Can we re-visit the lasix discussion?
- Thread starter george burns
- Start date
- Status
Arizona_Mike
Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2013
- Messages
- 3,452
ksimons
Member
Can I ask what you are paying to having it done? I am also thinking of having it done next year. I am 56 and didn't need glasses till about 40, readers. Progressed to now I need progressive lenses for reading and distance. Same with contacts, one eye distance and one eye reading. It works but can't wear contacts for shooting.
Thanks for the input.
Thanks for the input.
Wanderling
Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2011
- Messages
- 923
Had mine done back in 98. Last prescription around -6.5 / -7 with strong astigmatism, got to the point I couldn't see people's faces 5 ft away without glasses. Was wearing glasses since probably the 3rd grade and hated them with passion. Went to the best recommended (and most expensive) doctor in the area, back then the cost was x4 what they charge today. Best money I've ever spent on myself. Now 16 years later, not 20/20 but close and can perfectly function without glasses. Now the disclaimer - I never had sensitive eyes, could wear contacts for 17-20 hours at a time without much discomfort, (back then you were supposed to take them off after 8 hours), but a friend of mine who had more sensitive eyes was suffering from "sand in the eyes" for a long time after his surgery (he's been fine for years now). Also, glare at night become more of an issue after the surgery (but I wore glasses with anti-glare coating before, so perhaps it was unrelated and I simply wasn't noticing it as much while wearing glasses).
Last edited:
JoePfeiffer
Member
I'm not an ophthalmologist, and if I were I still wouldn't diagnose over the internet. But what you're describing sounds a lot like my dad's descriptions of when he was getting cataracts.
LASIK can fix astigmatism (it fixed mine). It can't fix presbyopia (though I actually have less need of reading glasses now than I did when wearing my contacts before my surgery, as some of the region around the outside of my lens is not sculpted -- I still need them, but not in all the circumstances I used to). And, most assuredly, it can't do anything at all for cataracts.
hemiram
Member
Not to scare anyone, Lasik can be, and most of the time, it is, great. My best friend didn't have the positive outcome most other people have had. He was very nearsighted, and had very thick glasses he hated to wear, but without them, he was helpless. So, he went and had it done by one of the best eye doctors doing it in the LA area. His right eye is fine, it is better than 20/20, but the left eye is a whole different story. The first thing he noticed was the left eye kind of felt odd, it hurt slightly, and bright lights were unpleasant to look at. The doctor checked and said it "Should resolve in a little bit". When it didn't, he went back and the doctor did some sort of revision, that actually made it worse. He ended up, after another "revision" procedure, going to an eye specialist at some university, probably one of the top guys in the world, who told him it wasn't anything the doctor had done, it was just "one of those things, sorry you didn't have a good outcome!" He went to some guy in Montreal, who told him exactly the same thing, he would have to live with it, as the only thing that would help even slightly was a cornea transplant. Hardly worth the risk for a slight improvement. as most of the issue is right under the cornea.
Night driving with both eyes open is very unpleasant, so the left one is always closed. He sees pretty well out in rural areas without much light, but when a car comes towards him with it's headlights on, it's a whole light show. "Star Bursting" is the most annoying thing, he says it looks like when a headlight is aimed at a camcorder. it "flares" as it passes and he says it's not pleasant at all. Last time I saw him, in a video of his 55th birthday, I noticed he was rubbing his left eye pretty much constantly and closing his left eye anytime a pic was about to be taken. His left eye "itches", and he says it feels like he's been in bright sunlight most of the time. He wears a set of custom glasses with a much darker tint on the left lens, to lower the light transmission, and it does help. He says he wishes he had never done it. Something to think about before you do..it's not all good.
Night driving with both eyes open is very unpleasant, so the left one is always closed. He sees pretty well out in rural areas without much light, but when a car comes towards him with it's headlights on, it's a whole light show. "Star Bursting" is the most annoying thing, he says it looks like when a headlight is aimed at a camcorder. it "flares" as it passes and he says it's not pleasant at all. Last time I saw him, in a video of his 55th birthday, I noticed he was rubbing his left eye pretty much constantly and closing his left eye anytime a pic was about to be taken. His left eye "itches", and he says it feels like he's been in bright sunlight most of the time. He wears a set of custom glasses with a much darker tint on the left lens, to lower the light transmission, and it does help. He says he wishes he had never done it. Something to think about before you do..it's not all good.
