LASEK - anyone had it? | ExpatWoman.com
 

LASEK - anyone had it?

166
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 19:27

I had LASEK eye surgery last Monday, was told I'd be able to drive within 3-4 days, returned on Sunday for a check up and was told again 3 days before my vision would improve (at the moment its the standard as though I'm wearing glasses with a thin layer of vaseline smeared over them) I'm fed up now, my eyes dont hurt anymore but I'm struggling with work and no way near driving standard. OH is saying I should go to another hospital and get another opinion as he thinks my Dr was wrong, I'm hoping they were just poor at managing my expectations perhaps.... just bored and fed up now and have tickets for the CDS on Fri which I may have to give up if things dont improve :( anyone out there been through this?

166
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 February 2013 - 15:29
Hi all, thanks so much for the reassuring responses, I'm using the many many drops they gave me regularly as instructed, I do think my sight might be improving just so slowly its barely noticeable but hopefully I'll get there eventually. Have decided I will go to the circus as hopefully will be able to make out enough to enjoy it! It's funny that its the little things that you notice - like I cant buy non-bio washing powder at the only shop within walking distance and so I dont have any and the washings piling up, its anoying not being able to drive! Thanks again for sharing your experiences.
128
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 February 2013 - 10:08
Hey Kates01, I had PRK done which is an older form of Lasik - where they cut the cornea open and had a lense in my eye as my cornea was too thin too. The pain was just unbelieveable but so worth it. The recovery is slow but you get much better vision. My doctor was shocked how sharp my vision came back so just hang in there. It will be blurry for sometime, especially in the night and may be u shouldnt drive at all. I agree that you may be suffering from dry eyes. My doctor prescribed Genteal drops which I used for a very long time and it helped. I used them all the time and still use them sometimes. Re the Circus, you may just have to go with blurry eyes. Please make sure you dont use makeup either and you need to avoid water as slows the healing. Take care and I hope you recover soon. PS. I didnt have mine at Moorfields but alot of ppl I know have been there and it is supposed to be the best.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 February 2013 - 07:53
Hi, I suspect you are suffering from 'dry eyes', which will slow the recovery a bit, your eyes will be blurry until this settles down, if it is that. I has 'Supracor' last Feb which is another form of Lasix, it just corrects long/mid and short distance (had it done in the UK as not available here) and it involved cutting 'the flap' etc but I suffered with dry eye and it took a while to clear, I was advised to use eye drops, the ones without preservative in, basically water to moisten the eyes and to take flaxseed oil as this really helps with dry eye when you suffer from it. It will sort itself out eventually and the result is fantastic! Good luck.
166
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 09:39
sorry lcoolie - no my prescription wasnt high (I could see an awful lot better than I can now!) but I dont think that has any effect, its all about the thickness of your cornea which I guess isnt something you can know until the consultation..
166
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 09:29
Thanks Mrs Rayner, in light of that I feel quite lucky then as 9 days in I dont have any pain or discomfort - I just cant see! lcoolie it was Moorfield I went to having been recommended by my eye doctor, and was really impressed throughout the entire consultation/procedure with the hospital and the staff - the one thing I'm annoyed about is how poorly they've managed my expectations! Telling me I could drive within 3-4 days - that was just not going to happen and has made dealing with work very difficult :(
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 07:30
Hi Kates01... I had lasek in the summer. I think it took about 10days for the pain do die down, then another week or so for the gritty feeling to start to subside, and then it took a further 10days for the cloudiness to go. It's a much longer recovery process, but as someone already said, it has been totally worth it!
216
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 22:18
Can you advise where you went to have it done. I'm currently looking into it & have provisional appointment for check at moor field. Would welcome your feedback. Was your prescription high? Does this effectvwhich one they recommend too?
166
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 20:27
he he no worries at all, I've got used to it, I've been working from home with my blinds closed for over a week and have had two colleagues say- whats wrong with you? I had eye surgery and drove home afterwards! guuurrrrr ;) sadly I wasnt eligible for LASIK or I certainly would have gone for that. Thanks for the response anyway!
245
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 20:25
Oh many apologies. I'm sure you're right, I had LASIK. Thought that was a typo and didn't realise there was another method. I'm so sorry if I caused you any additional anxiety. Yes , there was definitely a flap on mine. I hope it all works out. It is amazing when it does and I'm sure you'll feel it was all worth it.
4062
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 20:09
It's all a bit hazy ('scuse the pun) but I think my vision went a bit blurry again after the contact was taken off. Full vision was definitely a slow process, it wasn't so bad for me because my other eye by that stage was perfect.
166
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 20:04
*managed (typing still an issue!)
166
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 20:03
thanks Daza, yes definitely some improvement, infact up until I had the contact lenses removed this Sunday I was beginning to think I'd be driving again soon - then it all went blurry again. I suspect I'm being impatient but I'm annoyed with how they management my expectations and just wanted to hear other's experiences...
4062
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 20:01
I've had both (one in each eye). With Lasik I woke up the next morning and it was crystal clear. With Lasek it took at least a week. Has there been any improvement at all kates01?
166
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 20:01
LASEK is (beware gory details!) where your cornea is too thin for them to cut a flap then put it back, instead they scrape away your cornea (I think with a scalpal) and then use the laser and then send you away with a clear contact lens covering for it to heal - theres a longer healing time which I was prepared for I'm just wondering whether anyone knows how long it should be, alot of things on the internet say 1-4 weeks but my Dr originally said 3-4 days...... I want to go to the circus!!
5452
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 19:56
Hi Original BMAP are you sure it was LASEK you had? it sounds more like you had LASIK which most people find is far quicker recovery - did they cut a flap into your cornea? Oh, I didn't know there was a difference between the two. I had LASIK. My experience is irrelevant to you then. But what is LASEK?
5452
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 19:55
I had it done 12 years ago. I clearly remember lying on the operating table looking up at the ceiling. When the doctor was zapping one eye after finishing the other, I could already see the ceiling clearly! It was an amazing feeling. So, for me, clear vision was immediate!
166
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 19:54
Hi Original BMAP are you sure it was LASEK you had? it sounds more like you had LASIK which most people find is far quicker recovery - did they cut a flap into your cornea?
245
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 19:51
You felt pain? I don't recall pain, just the horrid smell and a gritty feeling afterwards.
245
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 19:50
Oh dear. That doesn't sound right to me. I had it done 13 years ago and from my recollection even by the time I'd got home after the surgery I could see better than I could without my glasses previously. I followed doctors orders and stayed home with my plastic specs on the next day. By 24 hours later everything was hunky dory and sharp as a tack. So it really was a 24 hour turnaround for me. I understand there's probably a bell curve of normal for recovery though. Perhaps you are still within the bell curve but just at one end?
166
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 19:48
re-zapped? you mean you had to go through all that pain again??? noooooooo
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 19:35
Yep that happened to me too, I didn't feel that it had worked either. I was re-zapped after a month of the initial treatment, once it was fine-tuned, it was the best thing ever.
 
 

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