What our Patients say

I had bilateral WAVEFRONT GUIDED LASIK three months ago, at ACCUVISION. I was a little apprehensive, but at the same time excited about about the prospect of seeing clearly without putting a lump of plastic in my eyes. Well, I’m glad to say that I have absolutely no regrets. Infact my vision is now better than it ever was with glasses or contacts, even at night. My heartfelt thanks to the wonderful team at ACCUVISION, especially the optometrist!

What can I say that hasn’t been said before?. Well unlike many of the others who have posted comments on this site I did not have a straight operation. I decided to go with Accuvision after researching the best laser correction technologies available, this was a big decision because I live in N.Ireland and have two laser clinics within driving distance. When I arrived at Accuvision I was made very comfortable and was impressed by the modern clinic. I was apprehensive at this stage because I was so scared that my eyes would not be suitable. After the pre-op assessment I was given the thumbs up.

I arrived the following day and was quite nervous about the op, actually I was shitting myself, I was alone in London and in a couple of hours I might be blind !! Went through the usual pre surgery routine and was soon lying back on the bed staring up at red laser beams. The staff at this stage was magnificent. I don’t mind pain but hate needles and the thought of someone cutting the top off my eye was like needles X 100. The first stage of the op is to cut the corneal flap and due to that fact that I have narrow recessed eyes this posed quite a few problems. After some discomfort the flap was cut and within a few minutes the operation was over and they moved over to my other eye. Unfortunately they were unable to cut the corneal flap this time due to my protruding skull. I was very deflated but Darius and Co. were very encouraging and professional. The situation was reassessed the following day, I had one 20/20 eye and one bad one. It was decided that I come back in 2 weeks for reassessment. To cut a long story short they successfully operated on me and achieved a reasonable correction although not 20/20.

I am due back for post op assessment soon where they may might make a slight enhancement.

To summerise this experience I would say that without doubt I would recommend Accuvision because complications do occur and it is maybe only then that the true expertise of the operating team can be witnessed. I am thrilled with the results so far and still find it hard to believe I don’t need contacts or glasses again.

I regularly see advertisements in the national press for cut price eye surgery but why drive a Lada when for a few pounds more you can drive a Porsche!

Many thanks to Darius & Co. for all their good work.

I’ve had my consultation – so nervous I was early, but I was seen early without any hassle. I am very rare in that I’m very LONG SIGHTED +6.5 & +7, have astigmatisms in both eyes and my left eye is lazy. After much research accuvision is the only place in the uk who will do me 🙂 The staff answered all my questions, and rephrased things when i didn’t understand. They were patient when I couldn’t make a decision there and then, have customers you can call for references etc. The technology was great – I work with computers so i know what I’m looking at. Yes I am going ahead – very nervous, but they say there is nothing i can do which will hinder the surgery. So in 9 days – 2 1/2 weeks after my consultation I’ll be done – yes I’ll let you know how it goes, but as I’ve worn glasses all day every day since I was 4 (now 26) and have a tendency to bump into things and can’t catch, anything will be an improvement. If u have questions u can mail me…. Wish me luck!

Well, I just had my initial consultations at Optimax (Finchley Rd) and Accuvision. See comments under each clinic. At Accuvision I was examined very thoroughly by a knowlegeable and enthusiastic member of staff. They also carried out wavefront analysis, which gives a far more precise picture of the optical defects than refraction alone. Overall a very impressive setup. I was blown away by the high-tech kit they have there – obviously a huge investment, so they must be pretty confident about recouping it with sufficient patient revenues over the next few years. They’ve only had about 450 patients so far, so everything’s still very new & shiny – and you can take a peek through the window into the op room. Met one of the members of staff who’d had Lasik done there – and was invited to see her eyes under the microscope! (which I graciously declined – they looked just fine to me) The only disappointment was, I didn’t get to meet a surgeon as it wasn’t an operating day – but they said I was very welcome to come back & see one if I liked. One benefit of Accuvision & wavefront: their laser would remove approx 30 microns less cornea (40 vs 70) than the Nidek at Optimax, due to the custom ablation profile. The more cornea I can hang onto, the happier I’ll be!

