Job Discussion Forums

[Turando]

Hi,

A bit off topic but I am interested in getting Lasik eye surgery done for my vision in Saudi and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for hospitals (preferably Jeddah) and what the cost generally is approximately?

Thankyou in advance.

[veiledsentiments]

Can't recommend a hospital or doctor there, but the advice that I was given before having this surgery (actually the precursor to Lasik) is that the key question to ask the doctor is: how many of this particular surgery have you done?

Preferably you want someone who has done about a hundreds of them, preferable a thousand. They important knowledge is pre-measurement and setting the laser... experience is the key.

VS

[Abba]

[veiledsentiments]

I had my surgury with Al-Magrebi in Abu Dhabi about 10 years ago and they were highly professional. They were affiliated with those in KSA, and also with Johns Hopkins in the US. But, I don't know what the situation is with them now. At that time, all of their surgeons had done at least part of their training in the US with Hopkins... which is one of the best in the US.

Check out all credentials and experience...

[Bookies' Choice]

Why not go for implantable contact lenses, that's what I'm thinking of doing. I don't like the whole idea of lasers and eyes mixing. There is something inherently dangerous about it. Either way I would have it done back in the States.

[TABING]

A good friend of mine is an eye surgeon, specializes in cornea transplants. He told me he would never have this procedure anywhere, because no one knowws what will happen in 10-20 years.

[Paul in Saudi]

I had it done at the Magrabi hospital here in town about four years ago. I am generally pleased with the results.

The Doc told me from the get-go that he could fix me up for driving, but that I would need magnifiers for reading. So it was spoken, so it was done.

I had a dreadful recovery. Lots of swelling. At least a week off work. I had an allergic reaction to some of the eye drops. Really nasty. Further, the hospital grinds them out on a production line. Do not expect a lot of personal attention.

My eyes are much better now. I can drive without glasses and that is nice. I think I have a touch of double-vison at night. Not too bad, and perhaps I had it before too.

Still it is your vision you're talking about. You expect 100% and in truth you get something less than that.

Despite all this, I would recommend it. I feel much better not having to put on the glasses to go to the bathroom at night.

[veiledsentiments]

Interesting Paul... I had almost the same experience with them in Abu Dhabi, although it was a small and friendly place. I too was one who could barely find my way to the bathroom to put the contact lenses in each morning.

They also warned me that perfection was not to be expected when the situation was so bad from the start and that I would need two surgeries. I chose to stop after the first because for the first time in my life I could read a book without corrective lenses... and use the computer, and even watch TV if the screen is good sized.

But I need glasses for distance vision and driving. Night vision is also worse than it was before, but I can fix it by wearing glasses with a slight overcorrection.

I've debated now and again having a second operation, but will likely wait until the inevitable cataract surgery that both my parents had, and my first one is just beginning. That is the future of surgical correction... the implantation of a corrected lens - not an implantable contact lens, but the real lens of your eye.

Implantable contacts are even more of question mark... newer and less of a track record that even lasik. My surgery, the precursor of Lasik, is well over 50 years old now. So, there is quite a long track record...

BTW... my recovery was seamless and nearly painless... by 3:00 of the same afternoon of the morning surgery, there was none.

VS

[dmb]

[veiledsentiments]

Is it "fun with edits" time?

VS

[KSA-UK]

It's your eyes you're talking about!!!!
If you turn blind after the opeartion they'll give panadol and off you go: Ma fee Mushkilla!

[Bebsi]

Well, if the op is such a resounding failure, you can just tell the Dr. that his fee has been forfeited...and that anyway your name is not Mushkillah...unless it is, of course!!!!

[dmb]

[veiledsentiments]

So did I, dmb... I had to read it twice.

VS