LVC Patient Zana Reflects on the Advantages of Laser Eye Surgery
Each year, we welcome patients from all over the country – and further afield – through the doors of our Harley Street clinic. They may be looking for a solution for their lifelong affliction of myopia (short-sightedness) or a new-found reliance on reading glasses. And our clinic staff, from our receptionists and patient care coordinators to our surgeons and optometrists, are always happy to help.
In this blog, we follow the story of Zana, one of our patients who had relied on glasses and contact lenses for decades. Zana tells us about her experience of the procedure itself and the results she achieved.
Meet Zana – A Past London Vision Clinic Patient
Zana Morris came to London Vision Clinic back in 2011 seeking to finally rid herself of the pesky glasses and contact lenses that had been getting in the way of everyday life for decades.
“With the gym and the kind of work I do, you can start very, very early. The day itself can be long and then if you want to go out afterwards, quite frankly, to wear contact lenses during that length of time – you can’t really, or if you do, you suffer by the end of the evening.”
After some to-ing and fro-ing about whether to go ahead with treatment and, of course, choosing the right clinic, Zana eventually found herself booked in for Laser Eye Surgery treatment at our Harley Street clinic.
The Day of Zana’s Laser Eye Surgery Treatment
Zara tells us how she felt supported at every step of the Laser Eye Surgery process: “I was really, really pleased I went with the London Vision Clinic, really, really pleased.
“The service and the back up was just incredible both before the surgery and all the testing and everything they did. During the surgery and around the day of the surgery there was incredible support and after it they really, really looked after you.”
Zana’s surgeon, Mr Glenn Carp, talked her through every step of the treatment, so there were no nasty surprises:
“The surgeon, Glenn Carp, he was superb. He really was throughout the whole of the surgery; he talked you through it step by step, so you really knew what was going to happen next and there was no surprises – nothing would happen that you weren’t expecting.
“There was absolutely no pain at all, which surprised me because I expected even just a little bit – and it was exceptionally fast!”
In fact, LASIK – the procedure had by the majority of patients – can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Moreover, anaesthetic eye drops ensure that patients don’t feel any pain during the procedure, although it’s fair to say the sensation is a little strange!
Zana’s Response After Laser Eye Surgery
Like many patients, Zana noticed an immediate improvement in her vision as soon as she sat up after the procedure. This is what we like to call the “wow factor”.
“Afterwards, you can see! I mean it was – I know it sounds very obvious in retrospect – but at the time you don’t expect to sit up and be able to suddenly see everything.
“Yes, it’s great, it’s stunning. The clock ,I can see no problem at all. Yeah, everything – well, the thing for me is faces, actually, as well. I mean, I know that sounds funny, but even this close would have made a difference before without the glasses.
“It was a little bit foggy and that obviously cleared but you could still see everything clearly. I could see the time on the wall you know on the clock which before I wouldn’t have had a chance.”
Enjoying the Results
When having Laser Eye Surgery, everyone wants to know what they can expect from the results. Of course, every patient is different. Their treatment and expected outcomes can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the severity of their prescription and the health of their eyes. Nonetheless, at London Vision Clinic, over 97% of our short-sighted patients achieve 20/20 vision or better!
In Zana’s case, she was thrilled with life after Laser Eye Surgery:
“Honestly, it’s just brilliant not needing the glasses, not needing the contact lenses at all. The difference is in every area when you wake up in the morning and you can see. I haven’t been able to do that in decades. Not needing to worry about contact lenses later in the day, not worrying about solutions, not having to bring your glasses with you. It’s very, very freeing, it’s brilliant, really just brilliant!
“It is awesome being able to see things particularly when you wake up in the morning, everything is exceptionally clear, whereas it never obviously has been, at least not in the last 20 plus years. Yes, I was swimming in the sea just about a week ago. I was in the South of France and it is the first time in years I have been able to dive into water without worrying about losing the contact lenses or worrying about whether I’m going to see anything when I come out basically.
“But the morning is probably the most amazing bit because I’ve never been able to get out of bed without first reaching for the glasses or reaching for the contact lenses. So, I did find I was waking up much more awake in the sense that, once I had woken up, I could see everything. So, I was kind of, ‘okay then, it is definitely time to get up’. It’s been decades since I’ve had that, it’s absolutely fantastic! I ended up donating the glasses to charity.”
If you’d like to discover the advantages of Laser Eye Surgery for yourself, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators or Book a Consultation today to get the ball rolling on your treatment.