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Question of the Day: What's the most interesting small town you've visited in South Africa?
Not with Dr Hill, actually. Which is surprising, because I know they charge more for it overseas.
I'd pay more for it if I had to, though.
Whats your coming to?PM if needed.
http://www.zyoptix.com/zyoptix_uk/what_is_zyoptix.html
http://www.zyoptix.com/zyoptix_uk/what_is_zyoptix.html
marine1
Honorary Master
Just booked my appt in December for laser eye surgery. Well actually to see what the prognosis is. My eyes have become so bad in the last 4 years.
ShaunSA
Derailment Squad
Have thought about Lasik for a few years now. Two things stopping me. Cost and I am scared as sh@t of even the thought of anything medical 
And I'm effing terrified I will lose my eyesight
And I'm effing terrified I will lose my eyesight
They say R12800, for both eyes, and no extra charge for the custom ablation. I suspect it might be going up in January though.
Just booked my appt in December for laser eye surgery. Well actually to see what the prognosis is. My eyes have become so bad in the last 4 years.
If your prescription has changed, they probably won't be able to do it. But you're lucky to get an appt in Dec, I can only do March as I have to not wear my contacts for 2 months before hand
That's the most painful part of the whole thing, actually.
marine1
Honorary Master
I dont wear glasses or use contacts, only really at night but not really needed, rather just to make it easier however I should be wearing glasses at night. Damn it I dont wanna get old.
I'm going for my initial assessment tomorrow (long story, but ended up going with Prof Kruger in Tygervally rather than Dr Hill). They said I can go for an initial short assessment tomorrow, without having to leave my lenses out; then if that goes well I can do the full assessment in 6 weeks or so (and they'll give me soft lenses to wear in the meantime! So my vision won't be great, but will be better than with glasses).
Now I'm nervous. Not because of what they'll do, but because it could all be over tomorrow if they say no.
Have you had your assessment, marine1?
Now I'm nervous. Not because of what they'll do, but because it could all be over tomorrow if they say no.
Have you had your assessment, marine1?
eek
Expert Member
Good luck for tomorrow Cath! I'm sure they'll make the right decision and I'm positive all will go well for you!
Nervousness is fine and normal...though you needn't worry!
Nervousness is fine and normal...though you needn't worry!
Thanks jewelbox, eek 
tau1z, there are a variety of reasons - if my corneas are too thin, for example. But the big one that concerns me is the cause of my irregular astigmatism. I'm pretty sure that there's nothing nasty behind it, but the other opthalmologist I was talking to was very negative and didn't seem to want to believe that it might be nothing; he thinks it is most likely keratoconus. While I think he's wrong, it does make a bit more anxious for tomorrow than I would be otherwise...
Plus, I went for an assessment a few years ago and was turned down because they didn't have wavefront technology then. They do now, but that terribly disappointing experience has been burned deep into my psyche
tau1z, there are a variety of reasons - if my corneas are too thin, for example. But the big one that concerns me is the cause of my irregular astigmatism. I'm pretty sure that there's nothing nasty behind it, but the other opthalmologist I was talking to was very negative and didn't seem to want to believe that it might be nothing; he thinks it is most likely keratoconus. While I think he's wrong, it does make a bit more anxious for tomorrow than I would be otherwise...
Plus, I went for an assessment a few years ago and was turned down because they didn't have wavefront technology then. They do now, but that terribly disappointing experience has been burned deep into my psyche
Thanks jewelbox, eek
tau1z, there are a variety of reasons - if my corneas are too thin, for example. But the big one that concerns me is the cause of my irregular astigmatism. I'm pretty sure that there's nothing nasty behind it, but the other opthalmologist I was talking to was very negative and didn't seem to want to believe that it might be nothing; he thinks it is most likely keratoconus. While I think he's wrong, it does make a bit more anxious for tomorrow than I would be otherwise...
