Why did you not get LASIK?

[Anonymous]

I know multiple people who have miserable side effects as a result of lasik. I don’t find contacts or glasses to be much of a chore.

[Anonymous]

Lasik not permanent, OP. You will eventually need glasses.

Lasik is only worth it if you have a sensory-aversion against glasses/contacts, or are an athlete or performer where glasses are not possible or socially acceptable.

I've had glasses since I was 4. I love picking out new glasses. Everyone in my family and my husband's family has glasses. My kids have glasses. My BIL got Lasik years ago, then a decade later, needed glasses.

[Anonymous]

I’ve worn glasses and contacts since I was 10 and it hasn’t cramped my style. I don’t see the need for surgery. I’d rather spend the money on a lower blepharoplasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got Lasik in my early 20s. Fortunately I could afford it. Recovery was easy and I could see immediately. Worth every penny so I don't have to spend thousands over the years on doctors, glasses and contacts. Probably was cheaper in the end. Why don't people who can afford it do it? Do people like depending on glasses to see their hands? They're not comfortable, they break and they are expensive.

Too much risk, too many horror stories, and no guarantee that you won't need glasses again later. Yes, some people come out just fine, but the percentage of people who have significant damage was too high for my liking.

I don't find it too much of a burden to wear contacts/glasses. In my 40s now and have had contacts for 30 years.

[Anonymous]

(add that I don't even feel my daily contacts -- it takes maybe 10 seconds to pop them in each morning and 2 seconds to take them out each night, and while they are in I have perfect vision and can't feel them. Not at all a burden. And I also like the glasses option because I think they look good -- wearing glasses makes people look smarter and also more symmetrical so it's a nice option to have.)

[Anonymous]

My husband was a good candidate (and got it) but I was not a good candidate. Among other things, my vision was just not bad enough to justify the risk: I only need glasses to, like, read a PowerPoint from the back of the room.

[Anonymous]

I knew someone who was good to get LASIK and she decided not to when her optometrist brother said that people will still need glasses eventually even after LASIK. I assume he meant reading glasses starting in 40s.

I bet OP is younger then 40s.

[Anonymous]

going, not good ^^^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone is a good candidate for it and if your surgeon is worth anything, they’ll be honest and tell you so.

+1. My eye doctor expressly told me not to get it because of a pre-existing eye condition.

Me too. I have dry eye syndrome. People with dry eyes should not get the surgery. Thank heavens I didn't because my eye problems continue to develop. It's now meibomian gland dysfunction and I'm using autologous eye drops. I'm very grateful i never had the surgery

[Anonymous]

I'm glad I didn't get it because I found that I really don't like reading glasses.

I currently wear a contact lens in just one eye (my more myopic one) and can see fine from all distances. It's really not much of a bother to pop a daily disposable in.

[Anonymous]

I had myself evaluated, twice. I'm not a candidate due to my eye structure, and predisposition to glaucoma. I can barely tolerate contacts for a few hours because my eyes are so dry.

My correction is not that significant, and I have better than 20/20 vision with my glasses.

[Anonymous]

I don't mind glasses or contracts and the idea of it scares me. But good for you.

[Anonymous]

My husband never got it because he was worried he would be the person who got the bad side effects like dry eyes or seeing halos.

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine got it and from the famed Dr. Butrose or whatever his name is….she has the bad side effect of chronic dry eye now and has to do drops quite often through the day. Wishes she’d never had it. In her 40s and I think she got it about 5 years ago. I’m sticking with contacts still.

[Anonymous]

Not everyone is eligible for it and not everyone wants it.

Both of my older sisters got it. They both now wear glasses full time for far and near vision, their eyes are worse than mine (I've had glasses for 40 years now), and they have night vision problems as well as very, very dry eyes.

My former officemate's procedure resulted in some sort of complication and her eyes couldn't lubricate properly; she was in her early 20s.

Also: I like my glasses! They're just part of me. I have contacts but rarely wear them.