Mr. Farknocker
Member
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2011
- Messages
- 120
Don't mean to derail the OP's original question but I suggest you also check into Visian ICL or Implantable Collamer Lens Implants. The procedure involves the implantation of a lens over your existing lens and the method used to perform the implantation of the lens is the same as cataract surgery. It was dubbed HD Lasik and was touted to give results better than lasik. The great thing is the procedure doesn't touch the cornea and is fully reversible. Furthermore, you can do lasik to make minor adjustments later in life if necessary. I had mine done 6 years ago and corrected for mono vision. Strange this is I had 20/15 vision for one year before my eyes settled down to where they are supposed to be. Cost is about $1000 for each eye over and above what lasik normally costs.
OP
OP
george burns
Member
Thanks, I am interested in other types of vision improvement also, Just not familiar with that procedure. These doctors tend to stick with what they specialize in, "which is normal" but not always the best for the patient.
They also tend to stick to what they are familiar with.
When in my 40's I had cosmetic surgery for "bags" under my eyes, as it ran in my family, and I had decided early on, that I would fix this as soon as it became noticeable enough.
I was friendly with the, then, head of research at Manhattan Eye and Ear. A well known and highly respected doctor in his field. He said it would be no problem, due to my age and good genetics etc.
It ended up that he had to re-do the left eye 3 times. And that was working with a perfectly good subject to start out with.
The space from the edges of the lens were different on the left eye, leaving white above and below the lens. It looked weird. He kept telling me it would go away just take time, but nothing happened in 6-12 months, until he did 2 more surgeries. So I always tell people that nothing is routine. Finally he got it right, after we were no longer friends. He actually was annoyed that he had to fix it. and told me that these things are never perfect, to which I responded that's not what you said before we did this, you said it would be perfect. So I have first hand knowledge of what can go wrong in what starts out as a simple procedure.
I always tell people that you never want to go and have anything done, unless you really have to, so I am looking at this the same way, I waited until I am 66, and if I am going to enhance my vision, now would be the time to do it.
On a side note, he lost his license to practice due to a tragedy in one of his surgery's. I just pulled him up and it showed 27 lawsuits that have been settled or still in court, but the thing that bothers me, is that he was on Good Morning America, and Opera, among others as one of the tops in his field. There was no internet back then, and why would you question the chief of Research of Manhattan eye and ear? You never know what can happen until they actually do the procedure. I have seen too many screw ups with what was supposed to be a simple procedure that went awry. That is really the main thing that has stopped me from going forward.
If I hadn't have persisted, he would have left me the way I was, cross-eyed. I literally had to throw the Skeleton's head he was using to show me, across the room through a bookcase. He got the point right away, and stopped the bull.
Each time I had to loose a month from work, as My eyes are a very important part of what I do for a living.
Last year I had a "Floater" in my left eye, that drove me nuts for months, with flashing lights, and of and on vision problems, after every test possible, they saw nothing. A year later I still get flashes on occasion, at night, but have been told that this is common, I also wonder if this would fix that problem. All I want to do is be able to see the target and the sights at the same time, instead of moving my eye in all sorts of positions with bifocals,to make a shot. I also have asked a few guys about red dots on pistols, but they cost almost as much as the surgery if you have several guns that you use.
But it sounds like most guys still have to wear glasses, which I was hoping to get rid of.
There is a Doctor O'Brien near me, who is well known and took care of my floater. I get the feeling and have also heard, that he is excellent. But he only does the one type,
They also tend to stick to what they are familiar with.
When in my 40's I had cosmetic surgery for "bags" under my eyes, as it ran in my family, and I had decided early on, that I would fix this as soon as it became noticeable enough.
