Had to get this done or I couldn't do any combat arms trades in the CF. Dropped $3k on PRK - Big improvements first month and second month and then a much slower progression to almost perfect vision all the time almost 10 months later. Expect a slow heal and improvement in vision to 100% when you get this done. But man is the wait worth it. I wish I had spent this money earlier. read more

My cousin recommended Coal Harbour to me after she got PRK done here because of the price and also because of the high volume. High volume doesn't necessarily mean bad at all. It means Dr Kirzner has extensive experience in the field because he's done over 80000 procedures!! My first contact with them was through email. I had asked how long in advance I was to book for an appointment in July. They replied and told me to contact them in May for a July appointment. I called their office to book my appointment then and they took my credit card number for the $300 deposit to secure my spot. Shortly after, I received their information package in the mail. The week of the surgery, I flew in from Calgary the day of my pre-operative exams to see if I was a good candidate for PRK or LASIK. Because of my read up on their very informative website I knew that I was probably going to go with PRK. (Long spiel about the different procedures explained on their website if you're so inclined to know.) It was a bit of a wait to see someone; from the time I got there until the time I left took almost 2 hours. Next day, I am going in for my laser procedure! I get there an hour before the scheduled time to to prep and redo my eye exams two more times. First up, they explain the eye drop medication schedule to you and place them all into the blue pouch along with some really awesome sunnies for after. (Actually, the sunnies are kind of hideous.) Payment is processed and another little eye test again. Dr Kirzner was the first to do my actual eye exam again and then Jeff (?) did the second. Once that was finished, onto the waiting room in the surgical section... When they're ready for you they'll get you to don an awesome surgical cap and booties! You lay down right under the laser and try your best to get comfortable. You'll get numbing eye drops which sort of sting when they're first administered. (Hey, where was the Valium I was hoping to get?) My heart was beating pretty heavily at this point but they explain every step of the way what's expected of you and what they're doing to you. Left eye gets covered first and your right eye gets clamped open. You concentrate on a red blinking light. The assistant announces "30 seconds," at which point Dr Kirzner starts to apply the solution to wipe away the epithelial layer of your eye. Laser starts up and he warns you that you'll smell something like burning hair. I don't feel a thing. I just hear the laser beams doing their thing and my eyes can literally see the patterns that are being burned away. So cool!!! And then it's done within seconds and he covers my eyeball really quickly, then blasts a cold cold liquid solution into my eye. He says, "brain freeze!" to warn me beforehand. A number of different eye drops are administered, then the bandage lens is put in which is basically a contact lens. The eye patch is removed and placed on the opposite eye and all is repeated. Done! I was escorted to the recovery room and laid on a chaise to relax. I was given eye drops to put in 10 minutes later on my own. There was a patient's husband waiting for her in there as well and at one point I started to sit up and chat with him. I was promptly told to lay back and close my eyes by one of the assistants. Oops! It just goes to show how uncomplicated the procedure can be. I felt like I could see pretty well at this point. About 45 minutes later Dr Kirzner came out of the surgical suite to quickly take a close look at my eyes, put in more eye drops, and then let me go. I have my follow up the next morning to check how they're healing and to look for signs of infection. I truly feel that this practice is wonderful and I would highly recommend them to anyone. Not just for their incredible pricing, but for how I felt I was treated by all the staff there. It is a busy practice and it is expected that there will be waits, but never did I feel that I was just another number. I paid $2090 for both eyes for uncomplicated PRK plus $200 for medications as of July 2016. Just a side note: I did overhear that they're moving their office in August so people can probably expect a longer wait for an appointment while they get settled in and move. read more

Coal Harbour Eye Centre - My blue pouch full of eye medications and eye drops - Laser Eye Surgery/Lasik Near Me - New Westminster, British Columbia

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For most people's eyes, Coal Harbour can be a good choice. I have atypical eyes as they were highly myopic (-13). In 2006 I drove up from Seattle to have the surgery done based on a friend's recommendation (and the cost). I actually had this procedure done twice, six months apart, since my vision was poor after the first time. I was OK with this, as I'd been warned this might be needed. I wound up with 20/25 vision, which was fantastic. Three reasons for the poor rating: 1) For someone who's performed this procedure so many times, you would think he'd know what might be people's experiences post surgery and assure me what I was experiencing was normal and would pass. This is what I'm referring to: Post surgery, I had to be in a room with no lights for 2 1/2 weeks post PRK, as it was so painful, so I had a family member drive me back up to Canada prior to my re-eval, and with a blanket over my head to block the light, so the doctor could evaluate why I had so much pain. I left frightened since he said everything looked healed, but I was in excruciating pain. Thankfully that passed after 2 1/2 weeks. A local ophthalmologist I saw for dry eye afterwards (a side-effect) said the doctor had done a good job, as there was no scarring, so there's that. He also said he wasn't surprised I had so much pain, since so much tissue had been lasered away. 2) My vision went from 20/25 to 20/30 within six months after the final procedure, then to 20/40 about two years later. That said, 20/40 is still much better than where I started from. 3) Move ahead to 2017 - I have early cataracts, so I've sought an eval. Two ophthalmologists have told me my corneas are "unstable", due to too much tissue having been lasered away. Picture a thin spot on a balloon that can easily bulge. Eek! My cornea thinness is going to make it difficult to get a good rx for the new lens they'll put in. This alone should make you reconsider this doctor. Although he is a good technician, he is NOT IMO an expert ophthalmologist that I would ever again trust mine or anyone elses eyes to. read more

