LASIK patients - what do you think of the new reports?

[Anonymous]

basically the new reports are that lasik should have full disclosure on side effects- ie. those with dry eyes will have it worse, some halo effects can happen, a propensity of needing reading glasses after 40.

So- to those who have had lasik- what issues (if any) have you encountered? When did you have lasik?

me personally I had lasik when i was 35, super reputation dr, i went to the same dr 6 months ago and i supposedly have 20/20 (am now 42) but I feel disbalanced- one eye is sharper- and there seems to be some little (though not tons) clouds that fuzzy things- I mean like 1. I also feel I need reading glasses which is surprising since my mom and dad didn't need them til 50s and i'm 42.

SO- what was your experience with lasik-how long ago did you have it- any regrets- any side effects..

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing this. The way Lasik is advertised it seems like a panacea. I'm so glad you posted this information since I've thought briefly about it in the past but I was worried about what would happen if it didn't go perfectly.

[Anonymous]

OP here- I mean I did buy reading glasses and it does help - especially on the computer- I can clearly not see small things up close anymore- so it's weird that my lsaik dr says i have 20/20.. and whe n i read about lasik causing needing reading glasses sooner it hit home.. i went on a date with someone who went to a lasik butcher and had night vision issies- fortunately, that is not what i have..

[Anonymous]

I knew all that going into the procedure. I am happy that I did it. I was -9, disabled w/o glasses.

[Anonymous]

To PP. I'm glad it helped. But for those of us who think about it as a vanity, OP's experience is valuable to consider.

[Anonymous]

To PP. I'm glad it helped. But for those of us who think about it as a vanity, OP's experience is valuable to consider.

[Anonymous]

OP, did you have Lasix or PKR? I didn't think Lasix was that old yet, but I could be mistaken. Anyway, spouse and I both underwent Lasix with excellent results. My vision was not correctable to 20/20 with glasses or contacts, but is now. I alwyas used reading glasses, but need them far less now than prior to the procedure. But, the PP who reminded us that it is cosmetic surgery is right - it is not without risks and you just have to be sure the ones from Lasix are acceptable to you. I was warned of all of the risks in advance, which should be the practice of any reputable doctor.

[Anonymous]

OP here- I underwent Lasik. I just wish I had known about the reading glasses part since maybe I would have waited til I needed reading glasses to fix everything. My vision was very bad before lasik- i couldn't see faces until they were right up close- i avoided water sports since I couln't see without contacts.. and the contacts were bugging me. All of those days- I don't miss.. but there are side effects to lasik that the news is covering lately (msnbc.com and cnn.com).. It started just this past year- so after 6 years..

[Anonymous]

You probably wouldn't have been able to avoid the reading glasses even if you had waited. Reading glasses are due to the aging process which is not correctable by Lasix.

[Anonymous]

i wish i had not had it done. I have had a reoccuring abrasion in both eyes and it is excrutiating. I also have the dry eye issue. the doc I went to, denies it is the procedure and essentially claims I had some condition that the surgery magnified. Well I haven't, and have been told by other surgens to consider a lawsuit since I may need to have several corrective surgeries to fix this.

[Anonymous]

I had it done in July 2007 by Dr. Whitten, who did Tiger Woods' eyes. It is AWESOME!! I was also basically disabled prior to surgery, with -9 in both eyes. Could not see 5 inches past my face. It has improved my quality of life DRAMATICALLY. I have no trouble now with glasses while playing tennis, and other sports, and I can see when I wake up, etc. It might not seem like that's such a big deal, but to someone who cannot see, it means A LOT!! I knew all of the risks before going into the procedure -- there certainly was full disclosure by the Docs. I am 20/20, had no complications, and would recommend LASIK to anyone who meets the criteria to be a good candidate. It's not to be taken lightly but it also is one of the safest procedures out there, IF you get the best doctor. I cannot describe with words how amazing it is to finally, after 35 years, SEE with my own eyes!

[Anonymous]

Another thing to consider is that there is no log term data on the surgery. For example, if you have it at 25...no one knows what will be happening in 50 years. I wanted to get it done for my college graduation gift, when i was 21 (about 4 years ago), and my stepmom's brother (a professor of opthamology) convinced me not to do it at such a young age, because they really dont know what happens to people who have had the surgery 30,50,,70 years down the road.

[Anonymous]

I think it's easier to say how great the procedure (if you didn't go to a lasik dr on the radio) within the first year and say it was great. Op had the procedure 6 years ago- she's having issues- not blind or loss of night vision- but nevertheless it is an input.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I don't want to take the risk of having it done, and these reports just confirm that for me.

Like the PPs, I'm a -9, so can't see anything without my contacts or glasses. But, at least I can put my glasses/CLs on and see fairly well. As with any surgery, there are risks. I would be very unhappy if I ended up with really uncomfortable, constant dry eyes, or night vision/glare issues.

They've been doing this surgery in other countries for longer than here in the US, so maybe there's long term results data from other countries?

Like other posters said, it really is more of a 'cosmetic/elective' surgery... not worth the risk to me.

[Anonymous]

Abby Ellin had an interesting article in the NYT about her bad experience with LASIK:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/fashion/13SKIN.html?ex=1363060800&en=f0fb7f9aae93c05d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss