Laser Eye Surgery: Is It Worth It?

Close-up of a vividly detailed eye with intricate swirling patterns and vibrant colors, representing a fusion of art and anatomy.

When you grow up relying on glasses all the time, to see long sight and short sight – it becomes your life. I never really thought much about my vision because in all honesty, glasses were always going to be there for me to use.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

When I left secondary school and went to college to study social sciences, I started to look into ways to improve vision. It wasn’t until I started working at Boots UK, where my assistant manager was like ‘hey, laser eye surgery is amazing – I had it done and you should look into it’. I did but at the time I was quite broke and was scared to even think about the process of zapping the eyes.

Fast forward like 4 years, I started working onboard super yachts as a steward. When you start travelling the world and come across amazing places, that is just such a life high. But for me I struggled with constantly switching from contacts to glasses back to contacts. The need to plan days ahead of are we going to the beach, great no contacts in that day – but being an over thinker and a bit of a clumsy person, I would avoid the sea with my glasses but then I couldn’t see so I would avoid the sea full stop. The risk of loosing my glasses in the sea worried me, but then the risk of being in the sea and not seeing freaked me out so I couldn’t win.

I would constantly make excuses like oh I just prefer to sunbathe or I’m not up for it or I’ll join soon, but I never would. For me being minus 5 in each eye, I was blind as a bat! So without visual aid, I couldn’t see that far ahead of me. But that wasn’t the only factor I took into consideration when looking at laser eye surgery.

5 THINGS I HATE ABOUT GLASSES:

1) WORKING OUT:

When it came to working out for me with glasses they would constantly be flopping all over my face. Jumping jacks, they’d fly off or even with yoga – the downward dog and they were on the floor. It was a constant struggle as when I took them off to workout without the worry of them flying – I couldn’t see the instructor or screen I was following infant of me. How annoying!

2) THEY STARTED TO RESHAPE MY HEAD!

This one sounds very strange but if you’re a full time glasses wearer you probably know this issue. The more you wear your glasses, the more they start to indent the area around your ears. I noticed one day when I went for a haircut, looking in the mirror I noticed the indents where my glasses sit. It freaked me out and stressed me out. Makes sense that this would happen – but after years of constant wearing, they had ruined my head!

3) THEY GIVE YOU SORE EARS

Leading on from the previous point. They start to hurt your ears, especially when you get a new set they will dig in and take some time to adjust to. I have seen my ears be red and raw just from wearing glasses. It’s something you never think about but when it happens, infuriates.

4) HARD TO RELAX WITH THEM

When you’ve had a long day and get home, put your feet up and possibly fall asleep. Forgetting to remove glasses will result in a sharp wake up call at some point. I remember falling asleep with glasses on once and they dug into my face – when I startled at the sensation and moved my face – they snapped along with digging into my nose… It was a very silly mistake but one I learnt quick from. Always remove glasses before a nap or sleep!

5) THEY ARE EXPENSIVE

Paying to see? that should be illegal. Not my fault I was born with crap eyes, sue me. But on a serious note, glasses are expensive. I love how companies will advertise glasses from like £50-£100 for a basic design – yet when you sit down with them it jumps like 50% and they are adding on so much crap to the order. I remember going into a store that rhymes with specsavers and picking a pair at £99. Then they enter the chat like oh add a 2nd pair for 50% off – so that brought me to £144 which was a good deal as I was allowed to make the 2nd pair sunglasses. RIP OFF ALERT: They sit you down and they’re like, we need to shave down the lenses: £30, oh for the tint in the sunglasses: £50 … and so on. Then at the end of it he was like so with your discount for the contact lens scheme – your total comes to £325… from £99 to £325, its such a scam when you think about it.

Don’t Get Me Started on Contact Lenses

Now as someone who at this point dreamed of not relying on glasses as much – I went for a contact lens appointment. That first appointment is crazy because they do their checks and then boom, you are approved and suitable for them. Right away you start using them and I remember sitting with an advisor for like 40 minutes struggling to put my first set in.

She kept giving me side eye when I was struggling, at that point my eyes were like bloodshot and stinging but I finally managed. The wise words of ‘it does get easier’ did not sit well with me. The fact of putting a finger close to your eye ball freaked me out but after a few days, I became a pro.

However, they forgot to explain a few things about contact lenses. Your eye will become more dry, I always used to think it was just my eyes playing up (but now know it was the affects of the contact lens drying my eyes out). I would always have to use eye mist throughout the day to stop eye irritation while using contacts.

