Get Lasik surgery, or hang onto my specs?? - YouLookFab Forum

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Get Lasik surgery, or hang onto my specs??

Mel

My eye doctor has told me I'm a good candidate for Lasik surgery. I calculate that over a 15 year period the cost of Lasik surgery vs. the cost of prescription glasses (and sunglasses) and contact lenses is about the same. But I LOVE wearing glasses! I have dark-rimmed "cool" specs that I consider to be one of my fashion statements. They're especially useful since I work in academia and feel more "in" wearing glasses. Yet my friends who have had Lasik have told me they'd never go back, and they can also wear whatever sunglasses they want without worrying about putting their contact lenses in first. Has anyone else had this dilemma? Is it worth it to refuse Lasik and to hang onto my beloved statement specs? "Fake" specs aren't an option for me...it's just not something I would do.

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14 replies

Latest reply was from Mel

Staysfit

Veteran

What are the risks? Are there any long term risks? What happens if you develop cataracts in the future, or glaucoma? Surgery is an invasive procedure, so make sure you ask. It is a pro con situation that involves more than how you may end up looking and what your glasses may cost.

Sisi

Veteran

If your myopia is not very high and you love wearing your glasses I would say it is not worth. I know many people who have done Lasik and all of them are very happy, and I myself am a candidate, but I have a *very* high level of myopia.

viva

Veteran

I had Lasik about 10 years to correct myopia. The whole decision ended up being a bit more complicated than I expected.

First, the procedure itself and recovery were very, very easy. I went to the most experienced guy in my area and I had no complications. Just to put that out there. No halo effect (which some people report) or anything like that. And 10 years out my distance vision is still perfect.

Before Lasik, I wore glasses all the time except reading. Glasses were a part of my look, and I considered them a fashion accessory. But, I hated waking up and not being able to see clearly (this was probably the biggest thing); not being able to swim and see; and even with my glasses, driving at night was becoming more difficult. Lasik gave me my distance vision -- but it robbed me of my close vision, so I immediately had to use reading glasses (although at a low level, even now I use 1.5). At first this really disappointed me, because I am a huge reader, and having to wear reading glasses felt like an imposition.

But ultimately I could see it as a benefit, or at least not a problem. I now wear reading glasses for reading and computer work. There are a TON of great reading glasses out there, and it's inexpensive to have a lot of them as fashion accessories.

For me, being able to do more with eye makeup (and not having it hidden by glasses), being able to wake up and see, and having no concerns while driving, has been totally worth it. (I also feel more dressed up without glasses on.) And no dry eye from contacts. I would never undo this surgery.

Hope this is helpful.

tolkitty

The biggest factor in my decision (13 years ago, at age 34) was the inconvenience of glasses. I couldn't get by at all without them (beyond 12" everything was blurry) and my eyes didn't tolerate contacts. I first got glasses at age 10, and by my 30s was *so* tired of dealing with them, especially being an active person (hiking, skiing) and dealing with a lot of cold/wet weather.

I went to a top-notch doctor and due to her skill ended up with 20-15 vision on the first try. (Some people need 2+ surgeries and still don't reach 20-20.) I was informed in advance that due to my eye measurements I would likely experience the halo effect for a few years, but I decided it was an acceptable trade off (I wore yellow-lensed sunglasses for night driving). I'm just now at the stage of needing reading glasses, but for me the trade-off has been worth it.

It's a very personal decision, and a very permanent one, so you should DEFINITELY listen to your gut and make sure you understand all of the possible side effects. My older brother has vision worse than mine and a similarly active lifestyle, but he chose not to have surgery and he rocks cool glasses. Even seeing how happy I am, he's had NO regrets.

Sara L.

Veteran

I had Lasik surgery about a year ago and love it. I've worn glasses/contacts since I was in elementary school and was so, so tired of the hassle. I didn't have any problems with halos or night vision. I had monovision done where one eye is corrected for distance and one for close vision. It puts off the necessity of reading glasses for a few years (according to my doctor, everyone needs reading glasses eventually). We have a pool and go to the beach every year and it's so nice to not worry about glasses and contacts when around water.

If you like wearing your glasses though, maybe it's not for you. I hated wearing glasses but couldn't always wear contacts (I seem to get a case of pink eye at least once a year).

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My husband had it years ago and is very happy with the results, although he now needs reading glasses.

I have a weird phobia about anything touching my eyes (the only time I've fainted in my life was at the eye doc), so I'm not a good LASIK candidate. Besides, I'm a photographer and am nearsighted, so I only need glasses for distances (driving, watching movies), but I also wear them out and about so I can see across a room. I just can't justify surgery to correct that problem, only to trade it off for needing glasses for reading and working on the computer.

I don't love wearing glasses, but I have found some that I really like that suit my face and my style, so I'm content to stick with the devil I know.

Take your time with your decision and think about all the implications. Even without my squeamishness about eye stuff, I don't think I would do it. I know the risks are low, but it's my *eyes* -- I can't imagine non-essential surgery on them.