I was friendly with the, then, head of research at Manhattan Eye and Ear. A well known and highly respected doctor in his field. He said it would be no problem, due to my age and good genetics etc.
It ended up that he had to re-do the left eye 3 times. And that was working with a perfectly good subject to start out with.
The space from the edges of the lens were different on the left eye, leaving white above and below the lens. It looked weird. He kept telling me it would go away just take time, but nothing happened in 6-12 months, until he did 2 more surgeries. So I always tell people that nothing is routine. Finally he got it right, after we were no longer friends. He actually was annoyed that he had to fix it. and told me that these things are never perfect, to which I responded that's not what you said before we did this, you said it would be perfect. So I have first hand knowledge of what can go wrong in what starts out as a simple procedure.
I always tell people that you never want to go and have anything done, unless you really have to, so I am looking at this the same way, I waited until I am 66, and if I am going to enhance my vision, now would be the time to do it.
On a side note, he lost his license to practice due to a tragedy in one of his surgery's. I just pulled him up and it showed 27 lawsuits that have been settled or still in court, but the thing that bothers me, is that he was on Good Morning America, and Opera, among others as one of the tops in his field. There was no internet back then, and why would you question the chief of Research of Manhattan eye and ear? You never know what can happen until they actually do the procedure. I have seen too many screw ups with what was supposed to be a simple procedure that went awry. That is really the main thing that has stopped me from going forward.
If I hadn't have persisted, he would have left me the way I was, cross-eyed. I literally had to throw the Skeleton's head he was using to show me, across the room through a bookcase. He got the point right away, and stopped the bull.
Each time I had to loose a month from work, as My eyes are a very important part of what I do for a living.
Last year I had a "Floater" in my left eye, that drove me nuts for months, with flashing lights, and of and on vision problems, after every test possible, they saw nothing. A year later I still get flashes on occasion, at night, but have been told that this is common, I also wonder if this would fix that problem. All I want to do is be able to see the target and the sights at the same time, instead of moving my eye in all sorts of positions with bifocals,to make a shot. I also have asked a few guys about red dots on pistols, but they cost almost as much as the surgery if you have several guns that you use.
But it sounds like most guys still have to wear glasses, which I was hoping to get rid of.
There is a Doctor O'Brien near me, who is well known and took care of my floater. I get the feeling and have also heard, that he is excellent. But he only does the one type,
Last edited:
I also had PRK. The way it was explained to me
PRK: operates on the outside of your eyeball. Take longer to recover after surgery, but no risk of a hard impact later in life screwing causing the surgery to come undone.
Lasik: cuts a flap and operates on the inside of your eyeball. You recover a lot quicker, but the downside is that a hard impact later in life can cause the surgery to come undone.
My work paid for it and strongly encouraged PRK. It took me about a week to recover afterwards.
I don't believe it's affected my ability to shoot accurately any. I was 20/20 with glasses before, I was 20/20 without glasses after. I managed to shoot a 214 at Appleseed before PRK, I don't believe I've ever shot better than a 230 afterwards (and that was outside Appleseed, taking my sweet time, and with a lot more practice).
The only "downside" since PRK 3 years ago is that I still have to keep eye drops handy.
Fleetman
Member
I had mine done in 2000 (Lasik) at age 46 and, if necessary, would do it again without hesitation. I pass my DOT physical with flying colors (I have to have one every year due to heart disease).
I had worn eyeglasses/contact lens for 40 years and the corrective procedure gave me a freedom I had not experienced. My only issue at first was purchasing way too many sunglasses! I do get dry eyes occasionally but I don't use drops. I see "halos" around street lights also but it doesn't bother me and does not negatively affect my night vision.
I shoot with both eyes open and I have shot competition skeet and IPSC and no issues.
I had worn eyeglasses/contact lens for 40 years and the corrective procedure gave me a freedom I had not experienced. My only issue at first was purchasing way too many sunglasses! I do get dry eyes occasionally but I don't use drops. I see "halos" around street lights also but it doesn't bother me and does not negatively affect my night vision.
