Laser Eye Surgery

Hillie....Not cheap $4600 with no guarantees and you have to sign off on that as well, but they said they have never had one go wrong yet
Cheers Poppy

I had two occular transplants in thirteen months. My eyes are blilliant now. I am 69 and have just passed to have my 'F' class license renewed.
All it cost me was $40.00

Parden my ignorance ! but what is an 'F' class license?
Dave.

Willie
I needed glasses for both reading and long distance so had graduated lenses now I can read a newspaper with no probs at all
They did say that laser will give perfect long distance and will improve short sight but I went back this morning for a checkup and was told I had 20/20 vision and I am stoked... YEEEHAA
Cheers Poppy

There was no op really good for far sighted people 8 years ago. Not sure about now

There wasn't 3 years ago either John....

Davoe
I had no hope of reading a map or anything else for that matter without glasses
Before the procedure he said I may need the weakest pair of magnifying glasses ( cheapies from the chemist $20 ) for reading in low light but so far so good and it's less than 24 hrs since they were done, still a bit sore but worth it
Cheers Poppy

Hiya Davoe & Poppy

I had mine done about 3 years ago, my eyes like yours Dave were fubar, I couldn't see beyond my nose, now I have better than 20/20 in both eyes, it was the best thing I've ever done, and I'd say go and see if you're a candidate for it...it's simply the best !!

cheers

Lyn

can it correct stygmatisms? Is it claimable in private Health? I am pretty sure it can be claimed on tax being over 3 grand or whatever the amount is.
I have heard a few bad things like "starring" around lights - but that was from the optomitrist

Davoe,

My wife had it done about a year ago and it has worked brilliantly for her. I am going to get done soon and I suffer from a stygmatism in one eye and in my case it can be corrected. We couldn't claim on our private health cover as the procedure was totally elective.

The first thing you need to do is go to an eye centre that does this work and they will evaluate you and let you know if your condition is suitable for laser.

There is a brand new one they are advertising on Brisbane radio that does not cut the eyeball at all.

If you CLICK HERE you will be taken to the website of the company that we dealt with.

My wife told me that it wasn't painful at all and that she suffered a gritty feeling in her eyes for a day or two but that was all. She has now got 20/20 in both eyes.

Have a good one.

Hi Davoe

yes it can correct stygmatisms I had them in both eyes, as for starring, I get none, but prior to the op, I found driving at night very difficult due to starring around car headlights and lamp posts, I no longer have this problem...an optometrist told me once that I shouldn't get my eyes lasered as he believed that it wouldn't help me - mind you, he has also missed out on my custom for the past 3 years as I no longer wear glasses, so perhaps that was his motive...

The procedure I had done involved scrapping the first surface layer off my eye [didn't feel a thing] and the the eye was lasered, [lasic involves a flap created, then the lasering then the flap put back and the patient has near perfect vision straight away] in my case, my vision took about a fortnight, but I could see ok, I was just unable to drive. I had this done as the surgeon felt my pupils would cross over where the "flap" was created and that may cause starring, [this because my pupils are so large when fully dilated] but I have had no problems and I believe he made the correct decision.

I believe it's still not covered on the private health insurance, it certainly wasn't when I had mine done, however, as you say you can claim in it on tax, which is what I did. In my case, my follow up visits were and are handled by medicare, after initially going back every 6 months, I now see them 2 yearly.

To put my condition into perspective, I could not see the eye chart, let alone read any of the lines, now I can read the bottom line...

just brilliant...

Lyn

"To put my condition into perspective, I could not see the eye chart, let alone read any of the lines, now I can read the bottom line... "
yyyyep If i squint I might make out the big D at the top. Might have to look into it . Reeeely worried about not getting the results i wanted. I tried contacts and went back to glasses

I couldn't make out anything even if I squinted...lol.....I wore contacts too but my vision was never correct, there is absolutely no comparison, I thought to myself I could see the eye chart I'd be happy, but to be able to read the bottom line unaided is amazing....

I can't answer for poppy, but in my case, I didn't have the latest greatest new procedure called "lassic" I had another type called "advanced prk" due to the fact that my pupils would dilate over scar tissue as they're so large, I had been told this procedure was "very painful" but that was a load of shiat, you're given pain killers to take home should you need them, for me it felt like an irritation like sand in the eye for a couple of days, very managable, the actual surgery you feel nothing..the pain killing drops they give you are fantastic....and a few days of discomfort are all worth it....for me...after wearing glasses for nearly 30 years to be able to see was miraculous, I still can't get over it.

cheers

Lyn

Hi Ozdyssey
Absolutely 100 percent painless
The biggest pain is forking out the $$$
Can't be claimed on health insurance except if you have defence force insurance as they will cover it
Lyn is spot on with her response, so far best thing I've done too
They even do a free video of entire procedure to show your friends
My wife wants to have hers done now but refuses to watch the video
Mate just go for it
Cheers Poppy

We kepth the panadein Forte provided for emergency use - my kidney stones. Just a little discomfort I understand.

John, had a kid knee stone removed last year. The surgeon played star wars on it and zapped it away. 2 ops, both easier than changing a tyre. I won't mention which end they go in through, just the thought makes my eyes water these days :)))

They have a teeth whitening procedure available using lasers ... but I don't think they can make you see any better. Unless you just get your eye teeth done.

(Wish I hadn't said that !!!).

Jack

how old?

I think it depends on the condition and health of your eyes, I'm not sure on other states, but in vic you can go and get assessed for free, I went to two different clinics before I decided who would operate on me.

Lyn

I was thinking 50 to 60.

there were people in their 50's having it done when I was having my done...

I wonder how long your 4 grand lasts you ? Hey wait a minute, if my eyes were better I could go to the beach and check out the ....flags ! My wife would kill me !aybe I'd better grow older gracefully :))))))

i wouldnt believe you would be going to the beach to check out the flags either..... something else i reckon

Hi Footloose
I have a friend of mine who is a retired heart specialist and 79 years old and had his done last year.
And without giving away my age ( 60 but don't let on) Now you know why they call me Poppy... I don't believe there is an age limit
Cheers Young Poppy

Hi Poppy, that's fascinating. As for being a sexy senior citizen, I'm not that far behind. Some days seem closer than others :))
I've met 60 year olds going on 16 and vica versa. Retired early after 30 years of dealing with kids, and I still get a kick out of their behaviour.

hi Michael

the surgery I had was the type they were doing pre lasic, and, the guy that did my eyes said, that when lasic came out that was considered the bees knees, but, they found that for some people it just wasn't suitable...hence why I didn't have lasic...my surgery actually wasn't done with a scalpal either, it was done with a scraper and then a "cold beam laser" and I thought 'WOW a cold beam laser, fantastic" and then al pointed out to me, "It's only a cold beam til it hits something, and that something is your eye"...ahhaha...I think alot of what they say is to get you in the door, but, once there, the whole procedure is explained, I baulked at going for so long because I thought it was impossible for me to see, and now, I kick myself at waiting for so long....

Hi Michael,

The price of $4-5000 for perfect vision does not need justification.

If you can find someone who would do it for $500 would you then ask why is it so cheap - I bet you would.

Your statement about not trusting these guys is also a little silly, because every year new research is done (particularly in Germany) which develops new processes, analyses the results gained from actual operations all around the world and makes future operations better and better. That's how they find out what was deficient in earlier times.

Christian Barnard's first heart transplant operation was a poor result for the patient but he would have died anyway. Now theprocess is quite common and relatively safe.

I had the PRK version of eye surgery 12 years ago at age 43 and went from not being able to read the chart to driving everywhere without glasses for the first time in my life. Lasik was not invented then so I couldn't have that procedure. The PRK cost $5000 then with no health fund benefits but a tax rebate of 20%. My prescription was -7.5 on one eye and -6.5 on the other which means I could read a book at nose distance with a font size 1 but couldn't recognise a friend across a room.

Since then I have developed astigmatism in both eyes due to a little scar tissue puckering with age, and I now wear specs when driving, although I legally don't need them. With the advent of Wavefront technology (do a google search and find out how ingenious this is) I will soon be able to have a second process to zap the astigmatism. Has to be PRK again as it's the outside surface of my eyes that need planing, and Lasik can't do that.

So my suggestion is to stop making excuses to yourself about the cost and have it done.

Hi Gerhardp1

my prescription was exactly the same as you...I still cant believe I can see after being so short sighted....I'd have the procedure again if I had to, I've got no fears about it at all,

hope it all goes well for you...

cheers

Lyn

Hi John
Can relate to the bug eye lenses taped to your face
My missus reckons I looked like Hannibal Lector
Thought that was a bit cruel... hehe
Cheers Poppy

I could not possibly comment about your looks Poppy ;-)

Poppy,

when I had mine done, I came back to the waiting area where Al was as well as people who were going in after me, and I bounded around the corner of the room and exclaimed "I can see !!" Al said it was the funniest site he'd seen, on two levels - firslty me wearing the bug eye protectors and secondly the looks on the other people's face when I appeared..haahhaha....I didn't care, I could see paintings on walls, signs in shop windows, car rego plates...it was the most amazing ride home I've ever had....

Lyn

I can remember the sheer excitement Lyn, reading everything in view to the hotel we were staying at St Kilda - the Novatel. WOW

Hi Ray,
I thought it was something like that. You would think that the license classifacation would be the same anywhere in Ozz! Glad your opperation was a success.I have a boy 15 years old been wearing glasses since he was 3 years. But still to young to have eye operation yet.

Hi Royce...definitely, but it can't stop you from thinking they're still on your nose, I still, after 3 years occaisionally go to adjust my glasses or take them off....

I severly doubt this. I have recieved glasses that are not spot on in one eye and the effect is simular to about 8 beers. If they did as you say it would drive you nuts

No way Austravel

I had both eyes done, exactly the same, what they told me is they make you slighly long sighted in both eyes, but, that your vision adjusts, which was certainly the case with my eyes. My eyes were not 20/20 at the start, took about a month for one eye to be 20/20 and the other was a couple of months later....not that I noticed the difference was so mininmal

Thanks for that, not sure what he was talking about then. Have considered it myself a couple of times but $$$$ plus there has been the odd time that my glasses have saved me getting hit in the eye. Maybe when they get worse.

Hi Mad Dog,

I have the same thing, originally done as a very early adopter and my eyes have changed again with a little scar tissue causing astigmatism. Not to mention the normal age long sightedness.

Will have them done again soon using Wavefront and am hoping to be one of the lucky people who get 20/10 vision as a result. Otherwise known as "Eagle Eye", this allows you to sex a fly on a tree three miles away!.