Vision Correction Surgery: I want it but I'm scared.

[Anonymous]

I had lasik 7 years ago and this past year to two it's been apparent that the nearsightedness isn't as crystal clear and i now need reading glasses which is a bummer.. I guess I would just reaffirm that the +s are great- being able to see details- I wish I had done this in my 20s really- but I did it at age 34. I agree on the place making a huge difference. But it is not forever - a good friend also had lasik at the same place after I did and has more nearshighted effects (7 years later)- she's 4 years younger than I am. so.. we're lucky with no bad side effects from the earlier group of lasik- but it's not permanent and im accelerates needing reading glasses.. i'm mixed- i wish i had done this in my 20s then i may have enjoyed teh great vision longer.. (OR NOT? not sure if it's just naure taking over that I do not have good eyesight genes)

[Anonymous]

Two of the 6 people I work with had it done about 7 years ago and both now wear glasses regularly. One did it about around 37 and one around 47 (both men). One had complications from the beginning and one was fine until his eyes started getting worse. My two sisters also got the surgery, one about 5 years ago and one 4 years ago. The one 4 years ago had some complications (halos) at the beginning and had to have one eye adjusted, but is ok now, while the other now wears glasses fairly regularly and regrets the surgery.

DH has been thinking about the surgery and after talking with people he's still on the fence as to whether it's really worth it. It's a lot of money for a potentially temporary fix... Also he has never worn contacts so I think he should try that first--funny he won't put his finger in his eye but will let them stick a laser them..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
DH has been thinking about the surgery and after talking with people he's still on the fence as to whether it's really worth it. It's a lot of money for a potentially temporary fix... Also he has never worn contacts so I think he should try that first--funny he won't put his finger in his eye but will let them stick a laser them..

It is still quite expensive. And, the argument usually is that you spend money every year on eye exams/contacts/glasses, so you'll be saving that, but if so many people end up needing glasses anyway at some point... you're just paying for both.

And, to keep the Lifetime Guarantee, you still need to pay for yearly eye exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:53 here. I was -4.5 in one ye and I don't remember what the other was, but it was close to the same range. I had problems with GPC (Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, I think it is) and had developed an allergy to my contact lenses, so wearing them was very uncomfortable. They opth. had told me that soon I would no longer be able to wear contacts, which is what sent me over the edge.

There are definitely other options for people with GPC. Daily disposable contacts, short term steroid use, newer brands of CLs.

Just an FYI for anyone else reading this thread who has GPC and is considering LASIK as a last resort.

[Anonymous]

OP,
What is the condition that prevents you from wearing contacts? You don't need to answer that question, I just wanted to point out that whatever condition you have may also put you at higher risk of complications from laser surgery.
When my husband was considering laser surgery, I did some online research and was shocked to read about numerous personal accounts of severe complications. Many of the complications are people who end up with double vision, "ghosting", and severe dry eyes. Severe dry eyes doesn't sound so bad until you read about people who end up with punctal plugs as a result, or in severe pain in spite of using drops every 15 minutes. Their vision is still considered 20/20, but the quality of their vision(and life!) is severely reduced. Please google "Lasik complications" for further information. There is no going back after the surgery is done and these cases are heartbreaking to read about.
When you have Lasik surgery, a flap is created on your cornea using a microkeratome. After the laser is applied, the flap is put back into place, but it never heals.

What I would recommend is getting an opinion from an opthalmologist who has absolutely no ties to the Lasik industry before visiting a Lasik center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:20:53 here. I was -4.5 in one ye and I don't remember what the other was, but it was close to the same range. I had problems with GPC (Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, I think it is) and had developed an allergy to my contact lenses, so wearing them was very uncomfortable. They opth. had told me that soon I would no longer be able to wear contacts, which is what sent me over the edge.

There are definitely other options for people with GPC. Daily disposable contacts, short term steroid use, newer brands of CLs.

Just an FYI for anyone else reading this thread who has GPC and is considering LASIK as a last resort.

GPC poster here. I actually tried other things that did not work. Not suggesting it for others necessarily, it's just what worked for me.

[Anonymous]

I am -9.00 and -10.00 - so really, really bad eyesight. But knock on wood I see great with contacts and haven't had any problems. I go to the eye dr. every year and am always told I was a good candidate for lasik, but I'm too chicken. I will only do anything like surgery for my eyes if I was going to go blind, frankly, but that being said, I've had a few friends get it done and love it.

I recommend getting a consult with a dr. you trust and then seeing how you feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP,
What is the condition that prevents you from wearing contacts? You don't need to answer that question, I just wanted to point out that whatever condition you have may also put you at higher risk of complications from laser surgery.
When my husband was considering laser surgery, I did some online research and was shocked to read about numerous personal accounts of severe complications. Many of the complications are people who end up with double vision, "ghosting", and severe dry eyes. Severe dry eyes doesn't sound so bad until you read about people who end up with punctal plugs as a result, or in severe pain in spite of using drops every 15 minutes. Their vision is still considered 20/20, but the quality of their vision(and life!) is severely reduced. Please google "Lasik complications" for further information. There is no going back after the surgery is done and these cases are heartbreaking to read about.
When you have Lasik surgery, a flap is created on your cornea using a microkeratome. After the laser is applied, the flap is put back into place, but it never heals.

