Ask Me About My LASIK Experience

Friend of mine also got it,... and it's only temporary. I glad it's a good experiences.

Id like to get it,...I could get it done I believe because I had pretty bad (a)stigmatism?,... I guess that's not a problem anymore.

My daughter had hers done. She was extremely pleased with it.

I did, about 8 years ago.

Had completely forgotten about the smell until reading your post, but that brought it back right away. What I really, vividly remember is the laser creating the bubbles... kind of a fog stitching it's way across my vision. Then when they lift the flap it went from a grey to just... nothing?? Not dark, but not light or anything describable.

Then just when I'm lying there wondering if I will ever see again, the surgeon started to replace the flap. THAT was the weirdest thing. It was literally as if he was painting my vision back on; as he smoothed it into place the vision came back in strips behind until i could see a full picture.

For me it went from 20/75 & 20/85 or so- couldn't legally drive without glasses- to 20/15. Awesome!

I still don't wear glasses, although my eyes have been more sensitive to glare ever since. Still very happy with it.

Had cataract surgery earlier this year;different surgery but a fantastic success. I had worn glasses for 60+ years now mu vision is 20/20 in both eyes and I don't need glasses for driving anymore (had to retake the BMV eye test though).

Eye surgery has gone from a very major recovery (weeks/months) time. to a few hours or days. It all seemed to improve in the 1970s.

Back in 1999, three of us who worked together dared each other to get it done. We, two guys and one gal, all hated wearing glasses. So we went together and got evaluated. Went in the next day and went through the procedure. Back then, there was only the relaxing drops, then a razor tool that opened up the front of the eye so the laser could do it's thing, then replace the flap and you're done. Wear dark glasses for a day and I haven't worn glasses for 20 years, except for dollar store reading glasses for fine print. $1500/eye back then so they made $9000 in 45 minutes for the three of us. But it was amazing for me to be able to see a golf ball fly over 200 yards out!!

I was 50 at the time and borderline eligible as the lens starts to get stiff around then. It's only recently I've noticed that one of my eyes seems to be reverting back to its nearsightedness. I'll probably get that checked out soon to make sure it's not some other problem developing.

Hooker

Friends,

Be careful of Mucallar Degerneration of Eye my wife is suffering a lot and it does not any reliable solution.Old age problem.

True. There are several varieties of macular degeneration, but the outlook is not good for any of them. However, macular degeneration is a disease of the retina, at the back of the eye, whereas Lasik surgery aims to improve the optics of the front of the eye.

Are there any advances for longsighted people like myself?

As an aside, when I was 59, I had a fold of my upper eyelid (both) that was starting to obscure my vision, so I went to hospital for a few hours and had them removed/shortened.

The doctor who did the work, said he had never ever had to remove so much skin/flesh in one lump as he had to take from my left eyelid!

I must admit that the improvement for both eyes was massive....

It was funny though, when you have your eyes "closed", but the strip is gone (not yet sewn up!) and you can "see" everything!! Really weird effect!!

Truly "Eyes Wide Shut" as Tom Cruise might say! (Great film, great nude scene with Nicole Kidman, great B**T!!

11 years later, I am still really happy with the result of the op.

Lasik surgery is suitable for both short and long sight. The eye may be considered as a pair of convex lenses, with refraction largely due to the shape of the cornea, while the lens playis a relatively minor role (its specific function is to focus on near or far by varying in shape). Modifying the curvature of the cornea can have a substantial effect on focussing, but obviously there is a limit in making an area of the cornea too thin. This is one of the reasons why I am not considering Lasik surgery myself.

There is a good account of the optics of the eye here.

I underwent a LASIK surgery about 6 or 7 years ago and results were really great magic!

The results don´t last forever (at least, not in my case) as the vision sharpness deteriorates over the time due to ageing and slight modifications in the size and "roundness" of the eyeballs. Some patients can (should it be neccesary) be reoperated, while other may need to wear glasses with a mild correction.

Sometimes my sight gets a bit blurred, dramatically improving with the use of some artificial teardrops.

The "smell"you refer to is caused by the smoke produced by the laser when applied on the cornea, as this tissue gets vaporized. Not very pleasing, but lasts only a few seconds....

