I am 42 years old and had Intralase Lasik + wavefront performed by Dr Louis Boezaart at Manchester clinic on 25th May (6 weeks ago)
My distance vision is fantastic and I am really pleased with the result, however my reading vision is not as it should be.
I am struggling to read small(ish) print which I could previously read in my glasses or contact lenses, particularly in artificial light.
At my 1 week check-up I was informed by an optometrist (I presume) that I had gone from short-sighted, -5 in both eyes to +1.5 in one eye and +2 in the other and that re-treatment looked to be necessary.
I was told there may still be some change but I am unlikely to achieve unaided reading vision, as most change occurs in first few days following surgery I believe.
I have clearly been made long-sighted, and was told to “go and buy a pair of +1.5 reading glasses” in the meantime.
My initial reaction was that the laser setting must have been too high, but I was told some people's eyes absorb the laser more than others.
I have found that without these I get eye strain from looking at a computer/reading at work for extended periods.
I went for a further check-up on Saturday, 6 weeks after treatment, and was told I am now +1 in one eye and +1.5 in the other and was offered prescription reading glasses at £45!
I was told that re-treatment is still an option, but I run the risk of being reversed to short-sighted again, plus there’s all the other complications which could occur with having the flap lifted again to re-laser.
I go back for my next check-up in 3 months.
I guess at this point I will need to decide whether I want to keep my distance vision as it is, and wear reading glasses a few years earlier than I would have needed to, or whether to risk being made short-sighted again and needing to wear glasses permanently, having paid £1800 to not wear them!!
I am trying to be positive about it because I am very happy with my distance vision and the fact I am no longer struggling with my contact lenses drying out, but I do feel slightly cheated having to wear reading glasses at work, plus trying to explain to everyone who asks why I still need to wear glasses, having just gone through laser treatment!
Still a bit concerned about night driving - haven't been out in the dark yet to find out!
 
I just wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience, and what is the success rate for re-treatments?

I just wanted to say that you can buy cheap reading glasses in places like a pound shop! Suprising but they do have them. I have also noticied cheap reading glasses in supermarkets with Optician sections. If your perscription is still changing i'd just get a cheap pair to avoid getting headaches when reading close up.

I had a similar situation as yourself. I opted for re-treatment, which I had 6 weeks ago.

I was unsatisfied for exaclty the same reason as yourself, I did ask on more than one occasion about whether I would need glasses and was told a possibility in time. I have learnt since that at 40+ its more of a probability rather than a possibility.

I digress, seriously think hard about the re-treatment, and if you asked me for my personal opinion, I'd say DO NOT DO IT! if you can live with what you have, accept it and move on.

I have now starburst and halo's in my left eye (and incidantly, my check up last friday, I was told its permanant, I am devastated), my right eye is getting more blurred, although I am told its fine, and over past 3 days the same eye has started ghosting.

I am normaly a strong person, and extremely possitive, but over the past 3 days, I have been an emotional wreck. My wife and friends cannot believe the change in me. I cannot accept the stupid mistake I made, not just the initial treatment (as most I suspect, was seduced by the advertising and promises of throwing away your glasses), but even more the second time around.

I found that their idea of succesful surgery is 20/20 or driving standard vision, not the quality of vision. My quality is non-existent now, and I am finding hard to hold it together, almost every waking minuite I am thinking about it, its a constant battle that I feel I am losing.

Good luck in whatever you decide, but just weigh up the possible advatages which will only be minor against creating a problem that could be serious.

JC

Have you been discharged yet?

thanks

Nick

Head of Technology
Optimax

I have just typed a reply and the site 'ancountered a problem' lost it all, oh well here it goes again.

I was discharged last Friday, with those words, its permanant. I was in such a state over weekend I tried phoning Sunday. I couldnt find my card, there was no care line advertised, so I tried the 08456 number twice. It was in the Sunday hours, but just kept me on hold for ages, the second time I left a message and someone phoned me back Monday Afternoon.

I contacted my clinic 1st thing Monday morning and a surgeon phoned back to try to reasure me, suggesting I should wait as things change up to 3 months and if still having issues, call back. Another 6 weeks is a lifetime when 1 min feels like an hour at the moment.

This morning the manager phoned me to book me in for a 2nd opinion in Sept.

I spent 1/2 an hour writing how I am feeling, but realised I was going into one and it wasnt what you asked. But to say I am off work again, I am scared like I have never been scared before. And the regrets are eating me away to the point of losing it mentaly.

JC

Hello and thanks for your response.

Since writing on here about my experience in July I have decided against re-treatment and your response has endorsed that decision.                                                                                                                      I have bought a pair of +1.25 reading glasses from Tesco (I think they were £7), which I only need to wear for reading small print and in poor light - I can get by at work without wearing them most of the time and the eye strain has gone away.                                                                                                                    It is now 3 months since my treatment and I think this is as good as it will get but compared to other people I guess I've had a lucky escape.                                                                                                               Before opting for the surgery I spoke to 3 people at work who had it done in last 2 years and they had no complaints about the results, but having looked on here it seems many people are not happy wth the outcome.

The laser was set at -5.75 for my surgery (my prescription being -5) so if it had been set at -5 the outcome may have been near perfect, but my conclusion is they are so scared of under-correcting i.e. leaving you short-sighted and below driving standard, that they over-correct and use the 'reading glasses after 40' argument.

I still don't know what my night driving vision is like and I am putting off finding out!

Sorry to hear about your problems after re-treatment - it has made me realise that my situation is not as bad as it seemed. My husband convinced me to leave things as they are because needing reading glasses is really only a minor problem.

I hope things get better for you.

Vanessa

Im glad you took my advice and bought som cheap reading glasses.

Hopefully this will take the strain off your eyes.

I hope your eyes continue to get better withouth the need for re-treatment.

Sel x

Using both eyes together I barely need reading glasses now!

Because the change has been so great since my last check-up I cannot be discharged and have to go back in 6 months, as there could still be further improvement.

Just thought I'd let people know about this because it shows how long it can take for your eyes to settle down, and it may help someone who, like me, was disheartened at the early results.