My 3rd place of consultation and I knew right away that this was not the one for me. All of the staff were in scrubs. Free wifi but no cookies, no water cooler. The girls were not as long as LMD. The first technician (Optician?) L was the nicest. She checked the prescription on my glasses and did some tests. She also asked me where I heard about them, how did I get here, etc. Then I was asked to wait in the waiting room. Second lady (Optometrist?) M did some tests using the Snellen chart. Then she pulled down my eye lid and dropped some anesthetic drops. They were much more yellow and stings more than the one I got last time. Then she wanted to poke my eyes right way. I asked her if the drops are actually working yet. They were working but how she didn't do things before telling me freaked me out. She asked me to wait in the waiting room after dilution drops and gave me some information to read over. (I could barely read anything at that time.) Same eye test again after dilation. (LMD only did testing after dilation and took my prescription off my glasses). Then she told me I'm a perfect candidate for PRK without going into too much details. She didn't really explained the risks and complications because she said the chances were too low. Luckily, she told me the values from my testing which I didn't know before. She said I don't need the add-ons (Tissue Sparing and Wavefront). I still don't get it isn't it the less tissue removed the better?! Finally, the marketing guy M comes. He did his job pretty well but pretty high pressure sales. He said there were only x spots left and I should pay the $300 deposit today to secure one. I told him I need to talk to my supervisor if I need to take a week off. He said why wait if you have a date in mind. You can always talk to him/her tomorrow after booking a date. It's good that they include the pre- and post-op appointments. I would say this place doesn't really tell you the whole story especially the risks and complications. You also don't get to meet the ophthalmologist until the day of the surgery. read more

I have a pretty high prescription so I was pretty nervous about getting this done. I went in for my consultation and while I did feel like another number, I can't fault their professionalism. They answered all my questions and could book me in at a timely fashion. However I do wish that the doctor doing the actual surgery spent a bit more time with me, seeing as how he was the one doing the actual treatment. It would have been nice to get to know him a bit, but I do understand he is busy. The after surgery felt pretty hellish. Since my prescription was so high, it took a long time for my eyes to heal. It took a year for my eyes to get to 20/20 (or nearly) and I was going in for visits every month (though the visits were all the same... simple eye check up and dryness test, it did make me feel a bit better knowing that they would be able to spot anything troubling since I was going in so often). I was extremely happy with the fact that I would not have to pay for every eye checkup like some other places. 12 eye check ups at 40.00-60.00 a pop... quite a big added expense! So here we are, a year later. Still a bit dry and my eyes are still a bit sun sensitive, but eye drops and sunglasses are a small price to pay for (near) perfect vision. Overall pretty happy with my decision to come here. read more

I came here for several appoitments with my boyfriend. The staff are mostly friendly and helpful. A couple were very rushed, a bit rude, and NONE of them explained the purpose of scans/tests. I had to ask several times, "what are these for now?" The doctor was kind, open to question, not rushed. He was actually the one person I thought was the most approachable. I like how he is the only surgeon doing the surgeries. After the initial consultation, you book a surgury date, then a few follow up appointments after that. The surgery itself took MAX 10mins. It is very quick, and you can watch the surgery from the waiting/recovery room on a screen. The client then waits in the dim recovery room for about 20mins while putting eye drops in every 5mins, then the surgeon checks the client's eyes again, then one is free to go! IT'S QUICK! ** ENSURE you have someone reliable to drive you if you are getting this done! ** After surgery, they provide you all the instructions and with all the eyedrops in a neat little bag. The bag even includes a pair of sunglasses. The eye drops are colour coded and they give you a sheet to show you when to take them. Overall, my boyfriend was VERY HAPPY with the results of his laser eye surgery (PRK). It was a life changing experience for him :) read more

10 minutes after I arrived they had peeled back both of my corneas, lasered my eyes and had me waiting in the dark room for my eyes to heal. The only problem is I was just there to pick up my girlfriend. No, but it was fast and really good. The eye surgery I mean. read more

I got PRK done back in 2007 by Dr. Stephen K. All I can say is I have ZERO regrets. I was referred by a police officer. I was sold when he told me that the Canucks get their eyes done there. My consult was very informative. I received all the pre procedural information I needed. After surgery, as expected, my eyes were in so much pain. I had to wear sunglasses all the time. However, I was provided with all the necessary eye drops and other meds to help with the healing process. I was in university when I got the procedure done. I used to sit at the very front of lecture hall at SFU for better view of the class overhead. After getting PRK, I sat in the very back of the lecture hall with crystal clear vision. I was so happy, and continue to be happy with my eyes. I paid around $2500 for PRK for both eyes back in 2007. It's more affordable now. I've referred my friends, and 2 of them got lasik done and were happy with the results. read more

When I first thought about getting laser eye surgery, I went to Lasik MD here in Victoria. I felt VERY pressured. They even booked me an appointment to get it done, even though I was still just, 'looking into it.' Also, the receptionist just HAPPENED to have gotten the surgery two weeks ago. Yeah right. Lastly, they quoted me $3200. When the appointment loomed closer, they called to confirm, and I told them to cancel it since I was quoted LESS THAN HALF at Coal Harbour. The receptionist then went on to say they would price match to what was advertised at the time of the surgery. I felt ripped off. If you COULD have done it for that much, why charge me so much more?! I felt angry and deceived, like I was dealing with a bunch of sales people. Instead of going to Lasik MD, I spent the money to go to Vancouver's Coal Harbour. I thought the staff was great. Anytime I called with a concern, pre- or post- op, I was given a lot of helpful advice, and even passed onto the actual surgeon when I needed some more specific advice. Be warned, however, that you do feel like you're cattle a tad bit. Everything is very sterile, and you can hear other surgeries being done while you're waiting for your turn. He must do a lot in a day, but I figure that just means he's very good and efficient. My PRK surgery was 10 minutes in and out. Recovery was a bit rough, and had some anxiety when my eye sight wasn't great after a couple of weeks. However, almost 3 months post-op, my vision is great. I have none of the after effects such as halos at night, or dry eye. I can just SEE. Some of the best money I ever spent, and I'm glad I spent it at Coal Harbour. By the way, you may want to consider getting this surgery done in the summer. Apparently that is a slower time for them, and they often offer deals. read more

I can see! And then God said, "Let there be sight!" Ok this was probably the best money I have spent. As someone who's coke-bottle lenses were at -5 per eye, glasses and contacts were a pain in the ass. I needed one or the other just to get through the day, otherwise I'd be blind. My main irritation was that if I wore contacts for more than eight hours, my eyes would get really dry and sore and I would have to take them out, so if I wanted to wear them during the day, I couldn't wear them at night and vice versa. One of my friends recommended this clinic to me after he had the procedure done and I was crazy jealous that he could see. I made an appointment, went in for a FREE consultation, where they do about 8 eyeball tests on you and put drops in your eyes that make them all sensitive to light and it takes up to three hours. After that, they let you know if you are a candidate for lasik or PRK. These are the two different types of surgery for your eye. Lasik, as I understand is when they cut and flip your eyeball and it heals very quickly, however to have this procedure done, you need to have a lot of eye tissue and I did not. Thus I had to opt for the more expensive version, which takes about a week to heal. Luckily for me, the clinic also offers financing! I was able to put down about $300 and then be put on a plan to finance for two years at about $100/month. The day of the surgery came, and I can honestly say that I was a nervous wreck, I totally have the eyeball fear, and it seemed like every time I turned around during the week leading up to the surgery there was something on TV or some story I was being told about someone's eyeball getting stabbed or poked or prodded. Even the episode of the Simpsons was on where Homer gets eye surgery and his eyeballs crust over! Lucky for me, they gave me an adavan before I had to go in, I think I probably could have used two, but the doctors know best right? They also redid a few of the eye tests just to confirm the information that they took when I came in for the consultation. Also, ladies take note, you are not allowed to wear eye makeup for three days prior to the surgery, and no contacts for a week! I waited in the waiting room for over half an hour with my friend who was going to sit in the recovery room where they have a TV and you can actually watch the surgery. GROSS! We had been at the clinic so long already that he had to step outside to plug the parking meter. As soon as he stepped out the door, I was called into the surgery room. They laid me down on a bed and put this crazy machine-thing over my face and started the procedure, it's pretty weird to be awake through it. You are told to look straight ahead at the red light and then they laser your eyeballs and throw in some clear contacts lenses for protection. The procedure is so quick that I was finished by the time my friend got back upstairs from plugging the meter, so it was less than five minutes for both eyes. It did smell like burnt hair after they did the surgery... which was obviously the smell of burnt eyeball. EEEWW!! I sat in recovery for a bit and for a little while I could see, but it was very blurry, they gave me about five or six different eye-drops to use in 30 minute intervals over the next week, and a week's worth of adavan, woohoo! They also gave me the cel number of the surgeon who did the procedure in case I had any overnight pain or bleeding, which was very uncommon, but just incase, which gave me a lot more reassurance that I was in good hands. I had to come back the next morning so they could make sure everything was A-OK, and it was, so I just kept on putting eye-drops in until a week went by and I had to come in and they took the protective contact lenses out, it wasn't until after this point that my eyes really started to heal and I could start to see again. So remember to BE PATIENT! Your eyes will also be very light sensitive for a while after the surgery, but that will pass as time goes by as well. Overall, I think the staff at the clinic know what they are doing and do their best to make sure you are taken care of. They tell you exactly what is going to happen all the way through the procedure and how you will feel and will be able to answer all of your inquiries in a professional manner. I would highly recommend this procedure and this business to anyone. read more

So it's been over 3 months since I got PRK surgery and it is safe to say I now have perfect 20/20 vision. My eyes were horrible before (-8.5), so it's truly amazing that I can now see things in HD. Initially I was torn between choosing Coal Harbour and Pacific Laser Eye Centre. I was told that both locations have doctors that are top in their field and know what they are doing. From what I've been told, PLEC is the no.1 choice to get your eyes done in Vancouver, and celebrities and people from all over the world fly in to get it done there. Apparently Dr. Lin and Dr. Holland are the pioneers who made eye surgery what it is today, so they definitely know what they are doing. This is also the place where all eye doctors will refer you to, but maybe they get some referral fee? However, they charge by prescription, so if you have horrible eyes it will be expensive. They quoted me a whopping $3900 which doesn't include meds I believe. CH is the no.2 choice to get it done, but all eye doctors will know about them so they are quite reputable. They charge a flat fee of $1900 which includes eye drop meds. Also, this is apparently the place where many Canuck players get their eyes done too. This is probably the more economical choice if you have horrible eyes, but choose PLEC if your eyes are not as bad. Check out the free consultations that are offered by both locations. They run tests on your eyes to test your suitability and candidacy. I checked out both and found PLEC to be rushed and kind of hectic. The technicians were unfriendly and detached. Not once did they smile or explain to me what they were doing. I had to ask what they were doing and felt like they couldn't be bothered with my questions. Overall, it didn't feel like a very warm or inviting place, and they seemed to be more concerned with signing people up for surgeries and than my personal well-being. On the other hand, the environment at CH was a lot more relaxed and easy going. The staff were warm and smiley and were so willing to answer all of my questions. I was impressed with their friendliness and professionalism. I felt more of a connection with CH on a more personal level. The only complaint I have is that, unlike PLEC, you don't get to meet the surgeon (Dr. Kirzner) until the day of the surgery. CH ended up quoting me $2250 since they upgraded me to a more efficient laser beam, which would ensure higher accuracy. I was fine with this because this would leave more of my cornea in case I needed a touch-up which is included in the cost of surgery. On the day of surgery, the actual procedure is less than 10 minutes. They put a ring in your eye to hold your eyes open and freezing drops to ensure you don't feel any pain. You won't feel a thing when they're zapping your eyes. You will smell something like burnt rubber or burnt hair, which is the smell of your cornea being burned off. The doctor tells you to look at the flashing red or green light and that's all you do. Before you know it, the procedure is over. It takes about 3 months to recover completely from PRK, and 3-4 days to recover from LASIK. PRK is generally more preferred since it doesn't run the risk of flap complications, and there are less limitations to the types of activities you can do. To achieve the most optimal results, here is my list of do's and don'ts to ensure a quick and successful recovery: - sleep as much as you can, with sunglasses on - stay in the dark - don't touch, rub or poke your eyes at all - strictly follow your eye drop schedule - don't watch TV, text, go on the computer or look at anything with a screen (despite what CH might tell you) - avoid intensive exercise, and sexual activity first week - wear sunglasses whenever light sensitive - flush eyes with Bion tears if something in eye - take fish oil pills - Use Bion tears instead of Refresh tears I had an emergency situation where my eyes were reacting to the FML and causing pressure in my eyes to increase. I ended up personally calling the surgeon to see me immediately on a Sunday, and he saw me within the next hour. I was impressed at his care and prompt response, and grateful that nothing serious happened to my eyes. He prescribed me Lumigan, a glaucoma eye drop, to lower the pressure, and I was fine! I now have a fantastic set of long eye lashes, which is the main side effect of the drug, haha =) Also be careful to not put in too many drops in your eyes. I apparently put in too much lacri-lube gel in my eyes, that it was clogging my tear ducts, which is not good. So don't make the same mistakes that I did. Anyways, fast forward 3 months and I now have 20/20 vision. I can honestly say it's the best investment I've made for my eyes, and I am glad I went with CH. Although, I want to point out that both clinics have impressive stats and high success rates, so both clinics may be just as good. However, if I had to redo this all over again, I would gladly choose CH again within a heartbeat. read more

I read the website. I searched reviews. I booked a consultation... I showed up for my consult where I was hardly acknowledged by the receptionist, and filled out my intake form. Someone called my name and I went into a room with her...where she did a few tests, for what, I'm not sure as she didn't explain them to me, and proceeded to ask me all the same questions that I had answered on my intake form. Then, I was taken to another room, with another woman, who did more tests without telling me what they were for and asking me the same questions as the intake form and woman #1. THEN...room #3, woman #3, more tests that were not explained to me, INCLUDING her telling my my "eyes were dry, so do you mind if I put drops in?" me: "sure"...THEN after the tests asking if I can put my contacts back in and she tells me there was a dye in the drops so I can't wear my contacts for 4-5 hours. Awesome, would have been nice to have been told that. AND she proceeded to ask me AGAIN all the questions on the intake form - same as woman #1 and woman #2. Brutal. She leaves to get a printout of my results, comes back, sits down, and like a robot with a programmed speech tells me that my sight is so bad it won't be corrected 100% and that I will still need corrective lenses (mind you, at a VERY small prescription), and that those probably aren't the results I'm hoping for so I "KNOW WHERE THE DOOR IS". Actually. She actually said that. Not thinking that YES, I WILL be getting corrective lase surgery, even for a lesser prescription. On my way out, nobody escorted me to the door, thanked me for coming, or even acknowledged the fact I was leaving...NOT EVEN THE RECEPTIONIST. I DID NOT meet the eye surgeon like it says you will on the website. This is my eyesight, a lot of money, and a pretty big deal...I would not trust these clowns with a plant, let alone my vision. YIKES!!!! Stay far, far away!!! read more

Went for a free consultation and was pleased with all staff. No sales tactics (unlike Lasyk MD). They answered all my questions and told me the difference between Lasik and PRK. 1- Prior to consultation you cannot wear your contacts for 5 days 2- Prior to your surgery you cannot wear your contacts for 7 days 3 - You will not be able to drive home (obviously) 4- You cannot be pregnant or nursing 5 - You cannot plan to become pregnant for 3 months due to the medication given & eyes to heal 6- You cannot get your eyes wet for 1 week (extra careful washing your hair) 7 - With PRK, lenses will be put into the eyes for 1 week. Those lenses cannot be touched 8- With Lasik, you can have flap complications later on. 9- Cannot workout for 1 week (that includes sex) 10 - The Surgeon only does surgeries on Wednesdays and Thursdays 11- The day of the surgery you cannot do anything else 12 - You have to sleep with sunglasses 13- Yeah they don't have "chips ahoy and water" like Lasyk MD, but my eyes are worth more than that! Besides, there's shoppers just down the street for that. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On the surgery day: Prior to the surgery, Michelle, Geoff and Dr Kirzner check your eyes to make sure your prescription hasn't changed. Day 1 - Felt fine, went home and tried to sleep as much as I could. Slept with the sunglasses, bathed neck down with the sunglasses. Vision was blurry, no scratchiness nor pain Day 2 - Felt fine, nothing out of the ordinary but a bit blurry. Went for a check-up, went to the grocery store, tried to sleep as much as I could. Slept with the sunglasses, bathed neck down with the sunglasses. Vision was blurry, no scratchiness nor pain Day 3 - Vision was starting to fluctuate, sometimes good, sometimes bad, then at night it became really foggy and blurry. They did say it was going to get worse before it gets better. Slept with the sunglasses, bathed neck down with the sunglasses. Vision was very blurry, no scratchiness nor pain Day 4 - Vision got even worse. I felt like a was super drunk, very blurry. Couldn't read emails or watch tv and my eyes were very sensitive to light. Slept with the sunglasses, bathed neck down with the sunglasses. Vision was blurry, no scratchiness nor pain Day 5 - Vision was still blurry, contact lenses were getting pretty dry, but I kept putting the Biotears every hour (you can buy more at London Drugs for $15). Started to feel a bit annoyed that the recovery takes time and couldn't wait to get the lenses out. Slept with the sunglasses, bathed neck down with the sunglasses. No scratchiness nor pain Day 6 - About the same as day 3-4. Slept with the sunglasses, bathed neck down with the sunglasses. Vision was blurry, no scratchiness nor pain Day 7 - Went to get the lenses out, eyes looked pretty good. Vision still fluctuates. Changed medication now I have to do the drops 5 times a day for a week. Could finally wash face and hair but no make-up for a few more days. The healing process is slooooooooow. They say "the recovery can occur anytime between 6 weeks and 10 weeks after surgery" "Your visions can slowly change up tp 3 months and you should notice an improvement each week" I'm still giving 4 stars (wish I could do 3.5) for 1 more reason: They moved their office and are now sharing the space with Lasyk Md. I'm not sure why they're "pairing up", since they're competitors, but I was told it was a budget move?? Doesn't make sense to me -------------------------------------------------------------- So it has been about 1 month since I had the surgery. Eyes are still not 100%, I've been told they can take up to 3 months to get adjusted. The reason why I am giving 2 stars( wish I could give 2.5 stars) is because within 1 MONTH THEY LOWERED THE PRICES by $110. THEY CLAIM LASYK MD TOOK OVER THE PRICING AND THERE'S NO MORE LIFETIME COMMITMENT LIKE IN THE PACKAGE I GOT, EVEN THOUGH THEIR WEBSITE CLEARLY STATES Dr. Kirzner has achieved an overwhelming success rate with his patients after only one treatment. It is important to note, however, that due to the individual's prescription level an enhancement for some patients may be necessary. Of those who require an additional procedure(s),the cost of retreatment - enhancement is covered by our Lifetime Commitment Policy, excluding medications. In some cases, you may be required to pay for a Tissue Saving card. Our surgeon will determine the need for a re-treatment three months following the initial LASIK procedure and six months following the initial PRK procedure, based on medical opinion and the patient's recovery. TOO WISHY WASHY FOR ME. I SHOULD'VE GONE WITH LONDON EYE... read more

My third place for consultation and I'm glad I made this choice. At Lasik Md they scheduled me for a lasik surgery which was clearly not the best option for me as I have a high prescription and thin corneas. London Eye Centre was way too expensive for the type of service they wanted to provide. Pacific eye centre were fully booked for consultations for a month! So I eneded up here. The consultation went well. Even though they seem a bit biased towards Prk it didn't bother me. I felt like they had my best interest in mind and suggested the best and safest option. They didn't rush me to book my appointment or anything so I went home and called back to book my surgery. Staff are nice, I was lucky and got to talk to the surgery assistant on the day of consultation and she explained in detail why prk was the better choice for me ; Something the optometrist (Michealle) who examined my eyes didn't. Michealle is who you see for your consultation and all your post op examinations and she is one of the reasons I'm not giving them a 5 star. She rushed every appointment. Didn't answer my questions thoroughly and made me feel even more anxious about my concerns. She looks like she has more important things to do and can't spend more time with you. Everyone else is very friendly. No water in the waiting area was annoying. One thing no one told me was that the sugery itself was a very uncomfortable experience. Worst 2 minutes! I only met the surgen on the day of surgery and I did feel like just another number, nevertheless he explained everything during the procedure and did a very good job. Two different people checked my eyes before the surgery to make sure they have the right prescription and they gave me a pill for my anxiety. They give you the surgen's cellphone number for emergency which is very nice. I basically only slept for the three days after the surgery. I had some pain but the pein drops were very helpful. My vision has been fluctuating since. It got very good before I took the contacts out and then declined. I'm at the third week and vision is still blurry. I can comfortably drive and go to work for short hours. But Reading is still difficult. So if you need to work with computers or text at your job, two weeks is not enough time to recover. At least it wasn't for me. They say 7-14 days. But in reality it takes at least 3 weeks. The prices are more expensive than what advertised on their website. The drops' cost is added and I had to do wavefront. So about $600 more that what's on their website. read more

I got my eyes done here and nearly a year later my vision is still perfect. They insist on doing PRK so expect a slower and more uncomfortable recovery but the risk of future complications is significantly lower so a little pain upfront is worth it. I flew up from the USA and had everything done over the weekend for half the price of anywhere nearby. The facility is state of the art and extremely well run. I was impressed and recommend them to everyone! read more

I had my laser eye surgery here after a consultation with another company that made me a little nervous and pressured into booking in. I am so happy with my decision to go here and with my results! I was very nervous and had a million questions, but they were so patient with me and eased my mind. They were very detailed on what they were doing and when during the surgery. The only reason I didn't give them 5 starts is because I didn't meet the doctor until the actual surgery. I would have liked to meet him durning my consultation to make me feel a little more comfortable. Other than that, I am very please! Good bye glasses! read more

I had PRK surgery last week, I was absolutely terrified of having it done and I am so,so,so happy I did. The staff and Dr are all so amazing they made me feel at ease and the Doctors calm and reassuring manor during the procedure was greatly appreciated. I chose coal harbour eye center after being reffered by many people I know about 6 or 7 other people who are all very happy with their results as well. It truely is amazing what they can do in 3 min per eye. If your even considering having it done, go for a consultation, you wont regret it! :-) read more

I had my PRK done here a little over three years ago. My surgery was successful although it took 8 weeks to see perfectly. The staffs were alright. Nothing outstanding. My wife just got hers done here four days ago. We choose here because the location it's great. My parents just lives across the street so parking was free and convenient read more

2 surgery centers were recommended when I decided to do laser eye surgery. Pacific Laser Eye Center on broadway and Coal Harbour Eye Centre. I ended up going with Coal Harbor because of the following reasons: - the staff were very knowledge and understanding of my worries with the procedure. - post operative care were all included in the cost - I know about 5 people who have performed the procedure here and all have been satisfied with no problems. - I was tested on 7 different machines and felt confident the health of my eye was taken into consideration before recommending the surgery to me My prescription is -6.75 and -8. The cost was $1750 for both eyes because they had their 10th anniversary sale at Coal Harbor. I completed my surgery on Oct 13. Dr. Kirzner is really nice. The PRK procedure was not painful at all. Even 7 days following the surgery I had no issues. The nice thing is Dr. Kirzner gives you his cell number in case they are issues. I am very satisfied with the procedure! read more

Very happy with end results and that they do checkups for free in Kelowna. Had surgery in May and took a long time to heal from PRK since I was allergic to the eye drops but it was worth the "sale" price. Very glad I did it, just finishing last couple eye drops. Swam for the first time last week and able to see which was amazing. Looking forward to snorkeling this winter on vacation. The clinic is okay, the initial exam is like a really long normal eye test. I wanted to be notified if the price dropped but they never let me know when it did a couple weeks later, lucky I saw the website on my own. I flew to Vancouver for surgery and stayed with family for a week, though I could have gone home and gone to eye checkups in Kelowna. They never did tell me I had to go 24 hours later, even though I asked and it does same in info sheets. KInd of pain since it was an hour drive The WORST part is the temporary contacts you have to wear for a week, just a regular contact, hurt so bad I had to put eye drops in every 5 seconds, or the freezing drops. Not a very nice feeling. A lot better after until I became allergic to drops. Long story short. I had it done a couple months ago and am very happy I did it. Well worth the $$ and the Doctor seems to know what he is doing. A lot longer recovery then I expected but only because I was allergic to drops (which were not the regular ones most people get these were for people that scar easily) , other wise I would have healed in a couple weeks instead of months. read more

totally satisfied. Great staff, great location, no pressure and I don't regret it for a second.