My only concern was if I was capable of keeping the eyes focused on the "red dot" during the entire procedure as indicated by the doctor: my fear was that any deviation on my part could also cause a deviation of the laser.... and a potential complication.

When I told that to the eye surgeon he smiled and said (to my relief) that the laser is auto-centering, so I had to fear nothing about.

Agree on this one strongly, lots of Lions Clubs take them and donate them to those in need. I did that with several pairs of childhood glasses that no longer fit.

I second phph001's suggestion that you donate your glasses. Lions Clubs International is one organization that collects glasses for redistribution. I give our old specs to a friend's husband who's a Lions Club member.

My wife had very early macular degeneration when she was about 10 years old and had to go for a primitive LASIK surgery. Being a younger kid she flinched several times, so while the surgery stopped the degeneration she now sees a thin black line through her left eye. Surprisingly she still sees pretty well but night driving is difficult.

Anyway, sounds like the surgery's come a long way since 1993--good to know you had a positive experience.

I suspect that what your good wife had was a corneal opacity rather than macular degeneration. That would have been amenable to corneal surgery. Macular degeneration cannot be cured surgically. There is a rare form of degeneration with onset in childhood, but another possibility is that it was a retinal detachment, which was treated by retinal surgery at the back of the eye rather than corneal surgery at the front.

I'll have to ask her--she's only 34 but has had a number of rare medical conditions. For a few years she was thought to be the youngest person in the world with Meniere's disease (diagnosed at 13).

This was my first question, how long does it last? Since you are more or less just changing the optics of the eye. Doesn't it still keep changing anyway? like just as fas as your prescription for glasses changes, doesn't this still happen after this procedure?

Well, in my case, after being nearsighted for 50 years, I had awesome long vision for about 17 years. Then I noticed my left eye changing a bit. My long vision isn't as sharp as my right eye. But then at my age, lots of stuff is changing and not usually for the good.

And, IMO, prescriptions for glasses do not address why eyes change, they just attempt to correct the situation of the moment. Lots of theories out there about why eyes change.

I loved my experience and heartily recommend it.

Hooker

One can expect the corneal surface to remain the same with the passage of time. What changes, and necessitates a new prescription, is an increasing loss of elasticity in the lens.

As a sidenote to those that may want to do lasix, but are told that their situation make them not a person that it would work on. Ask your doctor then, about then doing Cataracts type of surgery.

I was as all do it seems getting older and close in vision was gone. Had to wear "Readers" Then Cataracts hit, It was none in one eye, and marginal in the other.

Went in to check it out, and it was a MAJOR place that does thousands a year.And probably would do double that if it was not for a video they make you watch.

Now I do not know since I have never had any type of surgery at all, but like when you're gonna have your appendix taken out do they make you watch a video of the whole procedure?

Well for Cataracts surgery at least at this place they do. And WHAT!!!? Are you effing kidding me!!??

They numb the area around the eye, and then inert the contraption like from "A Clockwork Orange" to keep your eye open.

Then in the side of your eye, they make a slice, and go into your eyeball, And "Remove" the old lens.

"Remove" the old lens? Yeah more or less they go in with like a Dremil tool,,, grind up the old lens, and then suck out the grindings!

Ummm HELLO! YIKES! Because while they re doing this, you re 100% awake AND still using this eye! You are still looking through it!

Eventually they get all the shavings out, and insert a new lens. Somehow attach it to the old lens mounts. Do not remember how.

But after the vieo was over I said Sory,, NOT gonna happen! Are you kiding me? Youre gonna do that while I'm totally awake and using that eye! Hell No!

I left, But sadly about 6 years later, the one eye was totally blind now, and the good eye was as bad as the first one was. So I went back in, and had it done.

It was no where near as bad as the video made it out to be. Had the Bad eye done, hen a couple days later the other one.

Incredible, perfect 20/20 or better distance vision! And since the insert lenses cant change focus, still need "Readers" BUT hats only if I need to get less than say 10 inches from my face! Anything 10 inches or farther away is in perfect focus!

This was done 10 years ago now, and even tho I'm getting older (60) they have not chnged at all either!

