Hi there J.

4 weeks ago I had my eyes lasered courtesy of :

http://visionlaser.ch/pages/index.php

You can book an appointment online or perhaps to make things speed along, call them directly.

My own experience was very positive and like many, I wish I'd had it done sooner!

All was conducted in perfect English and the set-up seemed state-of-the-art.

If you need any additional encouragement, e-me.

Good luck

I've done my initial pre-surgery test in the laser vision clinic mentioned above. They do it for free. 

I was satisfied with the service and recommendations but finally made a surgery in my home country, because it's always better to speak in your native language to the doctor during the process :) 

I have no personal experience but have been told that laser eye surgery is cheaper in France (e.g., Thonon) and just as good.  However, you do have to travel back and forth for the appointments.

All the best, Ritchie

From what i heard it's three times cheaper in Italy and 5 times cheaper in Turkey.

I've made it in Ukraine and there it costed 10 times cheaper than in Geneva :)

I did the tests recently at Clinique d'Oeil in Onex. State of the apartment equipment, nice and seemingly very capable doctors. Will do the laser with their partner clinic in Lausanne, Centre Chirurgical de l'Oeil, in 10 days.

I knew of course that Switzerland is more expensive than most other places in the world. It is 4 times more expensive than in California where my brother did it, and double the price compared to Iceland where I come from. But the relevance of the price of course depends on the insurance you have. 

You're welcome to send me an e-mail in 2 weeks and ask how it went.  :-) 

Is it covered by insurance, and if so, which insurance?

What is the cost in Switzerkand?

Anybody else have experience with Vision Laser? They gave me a qoute of 6000CHF (I think my insurance covers half). Seems a bit expensive but have the impression they're top notch and use the latest technologies.

An acquaintance of mine was very satisfied with the treatments she had in Thonon-les-Bains for about half the CH price, but there was, of course, the need to travel there and back for consultations, etc.  She has now left Geneva so I can’t give you the specialist’s name, but it probably wouldn’t be difficult to find him.  Thonon’s not that big a town.

R.

Grag, I did LASIK at Vision Laser in June. I am going for my last check next Tuesday.

I paid very happily 6000chf. I don't care about making savings when it comes to my health, it is a simple surgery but it is still surgery, and the quality of it depends 100% on the skills of the surgeon.

Everything was carried out extremely well, very professionally and in English. They have the latest technology. In fact I did a preliminary check to verify if I was suitable for surgery 4 years ago, and they told be no. I tried again this year, and because a very new procedure, I could do it. I recovered very quickly, and now can see even better than how I could see with contact lenses. My bf did it 3 years ago with the same surgeon and he is also very happy. If you want more info you can pm me. 

Greg, not Grag, sorry for the typo!

I also heard great feedback about Vision Laser. Am considering to get my own laswer treatment there too. 

Federica: who was your surgeon at Vision Laser Geneva for the laser eye surgery?

My experience with Vision Laser was a disaster and I have permanent problems since then, partly due to the Lasik technology (not as reliable as they boast it to be) and partly due to Vision Laser.

The surgeon under-corrected my left eye without my approval.

Then, due to vitroretrineal damages I have permanent floaters since 4 years.

I know several people who had to stop working as their eyesight did not permit to carry on their professional activities. 

Have a look at this website:

http://www.lasikcomplications.com/risks.htm

The problem is that I was really foolish when I did the operation and did not seek more information on the risks involved with this technology beforehand.

Then it's up to you to decide if you want to take the risk.

Richard, 

That sucks!

I've been on the fence about a laser eye operation for the past few years cos I know there are some risks involved (like in any operation). I think every Doctor you see about this is open about the risks.

I read tho that the success rate with Lasik is extremely high. Do you have a link to any stats about the success rates?

Yes Nir, that sucks!

The success rate is extremely high but...the problems you might get if things turn wrong are permanent.

If I have an advice it would be this one:

If you wear contact lenses or glasses and are happy with them, don't change.

Should you really want to get the operation, consider PRK which is the former technique. 

Though PRK is extremely painful after the operation, the risks are much lower. Many friends did PRK and have none of the side-effects caused by Lasik.

