[StewtheBassman]

I just took off my contacts.



Again.


At 45 years old, i am so sick of them.

I have a mild astygmatism (sp?) in both eyes, and I need glasses or contacts (for the last 35 years).

So have any of you done laser eye surgery? My optometrist who I trust says not to. But millions of people do it and I never hear about any class action lawsuits or anything.....

[lux.sh]

good thing you asked this. Im also sick of my contacts and want to get this surgery in couple of months. a bit scared though.

My aunt did this few years back(she was around 37?). She did it because she was also sick of putting contacts on. After the surgery, she had some side effects for few weeks. She couldn't see really well at night. I think it was pretty serious few a week for two, but it all went away. Now, she is just like any other person with good eyes. No side effects, nothing.

I've heard alot of success stories, but also heard horror stories(but most of them were mainly back then, when this surgery wasn't as common). I think its a relatively easy/safe surgery to do nowdays. so I was thinking, stew, Why don't you do one first and let me know how it goes?

[nabutes]

I did it. And, I think it was one of the better decisions I've made in my life....

I think I posted my experience somewhere on this forum. I remember someone asking this before....

Anyways, go for it! If you qualify for the procedure, you won't regret it.....

[lux.sh]

nabutes, I also heard something about "qualification".
People told me your eyes can't be too bad or you can't be too old... or something.
any more details?

[F2006]

Qualifying means being a good candidate: a good doctor will tell you if the procedure is right for you (a bad one will only think about the easy $$$ and will offer you the procedure anyway). Make sure you approach a good doctor. Ask for a second opinion.

As far as I know a common problem for Lasik patients is poor night vision (worse than before the surgery) due to halos and glare. This usually happens to patients with large pupils. Severe dry eye is another counterindication.

In addition, all eye surgeries for correcting myopia permanently weaken the eye. If you play sports you may need to use some sort of eye protection after the surgery.

The point is, if something goes wrong you can't undo the procedure.

[findtom]

If you google a little bit you will find a few stories that will make you cringe with fear.

I wear contacts too and have considered it.

I have spoken to my optician about it many times I also recently discussed it with an optician from out west who is a customer. He said the reason not to do it past a certain age is due to the need for bifocal lenses. He also said the volume at which they perform these operations is quite alarming.

I'm not doing it for a few reasons:

1) I'm a wimp. I had to lie down with a wet towel on my head during the consultation for having my wisdom teeth removed... I was majorly medicated for the procedure itself (2 valium tablets + injected sedative). I would never make it in the room knowing that I'd be conscious for the operation and that they need to make an incision on your eye.

2) My prescription still changes and 100% success rate isn't all that great as I recall. I would hate to go through all that and still need glasses even if it was a weaker prescription.

3) There are some common side effects, and a few horror stories. I would hesitate to risk something as precious as my vision for the sake of some inconvenience.

4) There are lots of new things coming out. My cousin wears contacts that she only has to remove/change once per month and swears by them. There are also some non-surgical corrective methods I've heard of (i.e. contacts you wear at night that reshape your cornea).

[NaTuReB0Y]

my wife had her eyes done 6 years ago.....$3,400....by LASIK..

and she said it was one of her best investments.........

20/20 vision......

[Tykes22]

I'm 45 and had lasik 2 years ago. Slight astygmatism on left eye and mild myopia on right (- 5.00). Now no regrets, visual acuity 20/15 on both eyes.

My advice is have your qualification tests (approx 6 to 9 tests). They wont operate you if your not qualified. My doctor says the only risk I should fear is eye infection after operation (but that is mostly due to personal hygene)

During the first six months I had to wear sunglass when playing golf or driving. After a year I had to wear a reading glass (due to age).

I believe when "Tiger says everything--especially the hole and the ball--looks bigger".

[Juve29]

Hey Stew I got it done last year. I went to Lasik MD. So far so good. Best investment I've ever made.

There are 3 different types of procedures: the standard procedure which cost about $2200 it takes about one day to heal plus it's not painful; I got the procedure that cost $3500 it takes a week to heal plus it's painful; finally the last procedure is a new one that cost $3500 the eyes heal fast and apparently it's not painful.

My brother and my dad qualified for the first procedure, it all depends on your eyes. I had to get the second procedure which was long and painful but it was all worth it.

[StewtheBassman]

Wow, you guys are great! Thanks for your thoughtful responses!


As Tom and F2006 were saying there are consequences that are basically undoable once they're done, that has been my fear and my optometrist's assertion since I have been asking about this.

The other thing is that when my contacts are in I can't read up close (anymore), and when I take them out I'm perfect up close. I love to read and look at the computer at night, as well as other hobbies requiring good closeup vision (modelling, electronics etc)...so it's one or the other with correction.

I believe you guys who had it done as well, the freedom must be exhilarating.

And maybe as time goes on the procedures will get better and the contacts will get better.

[StewtheBassman]

My optometrist sells me my contacts, but at a cut rate. He's one of my biggest clients, and we trust each other implicitly.

His reasons are the same as F2006s, post #5.

[voltron1011]

I got it done about 7 years ago (lasik) and it was the best decision of my life.

[StewtheBassman]

How old are you voltron?

How is your night vision and your reading vision?