A major issue never mentioned either was how easy it would be to irritate the eye when putting contact lenses in or even taking them out. I had mastered the in and out method – but every now and then my eyes would throw me a curveball. I remember getting the left one out quickly, but the right one wouldn’t budge. I always knew that if it doesn’t come out in the first few attempts – let it settle then try again. Well it took so much attempts that my eye got so irritated that it was starting to feel infected a few days after. Luckily that never came to anything more serious. TIP: if that happens, just keep your eyes moisturised with drops (a lot of drops) over the few days following to make sure no dryness and in time equals less irritation. BUT, also ensure you USE drops that are suitable for contact lenses!

MARCH 2024: A DECISION IS MADE

Back in October/November of 2023, I was home in-between starting a new job. I had just left a lovely 50 metre yacht in Palma De Mallorca and was bound to join a new boat in Malta to head to the Caribbean via Gibraltar. While I was at home I started doing some research into laser eye surgery and called up to make a consultation appointment. However, that appointment would never happen as the job I was joining wanted me sooner that I thought, So off to Malta I went.

I was working on a 70 metre motor yacht in the Caribbean and the captain of the vessel was saving up so he could go for laser eye surgery when he was back home next. Well that conversation struck a chord in me and made the idea of laser eye surgery fresh in my head again. It was like a sign to me that I needed to go for it.

I left the vessel in February and while back home I started the conversation back up with not only my partner James – but with the opticians. I was booked in for my consultation for 29th February 2024.

THE CONSULTATION

I Arrived at the appointment at Optical Express at 9.55am to such warm welcoming. I was advised before hand that the appointments can last unto 2 hours, this is because the tests they run are very in depth, which is very reassuring.

The first test is just the standard test, where they scan your eye and get your prescription. Then I was taken to another room which was super high tech, full of like 7 or 8 machines. The first machine was to scan the eyes to make sure they were worthy of laser eye surgery. Then machine after machine, scanning away and creating this in depth analysis of my eyes. The worst on was the last machine, nothing major just a HUGE FLASH into your eye, it makes your eyes water for sure!

Advice: I had not been sleeping well in the run up to this appointment and my left eye had a twitch – which at the time I didn’t know the lack of sleep was the issue. So make sure you are well rested, hydrated and make sure you take vitamins – this is something that was highlighted in my consultation.

After they had run all those tests, it was now time for the next part. To sit down with the optician, get my eyes check by him, then go over all the benefits and complications that could happen. The odds are quite low for the issue of a complication happening, so I wasn’t too worried. What was the worst that could happen? I go blind? I basically already was! He gave me the all clear, then stated I was a suitable candidate for the I-Design Lasik, which is where they peel a thin layer off your eye, laser it and then reattach that layer back on. He gave me a rough estimate of 4k-5k cost wise and said it will be discussed/calculated at the next part of the process.

Passed back to the floor supervisor who I actually went to school with, which I think made me more at ease with the whole process. He sat me down and gave me the number

FOR I-DESIGN LASIK IN BOTH EYES: WAS AN EYE WATERING £4790

To be honest at this point in my life after working hard for the last 2.5 years on yachts, I have grown quite the savings pot with James. SO when that number was given it didn’t really flinch as I knew that with my very bad prescription, the price was going to be high.

After a quick consultation in the opticians with James – we had decided we would go ahead and do it there and then. So with the consultation in branch they try and book you in for a few months time away but because I work away and could get a job at any moment, I needed it as soon as possible. The advisor was scrolling looking and Aberdeen was fully booked until late May! WHAT that much people are booked in for this?

He finally managed to get me a date for Monday 18th March, but that was in Glasgow. A 3.5 hour drive, I look at James and he instantly says, book it ill drive you there and back. So I pay the £500 deposit and confirm the surgery date.

A NERVE RACKING DAY

James and I were inbound to Glasgow on Sunday 17th March, we decided it would be a great idea to book into a hotel for the night as my laser eye surgery was to be at 7.55am on the Monday, to then drive straight back to Aberdeen after the surgery. At this point of the plan I was still feeling fine.

The morning of I woke up 6am to shower and get ready for the day. I can take quite a while to get myself ready and at this point I started to feel a little nervous. Nothing major but it was starting to creep in. We headed to the surgery at 7.30am and arriving prompt to check in. There were many people there all for the same surgery, they all seemed fine too. I was the last patient of the group of 4 to be seen, as time was passing – I was starting to get more and more nervous!

The time had come, ‘Dylan we are ready for you’. I started to feel more nervous. As I walked along the corridor and through into this high tech area, I kept thinking this will be worth it – it needs to happen! I was sat in a HUGE comfy chair where they proceed to pop a hair net on you and talk through the process along with the drops you get and how to use them. I said I was feeling a little nervous and the two women who were there were super amazing. Instead of rushing me they started small talk, leaning into my work – making me open up and feel more at ease.

