LASIK

[Randy]

Just got back from the eye dr. to have a thorough evaluation done to determine if I was a candidate to have LASIK surgery done to correct my nearsightedness and very slight astigmatism. He says I am a candidate. Has anyone had this done and, if so, do you have any regrets? Any issue with nighttime riding?

He dilated my pupils and I can't see shit right now!!!! :bigeyes:

 

[RTSR1/FJR]

Just got back from the eye dr. to have a thorough evaluation done to determine if I was a candidate to have LASIK surgery done to correct my nearsightedness and very slight astigmatism.  He says I am a candidate.  Has anyone had this done and, if so, do you have any regrets?  Any issue with nighttime riding?He dilated my pupils and I  can't see shit right now!!!! :bigeyes:

I had mine done in Dec. of '99. I was getting near sighted from age and needed glasses to drive which bugged the hell out of me! Didn't need them till I turned over 40, then they went to crap and the glasses were needed. Since '99 I've noticed a slight decrease in my nearsight vision and the need for reading glasses more often now. Doctor said that would happen though. I don't mind the reading glasses as long as I don't have to wear corrective lens for normal activity like driving. Overall, I'm very happy with the results! Do it!

Oh yeah, Night driving. Before I had it done, it was very hard to drive at night. Light was all refracted. Lasik cured all that. Much better!

 

[gr8eyes]

Randy, I'm an Optometrist. I may be able to answer your questions. 1st What is you prescription? That will have alot to do with possible complications. Also, your pupil size will determine the amount of glare you experience at night. Custom ablation zones will decrease the glare. Smaller prescription usually correlates to less glare. Smaller pupils will give less glare. The Glare is roughly equal to Contact Lenses. So if you've worn C.LL's the night glare will be about the same. Even those with glare say it decreases significantly in 3-6 months.

I had it done about 9 years ago, in Canada, and don't regret it for a minute. There are some complications possible but they are very rare and most can be managed easy enough. Go to someone reputable. If they are doing it out of the back of an 18 wheeler.........FLEE.

Make sure they guarantee the outcome, that is if you rgress over the next few years they'll redo it. TLC's are good about this, but they are generally a bit more expensive.

Glenn

Oh yeah remember, if you are over 40 you'll need reading glasses.

 

[Randy]

Randy, I'm an Optometrist. I may be able to answer your questions. 1st What is you prescription? That will have alot to do with possible complications. Also, your pupil size will determine the amount of glare you experience at night. Custom ablation zones will decrease the glare. Smaller prescription usually correlates to less glare. Smaller pupils will give less glare. The Glare is roughly equal to Contact Lenses. So if you've worn C.LL's the night glare will be about the same. Even those with glare say it decreases significantly in 3-6 months.
I had it done about 9 years ago, in Canada, and don't regret it for a minute. There are some complications possible but they are very rare and most can be managed easy enough. Go to someone reputable. If they are doing it out of the back of an 18 wheeler.........FLEE.

Make sure they guarantee the outcome, that is if you rgress over the next few years they'll redo it. TLC's are good about this, but they are generally a bit more expensive.

Glenn

Oh yeah remember, if you are over 40 you'll need reading glasses.

Thanks for the responses.

Glenn - Rt eye -4.5, lt eye -4.0. Pupils are 7.5 mm and he said that I might have an issue with glare. No big deal as I seem to have that now. I've worn lenses for about 20 years. The guy that I went to has been doing it since 97. I've spoken with patients (not references) and they all had very positive things to say. He's a 2nd generation opthamologist (board certified, of course). My evaluation today took 2 hrs. and he wants to see me again to make sure I repeat the numbers he came up with today. He insisted that I keep my contact lenses out for 10 days prior and told me to do the same for my follow up. All the costs associated with the evaluation come off the total cost. His regular cost is $4K and I get $1K discount with the eye coverage that I have.

I'm turning 39 in a few weeks and spend lots of time behind the computer screen, so, I know that it's just a matter of 'when' for the reading glasses.

Thanks again for your time in responding.

