Corrective Eye Surgeries?

Curious for feedback from this group on corrective eye surgery. Who's had it done? Pleased with the results? Complications? etc?

I've been putting this off due to feedback and advice I had gotten from the motorcycle community when I was active there. Because I did a lot of night riding, halos and other side effects where a big concern for me. I do wear contacts now, and wear contacts that correct my astigmatism, so I'm not really hindered by glasses and the camera but I am tired of fooling with contact lens changes and cleanings.

What say ya'll?

I once informed about it to fix my nearsightedness but they told me that corrections will also worsen with age and there'd be a chance I'd need reading glasses pretty fast.

I decided to pass. Nearsighted isn't half that bad when you realize most people are prettier when fuzzy.

I have worn glasses for 27 years now and probably needed them sooner. I have thought long and hard about laser surgery, especially for certain jobs i was after. In the end, i decided against it because my eyesight is the one thing that i am most afraid of losing. Take a finger, an arm or a leg, but not my eyesight. I know that it is quite advanced these days, but nothing is 100% and i just don't want to be that 1%. I don't think anyone can tell you to do it or not. It is a very personal decision, since they are your eyes.

J-see said:

Nearsighted isn't half that bad when you realize most people are prettier when fuzzy.

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That's what I'm worried about. I look pretty dang good first thing in the morning, before I put my contacts in.

I too have avoided corrective surgery. Mainly because of the risks and my mom had it done and since then has had 2 more surgeries to compensate for age or some other factor. For me it's not worth it.

Well, it's not "corrective" surgery, in the sense you're talking, but I've had both eye's cataracts done... Basically they swap out your old lens for a new one. I wore glasses for 30+ years... and now don't need any... except for real close work... and those $12 supermarket cheaters work fine.

ok. a very good colleague of mine in Istanbul is a member of the local elite executive club. There are a number of eye surgeons in this club apparently, and when he inquired about getting his eyes lasered his surgeon colleagues in the club told him to forget it. They argued, that although it is their job to do these surgeries, the procedure is still relatively young and they cannot predict what could happen after 5, 10, 15 years.

I also went to a clinic a couple of years back and enquired about getting my eyes lasered. If they had lasered my eyes with the test values they had come up with I would be blind today. they forgot to take into account my astigmatism!!!! Nuf said.

Never say never, but it is highly unlikely ill ever lye under the laser.

I wouldn't do it. I've worn contacts almost 40 years. I'm nearsighted, that is, I can not see well at a distance. For the last 20 years I have had an increasing need to carry reading glasses while wearing contacts as the normal aging process happens. I think its called presbyopia. If contacts are removed, I can usually read fine. So now at 55, I'm on the fence about wearing contacts. I definitely need reading glasses with the contacts. In fact with contacts, I can't see crap within 6 feet of my face without the readers.

Anyway, my point is that if I had lasered my eyes years ago, I'd be very frustrated and angry right now with my near vision. Preserve your options and stay away from the laser. Laser only corrects one thing, usually distance. It will not prevent the eventual need for reading glasses, it will just complicate your options when that time comes. My eye doc agreed completely with my thinking on this.

Lately, I only wear contacts if I am going out in the rain or doing other active stuff where glasses would get wet or fogged up. As horrible as glasses are, I get more depth of field with them. Wearing distance glasses, I'm only fuzzy within 15 inches of my face instead of 6 feet with the contacts. Easy to remove them or look under them to read if need be.

If you have perfect vision, you won't be able to deny seeing what you just got punched on the arm for looking at.

Edited to add a more serious reply: I've worn glasses most of my life. Thought about corrective stuff, but there are plenty of things I really don't want to see all that clearly as [MENTION=31330]J-see[/MENTION] alluded to.

This has, to this point, been an interesting read. I like many have worn glasses/contacts for about 54 years. Glasses from 3rd grade to 9th, then contacts. Nearsighted. The part I hated about this the most was as a teenager, when I went swimming (glasses or contacts under water didn't cut it) I couldn't see what the girls looked like until I was too close to get away. Ha! To date I still wear hard contact lenses. As age as done to many parts of my body, my eyes now require reading glasses with the contacts for close up chores. I had thought about laser, but the thought of a screw-up and the halo effect that a friend of mine has after his surgery, made me think better of getting the surgery. Actually unless the surgery is absolutely necessary, I will stay away from the knife/laser. This includes the shoulder replacement the Doc says is the only option to eliminate pain. I told him as long as I can pop a pill to control the pain, I will keep what God gave me, thank you. Ha! I have found that welding, I can see better without the contacts or glasses.

