| Author | Message | ||
| Michael Koga (Ski_bum)
New member Username: Ski_bum Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2002 |
I had Lasix done 2 years ago. My eyes were something like 20/500, after surgery went to 20/25 and was happy for a couple of weeks. *THEN* I started to notice problems. I don't remember the #'s, but I had to resume wearing glasses, and I need to get another pair soon (albeit better than pre-surgery). I have dry eyes, severe halo'ing (starbursting) around lights, lowered night vision, and double/triple imaging. Reading is a pain in the..... Check out: www.surgicaleyes.org I wish I found that website before the surgery. Now I know that a lot of people are happy with these procedures, and you may become one of them, but approach this with caution! You only have one pair of eyes. I consider this the worst mistake of my life. Oh well. My $0.02 worth. | ||
| VS (Vs1)
Junior Member Username: Vs1 Post Number: 68 Registered: 10-2002 |
Brent - I had it done about 2 years ago. Amazing. I was about 20/450 in both eyes and now 20/25 & 20/20. I would recommed to anyone. I still use drops at night to help with the dryness - but sure beats fussing with glasses/contacts. I would find a very good doctor [even if it costs more - it is your eyes]. The question I wanted answered was - what other types of eye surgeries do you do and how much experience do you have with this and other eye surgeries? [in other words - if we have a problem - are you the one who is going to fix me then and there???]. | ||
| Bob Campen (Bob308gts)
Member Username: Bob308gts Post Number: 386 Registered: 9-2001 |
My wife heard an ad on the radio for the See Clearly Method tapes and ordered them. I really thought this was a snake oil sales pitch, but I figured what the heck and tried it. In the three weeks I have been doing the routines on the tapes, my vision has improved, my night vision more so than normal sight. It might be something worth trying BTW I NO connection with this company | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 2003 Registered: 9-2001 |
there is an article in the WSJ today about new techniques/laser coming next year to eliminate many of the side effects. | ||
| Anthony_Ferrari (Anthony_ferrari)
New member Username: Anthony_ferrari Post Number: 26 Registered: 11-2002 |
I'm glad I stumbled across this topic! My wife has been nagging me to get surgery as I wear lenses. I'm not too keen on the idea as I have yet to meet someone who had it done 50 years ago and has suffered no side effects! My eyesight is not that bad really -1.75 in each eye so I think I'll stick with the lenses for the next 40 years and then make a decision. Best not to rush these things. I live in the UK but I order my lenses from a US website as they are a third of the price. | ||
| Carl Roberts (Carl63_99)
New member Username: Carl63_99 Post Number: 15 Registered: 10-2001 |
Brent, Although most of my opinion has been said here already, most the stories you hear are of the "I know someone who knew someone who..." February of 1999 I had 20/400 in both eyes, with bad astigmatism in the right eye. I got LASIK surgery at Man/Berkley/Caplin in Austin Texas. Yes at the time it was $4k. But I got up from the table, and could see the detail of the floor tiles with my naked eyes. Now, I'm 20/20 in the right and 20/25 left. I did it because the glasses were getting so heavy, even with litestyle lenses, that I was uncomfortable all the time. I have a few side effects, dry eyes (Use drops!), some 'starburst' of lights at night, and certain lights at night, i.e. the blue Dell sign, are hard to focus on. BUT, I don't consider any of these to be a problem in light of the fact that in the morning I can get out of bed and find my way across a room without using my shins and I can swim at pools and see other people, instead of shadowy figures. I used to wear contacts, but developed allergies to them, so had to go back to glasses. the $4k isn't so bad, if you plan and get it taken out of your check before taxes, depends on your job. I weighed this against the $300 a year I was spending on glasses, and the pros far outweighed the cons. Most laser centers will give you free consultation, (RUN, if they don't!) and tell you all about the whole procedure. I spent about three hours at the office, talking and doing tests, before I spent a single penny. Email me offline and I'll give you my phone number if you want to talk about it more. I'm a strong proponent of doing eye surgery. Carl | ||
| Jeffrey Caspar (Jcaspar1)
New member Username: Jcaspar1 Post Number: 47 Registered: 5-2002 |
If you are just considering it so you can buy over the counter sunglasses, definately don't do it. You can buy a lot of prescription sunglasses for the $3000+ we charge! | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2849 Registered: 12-2000 |
I have a stigmatism already and problems seeing at night. I can't imagine it being any worse. I'm very very nearsighted, I love this for working on the car or the computer. When driving or a meeting I just put my glasses on. Only benefit I would really like form surgery would be non prescription sun glasses. I think I'll wait a few years. | ||
| Jeffrey Caspar (Jcaspar1)
New member Username: Jcaspar1 Post Number: 46 Registered: 5-2002 |
I am an Ophthalmologist and do a fair amount of LASIK, PRK and LASEK surgery. As I tell my patients, this procedure is not for everyone. Many factors come into play such as your correction, your age, your pupil size in dim illumination and most of all patient expectations. Let me know if you have any specific questions PS. The climber in "Into Thin Air" had RK not LASIK | ||
| Steve (V10_nut)
New member Username: V10_nut Post Number: 32 Registered: 3-2002 |
