LASIK and Shooting -- My Experience

I'm having LASIK done on Monday morning.

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Good luck!! Please be sure and report back later and let us know of your experience.

Don't be freaked out if you do not see clearly immediately. It can take a few days or weeks for things to come around.

Tip: Put some of your tear drops (Systane or such) in the refrigerator. When you have the inevitable dryness/discomfort in the days after the surgery, those cool drops can feel really good.

Had the enhancement; Thursday, April 19, 2007

As of Saturday, April 21, it has worked out well.

I have written a detailed description below for folks who are interested in the particulars of how these things work.

I have also posted about my original Lasik at http://www.usaeyes.org/ask-lasik-expert/viewtopic.php?t=820

Enhancement April 19: 10:00 a.m. appt.; out by about 12:30.

Doc rechecked me on the charts to make sure vision was same as pre-op on Monday. He deadened my eyes with drops and used a little needle/blade to trace the cut/seam of the flap while I sat in a chair in an exam room. No discomfort at all. Once on the Laser table, he used a little device to flip the flap open.

He used conventional Lasik this time to focus the laser on the tiny bit that he thought was causing the ghosts and -.75 nearsightedness after the first Custom Lasik.

My total time on the Laser table was about 20 or 25 minutes, but the laser ran only about 5 seconds on each eye. The staff (who are absolutely terrific!) got a chuckle at how short it was, but it was well worth doing. (I had over 1 1/2 minutes of laser for each eye the first time.)

My epithelium (outermost layer of the eye that is just a few cells deep) was loose (Doc said it was a 1 on a ten scale of slipperiness, with 10 being best). Doc had trouble getting it where it needed to be on the right eye (zapped first), and I reminded him that we had trouble with it on the left last time. Left epithelium was equally slippery this time too.

I was comfortable and conversant during the procedure, but I must admit that (as the first time) I stayed pretty tense and had my hands and jaws clenched (except when speaking). The two prescribed Valiums did not do much for me that I could tell.

Rode home with a dark towel over my head that I thought to bring. I suggest you take one because sunglasses don't always do the job on a bright day to block the light. Napped for a couple of hours after I got home.

I had more discomfort (stinging) this time post-op. The informed-consent form said that discomfort in the hours after an enhancement is generally worse than after the first go-round, although overall recovery is faster. That seems to be my experience.

The mild stinging lasted until about 6:00 p.m. Watched TV that night. Saw pretty decent. Very mild halos around lights compared to after the first procedure.

Friday, April 20, 2007: Did not notice ghosts last night on digital clocks. (Hooray!) All ok at follow-up, but Doc wants to leave the protective contacts in another day to make sure that danged epithelium gets a solid hold. Boy, I hate the feel of those contacts.

Saturday, April 21, 2007: Doc saw me on a Saturday a.m. Contacts come out. Epithelium looks good. I can read 20/20. I notice that my left eye is sharper than the right. Doc says I actually test the same in each eye when reading the chart, but I can definitely tell that the left is better than the right. There is reading a fuzzy Z and seeing a crisp Z, if you know what I mean.

I am also light sensitive this afternoon. Doc predicted that the light sensitivity should pass in a week or so.

Doc sees a few white blood cells gathering on the left eye, so he says to use Econopred drops every two hours to address that. I also continue to use other drops and meds. Will return Monday.

I am VERY light sensitive this bright Saturday afternoon after the contacts are removed. Had to ride in the car with my eyes closed most of the time, and I left my sunglasses on in a restaurant at lunch. At times Saturday afternoon, I can’t even watch TV (IRL race) with the shades drawn and sunglasses on, but it gets better as the day passes. By 5:00 p.m. or so, that issue seems to have resolved a great deal.

My neighbor had a different kind of Laser procedure done that just cuts on the cornea surface with no flap opened, and he said he basically sat in the dark for a week with sunglasses on. And it hurt like heck the whole time. Ouch!

I had a little foreign-body sensation in the left eye Saturday afternoon, but the right eye was great, and the left FBS went away this evening. No extraordinary dryness.

Saturday night: I watched the Phoenix Nascar race (Jeff Burton fan) and noticed that my vision got better and better (!!) during the night. The fonts on the TV got more and more crisp. I think I could read Doc's eye charts much better at midnight than I did at noon today.

