I am considering undergoing LASIK surgery (or a variation thereof) and have exhaustively researched the topic, but the fear remains that I am having surgery done on what is currently a perfectly functioning set of eyes, given the fact that I really hate glasses. Also, I know alot of ophthamologists who wear glasses. To those who have had or know people who have had the surgery, are they uniformly happy that they have had it done?
It depends on who you go to. I know several people that had the surgery and most are happy to VERY happy about the procedure. But a former co-worker was worse off afterwards until her eyes had healed and another doctor could completely re-do the operation. The doctor & staff didn’t properly anesthetize the eyes so she felt almost everything, and worse: they didn’t properly clean the lens so her vision was reduced so much she couldn’t drive for almost two months- it was like she was looking through a fogged up window. Be sure to go to a reputable clinic AND to have an experienced doctor (my coworker went to an established clinic but had a new doctor do the surgery).
Everyone else has been happy with the results. One of the guys at work used to have thick “Coke-bottle” eyeglasses but now is free of glasses and can’t tell enough people how great it is.
I’ve had it and am very happy. I know several people who have also had the op and they are all happy. I chose to go to a very reputable clinic that charges much more than the cheapo deals you hear about - if it is good enough for Greg Maddux, it’s good enough for me.
Confused – why would you have surgery on your eyes if they’re perfect already?
I had LASIK almost 2 years ago. My vision went from 20/400 to 20/15. Obviously I’m very happy. My only problem was that my decongestant (Claritin D) dried out my eyes. Hereis a great resource.
What I meant was they are currently perfectly healthy but my vision sucks. Thanks to all who responded. And I intend to go to a place that charges about 2 1/2 times what the cheapest places do, but only employs cornea specialists, a distinction most sites say is very important in outcome.
I had LASIK done on my right eye back in May, 2002. I am very happy with the results. That eye was 20/200 without correction, and it is now 20/20. I would really like to have it done on the left eye (it’s only about 20/30, so it wouldn’t be necessary, but something I want to get the two eyes functioning together). The facility I went to specializes in LASIK and similar surgeries… that is ALL they do all day long.
Most of my friends that have had it done have had great results. One friend, however, had a terrible time with it… he has had the surgery done three times and his eyes were corrected only to a certain degree. He used to wear glasses that were like Coke bottle bottoms, so his vision was atrocious to begin with. But he is very disappointed and he now has to wear contact lenses to get his vision close to anything normal. So results are a mixed bag, for sure. Do your research, not only about the surgery itself but also research the professionals and facilities in your area/state who do the surgery.
I’ve been reading these threads about laser eye surgery with great interest. I’ve been examined by a surgeon who said I would be a great candidate for this procedure except for one thing–dry eyes. Has anyone in this thread suffered from this predicament and how have you gotten around this? I have to squirt drops in about every other day but otherwise I’m fine. Would plugs in my tear ducts work? I realize that none of this advice may work for me, consult my doctor, but I’d like to have some concrete advice and options to discuss with my doctor. Thanks for your help.
Most people are satisfied but there’s always a certain risk and a few people end up having problems. My friend was one of the unfortunate and, while he no longer needs eyeglasses, his vision is a bit blurry and especially at night when he sees terrible halos.
I’m with you dauerbach. I have worn glasses most of my life. I am very myopic, but not to the point of legal blindness or anything like that. I can’t wear contacts because of dry eyes. So, do I risk an unnecessary surgery for what amounts to, IMHO, purely cosmetic reasons?
I’m so afraid that with my luck, I’ll fall into the small minority of people who have to have the surgery repeated 8 times simply to get back to my original condition.
I’m also 50 years old - at an age where eyesight normally deteriorates. Would the surgery cause more rapid deterioration?
I guess I’ll continue to consider myself blessed with what I have. I can think of no reason beyond pure personal vanity why I should risk having this procedure done and that’s just not compelling enough.
IMHO, LASIK or its predecessors, PRK and RK, are not merely cosmetic. Wearing glasses is a nuisance. Contacts are even more of a nuisance (and they are not merely cosmetic either, if you play sports). Glasses fog up, need to be constantly cleaned, etc.
I had the old scapel surgery (RK - radial keratectomy) in 1991 at age 55. OTOH, an opthalmologist who did not do the surgery, said that at that age, forget about it. Another opthalmologist, who also did not do the surgery, said with my vision no doctor should have done it. (He said he only did them on those who needed -3 diopters or less.) Well, it was done, and I am satisfied with the results. I still wear glasses, but can take them off to read, and my vision is greatly better without glasses - a difference of day and night, if you will.
The worse your vision the greater the possibility of complications. When an opthalmologist says that you are a good or great candidate, he or she is stating that you only now need a correction of -3 diopters or less. One opthalmologist in town will not perform LASIK if one needs more diopters than that, but theoretically it can be performed up to -9 diopters, unlike RK which really should not have been done on me, as it necessitated 18 slits in each eye (customary is 6).
So, to answer the question, the first data to acquire is what is your present prescription? If it’s -3, or even -4, or less go for it. Then make sure to follow the other suggestions offered above: an experienced doctor with a good trak record and one who uses a laser approved by the FDA. Some of these cheapies do not. If you have it done, be sure to follow the advice regarding postsurgery procedures. It is important to keep your eyes dry for a period, otherwise the flap may not settle back down right. Most complications result from the flap not reseating properly.