Laser vision correction

[blue tiger]

I have about 3000 bucks in my medical flex account. Barring any sickness I should have the same loot left come November. Any advice. Taking of the glasses to put on / remove my helmet is a pain. I would also love to be able to see the alarm clock and no longer deal with presription shades and such.

[roy-nexus-6]

I have about 3000 bucks in my medical flex account. Barring any sickness I should have the same loot left come November. Any advice. Taking of the glasses to put on / remove my helmet is a pain. I would also love to be able to see the alarm clock and no longer deal with presription shades and such.

1. As your eyes age, the corneas will become less flexible... so you're vision will deteriorate again**. But there is only so much cornea that can be removed.

2. If you have the procedure done, do it at the BEST place your money can buy. If it is done incorrectly, you could experience extreme difficulties, such as 'halo' effects when viewing bright lights at night: this would make night riding dangerous/impossible.

**  Same thing happens with people with glasses - that is why they need to have their lenses changed.

3. even if you have the procedure done, you'll still probably be wearing sunglasses when riding during the day - so you'll have the helmet problem.

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASIK

Good luck! 

[cyrus buelton]

+1 to above

It does correct your vision, but that is not to say in the future you will need glasses again.


Also, your prescription needs to stabilize for at least 12 months before the procedure can be done.

Personally, the possible cons of the procedure far outweigh me putting in contacts every morning. But then again, that is a personal decision.

I know 2 people that have had the procedure done by a very reputable surgeon and have had the bad side effects. Then again, I know a dozen people that have had it done and experience none. Too much risk for me when it comes to my vision.


good luck

[Triple J]

I had Lasik done in January.  I was nearsighted with my left eye being -3 and my right -2.5.  Afterwards my right was -.25, and left -.75...so I had the left "touched up" 2 weeks ago.  My left is now 0, and right is still -.25.  Basically I see 20/15 now.

It is friggin' awesome!!! 

I have no halos at night, sunlight doesn't bother me any more than it used to.  I basically see the same as I did when I was 20 years old (I'm 35 now). 

The downside is I will likely need reading glasses by the time I'm 45-50 years old.  This is because your lens hardens over time and loses the ability to "flex" and correct for close up vision.  I thought about it and figured who cares.  I'd rather need glasses for reading only, as opposed to all the time like I was before.

If you get it done my recommendations is don't cheap out.  Find an Optometrist you like and trust, and ask who they would go to.  Pay whatever the Lasik/PRK people ask.  I went to Pacific Cateract and Laser Institute (pcli.com).  I paid $2,800 for the surgery (unlimited touch ups) and $450 for pre- and post- care from my Optometrist.  I could have got it done for 1/2 that in town, but my Optometrist said no one was better than pcli.  Sold.

Also, make sure you follow the follow-up care religiously.  It consists of antibiotic drops for 1 week, steroid drops for ~2 weeks to slow down the healing, and regular eye drops for at least 6 months.  Keeping the eye healthy after surgery is key.

Lastly, make sure you discuss the options with your doctor.  You can get either Lasik or PRK.  Lasik leaves a flap but healing is quicker, while PRK has no flap but takes twice as long to heal and is supposed to be more painful.  I went Lasik, but my wife is going to get PRK, partly because her pupils are large compared to her cornea, which can lead to halos from the flap edges.  Just understand what your options are, and what the differences are.

For me it was a GREAT decision.  I also have a lot of friends who I talked with before hand who agree it was a great move.

[jammer]

I had PRK done 10 yrs ago:

Left eye = 1 op
Right eye = 4 ops...and counting...   

I was told right off the bat that I'll most likely need reading glasses at 40+ yrs of age...nothing you can do because it's part of the aging process.  For 10yrs of freedom, I think it's worth it, even though I'm going to need another op on the right eye.

+1 on the advice of don't cheap out.  There are several places that I know of that offered "grand opening specials" that have now closed.  I went with the one that guaranteed that they'll take care of me for life...  Can't say about the "for life" part, but after 10+ years, they're still taking care of me.

[c_rex]

why would you want to correct the vision of a laser? 


....

