I've got my second consultation booked at the Chelmsford Ultralase clinic on Tuesday 17th July. I've drawn up a list of questions that I intend to ask at my consultation:
Which type of surgery suits both my eye shape and my lifestyle? Which surgery would give me the best long-term chances of good vision and healthy eyes?
I’ve read some blogs and posts on forums where people have said things like ‘The surgeon told me that because I have thin corneas I am not suitable for lasik, but I really don’t want the longer pain and recovery time associated with lasek so I’m pushing for lasik.’ And to be honest my mind boggles with the sheer stupidity. Everyone has a different pain threshold yes, but if you’re putting your eyesight into the hands of someone else, someone you trust as an expert in their field, I think you should listen to what they suggest is best for you based on your prescription. And if you’re that worried about the pain that you would consider a riskier operation to avoid it, then personally I don’t think you should go ahead with surgery at all.
What happens if I need re-treatment? Is there a lifetime re-treatment guarantee or a time limit time, for example 12 months after which you would need to pay to have your eyes re-treated?
For instance I know Ultralase have a lifetime care guarantee which as they say is unique to Ultralase. But of course, there’s that dreaded *Terms and Conditions apply. I intend to find out what those conditions are at my consultation next week. I’m guessing age-related macular degeneration (when you get older and need reading glasses) will be mentioned in the conditions. Of course no laser eye surgery provider can stop that from happening.
How often are the aftercare appointments?
And more than that who do I get to speak to if I’m worried? Will there be a friendly voice at the end of a phone who can tell me if the sensations I experience are perfectly normal post-surgery or something a little more concerning? One of the things that impressed me about Ultralase over Optimax is that you get a personal advisor.
Who will be my surgeon? Can I see his/her CV? When will I meet him/her?
Some people go so far as to select their surgeon and book surgery specifically with them. I intend to look up my surgeon when I find out who he is, but ultimately I trust that he will be a professional. Needless to say if I find out otherwise…if his CV shows he was a vet or something random like that I would cancel without hesitation.
What is the realistic likelihood that I will be glasses free, driving standard at the very least?
20/20 would be great, but just to be driving standard would suit me fine. To be free from glasses is my aim. In the healing process it may be that I need to get some cheap reading glasses while my eyes recover. I need to ask about that too.
Will the success of my operation be judged on all aspects of my vision or just by one of those reading charts? What about night time vision, starbursts and halos, vision in limited or artificial light?
How long is this likely to be a problem – and are these taken into account and checked as part of the aftercare? If my vision in limited light is poor will re-treatment be an option to improve this?
How long is the maximum healing recovery time?
I’m fully expecting to sit up from the operation chair and start judging the success of the operation, but I know I shouldn’t. So I’ll find out the absolute maximum and try to be patient until I get closer to that time.
Will surgery affect the long term stability of my eye?
For example, if I get hit with a ball in two years’ time should I be worried?
What can I do pre and post surgery to increase my comfort and improve recovery time?
Things I’ve read about include taking vitamin C to boost healing; taking cod liver oil or flaxseed oil (supposedly a higher dose of omega 3) to reduce dry eyes; resting the eyes as much as possible. What else can I do?
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