Why Laser Eye Surgery?

• Independence and confidence
• Freedom and mobility
• Discomfort of glasses or contact lenses
• Restrictions imposed by glasses or contact lenses at work or leisure activities
• The maintenance and upkeep required with glasses and contact lenses.

Below are some unique reasons for having laser eye surgery that our patients have shared with us. Can you see a part of yourself in their words? Alternatively, will you one day add your own unique reason?

1. My wife and I are avid sailors, and I enjoy navigating down the western coast of France. To be frank, over the last few years I had gone off my navigating because of the difficulties in seeing the map, fumbling with glasses that blur up in the drizzle. I'm looking forward to getting back on my boat! — Roger W., Ashtead, Surrey.
2. I have worn glasses since I was 6, and they have been a nuisance ever since. My memory of sports at school is not good. When PE teachers insisted I took my glasses off to play football, I could not see what was happening at the other end of the pitch. Having been —6D in both eyes I have been dependant on glasses. Contact lenses gave me a break from glasses for a few years, and at least made sport and outdoor pursuits more enjoyable. Being able to throw away my glasses has been fantastic. Although it has not radically changed my day-to-day life it has given me a sense of freedom and security that a dependence on glasses did not permit. — Andrew D., Wooten Basset, Wiltshire
3. Having worn glasses or contact lenses for the last 30 years I just cannot really grasp how unbelievable life is free of the constraints that they bring. I enjoy many shooting field sports, and already, as an active clay pigeon shooter, my ability to watch and read the flight of the clay has improved enormously, and will I have no doubt lead to improved scores - particularly in our usual changeable weather! — Tony M., Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire
4. It's the best decision I ever made. It has changed my life, being able to get up in the morning and see for miles, although you do very soon start taking it for granted…Apart from the vision benefits it saves a lot of money and also the hassle involved in contact lenses. — Caroline B., Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
5. Having worn contact lenses for the past 20 years this was a serious inconvenience! Having to resort to wearing glasses with 2 very physically active young children was a big problem. — Vivienne C., Horsham, West Sussex
6. It's changed my life forever. I no longer need glasses and I am 50 years old, and don't need reading glasses either. I can't thank all the staff enough for changing my life. — Steward R., Edinburgh, Scotland
7. I am in my mid-sixties and wanted the best of both worlds - to read the share prices in the Financial Times and to see my golf ball at 200 yards: this has been achieved. — Brian M., Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
8. As an added personal observation, whilst suffering from less than perfect sight, I was tending to become a little lazy, and would pass by the opportunity to casually read an article or passing message, as it was just too much trouble. Think of the lack of everyday awareness this must cumulatively bring about. — Roger W., Ascot, Berkshire
9. I had found before my surgery that my glasses were very frustrating. I had several pairs at home and work, but I was constantly fumbling for them. I am the managing director of a masonry company and I didn't have any problems with distance before the surgery, just with my close vision. Now I read menus, I read the newspaper; my efficiency at work is higher than it was before, because I don't have the hassle of my glasses. — Paul R., Co. Wicklow, Ireland
10. I quit playing football at the age of 40 because of failing eyesight. Now 10 years on, I've resumed playing again. Life doesn't begin at 40; it begins after laser correction. — Adrian P., Basildon, Essex
11. My work entails me visiting some of the most inaccessible and difficult parts of the planet. Since my operation, I can now function very effectively in all situations, from above 17,000 feet above sea level in the Andes, through the jungles of Africa and Asia, to deep underground in mines, all of which necessitated previous use of many pairs of spectacles and their destruction!! The restoration of my sight has enhanced my ability to function efficiently in all conditions, everywhere. The resulting effect on my business activities has been most beneficial. — Denis T., Lancing, West Sussex
12. I am a police officer in London. I couldn't tolerate contact lenses, and so before my laser eye surgery I had to wear glasses. Now during a foot chase, I can actually chase after people without my glasses bumping up and down on my nose. When I do catch up with the suspect, and they resist or fight, I no longer have to worry about my glasses being knocked off or with having to look for them after a fight. At work, I can see further than before, which makes it easier to pick up license plates and get more accurate descriptions of places and subjects. Off the job, I am playing rugby now and can actually see what's going on, and I'm happy to be able to wear a decent pair of fashionable sunglasses without having to worry about a prescription. — Daniel J., Orpington, Kent
13. I was making many mistakes at work, I was unable to see my computer screen, read a newspaper or drive at night and whatever my optometrist did he could not correct my vision with prescription lenses…. My prescription is now 20/15 without glasses, no astigmatism, I have my life back, I can drive at night, I can read my computer screen and I am no longer in danger of losing my job through making mistakes! — Lesley F., Hemel Hampstead, Hertfordshire