....


anyway- I have a friend who has lived with glasses and contacts his entire life.  About 2 years ago he got the Lasik thing done and he hasn't shut up about it ever since.  I have been blessed with abnormally good eyesight my entire life (but my nose doesn't work worth a dang).  I just got reading glasses for close up stuff though in spite of my distance vision remaining excellent. This echos the sentiment that you may need glasses for other reasons later.  I say go for it- but they're not my eyes.  Good luck~

[jdubbs32584]

I'm 24 and have -8.5 in both eyes and want to have this done in the next couple of years due to having to wear contacts for the last 15 years. My mom had it done a long long time ago (I think 15+ years) and is just now getting to the point that she needs reading glasses.

[JohnnyDucati]

This procedure just scares the crap out of me.

The cornea is sliced, folded back, and the inside of the "flap" is lased to remove tissue.  Then, the flap is folded back to it's original place.

There is no way to suture or secure this flap.  The only thing keeping it in place is the natural "stickiness" of the eyeball.

The procedure has not been practiced for very long, so no one knows the long term effects (i.e., 20, 30, 40 years down the road).  As far as I know, I still want to be around at 60, 70, and with some luck 80 years old.  And, I don't want my eyeballs to start falling apart in my golden years.

Major hee-bee-jeebees going on here.  Granted, I've only researched this a little bit to correct my own vision, but I stopped cold when I started reading about the details.

[DY]

Thank you God for giving me good eyesight!

I have a couple friends that had Lasik done, and they all have nothing but good to say about it.  But like the above post, I'd be hesitant about 30 years down the road.  Thats still unknown territory.

[Triple J]

This procedure just scares the crap out of me.

The cornea is sliced, folded back, and the inside of the "flap" is lased to remove tissue.  Then, the flap is folded back to it's original place.

There is no way to suture or secure this flap.  The only thing keeping it in place is the natural "stickiness" of the eyeball.

Then consider PRK.  Instead of a flap, the surface cells are removed.  They then re-generate, leaving the eye in it's original condition.  A little more painful and a little longer heealing time though.

I think the flap does heal a bit...it isn't just the stickiness of the eye.  After about a week it would take a very  major incident to move it, and after 24 months my doctor won't fold it back for touch-ups anymore (he does PRK if needed). 

Like you said, it doesn't ever fully heal though.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't think quite a bit about the procedure before going ahead.

[Smiling End]

I was having similar thoughts since I hated getting up and not being able to see the alarm clock, going swimming and having to take my glasses off, needing prescription sunglasses, etc.  I asked my eye doctor (who is also a surgeon) whom I have been going to for over 20 years.  He flat out said no, that my eyes are screwed up enough (scar on my one retina causes me to be technically legally blind) and that I shouldn't risk it.  That was about 2 years back.  Finally after wearing glasses for about 15 years I just got contacts last month.  It's soooooooo much better than glasses.  Granted I'm not supposed to sleep with them, and don't, and I'm not supposed to swim with them but I don't need prescription sunglasses anymore and I don't have any issues with my helmet anymore. 

If you have any doubts at all about getting LASIK try getting contacts first.  Depending on your insurance it could cost you next to nothing so if you're not happy it's not like you spent a ton of money. 

[Sinister]

I am also considering this, soon.  Be aware, LASIK is NOT a good choice if you are in any sort of combat sport (i.e., getting punched in the face); there is another option.

[cyrus buelton]

I'm 24 and have -8.5 in both eyes and want to have this done in the next couple of years due to having to wear contacts for the last 15 years. My mom had it done a long long time ago (I think 15+ years) and is just now getting to the point that she needs reading glasses.

Damn, I thought my eyes at -4.5 were bad.

At what rate are your eyes getting worse?

Mine tend to move about -.25 every 12 months.

I think your eyes have to stabilize for minimum of a year before the procedure is done.

[Sinister]

I think your eyes have to stabilize for minimum of a year before the procedure is done.

My doc said two years is best, but I'm sure there are varying opinions.

[XiaoNio]

I am also considering this, soon.  Be aware, LASIK is NOT a good choice if you are in any sort of combat sport (i.e., getting punched in the face); there is another option.

What's another option?  I'm in some sort of combat sport.