Laser Eye Surgery

[Bibs]

I've been wearing contact lenses for 15 years or so as my vision is myopic. I occassionally change to glasses but generally I use 'extended wear' gas permeable lenses which I can keep in for a month, even overnight. These have been causing some problems recently so I've been investigating surgery which is now very cheap, from ~

[wiseraven]

One of my bosses had his done a few years back. He said it was incredible. The only thing that's kept me from having it done is the (uncorrectable) problem some people have had with night vision afterwards. That was a few years ago - I don't know if that's still a problem, or whether it was just because the technology was new.

[Quicker]

My wife - wore 'thick' glasses most of her life, wore contacts for many, many years. Had Lasik done 4 years go - prefect 20/20 still. Took 20 mins.

I watched the whole thing - creepy neat.

Edited November 7, 2007 by Quikr

[esprit350]

Renu had it done 11 years ago, bests thing ever she says... much better these days ..newer technology , faster recovery etc

[Bazza 907]

I had it done 5 years ago. One of the best things I ever done. Once done I was 20:20 and I've had problems since but over time my eyesight has deteriorated slightly to the point where I now wear glasses for driving at night but don't need them during the day.

I had mine done privately at Moorgate Eye Hospital in London which was more expensive than the High street option but hey you only get one pair of eyes. Moorgate get to correct all the horror stories you read about with Laser surgery.

Sorry just reread my earlier post and thought I'd better correct it as it should be I've had NO problems since.

Bazza

Sorry I've just re read my post - It should have said I've had NO problems since.

Bazza

[iainskea]

Bibs, I had both eyes done 4 years ago - with perfect results.

My eyesight went to near-sightedness at age 14 and I wore glasses since, changing to contacts for two years at the end.

I had both eyes assessed and they predicted a perfect correction. It was all computer mapped etc and as an engineer I was a lot more comfortable with the data-approach than a medical approach.

My eyes were a bit graining for about 3 days, but I could tell that my vision was perfect straight away.

I have perfect long distance eyesight, and was concerned that my short vision would be affected, but I have found that close reading, modelling, PCs are no problem at all. At age 43, I suppose that in the next 10 years or so I will need reading glasses (with age).

I remember you once said you missed out on a career with the RAF over eyesight - well nowadays they let you have laser surgery and still join - how does that bite? I ended up an engineer and not a pilot because of that!

I don't have any of the reputed side-effects, like eye sensitivity at night etc, so I am a good news story.

Happy to discuss more anytime you want,

Iain

[peteyg]

My old man had it done about 5 years ago. Had glasses all his life and was VERY short sighted with bad astigmatisms in both eyes. Now his long sighted vision is spot on but he needs reading glasses for reading or working on stuff close up in the garage etc. As I understand it, if you have a bad prescription then there's only so much improvement that can be done.

[Mark Blanchard]

I wanted to get it done, but I've got dry eyes, the pores get block and have been advised not to get it done. Speaking to people who have had it done with dry eyes, they said the have to put eye drops in the eyes regularly. It works well for some people, not for others.

Check you don't suffer from this problem first.

[98GT3]

I have thought of doing it many times, but always stopped short. I was interested in the dark vision problem and wanted to find out more about it. The reason there can be problems at night is because laser surgery does not reshape the whole of the lens surface, it just does a 6mm or so dia correction in the centre of the lens. During daytime this isn't a problem as the iris makes the pupil much smaller than this, but at night when the pupil diameter can get larger than this the distortion between the reshaped and the original curvature can cause a strange effect on your peripheral vision.

My shortsight is now improving with time and my lens strength getting less, so for now I am sticking to my gas perms as they are very easy to live with.

Phil

98GT3

[Tentenths]

Bibs and I had a chat about this a few weeks ago. I'm in exactly the same boat as him - and I suspect many other people - in that it's something I've been seriously considering, on and off, for several years. But I've never got beyond the initial research phase as I've wanted to hear first hand, real world experiences from people known to me before taking it any further. So this thread is proving v.interesting to me too... keep it coming guys.

[matk]

He's not posted yet but I believe Graham (Backmarker) had this done a couple of years back, so you could drop him a PM too if he doesn't see this.

[rens914]

Bibs

my wife had it done about 5 years ago (she was 46 then)

she had -4 and -4,5 with cilinders

the day after she had her eyes lasered (lasik 4) she could see clearly the moment she came out of her bed but needed reading glasses instantly. (never needed them befor)

she also wore hard lense for 20 years and it takes about 1 year befor the deforming of your eyes is back to normal.

hard lenses give your eye balls an other shape

it has to come back to normal befor you can have them lasered

if you are using soft lenses you wont have this problem

she is still very happy with the result but a bit disappointed about having to ware reading glases now

for me that's the reason i didn't do it

i wear nothing (-1 and -3/4) and am used to my sight

after the laser yob i will see better but will have to use reading glasses

ps

you can also have the yob done in turkye or thailand (hollyday will be payed for you) quality is the same

greets Rens

Edited November 7, 2007 by rens914

[Bibs]

I remember you once said you missed out on a career with the RAF over eyesight - well nowadays they let you have laser surgery and still join - how does that bite? I ended up an engineer and not a pilot because of that!

That's exactly what happened dude. The RAF and I researched corrective surgery at the time (which was on old aircraft carriers in Russia 15 years ago!) and there were too many doubts about the effects of high g's on a lens which had been cut as the technique was to scapel cut the lens and squash it back then. I've still got all my paperwork from that, if only laser surgery was about at that time!

Thanks for all the great replies, looks pretty positive so far

[mangel]

had corrective on one eye after an accident and it is pretty much perfect after 10 years. Only problem I ever have is when falling asleep drunk I occssionally wake up with a little pain i that eye the following day, could be because I rub my eyes in my sleep!!