 

[FJRocket]

Dr. Glenn, is there a difference between radial keratotomy and lasik? Is RK the old scalpal way of doing it? My brother had that done. I think he said his eyes were a wreck beforehand, but he no longer needed glasses at all afterwards. Except he has a lot of glare and wears shooting glasses to drive with at night. Just curious about the state of the treatment these days.

Was your statement about reading glasses over 40 because of the common need for bifocals or was it lasik specific?

I wear safety glasses all day, and personally love my progressive lenses. Being able to see well is THE BEST! I just wear glasses all the time. I really didn't want to wear 2 toric coke bottles outside of work. I'm just glad that glasses aren't glass anymore.

Thanks for the info!

 

[twowheelnut]

I dunno, something about a burning laser beam searing away at my eyeball doesn't leave me with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Or maybe it will and that's what scares me... :scare:

 

[gr8eyes]

Randy your prescription is perfect for Lasik. The 7.5mm pupil size must be in the dark. I would venture 4-5mm in light conditions. Our pupils are the largest between ages 4-16. They gradually decrease in size as we age. At 39 your pupils will be fine, although if they are 7.5mm in the dark you may have some glare issues at night. And like I said that will decrease in 3-6 months.

Also remember, Now you can see great up close with and with out your glasses but you can't see at a distance. After the procedure you will see great at a distance but in a couple of years you won't be able to see fine print. You'll need reading glasses. As a matter of fact if he happens to over correct you a bit you may need them sooner. That is ,if you wind up +0.50 to +1.00 you may have trouble reading immediately. Not a big deal but something to be aware of. I'm sure he's gone over all this with you.

Rocket, you are correct about RK ( surgical incisions with a knife on the cornea) vs Laser. The thing that made the RK obsolete in most cases is the glare induced by the incisions scattering the light.

Almost evryone needs Bifocals somewhere between 40-45, due to the hardening of the lens in the eye. It has to be able to change its shape when you look from distance to near. Around age 40 it can't do that anymore. the bifocal picks up where the natural eye falls off.

Glen

 

[FJRocket]

the bifocal picks up where the natural eye falls off.
Glen

Oh, you really don't mean my eyes will fall off, do you?

:bigeyes: :blink: :bigeyes: :blink:

 

[Randy]

The 7.5mm pupil size must be in the dark.

Correct.

As a matter of fact if he happens to over correct you a bit you may need them sooner.

He said he usually errs on the side of an ever-so-slight undercorrection. That's why he wants me to come back a second time to make sure he comes up with the same numbers.

 

[Timbo2015]

I had it done about 5 or 6 years ago. I was at -4.75 diopters (I think), which means I couldn't see shit. I could focus on something maybe 12 inches away from my face. Everything farther away was a blur.

After the surgery I was at 20/15 in both eyes. I don't think my vision has changed since then. There is a slight halo effect at night, but it's only evident with certain colors. Oncoming headlights are the worst. It seemed to get better over the course of the first few months, or maybe I just got used to it. As others have said, it is similar to wearing dirty contacts at night. I don't even think about it anymore. It is really not an issue for me.

Summary: Best $4000 I EVER spent. Probably much cheaper today.

 

[slapnpop]

It must be nice for you people who've always seen right. I had to get glasses when I was 12, and now wear contacts. At age 25, my vision is at -5.5 in both eyes!

My uncle is an optometrist... optomitris... eye doctor. He won't give me lasik because my perscription changes so quickly. This might be something else to consider. He also says because I'm on a computer nearly all of my waking hours it wouldn't be a good idea.

 

[Warchild]

Had it done 5 years ago.

It destroyed my ability to ride at competitive speeds at night.

I'll never see 20/20 again. The best I have now - using ultra-special contacts only - is 20/30 in the right eye, 20/40 in the left eye. Without contacts, I am 20/50-ish in the right eye, 20/60 in the left eye. And this is only in bright sunlight conditions.... at night, I can't even see to those specifications.