Brent, I had laser surgery done 6 years ago (PRK). Prior to surgery I had worn glasses or contacts since I was 8 years old. During the preop examination my vision was so bad that I couldn't even see the huge, 8 inch capital "E" on the screen. I was minus 6 in both eyes. After surgery I was 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other and the only side effects have been a slight dryness in the eye occasionally and some loss of night vision (distant road signs etc.). My results were nothing short of astonishing and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I did a fair amount of research and chose the best doctor in my area. When you are as blind as I was for that long the procedure can be life changing. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 597 Registered: 4-2002 |
I wonder about the long term vision viability. I had the older surgical radial kerototomy done about 13 years ago. Perfect vision for about 6 years or so. Then started wearing drug store reading glasses. Then the REAL problems began to surface. Severe astigmatism. The surface of the cornea has become deformed, and they can't correct it with glasses/contacts. I see two of everything, one above the other. A cornea specialist says the only hope is a transplant. Now, the laser surgery is different and I'm sure better than the old scalpel, but are there large numbers of people that have lived with the outcome of the laser methods for an extended period? Could cornea deformities develope over time? | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 485 Registered: 8-2002 |
Of course they're not worried about night vision:  Actually, the US military is seldom concerned about long-term health benifits of soldiers. It's a shame. Eventually, it's the tax payers who will caugh up the cash necessary to treat veterans' illnesses and injuries. | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 347 Registered: 10-2001 |
If you join the armed services of the USA they are giving laser eye surgery to anyone who wants it. Helps make a better fighting man. They must not be too worried about night vision problems. Off topic on off topic but I thought it was interesting. | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 554 Registered: 2-2002 |
I think you need to do a lot of research. Contrary to what has been posted, many people have perfect vision as a result of laser surgery. Others do not. If it goes wrong it can be tragic, and you need to understand that going in. My brother-in-law is one of those who had difficulties. Perhaps I was lucky. Check out the doctor, and be sure you really want it before you do it. Also, don't get it done in a foreign country. Here in Detroit many people (including myself) have it done in Windsor, Ontario. It's cheaper, but if the clinic defaults on their guarantee, you're screwed. If you decide to sue, how do you do it in another country? It's not easy, and they know it. The bottom line: Laser Surgery is like a Ferrari--it's not for everyone, but those who take the plunge are often very satisfied. | ||
| djmonk (Davem)
Junior Member Username: Davem Post Number: 135 Registered: 1-2002 |
Brent. Don't do it! The risk of bad news far outweighs being able to be free of glasses. Also as mentioned here if lucky perhaps your eyesight might be better after but yet not perfect,so whats the diffrence really if you still have to wear glasses? | ||
| James Napolis (Napolis)
Junior Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 144 Registered: 10-2002 |
Don't have it done if you're planning on climbing any mountians. Check out what happened to someone who did in "Into Thin Air" Also surf the net and check out some of the problems that have occurred. Long term advantages are, IMHO still a question. | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 553 Registered: 2-2002 |
I had laser eye surgery 2 years ago. My vision was abominable, over 20/400 in the left eye. When I came out of surgery I had 20/15 in one eye and 20/20 in the other. Your eyes don't stabilize for about 6 weeks. When mine did, I had 20/40 in the left eye and 20/25 in the right. Not perfect, but certainly liveable. You can pass a driving test with 20/40. One of the benefits of this prescription is that I have the equivalent of monovision---I don't need reading glasses (I'm 51 yrs old) and they say that I never will. The downside? I don't see really well in low light conditions, so I have a pair of glasses for night driving. I find that I really don't need them, but they come in handy if I'm travelling and I need to read street signs from a distance. In fact, I didn't get the glasses until a year after I had surgery and I rarely wear them. I'd say that I am 95% satisfied. Would I like perfect vision?? SURE, but wearing reading glasses is far more of a pain in the butt than what I'm going through now. | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 481 Registered: 8-2002 |
I know several people who have had it done. 50% are thrilled with the results and the other 50% have to contend with the previously mentioned sensitivity to light (especially when driving at night; street lights, headlights, etc.) and/or constantly having to apply eyedrops to relieve dryness and irritation. My opinion: I can wait until something better comes along. I rotate between contacts and glasses, using each for a month or so and then switching back. It prevents me from getting too frustrated with either. | ||
| Adam R (Arymarcz)
New member Username: Arymarcz Post Number: 16 Registered: 8-2002 |
I've thought about getting it done, but the side effects really scare me (increased sensitivity to light + others). | ||
| Brent Gibson (Bgibson)
New member Username: Bgibson Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2002 |
I'm thinking of getting some laser eye surgery done, as I'm sick of wearing glasses or contacts lenses. Anyone here ever had it done, what was your experience? What do you all guys think about the surgery? Brent |