All in all its a good thing!!!

[rens914]

That's exactly what happened dude. The RAF and I researched corrective surgery at the time (which was on old aircraft carriers in Russia 15 years ago!) and there were too many doubts about the effects of high g's on a lens which had been cut as the technique was to scapel cut the lens and squash it back then. I've still got all my paperwork from that, if only laser surgery was about at that time!

Thanks for all the great replies, looks pretty positive so far

that's odd

happened to me too

after coming from the university i wanted to go to the dutch air force with training camps in canada and curacao

problem was my sight (was the same as nowadays (-1 and -3/4)

in those days it was a problem. now they would have taken me

went to work in a casino instead

pretty the same

war-zone every day

rens

Edited November 7, 2007 by rens914

[Bibs]

Err, me too! Spent 8 years from there in Casinos in London and was a Pit Boss and the Golden Horseshoe in Bayswater when I left!

[Backmarker]

Had mine done 12 months ago.

Private clinic in Harley Street London. Worth every penny.

Now 20:20 vision.

I have some vouchers which give you a small discount if you use the same clinic.

I'd avoid the High Street chains. They may be cheaper but what price do you put on your eyes.

Now get it done and stop being a baby.

Graham.

PS..............seems to be a common theme but I only discovered my defective eyesight when I failed the flight-crew medical at Biggin Hill. Law doesn't even come a close second.

[fmxa]

Both the wifey and I had this done with excellent results - wish I would have done it years ago.

[MPx]

..............seems to be a common theme but I only discovered my defective eyesight when I failed the flight-crew medical at Biggin Hill. Law doesn't even come a close second.

...and for me too!! Got on the 5-day selection centre at Biggin Hill when I was 16 but was "allowed to leave" after 3 days when I failed the eyesight test. I was really upset at the time not just at the end of my pilot ambition but cos I wasn't keen on wearing bins. In my debrief it turned out I had 6/6 vision (ie as far as measured at the time in opticians by reading the bottom line of the chart) but not 20/20 required for the RAF. I finally got my first set of bins at the age of 48 and still only have a very mild prescription. Have also considered laser, but am pretty sure that its not possible to do laser bifocals. Distance is the real issue for me, but as others have said, age is likely to kick in any moment and require reading specs. Cant see the point of correcting one at the expense of the other. But pleased to hear such good results from so many.

An old buddy of mine (Dominic McHugh) is a Harley Street laser eye surgeon who worked with developing the technology from the start of all this laser stuff (and he runs some fine cars so it must be a good business to be in!). Let me know if you could use an intro.

Mike

[Vulcan Grey]

Just talked with my eye doc (an eye surgeon) about this myself.

For the dry eyes I would recommend getting the lower drain ducts cauterized closed.

I wear contacts and had super dry eyes, but couldn't bother to remember to use drops. I tried the punctal plugs (little silicone barbs) but one ripped out (not pretty), so we let that heal, and then burned the little sphincters (tear duct annulus) with what looked like a soldering iron. This healed quickly and perfectly, and now my eyes stay moist with almost no need for drops. Though I do tear up when I laugh hard...

I also switched to daily disposable contacts, as they are much more healthy, and I was having protein deposit problems after only 2 days with the 2week lenses. Much more comfortable.

My eye doc said I would be an ideal candidate for the Lasik (which he does not do) due to my mild nearsightedness (-2.25 & -1.75), and it could fix my astigmatism. He did not like PRK at all due to the harshness of removing the top layer of cells and the temporary loss of the protective layer. Though he said that with my perfect near vision, if I did have it I might need reading glasses when I turn 40 or 50.

I know several people who have done either Lasik or PRK, and all the Lasik people were very happy, and all the PRK people were in much pain with super dry eyes afterwards, for a long time.

They can slice the cornea with a laser now with Lasik, rather than the blade...

Edited November 8, 2007 by Vulcan Grey

[arbell9]

A word of caution, all surgical proceedures carries risks and those risks relate to method of surgery, your specific eye condition and competance of the surgeon. I will see if I can find a proper clinical review article at work on the subject listing the types and incidences of adverse events with this type of proceedure. And remember the private clinics make money out of this so their view or take on the adverse events may be rosier than if you went NHS with this (not that you would get treated on the NHS before your 40th birthday).

By all means take individuals experiences as info to throw into the melting pot, but really sit down with two or more surgeons and really ask them about the downsides to the proceedures.

Remember you only get one pair of eyes and if they get screwed up you cant swap them like a duff pair of glasses.

Cheers

Alex B)

[Vulcan Grey]

maybe not in the future...

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2217.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/591696.stm

http://www.physorg.com/news112450687.html

[talon]

My girlfriend had Lasik done about 6 weeks ago. She had been a lifelong contact and glasses wearer but had near perfect vision the next day after the procedure. At her 1 month checkup, she had perfect 20/20 vision. I've never needed reading or vision aids, but would still recommend the process to anybody.

btw - She had the new 100% laser process done. There was no scalpel involved at all.

[Series]

Hi guys been reading this thread with interest, being a Dispensing Optician and running my own Website http://www.spectacles.gb.com and Shop, my advice is if you are going to go down this road, check out carefully the clinic you are going to use. Avoid high street offers like Optical Express, and stick to a dedicated laser clinic like BUPA or Moorfields.

As been said before you only have 1 pair of eyes and MISTAKES are often permanent. Surgery can not be reversed..........

[Dan]

Another RAF, BA, etc. reject due to eyesight

Am I reading rightly that astigmatism can be corrected now?