When I confirmed I understood it all, the two women led me through to the operating table. Not what I imagined! It was all computers and nothing scary like the mind wonders into. I lay down on the chair, left with a new team of surgeons who instantly started small talk – probably knowing how to put everyone at ease that comes in. They stated what was to happen and what the plan was. The lady put the numbing drops on my eyes, let that settle and gave the all clear to start.

The surgeon then came in, he sat just behind me where my head was laying. He checked in with how I was feeling and stated we will be zapping each eye for around 40 seconds each and it will be over before you know it.

NOW THIS IS WHERE IT GETS DARK – THE ACTUAL PROCEDURE

I had been researching and looking at how it was done – but no one or no video really went into the grim details. I would have been better prepared for what was about to happen if I knew ahead of the surgery. Now I say this is dark or unexpected – but in reality it isn’t too bad and I am THE BIGGEST DRAMA QUEEN so take my over exaggerations with a pinch of salt.

STEP 1: SLICE THE EYES

They pop an instrument on the eye to hold it open – which also gets pushed down to suck the eye ball up, then they line it up with the first machine. This machine is the one that slices a very very very thin slice off the eye ball to create a flap. They do this on both eyes.

STEP 2: REMOVE THE FLAP

They slide the chair you’re laying on away from the ‘slicing machine’ (my nickname for it), the surgeon starts by removing the flap on the first eye then slides you under the actual laser machine.

STEP 3: ZAP TIME

The machine is very high tech and the I-design system is fast and very reliable! You’re prompted to find the flashing light and look at it. A countdown 3,2,1 and the machine gets to work. At this point you may think you’re going to freak out, but I felt very at ease at this point. The machine was zapping my eye for 40 seconds which felt less than that. It was super quick and the numbing drops were great – but you can still see as everything happens – but it’s a little blurry! The machine stops and they slide you back to the middle.

STEP 4: PLACE THE FLAP BACK ON THE ZAPPED EYE

This step is where the surgeon then takes the eyeball flap they previously cut off and pops it back over the area they just zapped. This was the part I wasn’t the biggest fan of. The fact that you can see and feel the instrument placing the skin back over. The fact you can feel the pressure and pulling on the eye made me sink into my the chair gripping on. However, it was quick and if you let them get on with it – it goes a lot faster!

STEP 5: BACK UNDER TO ZAP THE OTHER EYE

So now the right eye was zapped and flap placed back on the eye – I was back under the laser to zap the left eye. Again another 40 seconds on the timer and following the flashing light. Again pain free and quick – what more can you ask for. It was over so fast you don’t have much time to think about it!

STEP 6: PLACE THE FLAP BACK ON THE OTHER EYE

Slid back into the middle of the machines (so the cutting machine on your left and the laser on the right), the surgeon starts to place the skin flap removed before back onto the eye. I will say for this one I knew the sensation that was incoming and my eye started to play around – basically wanting to roll back so he couldn’t get to it – it was a natural reaction. I calmed my thoughts and let him get on with it. But he took a little longer with the left eye due to me knowing what was coming and acting before he even got near me. However, super quick!

STEP 7: I CAN SEE!

Now I may have been dozed up with numbing drops on my eye – but I could already see so much clearer! The surgeon does last minute touches, flushes the eyes with liquid then adds drops. He said it all went well and I can sit up. My vision was a little blurry and my eye were a little stingy but what do you expect after being under the laser. The two lady’s from the start were there to guide me, one asked how my vision was and I was like WOW I CAN SEE ALREADY! I shouted thanks to everyone in the room as I was guided to the optician room.

STEP 8: POST OP CHECKS AND ALL CLEAR TO GO

This part I did not know about which put my mind at ease so much. After your eyes have been worked on and under the laser – the surgeon then sits you down and check in the eyes and makes sure the flaps have connected perfectly. This is to ensure the health and the recovery will be smooth. After a quick check with the scope and light – he gave me the all clear. I was lead out of the operation area and back to the waiting room to be reunited with James – then to head to the car to drive home. James looked at me and was like OMG your eyes are so red! He was shocked because the people who came out before me while we were waiting, their eyes weren’t that red. Turns out because my prescription was so bad, I was under the laser for longer – resulting in major red eye. Which at the time did not phase me – I just wanted to get in the car and sleep!

THE SURGERY WAS OVER

Looking back at it now it’s easy to see why I was over thinking the surgery and worried about it. But in all honesty it was super quick, effective and I knew I was in safe hands with Optical Express. They preform so many surgeries a day that I knew I can trust them to fix my eyes. To think that they managed to do 4 of us in 2 hours – which is basically 1 an hour is crazy! But living it and seeing how quick the whole procedure was – it’s madness.

I know this post is very long and in depth – but I hope to cover all areas and thought that you may have about the surgery if you’re ever considering the surgery.

