cyl so you could say I was more than a little short-sighted. I have worn glasses or contact lenses since I was seven years old. I am now 39. When I finally decided to go for an assessment, I chose Accuvision. I saw their ad in the newspaper and then checked out both their website and this website and felt comfortable that they were a good start to this quest. My expectations were split between being totally unsuitable and being suitable for a partial correction. So when I had my first appontment with Joan, who explained all the measurements, the safe thresholds that Accuvision worked within and that they could aim for total correction although the final outcome was dependent on the healing process, I became quite excited. A few days later, I booked myself in for the surgery.

The surgery itself, performed by Chad Rostron, went very well and my anxiety beforehand was well misplaced. After the surgery, I felt no pain and very little discomfort. At the one week assessment with Vikash, my right eye was 20/20 and my left was a little less which actually means I can see as good, if not better, now than I ever could with glasses or contact lenses.

I, personally cannot say that Accuvision are better than any other clinic because they are the only one I experienced. But the people are informative and friendly, their technology is well advanced and I am one happy customer. Many thanks to Joan, Chad and Vikash et al for making a difference in my life.

Review by Sally Jennings
Posted on 12/10/2003
Rating: 5/5

At age 37 my long sight was becoming more of a problem as I got older. I had worn contact lenses since I was in my late 20's and had some damage to my eyes as a result of excessive wear. Basically I had grown extra blood vessels due to my eyes being starved of oxygen. This then resulted in having to wear glasses which I hated, and by the end of the day I struggled to see clearly even with glasses on. I remember not being able to read a menu with my glasses on, and decided I had to find out about laser treatment.

I had changed my optician and asked her about laser treatment to be told I would not be suitable because my sight prescription was too high, +4.75 and +3.75, and because I had 'dry' eyes. My heart sank. Still, she recommended I find out for sure and I telephoned several clinics including Optimax, Ultralase and Accuvision. The first two advised me that my prescription was too high to be treated, but they could have a go at one eye, although they didn't think the result would be very good. It was cheaper, about half the price of Accuvision, but I was not prepared to chance my eyesight for only minimal improvement. They didn't have the technology that Accuviosion had hence the lower cost. I received a lot of brochures and telephone calls from sales staff, even though they had said I wasn't a suitable candidate.

After a telephone converation with Accuvision I travelled the 70 miles to London for a consultation. I felt like I was clutching at straws and had braced myself for the liklihood that I would be turned down for treatment. Initially they were concerned about my dry eyes and sent me to another nearby location to have further tests. Finally, once they were happy with the results I heard the magic words that they could treat me. I was so excited, a life free of glasses. They were totally honest with me from the start and told me that they thought 20/20 vision was unlikely, but that somewhere close to that was achievable. That was fine by me. I was having to wear glasses from the time I got out of bed until I got back in it.

I had my wavefront guided lasik treatment on 29 May 2003. I was very nervous on the day, but all the staff there are very nice and put you at ease. I felt sensation during the lasik treatment but no pain, it only took minutes per eye. I had some problems with very dry eyes and had to use a lot of eye drops. I had fluctuating vision and I experienced halos around light at night time for a few weeks. I had been warned this may happen, especially as I had already had dry eyes. My vision was in effect very short sighted whilst my eyes were very dry and I couldn't drive. I had my follow up appointments with Vikash Patel who was brilliant. If I was worried I telephoned and staff were always there to reassure me.

Now just over four months since the treatment I don't need glasses for reading, driving - anything. I haven't got 20/20 vision in both eyes, my left eye is slightly short sighted, but it doesn't cause me any problems. Not a day goes past when I don't wonder at my amazing sight. It was the best £4000 I have ever spent.

If you are thinking of having lasik treatment I would thoroughly recommend Accuvision and to consider the following:
Take your time and do your research thoroughly,
Don't be harassed by 'hard sell' companies,
Remember you generally get what you pay for, and lastly
You can't put a price on your eyesight.

I have been delighted with all of my care and would like to thank all at Accuvision especially Joan, Darius and Vikash. If you wish to contact me about my own experience please do so at sallyjennings66@hotmail.com

Review by Jill
Posted on 21/09/2003
Rating: 5/5

Fourteen years ago I made what was probably the worst decision of my life. I had corrective eye surgery. Not laser surgery - that was still in the experimental stage at the time - but the old so-called 'Russian Operation' or to give it its proper name Radial Keratotomy (RK). This had had some amount of publicity back in the late 1980s. At that time I had worn glasses for myopia for 16 years. I had loathed and detested them from the outset. At age 16 I progressed to contact lenses (my father bought me them as a present for passing all my 'O' Levels, probably the only reason I did any revision!) I subsequently wore them morning, noon and night and ended being told by my optician that my eyes would inevitably reject them at some time in the future. Panic set in until I saw an article about RK. It involved making between 4, 8,12 or 16 microscopic incisions in the cornea which would then flatten it, thus reducing the myopia. To cut a long story short I had the operation in June 1989. The plan was to do my slightly worse right eye first then follow on with the left when this had stabalised. I went into the operating theatre confident that it would work. I was sadly disillusioned. The refraction was reduced by a paltry dioptre and I was left with eight scars on my right eye. I was devastated. Fortunately I was still able to wear contact lenses but the fit on the right eye was never as good as the left. As the years went by and laser surgery began to gain momentum I bitterly regretted having the RK - if only I had waited. I was led to believe by various opticians that I should count myself lucky I could still wear contacts and that no laser clinic would ever touch my damaged eye. Then I discovered this web-site and posted an account of my problem. Accuvision were the only clinic to return a comprehensive reply. On studying their web-site and the comments made on lasik-eyes I soon realised that if anyone could help then they could. The only thing I found slightly off-putting was the location - I live in Leeds - but I didn't feel any of the local clinics could offer their level of expertise. Subsequently I booked a consultation on August 11th 2003.

I went to the consultation thinking in the back of my mind that Accuvision would not be able to help. I was wrong. After a thorough 2 hour assessment I heard the words I had been waiting for for so many years - I could be helped! I was to have Customised Lasik which would correct the defects to my own individual eye topography not just my prescription. I was made aware they may not 'hit zero' with the right eye due to the scarring but I was prepared to take the risk as I had such confidence with them by this stage.

4th September was the day of reckoning. It went like a dream. No pain, no needles, just a slight feeling of pressure when the clamp was put in. The next day my -4.75/-.75 left eye tested at just under 20/20. The right eye (previously -3.75/-.75) had been left with a bandage contact lens overnight so was not quite as good but as soon as the lens was removed it seemed to glide into place. A week later I returned to the clinic to find that the right eye had obtained 20/15. The left eye was slightly behind (but still very good) which had been done deliberately due to my age (42) to allow a longer time before I need reading glasses.

I realise there are a lot of people out there who have had sub-optimum results from eye surgery and I would not hesitate to recommend a consultation with Accuvision. They are, quite simply, the best.

I never thought I could be helped. I was. I feel as if my life has started over. Fourteen years ago I made the worst decision of my life. On 11th August 2003 I made the best.

To everyone at Accuvison .. Thank You.