So anyone that cant get any type of laser or lasix treatment ask about cataracs. might be an option!

Joe

I can validate your experience by anecdote. My older sister, 80-ish, lost a lens in one eye when a box baling wire that she snipped and went into her eye. That was 40 plus years ago and back then nothing could be done to re mediate the injury.

Fast forward to last year. She's been functionally blind in one eye for 40 plus years and her good eye is fast developing a cataract. She was just about legally blind and her ophthalmologist recommended cataract surgery. It took a great leap of faith for her to risk her one "good" eye to the possibility of being totally blind but, with a bunch of encouragement from me and others who have had surgeries like Lasik, she did it. And it was like a miracle!! The anxiety was worse than the treatment by far.

It's only too bad that the eye she damaged so long ago still can't be fixed, for reasons that are beyond me. Eye surgery nowadays is still awesome.

Hooker

I am starting to develop a cataract in my right eye, and near-sighted in both eyes, wear glasses. I have been considering having the right eye done, but then I would need a monocle. I don't have a German Officer uniform to go with that, but I suppose my work uniform will still have my "stylin"!

Are you serious? Too many old geezers still living around here that wanted to put a pineapple suppository in Hitler's poop chute.

Too many snowflakes probably think I am a national socialist anyway. I ain't any kind of socialist, they are, and are too stupid to figure it out!

Although, it could make for something interesting to wear while flying my Fw-190A8 in bomber pursuit in the Aces High III game. I still need to go out and buy my new gaming computer. The A8 model has 4 20mm cannon in the game, and it is a good gun platform.

No you wont need anything for distance vision they make the lens that they put in to be perfect distance vision!

I would always recommend having only one eye done at a time.

Thank you sir! Salute!

I wouldn't. For all that's involved and the relatively low risk of complications, I consider it more of a risk to endure 2 separate operations instead of both in one appointment. This is only after having had it done- beforehand, I definitely was thinking 2 in case they screwed up the first!!

Indeed. History is always written by the winners. You might reflect on the possibility that had something gone wrong you would have had considerably more difficulty accessing this forum.

I agree the complication rate is low, but it is not zero.

Yes, from personal experience, a monocle is very distinguishing and the ladies love it.

Hogan!!! Where did you get my picture!!! I will have you thrown in the coola!

This TV series has also been seen here in Germany and as far as I can tell, the adaption is pretty damn good. But the REALLY funny part, if you understand German, is that they have given all the "Germans" in the series, regional accents from different areas of Germany.

It makes it a really top show, today in 2017, even though it came in the 1960's to the USA!!

t was a top show back then in the 60's also...

What made it authentic, is that the actors had real life experience... I suppose like most in that era.

Werner Klemperer, (Coronel Click) Born in Cologne, Rhine Province, Germany. Klemperer and his family fled Germany in 1935 and join the army during WWII.

Robert Clary, (Corporal Louis LeBeau) Born in 1926 in Paris, France. In 1942, because he was Jewish, he was deported to the Nazi concentration camp at Ottmuth, in Upper Silesia (now Poland). He was tattooed with the identification "A5714" on his left forearm. He was later sent to Buchenwald.

Of all the characters on the show, I liked Sargent Shultz the best...

Whenever tyranny arises, the best side of common ordinary people comes out; the resistance is not only not futile, it is essential!

I hate to see so many opportunities in the now re-unified Deutschland be frittered away with stupid policies. This is not unique to Deutschland, however. Leaders all over the world need to heed the voice of the common man and remember that they are the servants, not the masters of the people.

The government rests on broader shoulders than the human leaders, to be sure.

the resistance is not only not futile, it is essential!

Unless fascism and violence are happening in the name of resistance.

That is what my Doctor is telling me..Nearsighted, worn glasses for 55 years, wanted Lasik, but maybe should ask him about the cataract path..

Take your glasses to a Donation Center.My Optometrist does Missions for his Church every year, to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Borneo etc, and they do free eye surgery etc. They take all the donated glasses and hand them out in case they can't repair or help theirvision, at that time..

I said...

..He fell into the lens machine and made a spectacle of himself.

