Lasik question - yes, a bit tractor related

[woodlandfarms]

OK, I honestly don't know where to post this but this group has such a wide base of experience I wanted to get an idea of opinions. And it is tractor related cause I am wearing glasses on the tractor.

Recently I had to get glasses. I guess I am nearsighted with astigmatism. I am over 40. I have been mulling Lasik as a couple of friends had it done and love it. I really don't like glasses, and tend to not wear them when I should (outside of driving or the movie theater, they are found on my desk or "lost").

So I went to the doc, and they said I was a great candidate. But we got into a conversation about the downside. It appears that I will loose my ability to focus upclose. They showed me what it would turn into and it felt like I was blind. I had to hold my phone way out to see it at all.

The thing is I am wondering if they are faking me out a bit in the end result of how my upclose viewing will be. I mean I work on equipment and such and right now I can get by in my daily life without glasses. I am writing on my computer and the screen is in focus enough for me not to complain. I guess I don't mind needing glasses for macro work, but the fact I could not read my phone kinda took me by surprise.

Am I making sense? Anyone have an "insight" on this?

 

[gsganzer]

I had it done 2 years ago and had them only correct 1 eye for distance. They call it mono-vision. This allows me to see distance and up close. For full-time reading, I could stand to use some reading glasses, but generally I get by without any glasses. To answer your question, when they correct your eye for distance, you will lose the ability to see clearly up close with that eye.

It does take some getting used to (took me over a year). You can always choose to have the second eye corrected at a later date, if you can't get used to it.

 

[yankeerider]

Let me state upfront that i have no personal experience other than a discussion with my eye doctor some years ago. I have worn eyeglasses since about the third grade, quite nearsighted with astigmatism. I will be 60 this year, and for the last 10 or so years my nearsightedness has decreased-that's right, my prescription has gotten weaker. My eye doctor tells me that's normal as nearsighted people age. (Something to consider as you age) Like you, i have not considered Lasik because of the stated loss of close up focus. My grandmother died at he age of 101, and as her vision deteriorated in her last years, she could still read by holding the reading matter close to her eyes. That closeup ability is something I will never risk.

 

[LD1]

Subscribed.

I too have been thinking about getting lasik done. Currently wear contacts and dont have any complaints at all. But would like not to be dependent on them.

My concerns are more about the cost. I constantly hear about all these $299-$499/eye procedures (and from some well known and reputable places). But everyone I have spoken with that has had lasik or inquired, are talking $2k-$4k per eye

For $800-$1000 I consider it worth having done. But for Several grand, I will stick with contacts.

In my research though, I have found there are SEVERAL types of different lasik procedures. I think the custom mapping lasik stuff is supposed to help with just what you want. Not loosing near vision. There are also ICL's. Easier if things in the future change, quicker recovery, and less issues with dry itchy eyes after the proceedure vs lasik. (or so I have read). But thats about double the cost too.

 

[davesl708]

I had lasik performed six years ago. The end result was 20/10 vision. Fantastic. No loss in night vision either. I had the mono-vision and it worked great.
Now have to use reading glasses in the near eye for anything closer than three ft. Long range is down to 20/20 but still fine.

I am 56 now. Was it worth it. Yes. After 30+ years with contacts it was great to not have to worry about them. I am a scuba diver as well. Really helped with that.

 

[gsganzer]

Subscribed.

I too have been thinking about getting lasik done. Currently wear contacts and dont have any complaints at all. But would like not to be dependent on them.

My concerns are more about the cost. I constantly hear about all these $299-$499/eye procedures (and from some well known and reputable places). But everyone I have spoken with that has had lasik or inquired, are talking $2k-$4k per eye

For $800-$1000 I consider it worth having done. But for Several grand, I will stick with contacts.

In my research though, I have found there are SEVERAL types of different lasik procedures. I think the custom mapping lasik stuff is supposed to help with just what you want. Not loosing near vision. There are also ICL's. Easier if things in the future change, quicker recovery, and less issues with dry itchy eyes after the proceedure vs lasik. (or so I have read). But thats about double the cost too.

