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Lasik surgery anyone ?

Isabel

Veteran

OK, don't laugh....I have been considering Lasik surgery for a while. I want to be able to wear sunglasses that are not prescription. I don't think that I would do well with contacts. I am still recovering and taking anti-cancer meds that I am afraid that I might fall asleep in my contacts or just to be too tired to take care of them properly. I still have spells of exhaustion , though they are getting fewer and fewer ( and I am just lazy too, LOL ).

Have you had any experience and was it worth it ?

thanks in advance !!

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28 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

JAileen

Veteran

I did it more than ten years ago. I had a very strong prescription so finding glasses that worked for me was challenging, and my eyes were too dry for contacts. I'm glad I did it. My vision is now 20/20. My husband and I go birding all the time and I can see through the binoculars so much better without my glasses. I can also spot birds better. I also like it when it's raining or snowing. I used a medical savings account at work so I paid for it using pretax dollars.

I do need reading glasses, but I buy them at the drugstore or Costco. I got prescription sunglasses to be able to read a map in the car if I need to.

My son did it too, when he was 18 or 19.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I considered it strongly, because when I'm on call at night, glasses get really heavy and cumbersome.

Then I noticed - none of the eye docs got Lasik themselves.

That scared me enough to keep my glasses, thank you.

ETA: I should add that it's basically free for me to get the Lasik - we get 50% off the procedure and we have insurance to cover the rest. A lot of residents do go for the procedure, but none whose careers depends on their eyesight. The career I chose I can do if I had blotched eyes, but I'd rather not have them, than have them. The technology is also evolving and changing - I'd wait.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I can't do it -- my prescription is too high and I also have astigmatism, so I need a different (and much more expensive) operation -- basically, a corneal transplant.

Plus, in my family there is a history of detached retina. People with lower vision are at higher risk for detached retinas anyway, and this operation makes the risks go up.

So I've resigned myself to living with my contacts and glasses until I develop cataracts (at which point the government will pay for the operation anyway.) My vision is by no means perfect, even corrected -- but it's what my optometrist calls a "soft" 20-20. Good enough for my daily activities. Thank heavens.

deb

Veteran

I did consider it but I get adhesions so they will not do it. I did not find this out until I went for a consult. I suggest you go have a consultation to see what they say then talk to your medical doctor to see what he/she thinks.

Classically Casual

Veteran

I wore contacts forever, until I got sick of the hassle, and now wear glasses.
I strongly considered Lasik, but decided that I didn't want anyone messing with my eyes unless it was medically necessary. And at least at one time, it didn't work past middle age or some such marker. So, I really didn't want to take the risk for a relatively short amount of time. That may no longer be the case, I don't know.

I know someone who had it done a year or so ago and did have complications in one eye. Getting some unbiased medical opinions would be the way to proceed if you want to pursue it, I think.

Good luck, Isabel!

Classically Casual

Veteran

Nicole D

Veteran

I love it! SO glad I did it about 3 years ago, and the ophtho who did my surgery did have it done on himself. Now, there is a risk of complications as there is with every procedure, so if your livelihood depends on your vision being perfect (airline pilot), think carefully, otherwise see if you are a candidate for sure!
If you need bifocals, you will still need them though, only corrects near-sightedness. Another thing is that when I got rid of glasses, I really noticed the fine lines around my eyes much more!

Anonymous

I am in the same boat as Suz -- not a good candidate due to my dry eyes and extreme myopia. I do have two friends who did it and they love it.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I wore glasses for years but when I started to need bifocals I decided to go ahead and get Lasik - the cost was about 1.5 of my fancy prescription needs. I am very happy with it and wear drugstore reading glasses.

Isabel

Veteran

Thank you so much everyone ! Nicole, haha ! Lines don't frighten me yet, but sunspots do !

The people who cannot get Lasik for medical reasons reminded me that, of course , I should get a consult and wait....my eyesight became worst during cancer treatments. And I totally forgot that my optometrist said that this sometimes happens. DUH !!!! I wear glasses anyway, but things got worse. She said it is usually temporary but can last a little while. I also have astigmatism. Though I heard that they can now do Lasik on people with it.
I cannot believe that I forgot about that. There was just so much going on and to remember.

Darn. All those fashionable sunglasses that I saw in the Nordstrom catalogue are just going to have to wait a few more years.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Everyone I know who has done it absolutely loves it.

Every eye doc I know says the long-term risks are just too unknown, because the procedure is so new.

Dilemma...