Well, seems like i'm going against the grain here, but one of my old bosses had it done a few years ago, and he said it was one of the best things he'd ever done. Its not a permanent thing tho, only lasts about 10 years or so before it needs doing again

In my experience, I've know 4 folks that have had Lasik, and all 4 were thrilled with the results.

We have the advantage of having one of the pioneering clinics in this field in our area, though, and they've been doing Lasik since 1996, with the prestige of having THE "top performing refractive surgeon in the U.S."

I've looked into it, because of the success of the acquaintances, I've looked into it, but the cost is a little prohibitive (around $4000 US) when compared to advancing my NAS. I will say, though, that they are open about the potential for "touch-ups" as you advance in age, as everyone's eyes change as you get older, but most reputable places will offer follow-up visits/treatments/procedures in the package with the original procedure. They are also very up-front (here) about the potential for success and/or complications depending on your specific needs, and I've known them to turn away a couple of acquaintances who actually went in "cash in hand" because there would be "no long term benefit". That in itself, these days, adds to the perceived comfort level, especially when the screening is offered for free.

Not saying I'm for or against, but having considered the option myself for a few years, I figured I'd throw out some of the stuff I've contemplated... For now, I'm still satisfied with my contacts, but hate the "swap" to glasses in the evening, etc. I'm still digging into this option as well, but it's not THAT compelling for me. Especially since I just hit the age where "near" and "far" are starting to change a bit. LOL

WHATEVER YOU DO, I'd feel safe in saying don't go for the lowest price! Research the clinics in your area!!! Or, since you're durn close anyway, look at Triad just a bit north of ya...

cwgrizz said:

To date, I still wear hard contact lenses.

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Least you're still dating. My wife won't let me.:chuncky:

RocketCowboy said:

That's what I'm worried about. I look pretty dang good first thing in the morning, before I put my contacts in.

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I wouldn't say that I look good in the mirror without my glasses, but I do look bad when I wear my glasses.::what::

As someone who had major surgery early in my life, and several surgeries later, my standard is that if I don't have to be cut on, I'm not going to be cut on. If it's for convenience, and I can implement a work-around solution, I'll use the work-around. I understand how glasses can get in the way since I've worn them for about six years, but I'll live with them and their inconveniences.

For something like cataracts, though, I'd have surgery.

WM

I guess part of one's decision is how well contacts work for them. I always did extremely well. No comfort issues and crystal clear vision. The doc says my eyes produce very little proteins, aka goop. I can slip contacts in at 6am and wear them till midnight without ever feeling them. I can easily get 3 or 4 weeks out of disposables even with 18 hour days. Too bad they now wreck my near-vision so much.

I've got relatives who have had it done and love it. I was goona do it about 15 years ago when they were first offering it for $500 an eye in special pricing in Toronto. You had to get it done in Canada, and they advertised in our Syracuse New York paper. I thought it was a great price and was all set to do it until I found out I'd still have to wear glasses for farsightedness when I got older. I went to contacts and then finally to glasses, which I still wear as we speak or as I write. I don't regret not geting them done, and contacts were great until I couldn't read things up close any more. My glasses are fine as they are lightweight, and the only drawback is I have to get a new pair every 3 or 4 years. For me, it just wasn't worth $1000 for 10 years or so....AND it was unproven.

Whiskeyman said:

As someone who had major surgery early in my life, and several surgeries later, my standard is that if I don't have to be cut on, I'm not going to be cut on. If it's for convenience, and I can implement a work-around solution, I'll use the work-around. I understand how glasses can get in the way since I've worn them for about six years, but I'll live with them and their inconveniences.

For something like cataracts, though, I'd have surgery.

WM

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I think this is pretty much where I'm at. I've had enough needed surgeries, I can't really see doing an elective one. And with my eyes already being suspect for glaucoma, I'm even more hesitant to having someone scraping via laser or otherwise.

I do appreciate all the feedback though. Keep it coming if others haven't chimed in yet!

I only wear my glasses when watching some movie or driving. For the rest I am too used to my nearsightedness.

I use it as an advantage when shooting. I tried going out to shoot with glasses a while back but it drives me crazy. I see detail everywhere but I don't see many shots. Without glasses, I pick up composition and contrast much better, probably because my brain pays attention to that to make up for the loss. In a strange way it enhances my shooting since I see the overall shot first and only when focusing the cam, pick up all the details.

I've worn glasses since I could walk and am blind in my left eye. Because of that, my doctor says no and I wouldn't risk it anyway but was curious what he thought. Friends of mine have had mixed results.