Does laser eye surgery work?

[Super_Sport]

I was wondering if laser eye surgery works? I am near sided with a sigmetizam(sp?). And Someone suggested that I get laser eye surgery and get it fixed. Has anyone here had it? Does it work good?

 

[Katie1723]

Any one I know who had it, has nothing but praise for it.
Kathy

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

**I had the same conditions as you…wore glasses since I was about 10 I think. Had the surgery a few years ago, better than 20/20 vision.

But I would do your research…in this case, cheaper is usually a sign of something being up…better to go to a reputable place with LOTS of experience.
**

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I have no personal experience with this treatment.

While most of the reports I have heard are good, there is a percentage of failures. There was a recent article on this some place; maybe Google will turn it up. Ask the surgeon about his failure rate, and what the adverse effects may be. *

I also read of a problem of some getting less improvement than they expected. The surgeon considered the process a success, while the patient felt it was a failure. [This also seems to be a frequent problem with cosmetic surgery.] Be sure that you have a clear understanding of what the doctor will consider success.

I recently read that there are a variety of treatments available. There was a recommendation that some of the less technically flashy ones might be better in many cases. Explore your alternatives.*

 

[JimG]

Lasik generally works very well, but as with any surgery there can be complications. Most of them have to do with the quality of the surgical flap made before the laser reshaping of the cornea. Most people I have heard of have been quite happy with the results. Just keep in mind that not all eye surgeons are created equal.

Also, depending on your age, think about whether you are going to need cataract surgery within the next decade or so. If so, the vision improvements from cataract surgery and implant lenses can be even better than Lasik, and obviate the need for Lasik.

 

[yessisan]

I had it done in Feb '06. I had terrible eyesight, myopia and astigmatism and couldn’t see 2 ft from me w/o my glasses. My eyesight has never been better. I have 20/13 which is **way **better than 20/20.

It’s the best $3000 I’ve ever spent! I did it at Lasik the clinic to make sure they knew their stuff. And the best part about my surgery is that it has lifetime warranty so if my eyesight were to get to 20/40, they’ll do the surgery again at no cost to me.

My mom did her surgery in the early 90’s back when it was done with diamond tip cutting and they told her it would last 10 yrs but she cannot have it redone. She can still see perfectly far away but now she needs reading glasses, so I’m glad I had lasik done.

 

[puzzleannie]

SIL, friend and coworker have had it in the last year and are thrilled with the results, no complications.

have just been informed I am not a good candidate, bummer.

 

[Truly_Beloved]

Does anyone know if it’s recommended to wait until your childbearing years are over (if you’re a woman ), before getting this done?

My vision worsens with each pregnancy, which is why I ask.

 

[JimG]

Does anyone know if it’s recommended to wait until your childbearing years are over (if you’re a woman ), before getting this done?

My vision worsens with each pregnancy, which is why I ask.

Why does your vision worsen with each pregnancy? In any case, I would seek an opinion from a highly qualified ophthalmologist who does more than just Lasik; you don’t want him to have a vested interest in the recommendation.

As I mentioned before, cataract surgery with implant lenses may work just as well if you are doing both eyes. Lasik reshapes only ther cornea, and the cornea can change with age and is susceptible to age-related disease.

 

[Truly_Beloved]

Why does your vision worsen with each pregnancy?

It’s fairly common, as I understand. The pregnant body has something like 50% more blood pumping through it, and lots of fluid retention. So, my eyes change shape, along with the rest of me. Unfortunately, they never change in favor of better vision.

Thank you so much for the recommendation to see someone who does more than just Lasik… I never would’ve thought of that.

 

[yessisan]

It’s fairly common, as I understand. The pregnant body has something like 50% more blood pumping through it, and lots of fluid retention. So, my eyes change shape, along with the rest of me. Unfortunately, they never change in favor of better vision.

Thank you so much for the recommendation to see someone who does more than just Lasik… I never would’ve thought of that.

Yeah, you should definitely (sp?) see someone who does more than Lasik. My opthamologist recommended Lasik to me since my eyesight hadn’t changed at all in 2.5 yrs, so that’s why I went ahead and did it, but I got it done at Lasik instead just so I could do payments. I couldn’t afford the $3000 in one payment.

 

[JimG]

It’s fairly common, as I understand. The pregnant body has something like 50% more blood pumping through it, and lots of fluid retention. So, my eyes change shape, along with the rest of me. Unfortunately, they never change in favor of better vision.

Thank you so much for the recommendation to see someone who does more than just Lasik… I never would’ve thought of that.

It occurs to me that more blood vessels in the retina could have an adverse effect. You also want to watch out for early onset glaucoma, which might not be diagnosed simply through intraocular pressure but through comparative photos of the optic nerve.