14. I'm 59, and when I would start reading the paper, as I'm getting through a line, the words would become blurred in and out, it's difficult to keep within the same line, and I would keep losing my place. What's great is that I can now read the newspaper with reading glasses at all, and my distance vision is perfect! It's a new world at the moment; you don't know what you've missed until you revert back to where you were. It creeps up on you, and you don't realize… I reached a point where I had a whole set of glasses… on in every room, in the car, at work, an emergency set… it's refreshing!!! I'm enjoying just looking at things!! There is no comparison in quality of life. — Roger W., London
15. My motivation came from the chance to gain both better vision and cosmetic appearance. I commenced treatment in August last year with laser, then lens extraction, then more laser. The results have been amazing and I have experienced liberation at last, free from thick glasses and contact lenses. — Lorraine G., Crawley, Sussex
16. I feel so much more confident. I don't need to have three, four pairs of glasses, and sunglasses. Don't have to worry if you have the right glasses with you at work. Reading menus is a big change. My friends say now when we're out at a restaurant 'give it to Norma, she can read it!' And also I must admit, it is nice that people can't automatically guess my age because of my reading glasses. Wearing the reading glasses was an obvious sign that I was over forty. — Norma M., Bromley, Kent
17. This has made such a difference to my life. I was always losing my glasses and then getting frustrated when I could not find them!! I don't need them now! I can go to the supermarket and READ the prices, I can thread a needle, I can see to put my make up on, and I can read etc.etc. I am at my computer typing this WITHOUT NEEDING TO WEAR GLASSES!! (their emphasis) — Jan M., Carshalton-on-the-hill, Surrey
18. I shoot clay pigeons as a weekend sport and since my operation; I've improved by two grades from B class to AA, which is +80% success against targets. Previously with contact lenses there were difficulties being outside with dryness and windy conditions, spending time making sure that my contact lenses were OK. Now I spend 100% of the time shooting the gun! — Ian S., Thorncliffe, Straffordshire
19. All I could think of was the chance to escape spectacles. I daydreamt all the way home on the train about what life would be like without glasses. Opening the oven and not being blinded by hot air, walking down the street in the rain and not needing miniature windscreen wipers, going to the cinema and not furtively fishing out my glasses when the lights went down and, best of all, horse riding and being able to see where I was going. — Sarah C., Martyr Worthy, Hampshire
20. I completed the London Marathon in 3hrs 15mins. Wore (your) sign. Hope it had a positive impact. There were certainly plenty of people to read it! Vision perfect in the rain. SO glad no contacts. Thanks. — Miranda M., Kent.
21. Please find enclosed a copy of my class one certificate just issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. You may wish to note there are no limitations or restrictions with respect to wearing spectacles or indeed future periodic eye test. Bearing in mind the CAA originally stated I was not fit to fly under class two regulations let alone class one; such an achievement is quite brilliant! — Steve E., Bedford
22. I'm a mother of 4 and used to be a practising barrister before I took early retirement! What prompted me to have my eyesight corrected - well, the reason was quite personal - I felt I needed to improve my appearance and feel better about myself after I discovered that my husband of 16 years was about to leave me for a 27 year old! Having decided it was better to spend serious money on this rather than say a holiday or a car or diamonds, I checked out every outlet offering this service. — Mei Ling S., London
23. I always wore extended wear lenses but found over the last couple of years that I became intolerant and constantly had to remove them. I cannot get on with glasses at all because of a wish to swim, dive and ride a mountain bike as well as all the other problems like sunglasses and playing with the kids. Suddenly, in the last 18 months my eyes would not tolerate contacts any longer so I had to wear spectacles all the time. I really hated this and therefore decided I wanted to have Laser surgery. — Ivan M., Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
24. Over the past 18 months I had been developing intolerance to my contact lenses to the point where I could no longer wear them. Having worn contact lenses for the past 20 years this was a serious inconvenience! Having to resort to wearing glasses with 2 very physically active young children was a big problem. It is wonderful to go from being totally reliant on spectacles, to only having to wear them for very close-up work, I feel like I have my freedom back again. — Jackie P., Hertford
25. In the supermarket when I'm standing at the checkout, I can look across at all the other check-out counters and be confident that I'm not appearing to ignore someone that I know (because I can actually see the faces!). — Margaret C., London

Seen enough good reasons to undergo eye surgery?

Contact a patient education consultant on 0800 587 4705 to discuss your suitability for laser eye surgery at London Vision Clinic.