At this early point, I think the enhancement was well worth the mild discomfort and time. (No extra $; enhancements were free for one year.)

My right eye tonight is already catching up with the left in clarity, and I hope it gets there, because I am a right-eyed shooter. It can take several days or weeks for all the flap swelling to go down and best vision to settle in.

So far, so good! No more danged glasses.

Doc predicted I might need reading glasses immediately afterwards if he corrected for best distance vision (reading glasses will be required eventually anyway; Lasik does not fix that), but so far I can read fine with my 41 year old Lasik-corrected and enhanced eyes.

P.S. I don't know if it helps, but to fight dry-eye (a common, temporary Lasik side-effect) I have been using Restasis (prescription drops), liquid Flax Seed Oil, and TheraTears Nutrition For Dry Eyes (pills made of fish oil, Vitamin E, and flax-seed oil). I figure it's worth the few $$ to buy this stuff and maybe avoid dry eyes, even if the TheraTears sometimes makes me burp fish taste if not taken with a full meal.

I also use Systane eye drops as needed. Put some in the refrigerator for soothing comfort.

LASIK?? 40 yo, "mildly near-sighted" (2.0L; 2.0 R)

I went to the opthamologist due to blurring in right eye. Discovered it was a vitreolic detatchment. I also scheduled an exam and my eyesight was 2.25 diopters left and 2 diopters right (i.e., "mildly nearsighted").

Asked for a free evaluation for LASIK and was told I was a great candidate for LASIK surgery.

Guys, I'm nervous as Hell at the thought of touching my eye, much less cutting on it.

They dilated my pupils and measured everything several times. I'm an engineer and I'm as curious as a Jack Russell Terrier pup so they took me thru everything answering my questions and discussing the machinery used for the evals. My corrected vision is 20/15.

I told the doc that I was a shooter and needed to see "things way out there" as well as needing to see the front sight. He said that it "would be no problem" but I'm not so sure. I will have another eval (I hate them due to the fact that they must get too close for my comfort and those dilation drops cause issues for me well into the night.

The opthamologist also stated that with my mild myopia the secondary effects/side effects should be minimal. My scheduled date is May 18th. I'll be armed with information from this thread to further question him. He's performed "over 4,000 LASIK surgeries" with "just under 4% requiring enhancements" and "1% experiencing halos but the vast majority of those were patients with much more degaded vision" than I have.

He also stated (and I'm a bit confused) that I'll probably require reading glasses. I read fine without glasses out to the length of my outstretched arm. My question - for those with knowledge as well as the opthamolagist/surgeon is will my short vision be negatively affected by the surgery? I recall him saying no, but then he did mention that I'd need readers (perhaps because I'm 40 years old now and the preponderance of data states that we'll need correction for near vision sometime after 40).

One other thing: I do eye exercises and my prescription has weakened over the years. Initially, they measured 2.7 diopters in my left eye. I exercised daily waiting for the new glasses and when I got them they were too strong in the left eye. They measured 2.5 diopters and redid them. During my eval the opthamologist measured 2.0 diopters in both eyes. I was doing the eye exercises nightly during the entire time.

It would/will be so nice to be able to not use eyeglasses for everyday things including bicycling, shooting, mountain biking, etc.

At any rate, I'll keep everyone posted on my final decision and the outcomes.

My question - for those with knowledge as well as the opthamolagist/surgeon is will my short vision be negatively affected by the surgery

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No, your short vision will be negatively affected by growning old. LASIK corrects refractive errors by reshaping the cornea. The need for reading classes is do to the reduced accomodation ability of the lens due to less flexibility as we age. He's telling you that since most people need reading glasses as they age due to that and that even if you get LASIK, when presbyopia sets in, you'll need readers. Maybe not now, maybe not in five years, but eventually.

well I've decided to do it. I have narrowed down my choice of Dr's to two. I will make the decision in the next week and go in for the initial eye exam.

I'll let you know who and when as soon as I make the decision. Thanks to everyone who posted in this and other threads.

I posted above about my experience with my first Lasik in January and an enhancement on April 19.

May 16, I had a followup: 20/20 with each eye.

