For a long time I had been considering laser eye surgery - I have worn glasses since the age of 11 and moved on to contact lenses aged 16. As a competitive swimmer, my poor eyesight meant that simple tasks such as finding my team mates on poolside at events or reading my time at the end of a race were a challenge. I was unable to wear contacts in the pool, and prescription goggles were not particularly fashionable! I wore contact lenses the majority of the time at college and University, therefore having problems with dry, irritated eyes, particularly in the evenings, and found it hard to focus on screens for a long time. I never thought I'd be able to afford the surgery until I was much older, once out of University with a full time job. During my 2nd year of University, I went for a free consultation at Optical Express in Reading, and found out that laser eye surgery would actually be a viable option for me. Optical Express offered 10 months of interest-free payments, enabling me to spread out the cost of the surgery during my time left as a student. I also discovered that despite the initial cost, having laser eye surgery would actually save me money in the long run - taking into account my monthly contact lens payments. My surgery was carried out at the Manchester clinic during the Summer term of university - potentially a risky decision due to my impending exams. However, this turned out not to be a problem: I had the surgery on a Monday, and by the Tuesday evening I had clear, perfect vision with no pain or irritations, and only slight bruising, which cleared in a matter of days. 10 months on, I have just paid my final instalment. My vision is perfect - my consultant informed me that I can see two lines better than 20/20 vision! I would absolutely recommend Optical Express to anyone who feels that glasses and contact lenses are impacting their life, even if it's the smallest inconvenience - laser eye surgery really is a financially viable solution. I am able to play sport with no problems, go to the cinema late at night without the issue of getting dry eyes, take a nap without the hassle of taking out my lenses - and so much more! Choosing Optical Express for my laser eye surgery was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I hope you can experience the freedom I now have from contact lenses!