Lasik | Lasek Problems

Back in 2012/2013, I can't remember the year exactly, I had corrective eye Surgery done by OE.

I had a prescription at that time of -3.25 in my left eye and -3.75 in my right eye.

Everything went well with the surgery at the time, but during the aftercare the vision in my right eye wasn't 100%. I was told at the time that I could see how it settled, and perhaps have further surgery, or correct it with contact lenses! Because it didn't effect my vision for everyday life I didn't pursue either of those options.

Fast forward to summer 2020 and my vision was starting to deteriorate, I wasn't comfortable driving at night at all, and in poor light it was clear that I needed to have a sight test. This was after a test the year previous when I asked the OE optician that I saw if there was an issue with my sight, as I had noticed my close up vision with my right eye was getting worse. She assured me thatmy vision was correct, and what they had done when I'd had my surgery was do one eye for close up and one eye for distance. Now this was news to me, as I had no issue with my reading vision at the time of my surgery, but who was I to question an eyesight professional. I still have a copy of my iScan from that visit.

When I visited OE for an eye exam one year ago I was told that I had possibly developed Kerataconus, as the optometrist had issues getting my eyes to focus, and advised that I should have a scan to confirm this. I had this scan on January 2nd in Dundee. Despite the optometrist pushing for a diagnosis from this scan none was forthcoming. He even sent to to the opt homology department at the local hospital and asked them to look at it. They sent it back saying it was not their issue as I had previously had private eye surgery with OE.

After further pushing by my optometrist I was called by OE and asked to attend a consultation with a surgeon in Glasgow, the date of this appointment was April 9th and was with David Teenan. My eyes were scanned again before going into his consulting room. The first thing he did was hand me a consent form for cross link surgery. This was a bit of a shock to me, as no-one had yet told me if it was in fact Kerataconus that I had, and also not much bloody use to me, as I couldn't see to read it by that time. His bedside manner left an awful lot to be desired. I was asked the usual questions about whether anyone in my family had suffered from this before, but there is no family history at all. I asked Jim if the surgery had done this, and although he was noncommittal he said it was a possibility. He advised me he was emailing to the clinical services department about my treatment plan and marking it URGENT! To this date I have heard nothing from them, despite me emailing several times, and my optom also emailing them for answers.

Since then I have had contact lenses fitted, so far soft lenses, albeit specially made ones. My prescription is so bad that glasses don't work at all, and I've just had to have a new lens ordered for my left eye as my sight has deteriorated again.

My optom called me this morning to say that he has had an email from Head Office to say that Cross Link surgery would be chargeable at £1995 per eye!!!! I STILL have not heard from them directly.,

To say I'm annoyed would be an understatement, I feel let down, lied to, fobbed off. I have always said to my optom that I feel like they're keeping the truth from me.

I will be making an appointment with an independent optometrist and seeking a second opinion.

Have Optical Express Ruined my Beautiful Eyes? I would say without a doubt!

Hello, I had my OE surgery in June 2020 as it was delayed due to lockdown. I had to chase them up 2 months after they re-opened as they had my deposit and hadn't contacted me.

My eyesight was fine and on a couple of aftercare checkups i could read better than 20/20. I was still getting halo's at night and still do. However, now my eyesight is blurry and I did an eye test at home (so not perfect conditions) and I could barely read 5 levels lower than my last aftercare check up.

I'm going to a different place to get an eye test and OCT scan to see if it is a problem that can be fixed with drops. I'm using dry eye drops but it doesn't seem to do anything. I've been told it's £100 for an appointment as my 12 months was up. I'm pretty sure I was told the aftercare was forever.

Also I strongly remember reading something about re-lasering for free that was a lifetime guarantee, does anyone else remember or have proof of this as I stupidly threw away my documentation.

I have called and requested my original documents so awaiting that back. It looks like I wouldn't get my money back either as I'm 16-17 months after my surgery and it says 15 months on the promotion.

Do I have any right to my money back etc. as I was told my eyesight would start to drop off when I hit 40 and I'm 30 currently. Not exactly what I expected when I paid the extra for the iDesign surgery. It's only started happening over the last couple of weeks when I've noticed it not being anywhere near as good as it was.

What can I do from here?

Thanks
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admin: Please send your phone number
sasha@opticalexpressruinedmyife.co.uk

Some further reading....

My surgeon was David Teenan. Who I have since discovered has multiple legal claims against him. Remember when I said he was the worst part of the entire experience? It makes sense now.... He neglected to inform me on the risks especially ghost image and the reasons for iDesign over normal Lasik was due to pupil size and increases riks therein.