There are no glasses that can correct my LASIKed-up eyes to 20/20. I have to wear brutally expensive "reverse geometry" contact lenses just to get me to 20/30 and 20/40. And again, that's only in bright daylight conditions. Without these "reverse-geometry" contact lenses, I have "starbursts" at night from on-coming traffic that are so bad, it prevents me from driving without lenses in place.

So.... you can just imagine to what degree I'd recommend LASIK surgery...

 

[twowheelnut]

It must be nice for you people who've always seen right.  I had to get glasses when I was 12, and now wear contacts.  At age 25, my vision is at -5.5 in both eyes!
My uncle is an optometrist... optomitris... eye doctor.  He won't give me lasik because my perscription changes so quickly.  This might be something else to consider.  He also says because I'm on a computer nearly all of my waking hours it wouldn't be a good idea.

It's all that internet porn you're looking at. Screws up the eyes fast! Don't you remember what your mommy told you? "Keep that up, buster, and you'll go blind!"

 

[freshmeat]

Randy,

I'm just an FNG around here, but I'd strongly recommend you check out this site,

https://www.surgicaleyes.org/

before going through with a LASIK procedure. The site is an information source for those considering LASIK and a resouce for those with "negative outcomes" who are trying to get help.

I had PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) on my right eye in 1998 and my left in 2001. PRK is the same as LASIK in terms of the laser sculpting of the cornea, the difference is that in PRK they tissue over the cornea is removed chemically, while in PRK a flap is cut and then lifted, and replaced.

With LASIK, your vision may be effectively stable within a day or so, with PRK it takes a month or so for the tissue to grow back.

Starting point - Age 41 in 98, 20-400+ in both eyes, some astigmatism. Basically couldn't focus on anything farther away than the end of my arms.

Surgeon warned me that my (dark) pupil diameter was on the upper limit of what would make an acceptable candidate.

- the issue with pupil size is your night vision. The diameter of the area treated is fixed by the equipment, so if your pupil opens up to this diameter or more, you're likely to get "artifacts" - "starring," etc. at night when your pupils are fully open.

My own outcome has been pretty good - ~20/20 vision with some residual astigmatism, a bit of starring at night (I gave informed consent - my choice, my risk) and some general reduction in "visual acutity in low-light." The last translates into a need to have more light than I used to in order to read (e.g. a map).

The kicker was that getting my eyes "fixed" meant that I needed reading glasses - age-related hyperopia (far-sightedness) that had been masked by my near-sightedness before.

For me, the side effects are minor, and mean that I can ride, ski, sail, etc. w/o glasses. But consider Warchild's experience as well - this can and does happen.

Best advice I found from the surgical eyes folks: shop around, ask about the surgeon's rejection rate . These LASIK machines are expensive - generating an economic pressure that can subtly influence the Dr's judgment - a high reject rate indicates a more conservative attitude, which is what you want. Cornea's don't grow back.

Warchild - (if an FNG on his 3rd or 4th post may be so bold as to humbly address the sys$god of the forum) have you contacted the surgical eyes folks? There have been a number of advances in repairing negative outcomes - advances made necessary, unfortunately, by folks in your situation.

 

[ock913]

I am another LASIK happy customer. I was blind as a bat, 20/400 I think. If I remember, my contacts said -7.5 in one eye and -8.5 in the other ..... I just know that without them, I couldn't function. Since I had been wearing corrective lenses since age 11, by the time I reached 35, I was really tired of them. There was multiple reasons for me to want LASIK. Since I hated glasses, I wore contacts almost 24/7. I would take them out when my eyes were bloodshot and hurting. That habit caused me some serious eye infections that threatened my ever wearing contacts again. And finally, in my profession, if something happened to a contact lens, I could potentially be in a life threatning situation. So ..... I did it.

I have never regretted it for a second. The absolute best thing I have ever done for myself. I have 20/15 in my left and 20/25 in my right, coming from 20/400, I felt it was a miracle. For them to fix in 10 minutes something that I had suffered from for 24 years, left me with a renewed happiness on life. I don't mean to get all soft on ya, but it really changed my outlook and attitude.