Finally, there are such things as hemangioma lesions of the retina, which can be exacerbated by pregnancy. And those could be early indications of VHL disease. Not trying to scare anyone, but opthalmologists are uniquely qualified to catch such early indicators.

 

[CarrieH]

My nephew had it done a few years ago, and needs to go in for a touch-up one of these days, but he is mostly happy with the results. As for myself, I’m a bit slower to subject myself to any sort of surgery, esp. after reading this: www.lasikcomplications.com
Get yourself as informed as possible before you decide, and don’t choose a doctor solely based on price.

 

[jc-servant]

I was wondering if laser eye surgery works? I am near sided with a sigmetizam(sp?). And Someone suggested that I get laser eye surgery and get it fixed. Has anyone here had it? Does it work good?

I was very near sighted and had a bad astigmatism in both eyes. I had laser correction in 2000 by a very experienced eye surgeon who had many years with corneal transplants and other eye surgeries before Lasik came along. No newbies shooting lasers onto my eyes!

Definitely do your homework, check with other people, read for business complaints and get a real eye doctor (board certfied eye surgeon) to perform the surgery, not an optometrist or some other type of doctor who just got certified to use the laser. It is all basically automated after the mapping and plotting of points (usually), but if something odd happens you want a real surgeon who can use a scalpel if need be.

Follow the instructions about using antibiotic eye drops before and after the surgery and the little sterile vials of lubricating eye drops for at least two weeks following surgery. (Budget for the lubricating drops because they can easily run $15 per box.)

My doctor said to use drops every 5 minutes on the day of surgery (while awake) and every 15 minutes while awake for the next 2 weeks. We had to sleep in protective eye gear to keep from rubbing the eye. He said that by the time a person feels like the eye is getting dry that the cornea has already gotten very dry. He said that keeping it moist speeds healing.

I’m still happy, no complications and 20/20 after nearly 8 years.

If cost is a consideration it is better to get health care financing through someplace such as Care Credit or Capital One instead of compromising on which surgeon to use. Most of the good places will accept financing or those types of outside loans. Depending on the loan obtained, they can be interest free up to 18 months.

 

[eliza3b]

I had LASIK surgery 4 years ago and I have had no problems or complications. I too had an astigmatism in each eye, plus I was nearsighted. My vision went from 20/300 to 20/15.

I had mine done at a TLC center, which was recommended by my Optomologist (that’s where he had his done).

My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner! I was 37 at the time and wished I could have enjoyed perfect vision for a longer period of time, plus I wasted a lot of $ on glasses and contact lenses, solution and what not.

So go for it, but do your homework!

 

[Just_wondering]

I’ve heard rumours that night vision can worsen after Lasik, but I’ve never researched it. I’d like to get it done, but my vision isn’t too terrible, glasses are incredibly cheap in Korea, and my night vision is already bad and I don’t want it to get bad enough to prevent me driving.

I’ve heard rave reviews from people who’ve had it done in the last two years, though. No long-term results, but it sounds okay. I’m just not so sure I want people approaching my eyes with lasers or scalpels.

 

[takers]

The only night vision worsening that I’ve had is the expected halos. Basically, instead of seeing the headlights of cars as pretty concise circles, I see them more as stars. A slight circle with little lines shooting off in all directions. It was a little weird getting used to it at first, but it never interfered with my driving ability. Now, I hardly notice them unless I’m really tired and my eyes would be getting fuzzy from tiredness anyway.

 

[JimG]

The only night vision worsening that I’ve had is the expected halos. Basically, instead of seeing the headlights of cars as pretty concise circles, I see them more as stars. A slight circle with little lines shooting off in all directions. It was a little weird getting used to it at first, but it never interfered with my driving ability. Now, I hardly notice them unless I’m really tired and my eyes would be getting fuzzy from tiredness anyway.

Did you by chance have PRK surgery rather than Lasik? PRK (photorefractive keratotomy) used to be quite common but has been pretty much replaced with LASIK.

 

[Joannm]

Did you by chance have PRK surgery rather than Lasik? PRK (photorefractive keratotomy) used to be quite common but has been pretty much replaced with LASIK.

I had PRK. I had the surgery done because of a condition that happened at night where my eyelid would stick to my cornea causing unbelievable pain and significant decrease in vision for several days. PRK is done on the surface of the cornea and he basically fuesed the layers together so they don’t rip off. He also corrected my vision but because the damage in my left eye was so severe from this condition happening all the time that he could not get perfect vision…but I went from 2/400 to 20/50. But he considered that a success. He also did the other eye which didn’t have as much damage and he got that to 20/20. I have to wear glasses for reading and the computer but other than that I can do without. I had no complications.

 

[yessisan]

My night vision didn’t change much. I already couldn’t take the lights at night. At first after the surgery it was a bit annoying seeing the halos but I think that went away, or I got used to it. I don’t drive at night much any more so I would have to drive at night and come back to tell you…