I shoot with both eyes open and I have shot competition skeet and IPSC and no issues.
bearman49709
Member
Lady in my small town has a glass eye thanks to lasik, I'll keep my glasses!
Wife had it done 6-7 years ago. Best move she ever made. The money saved on contacts, glasses, and other accessories has helped offset the costs somewhat.
She had one eye done for distance, the other up close. She can read the paper etc. up close just fine, but will wear reading glasses when sewing. If you are shooting you might need to consider which is your dominate eye for shooting to determine which should be for distance and which for close up.
I'm 56 and still have 20-20 distance vision. I use reading glasses for close up since eyes my age often won't focus close anymore.
She had one eye done for distance, the other up close. She can read the paper etc. up close just fine, but will wear reading glasses when sewing. If you are shooting you might need to consider which is your dominate eye for shooting to determine which should be for distance and which for close up.
I'm 56 and still have 20-20 distance vision. I use reading glasses for close up since eyes my age often won't focus close anymore.
I had Lasik / PRK done in 2000 or 2001..... I had been wearing Glasses since I was 8 then contacts
My right eye, was a piece of cake.... it was about 20/60 prior....
My left eye was 20/200 or so, and required the PRK surgery....
They say everyone reacts differently to the surgery..... Me, I had it done on a friday, with a group of people that all went to NYC (accompanied by a local eye dr)
after the surgery, I didn't want to open my eyes for 2 days..... and one of the women that went with us, was fine minutes after.....
when I finally did open my eyes I noticed that things were a bit blurry... for about a week I kept looking at the clock across the room at work, and everyday it got clearer and clearer... at my one week checkup, I was 20/15 in my right eye, and 20/60 in my left eye.... (They told me not to expect 20/20 in that eye going in.
Would I do it again? Yes, if it kept me out of full time glasses
I wear reading glasses now and again. (the Case stamps are small!)
My right eye, was a piece of cake.... it was about 20/60 prior....
My left eye was 20/200 or so, and required the PRK surgery....
They say everyone reacts differently to the surgery..... Me, I had it done on a friday, with a group of people that all went to NYC (accompanied by a local eye dr)
after the surgery, I didn't want to open my eyes for 2 days..... and one of the women that went with us, was fine minutes after.....
when I finally did open my eyes I noticed that things were a bit blurry... for about a week I kept looking at the clock across the room at work, and everyday it got clearer and clearer... at my one week checkup, I was 20/15 in my right eye, and 20/60 in my left eye.... (They told me not to expect 20/20 in that eye going in.
Would I do it again? Yes, if it kept me out of full time glasses
I wear reading glasses now and again. (the Case stamps are small!)
mountainpharm
Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2009
- Messages
- 182
I'm 40 and I had LASIK done at the end of July at the top LASIK facility in North Carolina. I went in with -7.25 in both eyes and came out +2.5 in my left and +2.25 in my right. I've been wearing reading glasses ever since to compensate. Afterwards I spoke to the surgeon who did the procedure and he said major corrections can sometimes do that, but there is a chance that it will correct on its own. At my last checkup about 10 days ago, I was +1.00 in my right and +1.50 or so in my left. I can see well in natural sunlight but low light is still a bit of a challenge. Right now I have to wear my glasses to get a good sight picture at the range. Hopefully things will continue to improve and that will resolve, but the surgeon said I may require an "enhancement" procedure if that doesn't occur. I have to wait for my vision to stabilize before any correction can be considered.
As for price, mine was $1900/eye which included all follow-up. There are places out there that advertise $299/eye but that's just a teaser to get you in for a consultation. $3600-$4000 is about average.
I'm glad I had it done but I wasn't prepared for this to be a multi-month process. I thought it might take a couple of weeks for healing to take place, during which time my vision may not be 100%. I had no expectation of being in glasses 3 months out. My advice to anyone considering it is to hope for immediate results but be prepared to wait 6 months or more for perfect vision if you're severely nearsighted, and you may require a second procedure to achieve it. Check with your surgeon on their policies about "enhancements". Mine does not charge for any enhancement procedure required in the first year, and I think that's pretty much the industry standard.