I still have issues inside large buildings with big A/C running (dryness related), but that is diminishing with time as natural tear screen returns.

In my central-air house, it is fine, but in large buildings like a hospital, courthouse or grocery store, the recirculated air still drys me out and diminishes quality of vision.

When my indoors (A/C environment) vision equals my outdoors vision, I will be very happy.

An update:

June 29: About 2 months post-enhancement. VERY happy I did the enhancement back in April.

Have really turned the corner in the last couple of weeks. All dryness is almost gone.

My vision is clear and crisp.

LED lights (alarm clock, coffee pot, etc.) in a dark room are the only thing that look funny. Still a little ghosty.

I still take a hit of tear drops in the morning and sometimes in the evening, but could live w/o them if I had to. Am not drying out in big A/C buildings nearly as bad as a few weeks back. I continue to use gel drops at bedtime, just because.

I stopped using Restasis about 3 weeks ago. Did not notice any difference when I quit.

Light sensitivity continues and is my only lasting issue. It is not painful, just a sensation of too darned bright, but it is seeming to reduce with time.

I still need sunglasses to drive or be outside on all but the cloudiest days. Perhaps it is just me getting weaned from my 25 yrs of photogray/transition lenses, but my informed consent sheet indicates that light sensitivity is a common post-Lasik complaint even months out.

I can read as fine as ever, despite the warning that I would immediately need reading glasses post-Lasik if I was over 40.

I am closing on the 6 month mark since my original Lasik, and things are looking good. I just need to shake the light-sensitivity issue.

Recovery post-enhancement: Many ask about this. Mine was MUCH quicker than after the original operation, though my enhancement was just a 5 second blast on each eye (but did involve a flap lift). It was as if the enhancement, after about a week or two, left me on the track where I was before as far as dryness. It was not like starting over, as I feared. Very glad I had the enhancement.

Best of luck to those who decide to try it. So far, so good for me.

Update...

I had my pre-OP Exam last week. Dr. is on vacation this week and my anniversary is next so I have the procedure scheduled for 7/31. After much research many phone calls and parient testimonials to go with the Dr. who is on ABC's Extreme Makeover. He not only corrects many other Dr.'s errors but after talking to other Dr.'s about who did their eyes he was the one. I am going with wavefront lasik, the most advanced technology. It is more expensive than other procedures and most other Dr.'s @ $3,200 per eye but I'm happy to pay more for the best available.

Thanks to everyone who shared their experience. I'm looking forward to finally seeing my EOTech without the fuzz.

G19

I'll check back on Aug 1 to let you all know how it went.

I'm 32yo, mildly near sighted (-1.75L,-2.00R) with an astigmatism. I also have a condition called diplopia which causes double vision. My glasses correct the double vision except when I am tired, then I see double no matter what until I get some rest. I have considered LASIK ever since I first heard about it. My concern is that sure it should correct my near sightedness and astigmatism, but it won't do anything about my diplopia, and I'll still have to live with double vision, unless there is another surgery/procedure that can correct it. I guess I should talk to an eye doctor about this, but I was wondering if anyone else here has the same problem with double vision caused by diplopia.

I have had double vision for many years, and I have had surgery twice to improve it. The first surgery occurred in 1986, when I could no longer get sufficient prism in my eyeglasses to correct the double vision. That surgery essentially eliminated the double vision for almost 20 years; it gradually returned, and I had to have a second surgery in 2004, which improved but did not eliminate the double vision.

Most of the time, I can see OK, but I still see double when I am very tied, even after the recent surgery.

I don't know the official name for my double vision; it may be what you called it. My eyes crossed outward rather than inward. The surgery involves detaching one or more of the muscles that move the eye, from the original location on the eye, and stitching it back in a different location on the eye; no big deal - but it takes a few days for the brain to adjust to the new configuration.

Finally went in for the surgery yesterday - almost creepy how little time it takes.

The procedure itself is a little bit scary in the way that being completely helpless and awake is, but not painful at all (the pressure of the suction cups they put on to hold your eyes steady is about it.

Immediately afterward, I was seeing things fairly sharp, but with a "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" soft focus look to it. Took a four hour nap and then started my hourly drops regimen for the evening. Slept in goggles to protect my eyes.