Saw this admin comment too:
2. A deposit should not have been taken from you without having first seen the surgeon, as only he can say if a person is suitable for surgery. This is a complaint for the GOC, as I will advise when we speak.

A deposit was taken and a finance plan in motion all on the same day of the consultation.... It certainly was rushed. I saw the red flags but wanted to do it pretty strongly so was easily pursuaded....

Feel like this is the start of the downfall of one of the worst decisions of my life.

I paid top bucks for Lasik iDesign in both my eyes August this year. As, apparently, my pupil is too wide for normal Lasik. I have just now learnt that i'm not suitable for normal treatment for good reason.... as we're very susceptiple to starbust amongst many other issues. Which, low behold, sure enough I have it in both eyes.

Immediately, I figured something was wrong with my left eye. I chalked it up to healing as did they. I was convinced my left eye was blurry and worse off than my right one which is otherwise fine besides the starbust. Now, almost exactly 3 months after my surgery, i've figured out the reason for my left eye throwing me off. I have double vision especially with text on screen.

I went in for an "emergency" check-up today (to their credit same day appointment when I called) and they ran all their tests. Came back fine but a mild case of "astigmatism" is what they said. They gave me eye lubrication and hoped it would clear it up.

I honestly feel sick reading these posts. With another iDesign victim posting here earlier....
We paid for supposedly the best of the best. A tailor fit solution. They fuck it up and my close-up vision is worse than before, impacting my life and work. If this gets worse I don't know what i'll do. I wanted to fix my distance vision so I could attend meetings, etc, without sitting in front of the screen.

I would never, ever, ever have done the surgery if I knew the risks beforehand with my pupil size....

Now i'm in an awkward position. We all know here the lubrication drops won't fix my eyes. They'll likely want to do an "enhancement" which i've read will be LASEK and not LASIK. As it's risky to lift the LASIK flap so soon.... That's an instant nono but where does that leave me? I have better than 20/20 vision for distance now but at what cost if my home and work life is negatively impacted by this haziness close up and one eye out of the count almost entirely.... So I don't even believe I can request a refund from their money back guarantee....

I know i'm better off that many, many posters here. I do appreciate that and that's why I'm scared to let them operate again. The entire process was pleasant up till I met the Surgeon. Who refused to meet me with me prior to the surgery, couldn't answer any of my questions and instead deferred them to someone else who'd answer them AFTER the surgery and was otherwise uncaring.

One of the most common and debilitating visual disturbances after refractive eye surgery is seeing halos around all light sources, as I do, so last night I was surprised to discover that the super large halo I was seeing around the moon was real ?



A beautiful sight for people with healthy eyes, but I found it sad, because after suffering laser eye surgery in 2011, I have seen these (+starbursts) every night since!

From Dr Dan Reinstein’s website (aka The Reinstein Cowboy or Dr Blindstein):


www.londonvisionclinic.com/what-causes-halos-after-lasik/

Yet again, the seriously debilitating risks of refractive surgery underplayed!

As for halos being ‘a healthy sign’, after 10 years I would argue not!

But keep in mind this is from the man who made a fool of himself on ThisMorning show in 2019, claiming that wearing glasses was dangerous!

These side effects are frequently far from ‘minor’, and irreparably permanent, with many people who rely on driving for work forced to give up their jobs because of reduced daylight hours in winter months!

Anyone reading here who is still considering risking unregulated refractive surgery - laser or lens - be sure to ask the right questions, in detail, and don’t take the advertising hype at face value. Because if it were all true then you wouldn’t be reading my words!

#blindedonthehighstreet

Hello, I am having the same issue as ChloeP.

I had my LASIK surgery in December 2018 but over the last few months I've noticed my eyesight wasn’t as sharp as it should have been. Then over this month, I noticed the TV was blurry. I went to an optician for an eye test and they said I need glasses to drive.

It's been less than 3yrs and I need glasses again. I am now 25 and they said I wouldn't need glasses till I was about 40.

Is there a way I would be entitled to a refund? How do I approach this.

I am so annoyed.

Please help

Kind regards
Josh
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admin: For advice, please send your phone number to sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk

Hi, I had LASIK with Optical Express in Sheffield 3 years ago and was lucky to have 20/20 vision straight away. I've now however just had an eye test and my eyesight has gotten worse and I have been told I will need glasses to drive at least. I am absolutely gutted.

I was 20 when I had LASIK and now I'm blaming myself, was I too young? Was my eyesight not stable? - did they actually check that??

I don't really know what my next step should be; a complaint? Do I have any kind of case to have money refunded or another LASIK procedure to fix my eyes again? I stumbled across this website and I am horrified about all the terrible side effects people have suffered from eye surgery and I feel really naive and foolish to have gone for it in the first place now.