Plus, I went for an assessment a few years ago and was turned down because they didn't have wavefront technology then. They do now, but that terribly disappointing experience has been burned deep into my psyche
he is probably overplaying it, but if ur cornea is thinning then it could be keratoconus, its exactly what i got. However treatment for that is also very optimistic even locally!! Hope it all goes well, i know how u feeling, i am also very nervous about my appointment...the idea that seeing properly again is unbelievable, but i dont think i could take the disappointment of hearing that i gotta live with what i got...
Sackboy
Executive Member
What worries me is that they discover something new every year or so and what if they discover the method is flawed and we will only find out in 10 years time. That's the thing, it's experimental.Thanks jewelbox, eek
tau1z, there are a variety of reasons - if my corneas are too thin, for example. But the big one that concerns me is the cause of my irregular astigmatism. I'm pretty sure that there's nothing nasty behind it, but the other opthalmologist I was talking to was very negative and didn't seem to want to believe that it might be nothing; he thinks it is most likely keratoconus. While I think he's wrong, it does make a bit more anxious for tomorrow than I would be otherwise...
Plus, I went for an assessment a few years ago and was turned down because they didn't have wavefront technology then. They do now, but that terribly disappointing experience has been burned deep into my psyche
I doubt it... look at the history so far. It's been improved, definitely, but they weren't wrong in what they did before. Will there be improvements in another 10 years? Definitely! But I'll have had 10 years of good vision in the meantime, and that's worth a lot to me.
I wouldn't say it's experimental, either. It's been around for at least a decade, and they've done hundreds of thousands of ops. What extra would you want them to do to make it mainstream rather than experimental?
Sackboy
Executive Member
They weren't using only LASERs 10 years ago for this type of thing. It used to be a scalpel job with some LASER work AFAIK. I would ask the doctor.
Perhaps experimental wasn't the right word. We are only finding out the consequences now of work done 10-15 yrs ago. Some of it isn't good.
marine1
Honorary Master
Best of luck - I didnt go in the end, just want to wait a bit and dont feel like spending money ATM. Pitty medical aid doesnt cover it.
They used to cut the flap with a blade, and then do the laser work. The difference now is that they use a laser to cut the flap, then use another laser to do the ablation.
I haven't seen reports of long term side effects - there are people who had it done on the early systems that weren't happy, but I think they noticed those effects fairly quickly (within a year at the very longest). I don't think anyone's reported being happy after the surgery, but with problems developing after 5+ years.
I had mine done in 1999 - I was far sighted.
Now I use prescription reading glasses.
I'm not convinced that any new technique can address the problems with night driving (lights causing star-bursts etc) - they use a special eye drop before the procedure to dilate your pupils and can only treat the exposed part.
The first year night driving was really bad for me, and only bearable now.
It's not just lights causing star-bursts at night - vision is very poor in low light even with my reading glasses.
I work in an industrial environment which is not always well lit, and this is a bugbear for me.
It's nice to go swimming and be able to see and wear whatever sun glasses you find on the shelf - I only use polaroid sun glasses and these would be very costly if prescription lenses.
If I was faced with the decision today, I'd not rule out having it done, but would need a lot more time to weigh up the pros and cons.
Now I use prescription reading glasses.
I'm not convinced that any new technique can address the problems with night driving (lights causing star-bursts etc) - they use a special eye drop before the procedure to dilate your pupils and can only treat the exposed part.
The first year night driving was really bad for me, and only bearable now.
It's not just lights causing star-bursts at night - vision is very poor in low light even with my reading glasses.
I work in an industrial environment which is not always well lit, and this is a bugbear for me.
It's nice to go swimming and be able to see and wear whatever sun glasses you find on the shelf - I only use polaroid sun glasses and these would be very costly if prescription lenses.
If I was faced with the decision today, I'd not rule out having it done, but would need a lot more time to weigh up the pros and cons.
Hosehead
Executive Member
I'm pleased you ended up going with Prof Kruger! He is the best we have in SA, and just so you know, he was doing custom ablation/zyoptix long before Dr. Hill was!!
I have sent many overseas patients to check out Kuger since 2001 and have never had a complication complaint yet. Good luck with that surgery- he's a perfectionist. you are in great hands and He's the ONLY eye doc I'd consider going to for my own eyes.
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