When I had mine done 2 years ago, it was around $1500/eye. I originally went in for LASIK, but in fact had PRK because the machine lost suction on my eye as the laser was cutting the flap for LASIK.

Another thing you may want to consider is crystal lens. It's considerably more, but fixes cataracts and vision issues, resulting in no glasses for the rest of your life (so I've heard). I was told that at approximately 50 years old, you might be better off doing the lens replacement rather than refractive procedures like LASIK, PRK etc.

 

[Katahdin]

I had it done probably 10 years ago now, specifically a Zyoptix procedure at LasikMD in Canada. It was the best money I ever spent. I turned 40 last month and can still focus close without corrective lenses.

However, my mother had the procedure at the same time. She was in her 60s and experienced the loss of up-close vision your doctors describe. Basically she has to wear reading glasses for reading or computer work, something all of us will probably have to endure in our lives due to aging. Still, the Lasik procedure was worth it to my mother, at least she could find her glasses and other things around the house now without corrective lenses, and she can drive without glasses.

If you can get by without glasses for most daily tasks then you must not be as near-sighted as we were. If I was out in the wilderness and had lost my glasses I'd be screwed, and I'd certainly be useless at work.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I wore hard contacts for over 25 years. Never had a problem and vision was at least 20/20. Like so many, I was tired of messing with them and looked into LASIK. I carefully researched and picked a very highly recommended doctor. Deciding to proceed was probably one of the worst decisions of my life.

Yes, I am out of glasses - except for night driving. No, my vision is nowhere near 20/20. One eye is essentially non-correctable with lenses and I'm not sure if there is any surgical solution. Additionally, my eyes are now very dry and that can also affect vision quality.

"Most" people have a favorable outcome - some don't. I wish I had never done this.

 

[zzvyb6]

I had it done more than 15 years ago: $2000 per eye and worth every bit of it. There are done things to consider, though (not bad really):

There is a reason I was having to replaced my scratched and nicked up glasses every year. You MUST get used to wearing safety glasses. You may have been getting by with using your eyeglasses for protection, but now you better get used to having safety glasses stashed everywhere. This includes dogs swiping at you in play, driving with windows rolled down, using that grinder for a quick sharpen and other eye dangers. If your dentist or dental assistant uses a water spray, it WILL hit you in the eye(s).

Now you can buy the cheap sunglasses and not worry about sitting on them in a car seat or wondering where they are. You can get those aviator ones you always wanted but could never get in prescription form because they weighed more than your wallet.

There is so much more to see while driving. That woman about to run the stop sign in front of you was in your blurry peripheral vision before. Now you can watch her from 75 degrees and get the horn ready in plenty of time.

The astigmatism fix is wonderful. Now I don't have to worry about my roofline when walking the dogs out back. Before it looked like my roof was caving in.

When I was cutting hay, I had to cut the fence line about a yard away from the wire because it was hard to follow with peripheral issue and the blurry problem. Now I can set the cutter bar 4 inches from the wire while looking forward.

Things are a lot brighter without your glasses because the light doesn't get filtered by all that glass or plastic. Now you might want to have other sunglasses handy when this occurs or you will be squinting to the point of eye strain.

Get used to having eye drops and artificial tears handy. The surgery itself leads to dry eye conditions later on.

One last thing (and this takes some serious consideration). If you are used to showering with your mate, they are going to be in full focus clear as crystal. With wet hair, no makeup and other missing accessories, it can be a brutal experience. Before it was all fuzzy and doable. Maybe not now. Same goes for other joint activities. Just reminding you....

 

[Utopia Texas]

I had -8 diopters in each eye from birth and over the years went from glasses, to hard contacts, to soft contacts, Radial Kerototemy surgery and at 56 years old finally had LASIK. For me LASIK was the best thing I ever did for my eyes and now at 62 years old, 6 years after The Lasik procedure, am very happy with the Results. I opted for "blended" LASIK where I read up close with one eye and see from 2 feet out to infinity with the other eye. I made sure I went to a Dr. That uses a laser for both making the corner flap and a laser to correct the eye surface. No scalpel cutting at all. This same Dr. And his father have done over
40,000 LASIK procedures and are very, very good at it.