I would recommend LASIK to anyone who is a candidate and wants to rid themselves of glasses or contacts. However, I STRONGLY second the statement from gr8eyes ...... GO TO A REPUTABLE DOCTOR. Don't bargin hunt when it comes to your vision. The only person that I personally know that regrets LASIK, went to a doctor that was cheaper than the rest ........ he got what he paid for.

 

[FJRottie]

LASIK

Requires the surgeon to use a surgical instrument called a microkeratome to create a corneal flap. A portion of the flap remains attached to the eye (as a hinge) while the remainder is gently lifted up and back exposing the inner cornea. The cool beam laser then resculpts the cornea and the flap is returned to its original position.

No stitches are required as the flap stays in place by the natural pressure of your eyes.

Eye drop medication is used for up to one week and the patient typically can resume normal activities with three days. Most of the healing process takes place within a week, however, it may take from 1 to 3 months for your vision to fully stabilize.

Many LASIK patients experience only 5-6 hours of discomfort as the surface (epithelial) layer heals. A non-prescription pain reliever such as acetaminophen, ASA, etc. can be taken to ease your discomfort.

The disadvantage of LASIK is that it requires an additional surgical step, the creation of the flap. This creation is painless and takes less than a minute to complete. However, difficulties can occur with the flap and this occurs about 1% of the time. These complications can be treated often by lifting or repositioning the flap. Improper creation of the flap could result in the need for further surgery.

PRK

Involves removal of the top surface level of the cornea called the epithelium. This exposes the inner cornea which the computer assisted laser will begin to resculpt the curvature of the eye.

No needles or incisions are required.

Eye medications are used and clear contact lenses are placed on each eye to prevent infection. These lenses are removed within 2-5 days after surgery. The surface (epithelial) layer will begin to regenerate itself and the whole healing process will take up to 3-4 months. During that time eye medications will be used to promote healing and prevent infections.

PRK patients usually take pain relief medication for about 1-2 days postoperatively. This is due to the fact that most of the pain fibers in the cornea are located in the surface portion and with PRK these are affected during surgery and the healing process.

With PRK there is a small risk of problems arising from an irregular healing response and/or infection. These can generally be treated with medications

-----------

You may know all that already.

Anyway for what it is worth, an optometrist I know told me that the procedures

get better and better (fewer complications) as time goes by.

I have 5 friends that had it done (lasik) in the last 3 years and no regrets.

I was told that the PRK is more susceptible in producing the nighttime hazing.

I wish you well.

 

[Randy]

Thanks for all of the information. As part of the process for determining if I was a candidate, my doc had me remove my contacts for 5 days prior to my appointment. Normally he likes at least a week, but, I was in a bit of a time crunch. I put my contacts back in today and realized something that I have, apparently, been living with for the nearly 20 years that I've been wearing contacts - I have starbursts and ghosting with regular contacts, so, I'm assuming I'll have the same after LASIK. It hasn't bothered me and I guess I just got used to it.

 

[sparky3008]

Just like with motorcycles Randy plenty of websites to show bad experiences but they are few compared to the masses that get it done.

My eyes are "big" and I had to use the more expensive machine to get mine done a few years back because.

I was blind as a bat, someone standing in front of me was a blurr. I could read fine but not much more.

I had read all the bad stories and while I am not a gambler took an educated risk and don't regret it a second.

I, like like the doc said, have big eyes and have the night vision problem.

In the beginning that was really bad and scared the sh*t out of me because at the time I drove for a living. It took about a month before it got better and back to the way it was before. I always had halo's and now it is back to what it was basically.

I have a terrible time with sunlight and I can't even go outside without sunglasses or I have to squint and stare at the ground. Don't think that is because of lasik but mentioned it anyway.

In the end I am 100% happy with my decision but was definitely frightened going in because I had read enough of the horror stories...

 

[radman]

So how do 53 year old diabetics fare with this? Had glasses since 10, prescription now changes slightly every 2-3 years. Need bi-focals of course, tried tri-focals (don't).