As for price, mine was $1900/eye which included all follow-up. There are places out there that advertise $299/eye but that's just a teaser to get you in for a consultation. $3600-$4000 is about average.
I'm glad I had it done but I wasn't prepared for this to be a multi-month process. I thought it might take a couple of weeks for healing to take place, during which time my vision may not be 100%. I had no expectation of being in glasses 3 months out. My advice to anyone considering it is to hope for immediate results but be prepared to wait 6 months or more for perfect vision if you're severely nearsighted, and you may require a second procedure to achieve it. Check with your surgeon on their policies about "enhancements". Mine does not charge for any enhancement procedure required in the first year, and I think that's pretty much the industry standard.
orionengnr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
- Messages
- 5,713
I will be 58 years old in a couple weeks.
I wore glasses from age 8. Contacts on and off, with varying degrees of success, from about age 20. Near-sightedness plus astigmatism. When they developed soft contacts in my prescription, they were about $150/pair, and if I removed and cleaned them every night, they would last a month or two. Later, the disposable wear-for-30-day ones became available, but I never got anywhere near 30 days from a set, and they were still pricey.
I did the LASIK in 1997, when I was 41 years old. Cost me $3200, IIRC. The initial cut was with a blade, then the laser from there. Had to remember not to rub eyes and dislodge the "flap", other than that, no worries. I had a co-worker who had the same thing done, about the same time, different doctor. He had a problem with the "flap"...whether that was him, or the doc, I don't know. His vision was never 20/20, so he might have a different take.
For me, best money I ever spent. I had to have a touch-up about six months later, but that was free of charge. Seventeen years later, I am still not wearing glasses, and still loving it.
If I were to do it today, I *might* look into the lens replacement, because there *should* be no changes in the lens from that point on, and theoretically, I *might* still have perfect vision when they put me in a pine box. Also, the lens replacement would probably mean that cataracts would not be a factor going forward.
Anyway, if your doc is a good one (and given how long LASIK has been around, there are probably quite a few good ones out there) your experience will be very satisfying.
I wore glasses from age 8. Contacts on and off, with varying degrees of success, from about age 20. Near-sightedness plus astigmatism. When they developed soft contacts in my prescription, they were about $150/pair, and if I removed and cleaned them every night, they would last a month or two. Later, the disposable wear-for-30-day ones became available, but I never got anywhere near 30 days from a set, and they were still pricey.
I did the LASIK in 1997, when I was 41 years old. Cost me $3200, IIRC. The initial cut was with a blade, then the laser from there. Had to remember not to rub eyes and dislodge the "flap", other than that, no worries. I had a co-worker who had the same thing done, about the same time, different doctor. He had a problem with the "flap"...whether that was him, or the doc, I don't know. His vision was never 20/20, so he might have a different take.
For me, best money I ever spent. I had to have a touch-up about six months later, but that was free of charge. Seventeen years later, I am still not wearing glasses, and still loving it.
If I were to do it today, I *might* look into the lens replacement, because there *should* be no changes in the lens from that point on, and theoretically, I *might* still have perfect vision when they put me in a pine box. Also, the lens replacement would probably mean that cataracts would not be a factor going forward.
Anyway, if your doc is a good one (and given how long LASIK has been around, there are probably quite a few good ones out there) your experience will be very satisfying.
Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
I have been noticing that my vision is starting to have ill effects on my shooting and I'm only 33 years old. I've been considering Lasik for a few years to improve my shooting, as well as all aspects of my life.
My question to you guys is How much can you feel, and how well can they dope you up?
I have a decent pain tolerance. I blew my back out when I was 25 and walked like Quasi Moto for a year and a half in intense constant pain. It would take me a half an hour or more just to get into bed at night. I have sat through 6 hour tattoo sessions on my collar bones and on top of my shoulders (tattooing thin meat over bone hurts), and been able to carry a normal conversation.
However, if you put anything near my eyes, you'll see me flail around like a person who has been lit on fire, and if you actually touch my eyes, I'll let out a scream that would put a little girl to shame. I get nauseated even thinking about a laser, knife, or anything cutting into my eye.
