Lasik question - yes, a bit tractor related

[SPIKER]

Will be watching like others I have had glasses & had to get them to drive at 16. Never knew the world could be so clear with them. Now 40 years later I've tried bifocal lenses and progressive as near reading vision has degraded and my nose is not long enough to keep sliding these down. Today had a re-examine my far away sight is 20/20 but am getting some reading glasses for work on computer and reading.

I can read up close (4" ~6" or so) with out any glasses (used to be 2 or 3 feet) and with glasses I can still read 100+ yards for street signs.

Not happy to hear about dry eye (that bugs me sometimes as it is.) Have been watching for NEW tech to come out & hear stuff on radio but nothing that has pushed me over to the DO IT stage yet. My neighbor she had it done years back & also complained about the near/far different eye thing & kept me from already getting it done.

Mark

 

[aczlan]

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.

Mom had the replacement lens done last year. She is happy with it, but she lost close up focus in that eye.
I am interested in it and my ophthalmologist says that I am an excellent candidate, but I worry about losing my vision or still having to wear glasses, plus I haven't saved up enough dough to start looking...
I have a contact prescription of -8 diopters in each eye and have had the same prescription for at least the past 15 years.

Aaron Z

 

[Obed]

Below is information from Dr. Joseph Mercola's website. Mercola is a proponent of natural healing. I am not quite sure what to make of Mercola, but, he is a good source to go to if you want to hear the "other side" so you can get a good view of the entire picture.

Quote from Mercola's website:

Even though the FDA is supportive of LASIK surgery, their own website on LASIK surgery raises the following risks you should be aware of:

• Some patients lose vision -- Some patients lose lines of vision on the vision chart that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery as a result of treatment
• Some patients develop debilitating visual symptoms -- Some patients develop glare, halos, and/or double vision that can seriously affect nighttime vision
• You may be under-treated or over-treated -- Onlya certain percent of patients achieve 20/20 vision without glasses or contacts. You may require additional treatment, but additional treatment may not be possible
• Some patients may develop severe dry eye syndrome -- Asa result of surgery, your eye may not be able to produce enough tears to keep the eye moist and comfortable. This condition may be permanent
• Results are generally not as good in patients with very large refractive errors of any type -- You should discuss your expectations with your doctor and realize that you may still require glasses or contacts after the surgery
• For some farsighted patients, results may diminish with age -- The level of improved vision you experience after surgery for farsightedness may decrease with age
• Long-term data are not available -- LASIK is a relatively new technology. Therefore, the long-term safety and effectiveness of LASIK surgery is not known

Are you ready to give it a try? I would not recommend it.

End of Mercola Quote.

Best wishes in your decision.
Obed

 

[dpb800]

I had all laser LASIK in 2005 and went from 20/70 to 20/15. I have no problems with seeing up close. It's been great.

 

[PAGUY]

I had cataract surgery in both eyes at 51 yrs old. My doctor offered me lasik corrective surgery for farsightedness as part of the cataract surgery. I wore glasses since 2nd grade and tried hard and soft lens contacts but gave them up as too much trouble. After my surgery which include corrective implants to replace the cornea the doctor told me I wouldn't need to wear my glasses all the time but would need reading glasses so as not to strain my eyes. I carry two cards in my wallet that he told me to show police officer should I be pulled over and my license reads corrective lens required. I have never had any problems with my sight. The positive was that I could read the digital clock on the dresser without reaching for my glasses and getting to wear sunglasses w/o prescription lenses. I can watch TV w/o glasses. My present glasses are bifocal which came with age for reading at present age of 66 yrs old. So bottom line is lasik surgery worked for me.

 

[fordmantpw]

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.

The few instances like this are the very reason I have not made the plunge. I've had contacts for nearly 20 years (I'm 38), and while they can be a pain, and I often have issues due to allergies, at least I know that I can put in my contacts or wear my glasses and have my vision corrected. It's the risk mentioned above (however slight that risk is) that keeps me from doing it.

My brother and his wife both had it done 10 years or so ago. She needs reading glasses, but he does not yet. They are ~50.