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, I know someone who had it and has serious chronic dry eye problems now. I don't think I'm a good candidate anyway as I have a mild astigmatism and a lazy eye. I have been told by eye doctors in the past that most will not consider doing it unless your prescription has been stable for ~5 yrs, because there is really no point to the surgery if your eyes are going to get worse again afterwards. I used to think I wanted it but now I do not. For one thing, I've realized that I actually look a heck of a lot better with glasses than without! (They make me look older - a good thing! - and hide the fact that my eyes are small and asymmetrical.) And the risk of complication doesn't seem worth it to me.

Glory

Veteran

Everyone I know who has done it has been thrilled with the results. However, none have had eye problems, and none have had it for more than 10 years.
If you are cleared medically then it might be worth looking into.

Isabel

Veteran

Thank you IK, Diana, and Glory !

Diana, hahahaha - glasses are great accessory. But you are gorgeous either way. : )

MovingFashionForward

Two out of two (!) people I know who have had it done bitterly regret it. One has permanent visual halos that he finds very annoying; the other had a very serious complication and last I heard he was worried that eye would never see properly again. Moreover, I asked my super-eminent eye doctor about it and she said that it is not quite there yet and to wait. (She herself has not had it done either and will do when she thinks the result more likely to be that desired.)

Another friend of mine (in America) did not have that but instead had his corneas replaced (at least I think that is what he said!). He too had several problems (first some of the stitches broke, then later he got an infection and had to have further surgery). He was thrilled when I first saw him (after the first problem but before the second) and highly recommended the surgery, but after the second problem, he was not so excited.

Best of luck if you do get it!

Sarah

elpgal

Veteran

Did not consider it for myself but have heard the same thing as IK and Lyn in a professional context.

viva

Veteran

A friend got Lasik when it first came out -- early adopter of everything! -- and has had no complications, and that must be 15 years at least, maybe more? I had Lasik about 3 years ago, no problems whatsoever. My eye prescription had been very stable, as someone noted. I went to a local doc who was personally recommended and is the go-to Lasik surgeon in my region -- has done thousands of surgeries. No issues with the surgery, no post-op halo, no post-op dryness after one month. (And I had dryness issues before that made it uncomfortable to wear contact lenses for a full day.)
My only disappointment was that I had to sacrifice my perfect close-up sight in order to get distance sight -- but that's not because the surgery was faulty. Ultimately I decided I would rather use reading glasses than glasses all the time.
I'm so happy I did it. I love to wake up and see, to swim and see, to dress up and not wear glasses.
There is clearly a range of Lasik experiences out there, but mine is a good one.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My husband had it about 4-5 years ago and is happy with it. He now needs reading glasses, but otherwise no complaints. He does think his eyes may be changing slightly, as if his vision has slipped just a bit from the 20/20 he had right after surgery, but he still says it was totally worth it.

Me? I can't even think about it without my eyes watering. I am not squeamish and can stomach almost anything (I've photographed surgery, for crying out loud) but if anyone touches my eyes, I freak out. I have never tried contacts for this reason. There is something very sensitive about my eyes, so I just don't think I'm a good fit for Lasik AT ALL. (The only time I ever fainted in my life was at the eye doctor, you know when they shine the light directly into your pupils? Vagal reaction, boom, I was out cold! I woke up to find my mom and the eye doc standing there, waiting for me to come to.)

As a photographer, I just would rather stick with the devil I know, IYKWIM. I only really need my glasses for driving and distances (although the distances are getting shorter). I don't wear them for reading or computer work. I just don't want to risk anything when it comes to my eyes, and I can't imagine making an irreversible change in the way I see, flawed as it may be.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I had it done about 7 years ago and it was one of the best things I ever did. I was severely nearsighted with astigmatism. My contacts were always irritating my eyes, and I didn't like glasses because I couldn't see out the sides and they fogged up when I worked out (and I work out at least 6 days a week). I don't have any issues with dry eyes and I don't need reading glasses yet. I do notice a bit of haloing at night with the streetlights, but it doesn't bother me. It was the coolest thing to have perfect vision when I never ever had it before. Even with contact lenses it always seemed a bit off, probably because my eyes were watering all the time.

Parsley

Veteran

Several of my family members have had it and couldn't be happier! One of my daughters was so nearsighted that she had to grope to find her glasses every morning, and now her vision is perfect.

