lasik surgery

[freckle]

So i've finally decided to get Lasik surgery on my eyes.
I'm sick of wearing specs and contacts are just sooooo fussy.I had my consultation on Saturday and im a good candidate for it.My eyes are -1.75 and -2.25 which is within the range they can work on.
Ive checkd out all the details on the brochure and i've researched it all on the net,ive even discovered a few people at my waork have had it doen and never regretted it.
There are drawbacks like you get a 'halo' effect at night when you look at street lights and, get this, 'Starburst' effect, when you look directly at car headlights! I thought that was particularly funny.
Im a wee bit nervous about the whole laser thing,I mean when you get a tattoo or an innoculation or anything that hurts at all, you can always shut your eyes until its over.With this there's no where to hide, because they pin your eyes open with a speculum.
Its all a bit Clockwork orange!
So has anyone here had it done? Any words of advise for me
:eye: :eye: :eye: :eye: :eye: :eye: :eye: :borg:

[DRD2001]

I've not had it done. But some of my co-workers have. Some loved it. Others didn't. But most whom I've talked to were happy. One woman did have issues with her tearducts having to be plugged. But she's happy.

The one who didn't (and myself) have the same issue. She was nearsighted. Now she's farsighted. But she now realizes how much she used her close up vision. So she still wears glasses a lot. I do a lot of up close detail work and I like to read. So I decided to not get it cause I'd rather be able to see up close than far away.

[TalynLives]

I decided not to get it as my eyes can be quite dry sometimes and I don't want to do anything that might make that worse.

Also -1.75 isn't a very high prescription and it might be possible to lower it through gentler means. My eyesight went from -1.75 to -1.50 after I started eating healthier (they've held that improvement for about 2-3 years now). I reckon stress may also have an effect on them. I've started using relaxation techniques for my eyes lately and I've noticed some improvement with my vision without glasses and it feels weird to wear glasses. Must visit my optician to have another eyetest, hopefully it'll mean a lower prescription again :)

They don't recommend glasses for people with less than -1.00 prescription btw and often they only correct your eyes to this level in order to compensate a little for presbyopia in the future.

[Lord Loser]

Depends on your age Freck. I know you're young so you'll have a long time before you need glasses again. And you will need glasses again, this time to read as you get older. The good thing is that if you're near sighted, you have a built in magnifier (so they told me) and you won't have to wear glasses when you get older. Ok... that said...

I had it done back in 2000, I think... somewhere around there. Never regretted it a minute. The hardest part is actually holding your eye still as they laser it. They tell you not to move it, but you tend to have no control when you really want to. But it's not that bad. All told the actual time was 7 seconds for my left eye, 13 for the right. Yours will be less for that correction. Anyway... it is your decision. Make it and smile!

[marandken]

I had it done in 1998. My regular Opthamologist did it. He did and continues to do thousands of specialized laser surgeries... I am a complete coward, but the Spousal Unit encouraged me to check it out and the Doc said he could "cure" me. No doc ever says that, so I also checked everthing out and decided to do it.

It took 2 valums to get me calm enough to be in the chair for the procedure. They also gave me a teddy bear to hold for comfort. The Doc held my shoulder and my head was steadied in a buckwheat pillow so it wouldn't move. His foot (and a computer) controlled the laser. I asked what happens in an earthquake. He told me any shake from anywhere and he's off the laser pedal.

There is a chance that the procedure to do it now has been modified; I hear stuff on the radio; plus you're in Scotland, so it's unclear what your "FDA" has approved, etc.

Here's my experience: It was one of the best changes I've made in my life. I was in my early 40s when I did this; and had worn glasses/contacts since I was 8. It was a miracle for me. Every time I see my doc, I thank him again!

Here's the bad parts: Supposidly, you can "flinch" when they do the procedure, which can really frell things up. I have heard stories about how you can end up still needing correction, but a different Rx. I personally don't know anyone that this happened to; and believe me in the late 90's and early '00s there were a lot of people in Silicon Gulch having Lasik. It could be that this chance for error has been fixed with new procedures but you should check it out.

Cause blindness? (Said so right in my brochure): Doc says that could possibly happen because the incision in your eye could get infected. However if you use the antibiotics and go for the checkups (1 day after, 2 days later, 4 days...etc) then this is extremely unlikely.

Halos, night vision issues: Totally. Yep. But, here's the deal: they made the incision in the eye the approximate size of the pupil at normal light. At night, your pupil gets bigger to let in more light and the incision then comes into your vision line. So, I solved the problem by turning on the light in the back seat when I drive. That causes my pupil to get smaller; past the incision and totally cuts back (but doesn't eliminate) the halo thing. My Doc thought that was a good idea. Don't know if he's telling other patients. I don't really notice if I have the problem now... but it was pretty obvious for at least 2 years.

Dry eyes: to this day, there are times when I have to put drops in my eyes when I wake up. I consider this a small price to pay.

Other stuff to consider: People in their 40's start to have the problem with small print and stuff. What my doc did to help this was to under-correct my weaker eye. This is called mono vision. Somehow, your brain learns which eye to use for distance and which for close vision. This worked beautifully for about 5 years (which was his prediction, too). Now, to read fine print on medicine bottles, maps, etc. (anything below about 7 point type), I need the "cheaters" that you get in the drug store for about $10. However, I only need to use the "+1.25" and nothing stronger; or I ask The Boy to read it for me ;). Make sure your Doc will do this.

Find a good, mellow Doc who you trust and go for it!

[freckle]

Thanks everyoe for the advice!I think here in the Uk they wont be readily handing out the Valium, i'll have a wee painkiller before i go in.They give you Ibuprofen and steroids as well so i should be ok.I ve got tattoos and i had peircings so ive got a pretty high pain threshold i reckon.
I'm definately going for it,ive had my consultation and im going under the laser on March 18th.See you then.;)

[Milaya]

My uncle had it and he's glad it was done.I'm thinking of it too, but my sight ain't that bad.My friend had it done too and hers was perfectly succeed

[freckle]

Its reassuring to hear sucess stories,thanks Milaya.
Well my eyes are -1.75 and -2.25, which i think is not too bad.I know people who were -7 and the surgery was a great success for them.

[Lord Loser]

Bah... there's no pain involved. Just a little anxiety...

[FrelledProwler]

perfect 20/20 with no starburt or halo......the effect for me was temporary.

[freckle]

Do you mean the 20/20 was temporary or the starburst/halo???

[FrelledProwler]

the 20/20 was the final number my eyes level at after the surgury (2 years ago now). I
had the starburst and halos for about 3 months, and they faded away, but the eyes were
still perfect.

it's my understanding that the starburst and halo were after effects of the prior technology. The original technology required a blade to cut the opening so the laser could work. The newer technology (which is what I got) uses a laser to cut the lens as well as do the corrections. Using a laser to make the openining seems to reduce the starburst and halo
problems.

I will say, that after wearing glasses/contacts for 30 years having the surgury was the best choice I ever made.

[freckle]

Cool. Its the laser opening thingie im getting so hopefully no halos or anything.

[scorponaleash]

:bump:

...just thinkin' about ya'