I see a real benefit to shooting proficiency here, but just don't know if I can do it unless they give me a shot of whiskey and a valium at the door to the clinic to even have a consultation.
I recently had a hard time picking up the brass bead front site on my Ruger No. 1 on a sunny day with my glasses on, and it made me realize my eyes are fading out on me. I also happen to work in the woods, and do a lot of hiking for my job. I need to be able to see if trees are infested with bark beetles as well.
My question to you guys is How much can you feel, and how well can they dope you up?
I have a decent pain tolerance. I blew my back out when I was 25 and walked like Quasi Moto for a year and a half in intense constant pain. It would take me a half an hour or more just to get into bed at night. I have sat through 6 hour tattoo sessions on my collar bones and on top of my shoulders (tattooing thin meat over bone hurts), and been able to carry a normal conversation.
However, if you put anything near my eyes, you'll see me flail around like a person who has been lit on fire, and if you actually touch my eyes, I'll let out a scream that would put a little girl to shame. I get nauseated even thinking about a laser, knife, or anything cutting into my eye.
I see a real benefit to shooting proficiency here, but just don't know if I can do it unless they give me a shot of whiskey and a valium at the door to the clinic to even have a consultation.
I recently had a hard time picking up the brass bead front site on my Ruger No. 1 on a sunny day with my glasses on, and it made me realize my eyes are fading out on me. I also happen to work in the woods, and do a lot of hiking for my job. I need to be able to see if trees are infested with bark beetles as well.
mountainpharm
Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2009
- Messages
- 182
Kodiak, my procedure was 100% painless. Your eyes are anesthetized with drops prior to the procedure, of which there are actually two. The first is the cutting of the flap on the cornea which is done by laser. Essentially you lie on a table and look at a red light. As the laser cuts the flap, the light will go blurry. Takes about 2 minutes per eye if I recall. Then they move you to a second table where the surgeon will check the integrity of the flap. That part was the weirdest for me, just because he was moving my eye around but I couldn't feel a thing. The second machine, also a laser, makes the corrective action. Just like the first, they tell you to look at a light. The second machine made quite a bit more noise, almost like electricity arcing, but again I felt absolutely nothing. The duration spent under the second machine is partially dependent on the degree of correction required. I was severely nearsighted so it took 62 seconds on my left eye and 58 seconds on my right. After I was done they sat me up, put some eye shields on and sent me to my hotel room where I slept pretty much until the following morning thanks to the 2 mg Ativan pre-op and 20 mg Ambien post-op. I came back in the next day for a post-op check and went home. I never felt any pain at all.
OP
OP
george burns
Member
I am in the same boat with the back surgery, had one done a long time ago, there were just too many disks to do all of them. 30 yrs later I desperately need more surgery, but no one will do it.
I just got a fresh set of MRI's done a week ago, and now am shopping for a doctor to do the surgery.
the first one was at New York Hospital, but who has the money for that anymore, they don't take insurance, and I need all 3 levels done.
But regardless of that outcome I plan on getting the eyes done. If I remember correctly my first spinal surgery, along with 2 weeks in the hospital was close to half a million dollars. The insurance paid back then.
I had O'leary, do t, "he was one of the best in the world at the time, and I was much younger. But Obamacare took care of that, no way do they keep you for 10 days , just to run tests.
Now I have almost a dozen bad disks, in one form or another, the trick is to fix the main ones causing the pain, and leave the rest alone.
I just got a fresh set of MRI's done a week ago, and now am shopping for a doctor to do the surgery.
the first one was at New York Hospital, but who has the money for that anymore, they don't take insurance, and I need all 3 levels done.
But regardless of that outcome I plan on getting the eyes done. If I remember correctly my first spinal surgery, along with 2 weeks in the hospital was close to half a million dollars. The insurance paid back then.
I had O'leary, do t, "he was one of the best in the world at the time, and I was much younger. But Obamacare took care of that, no way do they keep you for 10 days , just to run tests.