POST OP AFTER CARE: THE PART NO ONE PREPARES YOU FOR!

Now when you are doing your research on the surgery, you will always find information on the surgery itself – but never much information on what to expect after it. Now if you are going to get the surgery I know this next part of the post will be major insight for you. I am sharing my experience only and can’t speak on how the experience will be for you – but its good for you to see what I went through to have some sort of idea on what to expect because I had no idea…

RIGHT AFTER SURGERY

As I mentioned before James was there to get me straight to the car and head home. I had my op in Glasgow and Aberdeen was around 3.5 hours by car. I got into the car and that’s when reality hit me – that’s when I actually had time to reflect and think what have I just done. At this point my eyes were steaming, constantly running and I was struggling to keep them open in the daylight. This is very natural and expected after the surgery. I read that most people head home and go straight to sleep for a few hours. So I popped on sunglasses, had some paracetamol and popped a jumper over my head – to block out all light because I was super sensitive at that point.

THE NIGHT AFTER LASER EYE SURGERY

We arrived home midday and I slept the whole journey home. As the journey progressed I started to calm down a little because I won’t lie I did have a little freak out. But as the journey commenced my eyes started to settle, still a little stingy but when James got out to get us a Burger King for lunch around midway my eyes were able to open and look around. Still very sensitive to the daylight but great progress. I ate quickly and put the jumper back over my head and slept the whole way home.

You are clear to shower a few hours after your surgery, but told to keep your head out of the water. I decided I wouldn’t shower because I just wanted to sleep. The whole process drained me and my body just wanted to rest. So I tucked myself into bed and fell asleep – I slept the whole after noon waking for food. We decided to order pizza, it arrived, I ate and then fell back asleep.

I woke back up around 9.30pm and I was still so tired. My eyes were able to open and my vision was so improved I thought that was it (I would later see how UHD my eyesight would get). I got washed up still avoiding the shower and brushed my teeth, popped more paracetamol and added the drops given to me to my eyes – what a great feeling. Then I proceeded to bed for the night.

HOWEVER, I will add that for me who previously had dry eyes before the surgery (was told to be prepared to attack the dry eyes after it). I had woken up at around 3.30am with sore eyes which seemed dry. So I popped in some drops and had more paracetamol; then fell back asleep.

THE DAY AFTER: POST OP CHECKS AND HUGE IMPROVEMENTS

With Optical Express UK, once you have undergone the laser eye surgery you are required to go to a follow up appointment the day after. That morning I woke up with still some light blurriness that was to be there for around a week and still had some light sensitivity. I sat on the chair in the opticians and he had a look. He said the eyes have sealed pretty well already and that I was well on the recovery road. Just had to ensure I kept using the drops and making sure my eyes didn’t get dry like they once were before.

I was given the all clear and sent on my way. The next check up would be a month from that date.

AFTER SURGERY & MY RECOVERY RESULTS

They say with laser eye surgery the recovery can take a little longer than you think. Your eyes are always still adjusting and healing over time. The week after my surgery the pain went after 4 days, I was just left with mild itchiness, ensuring I did not touch my eyes at all and making sure I used the drops for the full course. I am still using lubrication drops to this day – but only using them once a day now!

As the week went on my eye sight went from slight blurred to crystal clear and within 6 days I had gained full sight. I looked forward to waking up in the morning, opening the curtains and actually seeing the sights without worrying not wearing my glasses.

The adjustment has been very easy. However, I still reach for glasses in the morning when I awake and I am constantly reaching to push glasses up my face. Now I am a month into recovery and recently had my follow up appointment. I have been given the all clear and safe to continue life like I did before – this time without the aid of glasses!

WAS IT WORTH IT?

Looking back on the decision I will say I had always stopped myself due to the worry of a complication occurring. However, after deep diving into all the resources available I realised that the choice was more favourable than not. I look back to it and see that I wasn’t nervous or worries like I thought I would have been. The whole process was quick, effective and preformed at a high standard. Optical express have been amazing from start to finish and I highly recommend them for laser eye surgery!

WANT TO SAVE £300 OF OF YOUR LASER EYE SURGERY?

As I have undergone the surgery and I do recommend it – I can refer anyone who is looking to get laser eye surgery with OPTICAL EXPRESS UK and get you £300 off of your surgery if you go ahead with it. All you have to do is fill out the form below or message me via any social media pages attached below, I then fill out a form and you’ll be emailed a coupon for the money off! As easy as that – if you have any questions feel free to reach out to me and if you want to learn more about the referral scheme you can read that here. (*not sponsored or endorsed by Optical Express UK, just part of their referral scheme).

TheDylansWorld

Yacht life, travel, and culture — told with wit, curiosity, and a glass of champagne.