The reason why Lasik is extremely popular is because it almost painless and the result is immediate. But what's the best:

some extreme pains during a couple of days after the operation or long-lasting side-effects?

Here is some information on PRK:

http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/prk.htm

Hi Jane, there is a great eye Doctor in Annemasse, who does that surgery, and a colleague of mine did it a while back and is very happy with the outcome. Hi name is Dr Py:

17 av Pierre Mendès France (the new private clinic)
74100 ANNEMASSE
Plan Itinéraire
Tel: +334 50 92 11 60

and the cost is much lower than it would be in Geneva

If you are looking for a solution for age related reading issues, there is a new technique being introduced (I have not done the research - just saw this article) that might be of interest.

Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2733105/Tiny-Raindrop-implant-eye-banish-reading-glasses-forever.html

With any of these procedures, it is worthwhile reading some of the forums for the specific treatment you are considering. That way you will have the +ve and -ve of the general procedure. Then it becomes a question of the surgeon and the generation of equipment s/he is using. Personally, I would want someone who is using the latest version of the equipment and does these procedures all day long.

Richard, I am really sorry about what happened to you.

I perfectly understand your frustration and anger, I would feel the same. However, yes there are always risks involved. And you are informed about them beforehand, by voice and in writing. Over and under corrections are among them, like infections, halos, severe dryness etc. It is not a secret. I am not defending Vision Laser, but I have been through it and before undergoing the procedure, I evaluated all this of course. If you look on the Internet, you find horror stories and pics of eye surgeries gone wrong. But most of those cases are consequences of cheap surgeries and unexperienced surgeons. That is why I chose a surgeon with years of experience and solid reputation. But this does not mean 100% success anyways unfortunately. For instance, my bf's vision at night is not great. He knew it was a risk, and now he lives with it. 

So if it is certain that you will always want the best place and staff to perform any kind of surgery, it is also certain that no operation is 100% risk free, even with the best surgeon and technology.

Nir, mz surgeon was Dr. Farpour.

Federica.

Thank you for your concern.

All patients have to sign a disclaimer prior to such an operation. However it is the same as when you take an aspirin. You read all the side-effects and you think or hope it will not affect you.

When you wake up each night at 3 am because your eyes are so sore that you have the impression they are on fire this is no joke.

The problem is the technique and there is a reason why so many people in the world sign the petition to get the "Lasik" technique banned. 

All the people I know - including myself - who had serious problems were operated either in Switzerland or in France in the best cliniques with perfect hygiene and qualified staff.

Less severe problems include driving at night. About 1/4 of the people I know who got the operation cannot drive at night due to halos.

Also, after you get Lasik technology any shock at your eye can make you blind. This is fact, not fiction and is well documented.

Many people are now joining anti-Lasik associations and we are not paid by anybody, we just want to avoid others to suffer the same problem. Whereas VL and all their competitiors are just making big money with this. 

Never before was there a technique which allowed opthalmologists to get rich in such a short time despite the heavy investment at the start.

I have never heard of the possibility to become blind after a shock if you had Lasik. Nowhere. Where did you read this? the risk if you have a shock (you fall hitting your head, you have a car accident etc.) is that the flap could get slightly dislocated. And in that case you need a surgeon to put it back in place. But how could you possibly get blind? I am not being polemic, just interested in understanding what you are saying.

What about if the flap gets damaged in the process?

One of the sources is quoted in the link below:

http://www.realself.com/blog/terrible-lasik-surgery-complications#.VAOJBMYTHpA

And then an interesting interview by a geneticist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpFMSrgHokQ&feature=related

Like for the tobacco addiction issue in the 90s, with the major 3 manufacturers proved guilty, ust ask yourself:

"what's the interest of the opponents?"

if you undergo a shock that makes your flap fly away, I suppose you will have more life-threatening consequences than a blurried vision.

I had laser eye surgery done 8 - 9 years ago and I'm really glad I did it. I was, like everyone, very concerned before having it done about associated risks and consequences.

I opted for LASEK rather than LASIK (LASEK involves the reshaping of the cornea instead of it being cut) which, after a consultation, reassured me that this procedure carried reduced risks and these were also less severe.

So I would advise you to look into this option if you haven't already. I had mine done in Australia so unfortunately I'm unable to give any local recommendations.