What I would recommend is getting an opinion from an opthalmologist who has absolutely no ties to the Lasik industry before visiting a Lasik center.

This is a valid point. (And this is the OP.) I wore contacts for 25 years, and then out of the blue kept getting repeated staph infections in my eye, supposedly because they were too dry. So it's highly possible that I wouldn't even be a valid candidate. When I raised the issue with my opth, who does Lasik but not as his primary business, he said he wasn't sure without doing a full workup. So obviously if I pursue this, that might be an obstacle. But in the meantime, it's helpful to get all of these opinions on the issue.

[Anonymous]

OP, I had the same problem. Got glasses at age ten, contacts at age 14, except I would go through phases of getting the infections, going off contacts for a year, wear them for a couple years, repeat, repeat. My eyes were also dry, so the contacts got less permeable to oxygen, so I also had blood vessels beginning to grow into my corneas due to lack of oxygen The eye doc told me I only had short time left that he would OK contacts for me before I wouldn't be allowed to wear them again. When I was 32, I finally decided to bite the bullet, I had a really short window of time to do the surgery, because you can't be nursing or pregnant because the hormones affect your eyes. I got it done at Lasik Plus in Alexandria 3 months after my son was weaned and three months before we started trying (successfully!) for my daughter. The experience itself was pretty freaky and "Clockwork Orange"-like, but I COULDN"T BE HAPPIER with the results!!!!! My eyes were a -8 and a -9, and with some astigmatism. I see nearly perfectly now. The difference is amazing. I have some dry eye occasionally, (especially in winter when the heat is cranking), but I struggled with dryness and irritation when wearing contacts, too. I can't even describe all the areas of my life that are better now...waking up in the middle of night w/ a baby and not fumbling for glasses, going to the beach and the pool, running, even my sex life ("wow, hi honey, there you are!"). I understand that I may need reading glasses in about ten years, but would have probably been in bifocals by then anyway. The money was hard to part with, but now that I have the results, I would do it again in a second. I know not everyone has such a good experience, but thought I'd share mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got it done two years ago. I was very near sighted and could not even see the light on the eye chart, much less the Big E. I absolutely love not having to bother with glasses or contacts. I do still wear reading glasses, but that is something that is not corrected by the surgery. I had an easy recovery and never even missed a day of work. I used Dr. Boutrous at The Eye Center. (Don't know if I spelled the doctor's name correctly).

If you are thinking about it seriously, you can get a free consult from many of the doctors, which would let you know if you are a candidate for the procedure.

I am the previous poster who mentioned possibilities of complications. Be careful about the free consultation. Many people with serious complications were told by the Lasik doctors that they were "perfect candidates" for the procedure , only to find out later that they never should have been ok'ed for the surgery. That's why it is recommended to go to an optho. who is not part of the Lasik industry for an independent opinion before having the surgery.

[Anonymous]

I would love to get it, but my eye doctor is fairly conservative and advised against it because I'm not a perfect candidate because I have borderline high pressure readings of 19 and sometimes 20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got it done two years ago. I was very near sighted and could not even see the light on the eye chart, much less the Big E. I absolutely love not having to bother with glasses or contacts. I do still wear reading glasses, but that is something that is not corrected by the surgery. I had an easy recovery and never even missed a day of work. I used Dr. Boutrous at The Eye Center. (Don't know if I spelled the doctor's name correctly).

If you are thinking about it seriously, you can get a free consult from many of the doctors, which would let you know if you are a candidate for the procedure.

I am the previous poster who mentioned possibilities of complications. Be careful about the free consultation. Many people with serious complications were told by the Lasik doctors that they were "perfect candidates" for the procedure , only to find out later that they never should have been ok'ed for the surgery. That's why it is recommended to go to an optho. who is not part of the Lasik industry for an independent opinion before having the surgery.

I think this is excellent advice!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I had Lasik ten years ago - only in one eye, in case it shriveled up and fell out or something . I haven't had any problems. I think the technology has improved in the last decade.

[Anonymous]

Had LASIK in 2007 at age 25 - my opth. thought I was a good candidate (nearly -5 in each eye with astigmatism) and I was comfortable with TLC. It wasn't cheap but they had free financing for 18 months which made it easy to pay for. It was quick, relatively painless and within a few months I didn't even need eye drops anymore... now I'm still 20/20 (just went for my annual exam). True, you have to go for an annual exam to keep the warranty, but my exam is $10 and my vision insurance is barely over $1 a paycheck - definitely worth it to me... even if I have to get reading glasses in 20 years.

[Anonymous]

PP - I went to Dr. Perraut (Dr. Whitten's partner) and loved him.