REFRACTIVE LENS EXCHANGE aka RLE/NLR +IOLs

Bobby2, thank you for sharing your story.

I would like some advice as I had RLE 2 years ago and have not got on with the quality of vision in my multifocal lens from day one, so much so that it took a few weeks to convince me to have a monofocal lens in the second eye .

I can now see OK with the monofocal lens, but can't read at less than arms length with it.

I am now faced with two options:
1. Remove the varifocal lens and replace with monofocal - another painful operation, which I'm told is very risky and will will leave me needing glasses to look at an ipad, read a newspaper, etc
2. YAG laser my multifocal lens - not painful, which I'm told will decrease the glare and improve all round vision clarity.

I'm finding it a difficult decision and would appreciate your comments.

I believe the percentage of people who need an explant following Refractive Lens Exchange at Optical Express to be considerably higher than 1%.

This is based on the rapidly increasing numbers who contact me each week.

An explant is far from an easy procedure, even for the most experienced and proficient surgeon trying to fix the mess left by an OE surgeon, with no guarantee of success for the patient.

And in an attempt to fix the problem, if OE have blasted the lens with YAG laserr, then an explant will generally be not possible.

To date, the GMC have summarily investigated many complaints received against OE's best known RLE surgeons: David Teenan, Stefan Klopper and Andre Oberholster - and dismissed most! Often because they say too much time has elapsed since the incident.

So these same surgeons continue to ruin more people's eyes and lives.

Something very wrong with this picture methinks!

However, sooner rather than later, the GMC will have no choice but to stop making pathetic excuses for their lack of action against these surgeons and actually deal with the issue.

So if you haven't already done so, PLEASE send your complaint to the GMC.

Email me if you would like GMC ontact details for your complaint: info@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk

I read with great interest the recent posts from Nadia and Keith. Believe me you are so lucky and wise to have made the right decision not to proceed. Unfortunately I was not so lucky.

I have suffered for the last 18 months or so after having RLE, with very poor vision, discomfort of every kind and paying fortunes trying to be corrected, which has been far from successful. Now I have been told by a senior NHS consultant that nothing more can be done to improve either my vision or the discomfort.

I read with further interest the last post from Admin. This was the very same surgeon who lied to me prior to surgery, butchered my eyes and then lied to me after surgery regarding the appalling state of vision he left me with.

The contents of this letter, which was never given to me prior to or since surgery, completely contradicts everything I was told. I am a perfectionist; I have/had a very visual demanding job involving close intricate work, yet OE chose those lenses for me, which the surgeon Dimitri Kazakos confirmed was the right choice and fitted.

I also note that the letter does not mention explants, so if like me you are left unable to function after surgery, you have to have the lenses removed and replaced with monofocal lenses. OE will have you believe the probability of this is 1/200, 1/100 is more likely.

The explant is extremely risky, much riskier than the initial surgery. You will also have to wear glasses for near vision at best, but if like me will end up wearing varifocals full time, but even with varifocals along with their distortions, vision is far worse than pre surgery.

Thanks again Sasha for your hard work and for providing this platform for the truth to be told.

Optical Express surgeon Dr Dimitri Kazakos gave this document to a patient six months after his eyes were damaged by RLE surgery, performed by Dr Jan Venter.

The 3rd paragraph should be highlighted to anyone considering RLE surgery: "It is a COMPROMISE (therefore, it is not indicated for perfectionists)."

And halfway through the 4th para: "Therefore, do not expect to have as good distance or near vision as you currently do with your respective glasses."

As the patient noted, these truths should be told BEFORE taking people's money and ruining their lives

I had a consultation on Saturday and eventually agreed a price of £5,000 for both eyes for the same surgery. I said i would go away and think about it. I came home and looked at the internet for more information which was how I luckily found this site which helped my decision not to go ahead.

Today I was called by Optical Express offering me a big discount only on the condition I paid a deposit today.

I declined.

I was just hours away from having RLE surgery at Optical Express in White City and was googling directions when my eye caught the OERML site. After reading some of the horror stories of Optical Express customers left with lifelong probems after RLE surgery I was totally taken back and shocked. Nothing like this was mentioned in my initial consultation. All I was told was "you cannot go blind, the worst is having a detached retina which we can fix straight away". £3350 after 20% discount

In my late 40's with -1.25 prescription in both eyes all I wanted was to lose my glasses as I am constantly having to lift them up to read. At my consultation I said I did not want laser treatment as they said I would need reading glasses which I didn't want.

At this point I was offered RLE which they told me was the most advanced surgery and would leave me with 20/20 vision or better, with no need for any type of glasses at all. They told me this would also prevent me developing cataracts in later life which they told me EVERYONE gets.

I didn't think at the time but my father is 74 and doesn't have cataracts!

I was given a 'buy now' price of £3350 after 20% discount. They told me any further additional laser treatments would be free of charge if required.

Being very concerned I emailed OERML in hope of a reply before my surgery. Within 10 minutes I was contacted by Sasha Rodoy who I can honestly say saved my eyes!!!

I cannot thank her enough for her professional assertive kind manner she dealt with me. Sasha is completely correct in questioning why a company would operate to remove healthy natural lenses, other than for pure financial gain, with their actions not governed or regulated.

Thank you for all your hard work as OERML has saved me from the emotional trauma and likely problems that so many of you have been through.

I paid £500 deposit which I want back as I was not told the truth before paying and signing a Hitachi finance agreement.

Keith

I had RLE over a year ago and my eyes have never been 'right'. I have developed lots of blurry floaters. I was told that floaters come and go but mine have never gone - I am looking at the world through a snow storm. Also I have had almost constant pain and aching in my eyes although OE say they can find nothing wrong with my eyes. Has anyone else experienced this?

I am of the strong opinion that no-one should have surgery performed on their eyes unless it's for medical reasons. It's just not worth the risk.

Last week I had an explant in one eye performed by an independent surgeon and am gradually recovering.

The lens the surgeon took out was a cheap bit of plastic - a sort of Chinese copy!

He has kept it and I have OE's original paperwork stating the exact brand they were going to fit, which was not that.

Every stage of my treatment was mismanaged and not one of them has a leg to stand on.

This is like white and black magic.

White magic is cataract surgery. It helps and the result is highly appreciated.

Black magic is RLE. Unnecessary surgery performed on perfectly healthy eyes for entirely wrong reason - financial gain.

Unethical, disappointing, harmful, irresponsible, debilitating, ageing.

An implant/lens can be used in many ways - reception-projection! Excellent idea to be combined with microchips, micro-camera to have you always under control, always traceable, this tiny red dot moving on the GPS grid...

Think about it

I was 55 when I had mine done and they're still no good