Now I have almost a dozen bad disks, in one form or another, the trick is to fix the main ones causing the pain, and leave the rest alone.
Painful? Nothing close to a blown-out back (and I've been there).
I'd say there is discomfort more akin to getting some grit blown into your eye for a while right afterwards when you get home, but not even enough to where you want to scratch them. You don't actually feel the "scary" part where they cut your eyes & fold back the cornea, or where the laser reshapes your eyeball. You don't feel that part at all.
Kodiak, what does your eye doc say about your vision? If your eyes are getting bad so quickly, Lasik may not be right for you, or you may need to wait for your eyes to stabilize first. It isn't a fix-all for everyone.
I'd say there is discomfort more akin to getting some grit blown into your eye for a while right afterwards when you get home, but not even enough to where you want to scratch them. You don't actually feel the "scary" part where they cut your eyes & fold back the cornea, or where the laser reshapes your eyeball. You don't feel that part at all.
Kodiak, what does your eye doc say about your vision? If your eyes are getting bad so quickly, Lasik may not be right for you, or you may need to wait for your eyes to stabilize first. It isn't a fix-all for everyone.
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
I received Lasik surgery on both eyes in 2013. Prior to Lasik surgery my distance eyesight was 20/40 right eye and 20/85 left eye. My near eyesight was freakishly good - I could read the 20/20 line with it right up in my face or extended in my hand with ease (which is not surprising as I basically read small text all day long at work).
They warned me that one of the side effects of improving my far vision, would be a deterioration in my near vision. They also warned me that as the muscles that controlled my focus grew less flexible with age, I would need reading glasses and this change would speed that up.
As part of my pre-op procedures, they gave me eye drops that paralyzed those eye muscles. My prescription changed dramatically when that happened. This cause them a bit of confusion over what prescription to go with; but they ultimately decided to go with the "paralyzed" prescription.
After the surgery, my vision was not really dramatically improved at first; but as my eyes started to heal up (which the whole sleeping with protective goggles, temporary dry, itchy eyes, and worrying about dislodging the flap was a pain I did not want to repeat) my vision got better. After a month, my results were 20/30 left and 20/25 right. They also fixed the astigmatism in my eye so that red dots don't look like the blob anymore, which was nice. And as a bonus, I didn't notice any change at all in my near vision which was still excellent.
About a year later, I go in to do my checkup and my left eye is 20/100 with double vision and my right eye is 20/45. They wanted money to fix it. I was not pleased, to put it mildly. We go to do the pre-op evaluation to see if I even have enough cornea left to "adjust" the prescription. During the evaluation, they gave me the eye drops that paralyze the muscles that focus the eyes and as the eyedrops took hold, my distance vision went to 20/30 and 20/20, although my near vision went down the tubes.
Apparently, I spend so much time reading tiny text that my eyes just kind of basically are always in "super-close" focus without any conscious effort on my part - so my distance vision kind of goes in and out (particularly on days I've been working it is bad). The good news is as I get older and the muscles get less capable; I'll finally be able to enjoy that Lasik surgery more consistently. The bad news is until then, my distance vision can be kind of hit and miss.
Anyway, something to consider if you have a large deviation in your prescription between the initial eye test and the one after the eye drops.
They warned me that one of the side effects of improving my far vision, would be a deterioration in my near vision. They also warned me that as the muscles that controlled my focus grew less flexible with age, I would need reading glasses and this change would speed that up.
As part of my pre-op procedures, they gave me eye drops that paralyzed those eye muscles. My prescription changed dramatically when that happened. This cause them a bit of confusion over what prescription to go with; but they ultimately decided to go with the "paralyzed" prescription.
After the surgery, my vision was not really dramatically improved at first; but as my eyes started to heal up (which the whole sleeping with protective goggles, temporary dry, itchy eyes, and worrying about dislodging the flap was a pain I did not want to repeat) my vision got better. After a month, my results were 20/30 left and 20/25 right. They also fixed the astigmatism in my eye so that red dots don't look like the blob anymore, which was nice. And as a bonus, I didn't notice any change at all in my near vision which was still excellent.