I wondered if anyone could offer me advice on where I stand with this? Thank you, Chloe
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admin: Please send your phone number to: sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk

Dear Sasha,

I'm not really sure where to begin, that's how disappointed and upset I am

I went to optical express and had my pre screening done, only to be sent away twice and be given drops. I was told I had dry eyes, I never have experienced dry eyes before. The last visit they were going to send me away but decided to do the lasik July 2019. I was told if I took the idesign for £4,400 I'd get a guarantee of 20/20 vision and if not get my money back and 12 month aftercare. Alternatively I could have had it done for £3,700 because it was my eyes I didn't want to mess about and thought I'd do it right and only have to have it done once.

After having the lasik they saw me the next day, 1 week after and about a month after that and never contacted me since. I tried to contact them in March 2020 numerous time and by the time I spoke to them it was July. They told me I was out of my 12 month period and would need to pay. I explained to the guy on the other end I've tried and not succeeded to get through to which he was going to check up if I needed to pay or not and get back to me. I can only assume he never got the answer he needed as he told me he'd contact me back and he never did. I've tried calling since and not got through.

Since having lasik done I've experienced double vision, bad headaches, my left eye can no longer see close up, when in fact my near vision was good. This constantly gives me anxiety when it should have brought me a better quality of life.
I feel bitterly disappointed.
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admin: Optical Express have taken advantage of the pandemic: claiming they can't see problem patients yet operating on new ones, lying that refunds can't be processed but able to take payments, blaming dry eyes on increased use of computers during lockdown, etc...
Please send your phone number
sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk

Hi,

I underwent LASEK treatment on Wednesday 9th September (25 years old at the time) at a private clinic based within an NHS eye hospital as I thought this would be the best option rather than OE/other high street clinics which I’ve heard bad things about.

Surgery was painless but the second I got outside of the hospital the pain was awful. I had my eyes closed the whole journey home, stumbled into the house and into bed where I stayed until I could open my eyes once more...2 1/2 days later!!! The pain was one of the worst pains I’ve ever experienced.

I had my follow up 2 weeks later where I found out that a temporary lease was not used which I thought was strange. They claimed that some surgeons will use it but they personally don’t due to an increased risk of infection.

However, my vision at the appointment felt like it was without glasses pre-surgery. I also noticed my near vision was a lot worse...it used to be be fine/perfect and now I am struggling to read my phone etc., especially with my left eye.

At my follow up appointment, the eye test came back with a prescription still (not sure whether it was worse/the same/better than pre-surgery). The doctor (assistant to surgeon) dismissed the result and claimed it was just because I was still healing.

However, my vision is exactly the same as it was at my follow up appointment and I don’t believe it should take this long. My eyes feel a little dry and/or tired at times but fortunately nothing worse at the moment. Previously had double vision but that seems to have gone away now.

Is this normal? Everything I’ve seen online with LASEK, people have great results within a week or two at most. I’m worried the surgery has not worked and cannot think about going through it again!
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admin: I am one of many thousands of people who had Lasek (aka PRK) and suffered irreparable debilitating results.

However, I have never heard of a ‘temporary lease’ in laser eye surgery. Typo?

For advice, contact: sasha@mybeautifuleyes.co.uk

Dear Sasha,

I’m hoping that you might be able to give me some advice relating to my treatment at Optical Express.

First of all, may I say a sincere thank you for all the work that you do for people that have been duped by these companies which are purely out for profit. I only wish I had done better research and found your website before I decided to go for it.o
I'm nearly a year after the laser eye surgery now and I'm only now starting to feel better both emotionally and in terms of my eyes, although the vision in my left eye is still bad. And I'm now starting to get myself organised to officially complain to OE.

I had the surgery in July 2019 with Dr Manek Patel and ended up with scratches on my cornea from the surgery and a serious infection within one week. Unfortunately, due to lack of decent post-op care, I did not reach out to them until it was clear that it was serious, four days after symptoms first emerged. I am left with scarring on my left cornea impacting my vision in this eye and somehow also developed astigmatism in the same eye, which I had no idea was even possible. You can see more information in the draft of my complaint letter below. It’s rather long so if you have any advice on the most important aspects to mention, please let me know.

I want a refund from OE. Do you have any advice you could share with me? What do you think the chances are that they would give me a refund? Do you think I should engage a solicitor before submitting this complaint? And should I submit an official complaint with the GOC and/or GMC? I just want to put this behind me as painlessly as possible. I feel like a mug for paying £3K for what I've gone through and I want my money back.

Many thanks in advance.

Best wishes,
Laura
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admin: Please send your phone number
sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk