After 30 plus years of wearing glasses, I'm going to have Lasik done to "repair" my eyes. Was wondering if anyone else has had Lasik done and what was their outcome? I have my second evaluation tomorrow and then the surgery next Wednesday.
Anyone here have Lasik done?
- Thread starter Tom Hendricks
- Start date
My friend had it done (under 40) and developed some "not uncommon" side effect where her eyes are sticking to her eyelids in the morning and it's agonizing. She developed this over a year after the surgery. She was in pain for about 6 weeks after having it done too.
What worries me about it is that if it is not 100% effective, or it loses it's effectiveness over time you will still need glasses. Just because you are only half as nearsighted doesn't mean you don't need them.
But I'm sure most people have a good experience with it.
What worries me about it is that if it is not 100% effective, or it loses it's effectiveness over time you will still need glasses. Just because you are only half as nearsighted doesn't mean you don't need them.
But I'm sure most people have a good experience with it.
Well that's terrifying. I can't even have eye drops put in my eyes without freaking out so I won't go anywhere near laser surgery on them. Glasses are just fine with me. Granted I don't have to wear them all the time. To the OP, good luck!
I would just wear the damn glasses. If I was confronted with lasers anywhere near my eyeballs, I would probably act like this:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p-5U0ZWB5U[/yt]
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p-5U0ZWB5U[/yt]
I had LASIK in Dec. 1999 to correct 20/400 vision in each eye. I saw brightened haloes around lights at night for a while. My eyes had always been dry; they recommended Allergan Refresh Tears eyedrops which I found so refreshing that I still use them 1-2 times daily (I can instill a drop in each eye, in seconds, standing up, in the dark, without blinking--it just feels so refreshing!).
I've sort of vaguely pondered getting Lasik and probably will if I don't get on with varifocals when the time comes to need reading glasses. I'd much prefer to just need glasses for presbyopia rather than varifocals; too many people I know with varifocals have found them annoying in some way that I fear would bug me even more.
Having said that, I don't mind glasses at the moment as they're just for myopia and I've always worn them. I kind of like them actually, at least in some respects.
If I did get Lasik, I would definitely avoid the bog-standard version and pay a little more to get the wavefront-guided kind. It gets better results, more consistently. I'd also pay a bit more to get it done by an ophthalmogist who does lots of them, rather than a technician (regardless of how many he does).
I have wanted to do Lasik for a while now, but I have always been a little hesitant. However I just can't stand wearing glasses any longer. This has been a buildup of a few years frustration. So I finally decided to see if I was even a candidate, I do have a stigmatism. After having the initial consultation and exam, I'm a very good candidate. That was a few months ago, I wanted some time to think on it. A few days ago I just decided to go for it. I called up the doctors receptionist and made the follow up and surgery appointment. I have thought about this at length and I do think this is the best decision for me. I know being over 40 that I would need reading glasses, I'm okay with that because I would be needing them soon probably anyway. Plus only wearing glasses to read and such, is more desirable then wearing glasses all the time. Now am I still nervous, absolutely. I'm comfortable where the technology is at current point to have the surgery done. I like the doctor, she is highly recommended who has done many cases. So now seams like the right time for me.
My husband had it done about 10 years ago and went from very very bad vision to near perfect for a while. However, his vision has been slowly worsening during the last few years and now he needs glasses again. Also his night vision is completely shot because of the halos; he can't drive at night etc.
My fiancée had it done a few years ago. She was quite near-sighed. The procedure was a bit uncomfortable rather than painful, and she had to avoid strong lights for some days, but otherwise the convalescence was pretty smooth. Recovery of visual acuity was total.
All in all, she is very happy about it.
On the other hand, glasses make me look smarter, so I'm keeping them.
All in all, she is very happy about it.
On the other hand, glasses make me look smarter, so I'm keeping them.
I have also thought about getting some kind of laser corrective surgery, but I think I waited too long, I am over 40 and would not recommend it to anybody else over 40, unless you had extremely poor eye site, or perhaps had a very active life style the made glasses and contacts problematic.
When they can correct Presbyopia, i'll rethink it, I don't like the idea of needing glasses to read after laser surgery, or having one eye left slightly nearsighted or something.
When they can correct Presbyopia, i'll rethink it, I don't like the idea of needing glasses to read after laser surgery, or having one eye left slightly nearsighted or something.
Two co-workers/friends, both over 40, had lasik - even used the same surgeon. Co-worker #1 was and is thrilled with his results. Co-worker #2 is not - it was more painful than usual, his convalescence was longer than usual, his distance vision is a lot better but still not perfect, and he still has to wear reading glasses. So I'd call those results "mixed"!
Me, I just wear my dang glasses. They aren't perfect, of course, but they give me excellent vision, they don't involve lasers, and these days, they are even considered cool looking - not that that matters much to me, but it is a nice bonus.
Me, I just wear my dang glasses. They aren't perfect, of course, but they give me excellent vision, they don't involve lasers, and these days, they are even considered cool looking - not that that matters much to me, but it is a nice bonus.
Good luck with the surgery! I'm interested to hear your own thoughts on the process as you go through it. My husband has wanted LASIK for years but I have my own reservations. Of course, he has pretty poor vision without his contacts or glasses, and I can't imagine what that's like. It doesn't make any sense for me to consider LASIK because my eyes aren't really that bad at all and I only wear glasses to drive, but I know many people who have considered it and am always interested to hear more input!
As an Optometrist I send patients out for LASIK regularly. You want a surgeon who has done a lot of procedures, it's the single best predictor of how happy you'll be afterwards.
That said, the vast majority of patients end up happy. So...Good luck! And definitely use your eye drops and stick to the prescribed follow-ups.
Not if he's near-sighted and gets one eye under-corrected. Of course that's something that should be trialed before a surgery.
Yes, those are the side-effects that have prevented me from having the procedure. Also, studies have shown that after the surgery, the eye sight worsens faster than it does without the surgery.
That, and with my contacts I have better than 20/20 vision at 15/20. So, surgery for normal vision would actually be a downgrade!
Mr Age
May I ask - is there any reason why you don't use contact lenses?
I don't believe that's true.
That has as much to do with the structure of the eye as anything else, and plenty of people end up better than 20/20 after LASIK.
That said, there definitely is (a small amount of) risk involved with the procedure and everyone should consider it carefully.
Just the annoyance factor, contacts are even more annoying then glasses.
Well I had my second evaluation today and all systems are go. So next Wednesday at 1pm I will be having my Lasik surgery. I can say that it does make me a bit nervous, but overall I'm really psyched about having it done.
Good luck. I'm 27 and close to legally blind without corrective lenses (20/300 vision, I forget my exact prescription numbers), but I'm fine with my glasses -- I hate eyedrops, to say nothing of contact lenses, and there's no way I'm letting a laser into my eyeball.
Well I had the procedure done today around 2pm. Came home and took a nap, just got up. Only in slight discomfort, not that bad really. I can see things I have never seen before when not wearing my glasses. Only thing everything is hazy, like looking through water. Doctor said that will go away in a few days. So far I'm very happy, but it has only been a few hours. I will keep you updated.
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