The main thing I gained from the day though, was to realise how being myopic (I’m -2.75 & -3.5) can stop you needing reading glasses when presbyopia kicks in in middle age. I’d read about this on the web before, but now I’ve seen for real. Here’s what happens: when they put the drops in your eyes to dilate the pupil, it also paralyses the lens, which stops you being able to focus close up (I may not be exactly right about this – I’m not an optician, but I think that’s the way it was). I found I wasn’t able to see my watch with glasses on, but only had to lift my specs, and my trusty short-sighted mince pies could see the time clearly – case closed. So, you have to trade off losing some good near vision in later life, against great distance vision from now on. At least that’s how I see it.

6.5 in both eyes with astigmatism, I was naturally curious about laser correction. Having had a thorough consultation and the opportunity to talk first hand to patients, two of whom had literally just had their operations, I decided to undergo the procedure of Wavefront Guided LASIK. The staff at Accuvision were so thorough, reassuring and friendly. Ten weeks later, with slightly better than 20/20 vision, to say I am thrilled with the results would be an understatement! Having worn glasses/contacts from the age of six, buying my first two pairs of sunglasses has been enormous fun! I cannot recommend Accuvision highly enough. I would be more than happy to talk to anyone who is considering having the operation.

What can I say apart from WOW !!!!! I had my eyes done with the wavefront laser surgery on 25th September and I can honestly say it is the best thing I have ever done in my life. I had worn glasses since I was 6 years old and for the last 23yrs had relied on glasses or contact lenses to get me through the day, I had a prescription of -6.50 in the right eye and -6.25 in the left. Also I had astigmatism in both eyes. I was absolutely petrified on the morning of the surgery and spent the 20 minutes before I went in shaking like a leaf. Daryus and his team were fantastic throughout especially for a ‘wimp’ like me. The actual procedure was quick and painless. Even though they tell you this beforehand, you still have your doubts. But really it is !!!! I sat up and could see straight away. I was probably one of the lucky ones as afterwards I had none of the watering eyes or gritty feeling which they tell you to expect. It is now 9 days since I had the surgery. I have been for my first week check up and I have a vision of 20/20 in the left eye and 20/10 in the right. I am still amazed when I wake up in the morning that I can now see my alarm clock !!! I would recommend Accuvision to anyone and have already recruited a couple of candidates who I think were using me as a guinea pig !!

Forgot to add that if anyone has any questions I am only too happy to answer them, I know it helped me speaking to a few patients, hearing how they felt and their point of view.

Thanks again to everyone, especially Darius, will write again in a few weeks time after my next consultation,

It’s a whole new world ….