Woke up this morning, vision is good enough to drive without incident, was seeing 20/25 at the morning checkup (possibly even better - the assistant didn't turn out the lights and the projected vision test blended into the wall).

Not quite good enough to go shoot yet.

My pre-op was about ten times as long as the procedure itself - they put me through three different measuring computers BEFORE dilating my eyes and doing it some more, two doctors (optometrist and surgeon) checked the cornea and prescription, etc.

My surgeons were the Kleiman-Evangelista Center in Arlington, TX.

Well, I guess if you have astigmatism they often have to overcorrect, which is what it sounds like is the case for the original poster.

Wooderson, congrats and good luck with the recovery. Lots of patience and eyedrops may be needed. I bet that in a few weeks, it will be great.

I was out on a lake this weekend when the sun set and the full moon rose. It was so cool to see it all clear and crisp with NO DARNED GLASSES!

Well I go in on Tuesday for my procedure. I'm going shooting tomorrow the last time with prescription glasses just to see the difference because I probably won't go for at lease a week or two after teh surgery. also going swimming as I won't be in the pool until the doc gives the OK. Looking forward to seeing the clock next to the bed, the Lbs. on the scale and finally being able to snow ski without having to cram my glasses beneath my goggles.

Now I'll need some good eye protection for shooting.

Q: I have two frames, should I donate them to someone who may need them or maket them into sun glasses?

Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences.

Well I did it. It was painless and quick. entire procedure took between 5-7 min per eye. Everything is a little hazy now but I'm told it disapears over the next few weeks. It's amazing to be able to see with such clarity.

Now it's Drops 4x a day for the next week, no pool or any water in the eyes, no shooting for at least the next week.

Reading the paper this morning was interesting I held it at 18" away instead of closer and looking into the mirror was also done at a distance or 12-18", with clarity.

Now it's off to find some Gun & Sun glasses. for the time being I took the lenses out of my glasses and will be using the sunglass clips.

Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences. So far it's been less than 24 Hrs. and I'm so happy. Teh clock & everything is very crisp and clear. Once the halo effect and night sight, fussy lights, goes away they say it disapears over the first 2-3 months before vision is Excellent, I'll be perfect.

As with others I whould highly recommend this to anyone who wears corrective lenses. I can't believe after 20+ years of wearing glasses it's over.

My only regret with Lasik is the lack of a equally good and fast repair job on teeth and joints

about 8 years now and I love it.

Had my 24 hr. follow-up yesterday afternoon and everything is perfect. Vision tested @ 20/15. Next followup in 3 weeks. God I love being able to see. last night it was wonderful looking at the stars and waking up early this morning and seeing the moon clearly against the blue sky was awesome.

So I went inside and for the first time looked through my scopes. AWESOME.

Any of you who have gotten LASIK or PRK keloidal?

I didn't read all the posts so I hope I'm not repeating. My son-in-law is an optometrist and has handled some cases similar to this. An optometrist can make a bifocal pair of glasses that might solve the problem if there is not too much difference in the areas he is trying to correct. It might be a reading range and an intermediate range or some other combination. You might talk to a good one and get some help.

Don't worry Glockman, that's just post Lasik "I can see without all that glasses/contects" euphoria kicking in.

It passes in a few years

ok, I'm lying, it never really goes away

A terrific thread. I think I learned a bit from every post.

I have to admit, I've been thinking of "Wave Front" for some time, but just don't have the courage to go through with it yet.

Perhaps one of these days!!

Richard

Today, I had my six month checkup after my PRK. 20/20 in each eye. I still have some halos around streetlights at night, but it is a minor annoyance it is still likely that will go away in time. I'm still quite happy with the results.

Had lasik 3 yrs ago. Good investment for me, only downside is slight streaking of single source lights at night like headlights.

Just had mine done friday and am very satisfied with the results so far. The car lights at night have a hazy look to them, but that is normal and will supposedly fade in time. I had slight astigmatisms in both eyes and now I'm glasses free, it's a good feeling.

amprecon,

Congrats, It's Wonderful and Amazing isn't it.

I went tothe range for the first time yesterday and bought shooting glasses. Funny.