Lynne - I feel so much more confident in myself now

"Nothing felt normal anymore, and it felt like a miserable way to live."

I started getting watery eyes about ten years ago, following cosmetic procedures on my lower eyelids performed at a private clinic. Over time, it worsened to the point where my eyes were constantly streaming during the day - it felt like being in a swimming pool. Whilst I was outside caring for my dogs and my little wildlife sanctuary, tears would run down my face, and I’d often have to wrap a scarf around my neck because whatever I was wearing would get soaked. It really was that bad. I’d go indoors expecting some relief, but instead it was even worse. Then at night, I had burning pain in my eyes.

I love reading, but I was finding it increasingly difficult. My eyes felt sore and stingy, and my vision had noticeably worsened. Driving became a struggle too, especially after dark. Nothing felt normal anymore, and it felt like a miserable way to live.

"I tried various eye drops, but they only ever helped for a short time."

I saw a local eye specialist who cleared my blocked tear ducts, and it helped for a few weeks. Unfortunately, my symptoms came back, so I went elsewhere and had the same treatment again. It did help for a while, but it didn’t last.

I tried various eye drops, but they only ever helped for a short time. It started to feel like this was just something I was going to have to live with. Then, about two years ago, I decided to research where I could go to get it properly checked and, hopefully, find a solution.

Moorfields Private, a private division of the Moorfields Eye Hospital, kept coming up again and again in my online searches. I’d also heard so many good things about Moorfields from friends who’d been there. So, off my own back, I rang Moorfields Private and booked an initial appointment with a consultant.

He examined my eyes and said that one of his consultant colleagues would be better suited to deal with the issues I was having.

I was then seen by Mr Raj Das‑Bhaumik. To begin with, we tried punctoplasty - a minor procedure to widen the narrowed opening of my tear ducts and help with the watering eyes. It worked well for a little while, but unfortunately it didn’t stop my dry eye symptoms from coming back.

"When my consultant first suggested the surgery, I felt very nervous due to my past experience."

I was offered surgery to lift my lower eyelids, because whenever I gently pulled them up with my fingers, my eyes felt so much more comfortable. Still, when my consultant first suggested the surgery, I felt very nervous, given that my previous eyelid procedures had caused the lower lid descent in the first place.

My consultant gave me a lot of information and answered all of my many questions. Throughout my appointments, I felt incredibly well cared for. There was no question I couldn’t ask, and I was always given plenty of time. It made me feel completely confident that I was in the right place, with the right people.

So, I just said, “Let’s do it.” My eye condition was becoming unbearable, and I knew I had to try something.

"During the procedure, we put on some 70s party music."

My eye‑lift surgery was done as a day procedure. I drove myself to the hospital that morning and arranged for someone to pick me up and drive me home after the surgery later that day.

On the day of the surgery, I was actually looking forward to it because I had so much confidence in the surgeon and his team. They even asked what music I’d like playing during the procedure, so we put on some 70s party music.

I had a local anaesthetic with sedation, so I was completely pain‑free but not fully unconscious. I could even answer my anaesthetist’s questions at times during the procedure. I felt very comfortable, and I don’t remember feeling any fear or pain at all. I think the surgery took a couple of hours to do both eyes.

I woke up fully in the recovery room and was then taken back to my room, where I had tea and sandwiches, which were lovely. I personally had no pain at all and didn’t even need a painkiller, either at the time or in the days after the surgery.

"I had no pain and my eyes healed very quickly."

When I was discharged later that day, I was given some antibiotic eye drops, along with two other types of eye drops to use at home, plus a saline solution to clean around my eyes.

I think probably the worst part of the whole experience was having to wear plastic goggles at night for seven days to protect my healing eyes - sleeping in them was uncomfortable. But aside from that, I had no pain and my eyes healed very quickly.

The day after the surgery, I went out for a walk, just making sure I avoided anywhere dusty. By day two, I was back at the gym and walking on the treadmill, although on my consultant’s advice, I avoided lifting weights for a couple of weeks.

Surprisingly, I had no bruising at all after the surgery, and the stitches were barely visible. Just eight days later, I was able to attend an event in the Parliament - wearing sunglasses.

"I can go out, drive, and wear make‑up again."

My dry eye symptoms completely stopped after the surgery. I can read again without that burning pain in my eyes. Now, if I wake up in the middle of the night, I can quickly glance at my phone - something I just couldn’t manage before because it was too painful. I can go out, drive, and wear make‑up again. When it’s really cold and windy outside, my eyes might water a little, but nothing like before. It’s absolutely amazing.

It’s been completely life‑changing for me. When you’re uncomfortable doing everyday things, or you can’t even make yourself look a little bit nicer before going out, it really starts to affect you. I feel so much more confident in myself now. I can do everything again.

I’d recommend Moorfields Private wholeheartedly. If you have any problem with or around your eyes, that’s where to go. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.