JAileen

Veteran

I had lasik 17 years ago. My prescription was *very* strong. I wore contacts but when we moved from Texas to the mountains and eventually the desert, the air was too dry for me to wear them. My glasses were uncomfortable. I had to get bifocals so the experts said my frames had to be big enough to accomodate that. But my prescription was so strong that the same experts said the frames had to be small to cut down on weight. What a dilemma. Anyway, I was terrified, but I went through with it. I had no problems whatever. When we go birding, it's especially good not having glasses in the way. I understand your likng glasses. They are a statement. We have VSP, so I've used my coverage for prescription sunglasses with readers. I now have three pairs.

All these years later I think my vision might not be 20/20, so I'm getting my eyes checked today.

Christina F.

Veteran

I am considering this too. I am very nearsighted - the eye doctor said I was likely born nearsighted. I am happy with contacts, except that lately the brands I've been given don't give me clear visision (one new brand, then I went back to the old brand but they had changed what they were offering. My prescription supposedly didn't change, but my distance vision is worse with the new contacts.

I'm just not sure I want to spend the money any time soon, as we're saving to upgrade our tiny NYC apartment to a slightly less tiny one.

Poppy

One thing not mentioned in LASIC adverts is they cannot guarantee that you will not need glasses for the rest of your life. Is this not the dream they sell you? No. As you age, you will need glasses to read everything again.

I got LASIC 20 years ago and was delighted. Wished it had been available when I was younger so it would have rendered me glasses free for a lot longer, As is was, I was 40 when it was done, and needed readers as I neared my late 40s. By 55 I was back to wearing glasses full time.

But -- my glasses are much thinner (lighter) than they would have been, as they are correcting for seeing up close. You see there is nothing a Dr. can do for age related problems. Our lens get stiff and the muscles that pull the lens into focus get weak with age.

You don't mention how old you are. LASIC is worth it it you are in your 20s, 30s or early 40s. But it you are in your mid 40s and your main goal is to get rid of glasses, it will not help you for long, What are your goals?

Mel

My vision is not that bad, but I have to wear glasses or contacts all the time. I can tolerate contacts for about 6-8 hours, so I wear them for special events and for outdoors/sports activities. I used to abuse my contact lenses and wear them way too long and not replace them, but now I behave.

Like many of you, I am really queasy about any surgery that is "non-essential" Of my friends who have had Lasik, for some it turned out great and for others it was a nightmare. So I guess it's always a risk. And all are wearing glasses again, either to correct defects or just because time takes its toll.

I'm realizing, too, that another reason why I love glasses is because they make me look older and more professional. I'm nearing 40 but people still mistake me for 10 or ever 15 years younger than my age. Some of you may think that's fun, but for me it's not So I think I'm leaning towards the stay-with-the-specs track. Just have to pony up the money now for some prescription sunglasses, and learn how to take good care of them.

And I guess another factor in my favor is that my friends tell me I look great with my specs on! It doesn't seem to apply to everyone, so I guess I should take advantage of it!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

For me it's not an option (in correctable vision issue) but even it if was, I'm not sure I'd do it personally. I'm in the same boat as Janet - very squeamish about my eyes and medical procedures overall. But I know other people who have done it. Most went well, one was not as happy and had some type of complication in one eye.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I don't need it myself, but if I did, I'd probably go for it. I have several friends and acquaintances who've had it and would never go back. The one guy I know who had the halo complication had the surgery done back when I was in university in the early 90s -- nearly 30 years ago! -- but I think they've got a lot better at it since then.

Look at it this way: you could always wear your cool frames with plain glass in them rather than your usual prescription on the days you want the academichic look. My brother-in-law used to wear no-prescription glasses all the time, just for the look of it, even though he has 20-20 vision.

The third thing is the contact lens issue. It seems to me that sticking something right on your eyeball is an invitation for problems! I know lots of people do it, but I'd be cautious about doing it long term. I don't know any older people who still wear contacts.

Anonymous

I stuck with specs until I had cataract surgery. At that time, I opted to spend the extra $1,000 to have the astigmatism corrected. Now I only need cheap readers from the supermarket. My distance vision is fine.

The cataract surgery was a walk in the park, so to speak, and I imagine the surgery you're talking about is the same. I had my first cataract at age 50, though, which I'm sure made it much easier for me to comply with the care instructions I was given. The very next day, I was driving without glasses, so the improvement was practically instant.

I had a terrible experience with contact lenses that left me with keratitis in the cornea of one of my eyes. It took a long time to heal, and my DH told me that I only have one set of eyes. I took his words to heart and quit wearing them.

Mel

Aziraphale and BC- I agree about the contact lenses. Something blocking air to your eyes can never be that good. However my eyes are still in good shape and I use contacts very rarely. But I'm going to have a more in-depth conversation with my doctor about this the next time I see him, to weigh all the pros and cons.

I thought about the fake glasses solution but that's just not my style...glasses are glasses or they are not glasses, at least for me.