Words cannot describe how amazing Accuvision is to me. To say the Team at Accuvision is excellent would be an understatement. They are simply the best. Initially, my regular opticians (The Eye Clinic) sent me a letter saying I am within the acceptable range for eye surgery and they could offer me a free assessment. I could only wear my contact lenses about 3 times a week because they irritated my eyes if I wore them for too long, plus they made my eyes red after a while and years ago, always knew at some point when technology improved I would investigate LASIK further. So, after the assessment with the Eye Clinic even though they told me I was suitable I just did not feel that trust and confidence with them. I rang a few more laser clinics like Moorfields who told me that chances are they would have to perform LASIK twice on me in order to correct my vision since the prescription was so high. Before the op my right eye was -5 with a slight stigmatism of -100 x 175 and my left eye was -7.50 with a slight stigmatism of 11 x 150. Then I came across Accuvision, and read about the Wavefront Guided Custom LASIK and the laser itself having the ability to focus the beam to a finer point than other lasers the result being that it removes far less corneal tissue than other clinics – about 30-40% microns less which is reassuring. I then rang up Accuvision and got to speak to Darius who answered my questions and I was so impressed I immediately booked an appt for an assessment. Thursday, 9th May I had my assessment and Accuvision were fantastic, answering all my questions, telling me that in my case the risks were very low, no higher than the average patient, and that the outcome would be hopefully no glasses with there only being a slim chance of having to do a top-up op, but of course made it clear to me that no op is risk free. It wasn’t just the high technology, which impressed me, they were professional, friendly and fantastic from the start, Mike, Vikesh and Darius and of course not forgetting my surgeon Mr Jacobs. They even said if I have doubts, then I shouldn’t feel I have to come back if I don’t want to and shouldn’t feel pressured. That even impressed me more, I could see money didn’t even come into it, and believe they only accept people who they know they can achieve a good outcome, they don’t just accept anyone.(In answer to the comment made by the Observer all surgeons at Accuvision are under the GMC and my surgeon was Mr Jacobs) I felt that trust and confidence and knew that my eyes would be okay and booked my op for Thursday, 20th June 2002. That was the best decision I ever made. The day before my op I had my final assessment and watched an op, which only confirmed I made the right decision. I even was introduced briefly to Mr Jacobs, my surgeon, and that again confirmed I made the right decision. I was told the price of my op (£3,000) and thought there is no price to my eyes, eyes are priceless – I knew I was in the best hands and wouldn’t go elsewhere even if it was for free. The next day I had my op and even though I saw one the day before was still amazed at how quick the op was. I felt a combination of nervousness and excitement. I felt no pain whatsoever and only had to concentrate on the green/red light and before I knew it – it was over. Immediately after the op when I opened my eyes I could see Darius clearer then without my glasses before the op. Incredible. Mr Jacobs, my surgeon, was great and as skillful as I knew he would be. He told me before the op that he would be only removing approx 10% corneal tissue, which was great to know. He double checked my eyes after the op (as well as before) and told me that I have no corneal flap complications and everything went smoothly. Even half an hour after the op I could see my best friend from across the table, normally everything beyond 2-3 inches would be a blur. My eyes watered a bit, I kept them mainly shut as it felt more comfortable that way as well as being told it was best to keep them shut that day anyway. I felt a slight gritty feeling in my left eye which vanished by 10:00pm and by then my vision was co-ordinated and I could see across the corridor my neighbour’s face and the grey fog which vanished more by the hour was hardly there anymore. The next day I woke up and could see – making my dream which I thought could only ever be a dream come true – to wake up and be able to SEE, no hunting for glasses. I went for my check-up (the day after my op) and was told I have 20/20 vision. Also, Accuvision told me that before the op when I wore my glasses or lenses my vision was one line below 20/20 (a fact I was not aware of until I saw Accuvision) so my vision had improved by one line. Everything is so much clearer it really is a whole new world. By my next appt a week after my op (28.6.02) I was told my vision had improved by two lines making my vision better than 20/20. Then at my appt on 1.8.02 (by the way thank you for the 2 cups of lovely creamy coffee Darius) I was told that my vision was back to 20/20 vision, one point better than before my op, it keeps fluctuating slightly as my brain is getting used to new eyes, which work! I was also told that my right eye which was 1 point under 20/20 after the op has now improved to a fraction under 20/20 and is still improving. My vision is definitely much clearer than before my op and my eyes feel very comfortable and I don’t have any dry eye symptoms. In fact my eyes feel so well and are even more comfortable now than before the op. I was told that my outcome was predicated but Accuvision were very professional and understated it and didn’t tell me this until afterwards. After the op my driving instructor said the improvement in my driving is phenomenal and he said he can tell my vision has improved and can see the difference in my driving. I am so very happy with the outcome, which is exceptional, and thank everyone at Accuvision for everything including their patience, (eg: at my second assessment I had 21 questions which were all answered and explained to me). This op has really changed my life – I would definitely recommend ACCUVISION and am so pleased I trusted my instincts as well as my research. I am glad I put having LASIK to the back of my mind even though various places contacted me throughout the years – until I found the right place which I could trust with my eyes. You know the saying that you are not sure that what is right for you until you come across it yourself then you will know? That is how I felt about LASIK until I came across Accuvision. I have another check-up on 22nd August and will write again then.

After being turned down by Boots, I went to Ultralase who didn’t have the answers to the questions that I asked.
Accuvision gave me the answers with no if’s and but’s.
The pre-operative consultation and aftercare were great. The operation was very quick, the staff were by my side all the way through and after. I recommend anyone thinking of this type of operation to call Accuvision for an appointment.