I would have had it in a heartbeat if I'd been a candidate for it, but alas I was extremely hyperopic (farsighted) so I couldn't do it. I ended up having my lenses replaced- basically like cataract surgery, and got multifocal lenses, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me! Now I don't wear glasses at all- not even reading glasses at age 60.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I asked around for you - My dad's friend had severe complications from his; he got his done probably about 10 years ago - and he has halos so bad during the night he cannot drive at night. In addition, he works as a goldsmith, and has difficulty during the day because his eyes were so dry. He was assured this would improve over the years, but he hasn't noticed this, and needed to get another job instead.

A lot of my doc colleagues like I said, do get it - except for the specialties that rely on their eyes. I guess it depends how urgent things become. I have been called to emergencies and my eyes are so bad that if I was careless the night before and put my glasses in not a usual place, then I cannot find them. I spent almost an hour looking once (non emergency) because I simply cannot see. I also got lost during a fire evacuation because I could not find my glasses and after that I just could not see. I have also sat on my glasses and they broke enough that I had trouble driving home.

I just keep a spare pair all over the place now (in the car, my locker at work, my closet at home) - I have evolved enough glasses that I have enough spare pairs, but it does get annoying and I understand why people would want it fixed. Getting sunglasses in the summer is especially annoying when everyone has super cute and chic glasses that I can't have because of my rx on my eyes. Frustrating.

I might go for it eventually one day - my mother has nagged me for years about three things: 1) fat 2) glasses 3) being single - so if I get lasik she will just be glad and shut up.

Diana

Veteran

Lyn*, I had a friend whose relative (not sure which relative, but definitely an Asian one) gave her Lasik (well, she didn't personally perform the operation but she paid for it in full, that was when insurance never covered it) for her college graduation because "pretty girls don't wear glasses" and now that she had graduated from college she needed to find a husband stat.

I don't think she ever took the relative up on her offer.

Isabel

Veteran

Thank you so much ladies. This seems to be the issue with Lasik. People either LOVE it or HATE it. I have heard a lot about the halo issue and that scares me. But I am going to talk to my doctors about it.

My eyesight has been stable for 10 years, except for the cancer medicine thing...but that is suppose to improve. But now is definitely not the time to roll the dice.

Lyn, thank you so much for asking around !

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

No probs - I have some buddies who are studying eyes (opthal residents) - if you have any specific questions I can forward them along the line. They all have glasses. Actually, one of them has the same pair of me and was despairing because they are now "girl glasses" :p

@ Diana - Indeed; pretty girls definitely DO NOT wear glasses. If I ever get married and I wear glasses my mother will like explode. All over the place. KAPOW. I can't decide which is worse - wearing my hair up or wearing glasses - It's silly how asian relatives think that they know what is best :p

All the time.

Elly

Veteran

My uncle had the surgery close to 18 years ago. He is still very happy with it. Most the time I don't have any issues with contacts, so I will likely stay with them. However, my SO is considering getting his done--- he doesn't handle contacts as well and has a job where getting his glasses knocked off in a dangerous situation is a possibility. If he goes for it, he would go with a large firm in CO that does our professional and olympic athletes . . . very expensive, but also very good.

Beth

Veteran

I'm also not a candidate due to dry eyes, but in the past I discussed it with both my optometrist and my ophthalmologist. They both recommended against it on the grounds that there was little information on long-term outcomes. I've had friends get it done and they've been really pleased, but after my struggles with dry eye, I'm more cautious with any elective procedure. You're eyesight is just too important.

Anonymous

After developing keratitis (top layer of my corneas damaged from wearing contact lenses) years ago, I'm a big chicken. My eyes took a month to heal, and were so bad I couldn't even be tested for glasses. Around that same time, there was a television documentary about a guy who developed a very bad case of keratitis and had to have a corneal transplant. That really scared me! I switched to glasses, and my DH reminded me that I only have one set of eyes. That was over 25 years ago.

I recently developed a fast-growing, non-age-related cataract in my eye and had to have it removed. Lasik surgery was an option, but I declined. I do have an implant in that eye, but wear tri-focal glasses, which are great for seeing well at all three distances (close up for reading, middle when on the computer, and distance for driving). Cataract surgery could not correct my vision at all distances, so I would have had to at least wear glasses for either reading or for driving, so what they hay... I have a slow-growing, regular cataract developing in my other eye, but it's not bad enough to worry about right now. The eye doctor checks it once a year, and says it only needs to be removed when it gets bad enough to bother me. So far, it doesn't.

I'm happy with my glasses, and not vain enough to go through any type of risky surgery or wear contacts and risk damaging my corneas again.

Hope this helps.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ruth, my eyes are watering in sympathy just reading your post. Evidence that LASIK surgery is not for me.