Great review Evilyn, couldn't have said it better! I had my surgery here back in August of 2011. I wanted to wait at least 6 months before I give my review just in case hehe... After the sugery: So I went in for consultant just like how Evilyn described in the previous review. I was recommended PRK. After the surgery, my eyes was in a bit of pain (6/10) for the first 3 days. They said only 10% of the people get it, unfortunately I fall into that category. The pain increase to 8/10 but luckily they give me alot of pain killer drop. Can't remember what color it was but it really helps! Tips: Don't watch TV and avoid bright light after your surgery. I was really bore so I decided to watch TV and play on the computer. Bad idea! I found that sleep lots and keeping your eyes closed as much as possible really helps. I went back to Vancouver Island after my check up. My eye started to hurt so I call the 24 hours support number they gave me. The doctor on the other line was very helpful. She gave me a local doctor (Dr. Thompson clinic in Nanaimo) to call for check up in case I got an eye infection.This save me a trip to Vancouver so it was great that they have supportive doctor outside of Vancouver. One of the doctor at Dr. Thompson clinic book me in right away. It turn out I didn't get an eye infection but my eye had a ripe in the outer layer while it was healing. I had to wear the protective contact lens on my left eyes for another week and of course, pain killer drop! I actually fall in love with them pain killer drop hahaha.... Side note: I took 10 days off as recommended before returning to work. I should have taken 2 weeks off and let my eyes rest longer. 6 Months later: For the last 6 months, it been great! I have better than 20/20 vision! I try to wear my sunglasses every time it's sunny. I believe after 6 months, you don't have to wear your sunglasses when it's sunny. My eye get the occasion dryness, especially in the morning. A few tear drops really helps. I have no problem seeing things at night. Summary: I'm very happy with my new eyes and would definitely recommend them. They have great supportive doctor after your surgery and result is better than expected. read more

The fact I saved almost $1000 on having them do my surgery was the biggest perk to be honest. But the people were kind, courteous, and were fast. I felt comfortable. I will highly recommend using these people. There is no reason to pay such high prices for the same procedure, pure and simple. read more

Excellent history. Excellent staff. Nice surgeon. Inexpensive as far as laser eye surgery goes... what more can I say?

This is in response to cat y's post. In my head i'm trying to figure out if we went to the same place?! Because i had a different experience. The staff were friendly enough. The receptionist didn't greet me as i walked in the door, but thats not her job to be a greeter and have a conversation with me. But I understand a smile might be nice :) For myself I've been in and out of the optometrist office since I was five, and my vision is currently -10 in both eyes. So the testing was all very familiar to me. And if it wasn't, I asked and they would explain. so why not just ask what the tests were for? The staff are friendly enough to answer you're questions politely. Thats what i found. Also they tell you NOT to wear you're contacts for 5-6 days before you're consultation appointment in which case the whole no contact lenses for 4-5 hours would have been no issue. There shouldn't be a problem with them asking questions over from you're intake sheet, because they're job is to be completely thorough. That was not a problem for me. The one thing I'll agree with is the lady who reads you're final results. She does have a robotic way of addressing a client. Like shes done this for years and shes just ready to go home for the day. BUT she does answer you're questions. she does explain things IF you ask. It sounds like you had a bad experience with these individuals and you guys rubbed each other the wrong way. And that might be why they didn't escort you out. But their services are great. I'm planning on booking my surgery with them. And a good friend just had his surgery a month ago and things went very well for him. The last step of the visit is the discussion with the consultant, who is actually the surgeon's brother. He gives you all the information, lets you ask all you're questions, He is very friendly, very helpful. In this section of the visit i felt very reassured that they cared about my sight. and i never saw on the website that you would actually MEET the eye surgeon, so I was not expecting it. read more

Coal Harbour Eye Centre is you best bet for eye surgery. Not only is the staff super friendly, but the dr.s are phenomenal. I've read that Dr. Kirzner (performing surgeon) has performed more surgeries himself than the entire surgical staff at competing clinics combined. They have a great way of keeping you informed as everything is happening which means no surprises or hiccups, which is exactly what i wanted when dealing with my eyes. For example, Dr. Kirzner came a spoke with me a few times before we actually scheduled the surgery, it was nice to know the person perform the surgery before hand. Its been a few months since my surgery, my eyes are perfect....As if the professionalism and high end care weren't enough, their prices where awesome. Coal Harbour Eye Centre left me with no regrets. read more

Not able to see my armpit hairs up close anymore. I can see 20/20 but not as crystal clear as glasses. Tiny letters could be more sharper. It has been 7 months since the PRK surgery. Day 21 is just wonderful! Prepare for light sensitivity, unhappiness for two weeks and up to three months. Uncomfortableness with wearing contacts all day and night long for one to two weeks while eyes heal. Also, if you are not used to wearing contacts, then now is the time to start wearing disposable ones to get eyes used to PRK surgery but don't wear them two weeks prior. I would suggest buying a dropper and using virgin coconut oil instead of mineral oil they prescribe (if you are not a fan of mineral oil or petro based products) Staff is okay and matter-of-fact. Not much into details. Price is affordable. Service is too quick. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO BUY EXTRA DROPS BEFORE HAND AND PUT LOTS OF DROPS ON YOUR EYES AS PRESCRIBED. It STINGS if the contact lens are dry!!!! Why 3 stars instead of 4 or 5? My peace of mind was shot. If you can save more money, take the time to research the laser centres and go with what fits best. read more

What a horrendous experience I had here. I live out of town by travel to Vancouver about every 2 months, so I made my consultation appointment here after some friends had positive things to say. On the day of the consultation I was escorted into three or four different rooms to undergo a series of tests. Like my other people have stated, the purpose of the tests were not explained, nor did the people introduce themselves who were doing the tests (it's a minor point, but I would like to know the name of the person touching my eyes, I was nervous to get the surgery). After all that I decided that although I felt like I was just a number going through the rounds at this clinic that I would proceed and get the surgery here. Well, I couldn't book my September surgery in May because a) they didn't know what the price would be and b) they didn't know the surgery schedule. Alarm bells stared going off in my head, but I ignored them and called back in July as I was instructed. I booked my appointment and my mom and I went down on the date that I was scheduled. Now here things went to hell. The first lady who processed the rest of my payment informed me that in addition to the next day and 3-5 day check up appointment (which I had scheduled off of work and made my travel plans around) I needed to come in 2-3 weeks after the surgery and again 4-6 weeks. When I explained that I live out of town, she told me that if I didn't come in, my warranty would be voided. I explained that I would be able to come in 4 weeks from the surgery, and possible again 8 weeks, depending on how my work was. She told me that was insufficient and that would negate my warranty - all of this was new to me, and when I booked the surgery, the lady who booked it assured me that is was OK that I wouldn't be able to make every appointment because of the distance. We moved past that and I tried to book my 4 week check-up, only to learn that NO ONE works on Monday. NO surgical staff would be available to check my eyes. Now bells were really going off. I still proceeded to change my schedule to make the 4 weeks work and go back into the waiting room. I then had two more people test my eyes and then Dr. K comes in. Wow, what a piece of work this guy is. Comes in, stares at the floor, TALKS to the floor, never once made eye contact, reviews my chart and starts talking to the floor about the procedure. I understand that he has done this spiel 1,000 times, but it's the first time I'm hearing it, I would like to hear what you're saying, I am sure the floor doesn't care. At that moment I decided this was NOT the place for me and I hightailed it outta there. I ended up going to London Eye Center (same day) and they fit me into their schedule and I had my eyes done. They are warm, understanding, they took the time to explain the procedure (turns out that the tissue sparing I was suppose to receive at Coal Harbour would have increased my chance at regression by 7% because my astigmatism was so high, something that Coal Harbour DIDN'T explain) and made me feel like a person, not just a number going through the machine. Obviously Coal Harbour's model works for a lot of people, but for me it was not an experience I would ever like anyone to go through! read more

I just did my laser eye surgery in December and so far my vision is fairly close to 20/20 however, in retrospect, I don't think I would have done the surgery and/or chosen to do it with Coal Harbour Eye Centre. All was good in my consultation. They seemed professional and answered any questions I had. However, on the surgery date, when I was having my prescription checked, as the optometrist (if she even is an optometrist, I later found out she only has a Dip. in Optom.) was switching between the different lenses, the unit was shaking so much that it was difficult for me to see through it and tell her what I could see. Fortunately, they did another check on my prescription with someone else, so that eased my anxiety a little. The surgery went fine and was done by Dr. Kirzner. I had PRK. However, the information packet they gave me was not very clear as they had to substitute out some of the drugs and some of the instructions were conflicting (i.e. one piece of paper would say use every night until finished while another would say use as needed). Some of the instructions also conflicted with the actual instructions on the drugs themselves (i.e. some of the eye drops were single use but was told by CHEC to keep using the same vial until I was done). This confusion was not stress that I wanted to have after my surgery as I wasn't sure whose instructions I should follow. In addition, a few weeks after surgery, I developed high pressure in my eyes so I needed to get some other medication to lower the pressure. Having high pressure in the eyes can cause blindness if the pressure stays too high so this caused further anxiety and stress for me. But all that time and the follow up appointments, I was seen by the lady who has a Dip. in Optom. and not Dr. Kirzner himself. I had requested to see Dr. Kirzner and even took a day off from work in order to do so, but when I was called into the appointment room, it was still not Dr. Kirzner but another gentleman. All in all, I felt that the after surgery care was poor, and with the threat of losing my sight when my pressure was too high (it is fine now) I would have gladly taken back my glasses and contact lenses in exchange. Please consider what you are willing to risk when you are considering laser eye surgery and whether those risks are worth it. read more

After a lot of research on different places to get PRK/Laser Eye Surgery, as well as what is involved with the procedure I decided to go with Coal Harbour Eye Center. I am so glad I did! It has only been a week since my procedure. Some things that may help anyone that was in my position pre-operation: 1. CONTACT LENSES While calling different clinics and researching I noticed that requirements for contact lens removal before pre-op appointment and surgery were different at different places. Most do recommend 1-2 weeks of non-contact wear before surgery while a very popular company recommends 48 hours. I was curious, as I am an avid contact wearer and would have preferred to leave my contacts in til the morning of, but I wanted my surgery to go well and I knew a lot of it relied on me. My research shows that contacts actually change the shape of the eye and to get the proper info for your surgery at the pre-operation exam, they need your eyes to be as much in their natural state as possible. I dont think that the repurcussions are dire, but I read some notes online from people that had *cheated* and they either had to have subsequent *touch up* surgeries (this is not necessarily because of the contact wear) or didnt think they saw as well as they really were supposed to. I was tempted to cheat between the pre-op and surgery dates- even got permission to wear my contacts for a very short period of time, but decided against it as I just wanted the best possible experience and ultimately, bang for my buck. no one knows just how much contact wear will adjust your eye shape, so its a risk. I wore no contacts for a week before my pre-op and had my surgery a week later. the two weeks of wearing my glasses has been the worst part of this entire procedure hands down. 2. VISION AFTER SURGERY I had a bad prescription. -5.50 and -5.25. My eye sight improves constantly post surgery. I have a friend who's eye sight was at a -1.75 or something and because they werent so bad to begin with, and the healing process with PRK kinda takes you to a bad place in terms of blurriness, cloudiness and discomfort, this can be discouraging and scary for some people who dont see the benefit and improvement right away. Patience is huge. Little steps and every great new thing is to be appreciated. 3. PREP Because of the research I did on my own I feel I was very prepared to go into surgery. I refused to watch any youtube videos as I didnt want to scare myself and Im glad I didnt because I tried to watch one today and couldnt. It looks so scary. But I read about the burning hair smell, I read about the short period of time it takes for the actual procedure. I read about the fact that there could be stinging and discomfort and a long healing process. So I was mostly prepared for what I . I have literally worn sunglasses almost night and day for the last week which I think experienced but a huge advantage was having Dt Kirzner repeatedly say *good, thats good* during the procedure. Dont know if he was talking to me or his helpers but it was reassuring. 4. PAIN I didnt experience pain but I did experience discomfort. A lot of it. So I used the pain drops that were given to me and on night 3 I realized that I was becoming reliant on them. So I cut myself off and Im glad I did. I started only using the tear drops to get through discomfort and my vision became clearer and less cloudy and the pain and discomfort actually completely stopped at this point also. 5. HEALING Rest... I was literally told after surgery to go *do whatever I feel comfortable doing*. and I truly think I could have done all sorts of things. but instead I had stocked up on snacks and liquids the day before and even when my eyes felt fine I just laid there with them closed and listened to the TV. I took the ativin they gave me to make myself sleep and I think keeping myself sedated and sleeping helped the healing so much. 6. ONE WEEK LATER I got my contact bandages removed yesterday, at the 6 day mark. (removal at a different location than Coal Harbour as I live out of Vancouver) and the doctor was very impressed with my progress and healing. I am also impressed. I see some double vision. Typing this, the words are a bit blurry but I am not in pain or discomfortalso helps. Dont strain your eyes, there is no point! I felt silly and a bit snobbish with the shades on inside places like airports and restaraunts but I dont care. I also could have started wearing mascara today if I wanted but I chose not to as I know my eyes are still healing and am afraid of getting anything near them that will cause discomfort. I am wearing shades most of the time anyway, no one can see my eyes. hope this helps anyone doing research for PRK out there! read more

My review is several years too late and before Yelping, but since my results were incredible, I wanted to share it with the rest o the Yelp Community. I had PRK done with Dr. Kirzner in 2005, coming from California to Vancouver just to have it done by him. At the time it had only costed me about $1600 USD for both eyes and free re-enhancement for life, so it was much cheaper than in the U.S. and the strength of the dollar was high. Due to my thin corneal tissues I had to get PRK instead of LASIK, but Dr. Kirner did a great job of explaining the differences between the 2 procedures. Plus he did the consultation, eye exam, surgery, and post-op all with a short time period, so everything was a breeze. I was able to see at 20/30 after this procedure. About 3 years later (2008), my vision started to get slightly worse, so in 2010 when it got so bad I needed to get re-done, Dr. Kirzner did a free re-enhancement with me. This time around my eyesight was 20/25, and it's been the same since. He was able to scrape enough tissue to do another re-enhancement if needed, but I'm very happy with the results. The doctor is very good at making you feel comfortable, safe, and confident about the surgery, and I would highly recommend him as a LASIK doctor. read more

It's been over 3 years since I had my eyes done. It was and continues to be a great experience. They were completely as they claim. Excellent service pre and post op. Everything happened as they said it would- the pain or absence of pain was accurately explained. The price was 70% lower than 2 other quotes I was given. I couldn't recommend them highly enough.. read more

I had my Lasik and PRK done in 2007. Dr. Kirzner is great but his nurse who does the follow up is so unfriendly and unwelcoming. She made me feel very uncomfortable. I just called to book another consult because after 9 years my eyes have regressed. the woman who books the appointments was also very cold and unfriendly. I give Dr. Kirzner 5 stars, but his staff I give 1 star. This is customer service and his staff have none. I went to LasikMD and they were all incredibly nice, receptionist, the woman that did my eye exam and the Dr. Astab were all awesome. read more

I had PRK done at Coal Harbour about 3.5 months ago. I can see well with my left eye but my right eye vision is worse than when I was wearing contacts. I kept on going back in for check ups which was a waste of time. Basically the tech tells me to take more FML and it will heal and to wear sunglasses. I did what they told me and as of today my right eye vision has still not improved. read more

This place is fine. Friendly staff. I enjoyed my visits here. That said... If they tell you you need PRK instead of Lasik, consider sticking to glasses. I know a few people that got Lasik; they all rave about the procedure and how they can instantly see. I got PRK and although I knew I wouldn't be able to see instantly (although one of their people said I would - I think she didn't know I was getting PRK), I had no idea how uncomfortable I'd be. I wish I'd stuck to glasses. I don't think seeing clearly is worth this experience. It hasn't been long and hopefully my sight will eventually improve but I haven't seen any improvement in my vision recently and my life is screwed because of it... hopefully only temporarily screwed. It takes too long to heal, don't bother. I wish I'd looked for PRK testimonials before wasting my money on torturing myself. I'm an idiot. I should point out that I'm a student - I haven't been able to read for more that 10 minutes at a time since. They said it would be 4 to 14 days before I could read so that's what I prepared for - this is the reason for my regret. Before you hand over your money, consider what you'll do if your eyes don't turn out to have the average response to the procedure. read more

It's day 4 of my recovery after my prk and am feeling good. The staff are really friendly and answer all your questions no matter how silly. They are always on time I have never had to wait more then 10 mins for my appointment. Even though you don't meet the doctor at the consult, you do meet him before the surgery and can ask him all the questions you like. Also what I really liked was that the doctor talked you through the eye procedure as he was doing the surgery. This really helped calm my nerves and know what was going on. Procedure was quick and pain free. If you choose coal harbour for your eye surgery you won't be sorry! read more

I Had PRK Laser Eye Surgery on 17/12/13 with Dr. Kirzner at Coal Harbor Eye Center. Fantastic experience that couldn't be better! My eyesight was 20/300 before and is now perfect 20/20. Every day I can't believe how well I can see just walking around on the street/reading signs at a distance etc. Cosmetically and for sports it's been so nice not to need glasses! They are super thorough at Coal Harbor- they do a no obligtion eye exam when youre considering the procedure, and since mine had been more than a few months before I actually booked mine, they did another incredibly thorough eye exam the week before, and on the day of Dr. Kirzner and two of his staff seperately examined my eyes again- 3 exams on the day of! So you know they are meticulously careful. After surgery pain was minimal (and they give you numbing drops anyways) and when I had a minor problem with the healing of my eyes they were able to see me within an hour of my call. Just remember with PRK it might take 4-8 weeks to achieve perfect 20/20 because your eye tissue is healing/changing still. Be patient and **most importantly** follow the eye drops instructions they give you after surgery to a tee! Doing the drops (for inflamation, lubrication, prevenring infection) seem to be as critical as the surgery itself to your final results. They recommend one week off work for PRK and I took 2 weeks- I highly recommend taking at least two weeks off especially if you sit in front of a computer or other bright screens. Your eyes will be light sensitive for a few weeks. Wear the sunglasses they provide you with is all I can say! Really friendly staff & very talented surgeon (who has completed over 60,000 surgeries as of the date of this writing). You truly have nothing to fear! read more