About a year later, I go in to do my checkup and my left eye is 20/100 with double vision and my right eye is 20/45. They wanted money to fix it. I was not pleased, to put it mildly. We go to do the pre-op evaluation to see if I even have enough cornea left to "adjust" the prescription. During the evaluation, they gave me the eye drops that paralyze the muscles that focus the eyes and as the eyedrops took hold, my distance vision went to 20/30 and 20/20, although my near vision went down the tubes.
Apparently, I spend so much time reading tiny text that my eyes just kind of basically are always in "super-close" focus without any conscious effort on my part - so my distance vision kind of goes in and out (particularly on days I've been working it is bad). The good news is as I get older and the muscles get less capable; I'll finally be able to enjoy that Lasik surgery more consistently. The bad news is until then, my distance vision can be kind of hit and miss.
Anyway, something to consider if you have a large deviation in your prescription between the initial eye test and the one after the eye drops.
Bbear
Member
I was nearly legally blind (unassisted)[I was bad enough that I had to squint with my left eye to make out the largest letter on the eye chart] in my left eye and about half of that (-7) in my right eye plus major league astigmatism in both eyes. When they 'mapped' my eyes for the lasik the resulting 'map' looked like a topo map of the Colorado Rocky mountains.
After lasik, my near vision is a little blurry (I use reading glasses that are 1.0's) but my far vision is sharper than ever.
I had mine done in 1998. Since then my eyesight has NOT CHANGED A BIT. My right eye still comes in at 20/15 and my left eye at 20/25.
I paid $3200 to get both eyes done. I had my procedure done at the Eye Center in Bloomington, Indiana. Worth double what I paid for it!
After lasik, my near vision is a little blurry (I use reading glasses that are 1.0's) but my far vision is sharper than ever.
I had mine done in 1998. Since then my eyesight has NOT CHANGED A BIT. My right eye still comes in at 20/15 and my left eye at 20/25.
I paid $3200 to get both eyes done. I had my procedure done at the Eye Center in Bloomington, Indiana. Worth double what I paid for it!
Wisco
member
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2013
- Messages
- 1,239
I had LASIK in August of 2014. I'm Madison, WI and would be more than happy to recommend my surgeon.
I chose a surgeon who had done 100,000+ procedures with a very low complication rate. It wasn't cheap, but I didn't want to use someone less reputable with older technology.
I had no complications and went from 20/100 in both eyes to 20/15. I used the steroid drops and antibiotics as suggested and paid extra-close attention to keeping eyes from contamination or ever touching them for a few weeks.
For all basic purposes I was fine the day after surgery to go back to my daily routine - minus exercise or anything that could dislodge the flap.
From what I've been told, after 4-6 months the force required to move your LASIK flap would also destroy your eye.
My eyes aren't any drier than before.
I did lose some near vision the first couple weeks +1.00 in each eye, but 8 weeks later I am still 20/15 and +.25 in each eye.
Everyone will need reading glasses someday.
I chose a surgeon who had done 100,000+ procedures with a very low complication rate. It wasn't cheap, but I didn't want to use someone less reputable with older technology.
I had no complications and went from 20/100 in both eyes to 20/15. I used the steroid drops and antibiotics as suggested and paid extra-close attention to keeping eyes from contamination or ever touching them for a few weeks.
For all basic purposes I was fine the day after surgery to go back to my daily routine - minus exercise or anything that could dislodge the flap.
From what I've been told, after 4-6 months the force required to move your LASIK flap would also destroy your eye.
My eyes aren't any drier than before.
I did lose some near vision the first couple weeks +1.00 in each eye, but 8 weeks later I am still 20/15 and +.25 in each eye.
Everyone will need reading glasses someday.
I had mine done when I was 25. Initially they were better, but I really think they are worse now than they were before I had it done. I can't remember the cost, seems like around $2500 for the pair. I'm now 35, so I say it's not a good investment at least in my experience. But... My brother who is 7 years older than me had it done about the same time, and he has no problems now, and he was born with THICK glasses. I guess everyone's diffrent.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
- Locked