(Good subject)

I had pixel perfect vision into 40's..

Now I need 1/1.5X to see perfect pixels.

I had been wearing glasses from an early age of about 8 years old and hated (HATED) wearing them. However, it wasn't until the year 2000 that I finally was able to afford the LASIK procedure. Of course, it was my EX-wife's idea for me to be the guinea pig for the Lasik experiment; she said if I wasn't blind afterwards then she would have the procedure! HAHA! I should have screamed "I'm blind!" and got her reaction. Regardless, I was so happy with the procedure and was stunned to not be wearing glasses.

The issues I had and are now having are listed below:

• I was NEARSIGHTED with ASTIGMATISM (roughly 20/400) and my focal point without glasses was approx 6"-7" from my face.
• The procedure was the type where the cornea flap was cut and folded back, Lasik performed, area washed and the flap returned to position. As for the "smell"??? I just remember the smell of medical disinfectant and the perfume of the doctor's assistant being really strong. I didn't smell any burning flesh, as they had a very good fume extraction system. I had pretty much the same post op symptoms as you did but was blurry for about 2 weeks before my eyes started to settle into getting used to the Lasik.
• For about 6 months afterwards, I was seeing "flowers" or "halos" around street and signal lights. They slowly went away as my eyes completely healed.
• I would keep trying to adjust my non-existent glasses.
• Now I have to wear the crappy safety glasses my employer provided, so I bought my own.
• My eyes became more light sensitive for about 5 years but they are better now.

Now for the longer range issues:

• After approx. 17 years from having the procedure, I'm back to wearing glasses as my vision has sunk to about 20/40 from the original Lasik correction of 20/15.
• Seems kind of silly to pay a ton of money to get my eyes touched up as I'm getting older (going to be 52 in a couple months) and my vision is fluctuating in focus (depending on weather conditions and allergies).
• My last set of glasses were "progressive" (trifocals without lines) lenses and I do not recommend them as my close up inspection vision focal length has changed dramatically and I must now use a Magna-visor for the close up vision or small part inspection or reading TINY print!

My experience with Lasik is a positive one; however, there are long term ramifications that come up years after and increasing age makes them a bit worse. If I had to do it all over again, would I? The answer is...YES!

Good luck with your new eyeballs and keep them protected!

Bryan

I'm glad your Lasik experience was great. I had lens implants back in 1993 and my vision is still great; no glasses. Before that, I could not drive legally without glasses, but even with glasses, glare was so bad I couldn't even read the road signs until I just passed them. I missed many turns because of that. I was told eye glasses would no longer be able to correct my vision. I remember the day after having a lens implant, when the eye patch was removed. I saw bright blades of grass stand out like icicles, when before, a field of grass was just a non descript green blur. One month later, I had the other eye done; I am now eyeglass free. I'm sure you have experienced the frustration of wearing glasses like I did. Glasses would fog up, get covered with grease when working on my car; that would cause me to smash them in a fit of anger. My job was also compromised due to poor vision.

Whether it's Laser or implants, the procedure is painless and improves the life of anyone. I would recommend to have it done regardless of cost, as it makes a world of difference. BTW, my mother-in-law who is 90 just had a lens implant done.

Cool. Thanks for sharing your personal experiences so openly and honestly.

I may put this off just a bit longer, I want to be near my retirement age when I do.

My friend's mother gave a similar account of the success of her cataract operations. She was a good painter in watercolours. Before the operation her picture style was blurred and Impressionistic. After the operation her pictures were quite different in their sharpness and detail.

Good to hear you're pleased with it.

My eldest son has it done a few years ago and he's happy with it. I'm 72 and starting wearing glasses for distance in my early 40s, for distance - road signs, TV etc. I couldn't read with them on so I was always whipping them off and on. I got bifocals 7-8 years ago but couldn't get on with peering down through the plain lens. But about 3 years ago I found I could see distance OK without them, so I stopped wearing glasses at all, which was great. Eye test confirmed, left eye better for distance, right better for close-up, so between them I'm covered.

I believe most eyes tend to get longer-sighted with age, and mine did. Perhaps if you waited a few years (or decades!) you needn't have had the op ��