Eye surgery to correct poor vision

[TheGoofster]

POLL:
Has anybody ever had this done? Or would you ever do this?
I have been wearing contacts for close to 25 years now, and even though I like them better than glasses, there are times that I would LOVE to not have to put them in in the morning, or take them out at night.
Here in Mexico, corrective eye surgery is very popular. But for some reason the thought of having any kind of surgery to my eyes is a bit frightening.
I was just wondering if anybody here has ever gone through it, especially very recently with some of the newest methods.
Or perhaps there´s somebody here who is also thinking about it.

 

[CarolG]

I wore contacts and/or glasses for 30 or so years. I was very near-sighted. I had Lasik surgery to correct my vision in 2001. It's wonderful!!

There are several other DISer's who've done this, too, and I think most if not all of them were happy with the results.

Just make sure that you're comfortable with the doctor who's doing the surgery. My regular opthamologist did mine.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

My brother is an opthamologist. He will not do this type of surgery nor would he have it done on himself. That says enough to me to never look into it.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I've been thinking of it for awhile now. I got some glasses that were progressive w/three distance levels - reading, computer, and distance. They were driving me crazy, and after a couple of years I was getting so irritated I decided to get my eyes done. I copied a couple of phone numbers from the radio, but then a coworker told me that he and another coworker had gone to this very reputable doctor in Torrance. So, I took the plunge and went with that doctor, too. On Feb 9th, I had my right eye done. (My left eye is only slightly blurry long distance and can see fine close up, so I didn't need to get it done). Just last week, one of our managers got his done at a doctor's office in Saddleback (Mission Viejo, So California). All four of us are very pleased. The three coworkers had mono-vision surgery (one eye for close-up and one eye for distance), and they are satisfied.

 

[tinaluis]

I would have had it done, but my corneas were not thick enough. I have worn gas permeable lenses for about 25 years and the tech who did the measuring seemed to think that might have been the cause of the corneas being so thin. If you're interested, I'd suggest you at least have the pre-evaluation done so you know if you're even a candidate. Good luck!

 

[debabe723]

6 of us in my family (the 6 that wore glasses) have had the Lasik surgery and its been successful for all of us. There is nothing better than waking up in the middle of the night and being able to see the clock without reaching for my glasses. We used 3 different doctors in 3 different states and all had great service. Its been 10 years since my sister had her's done and she's still problem-free. It doesn't hurt to look into it and see if its for you.

 

[jamounger]

I had it done and I love that I can see distance perfectly. That being said, I am over 40 and cant see anything within an arms reach now. I spend my time looking for or putting on reading glasses. I have to wear a single contact at work. When I was evaluated they didn't go into the monovision thing as aggressively as I would have wished and I didn't opt for it.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I don't wear glasses so I voted other. But my DH had Lasik surgery and it didn't work out for him. He was thrilled to look at the clock in the surgeon's office and see it clearly right after surgery. He was thrilled to walk out of the office and see everything perfectly without contacts. But it only lasted a few years. Now he is wearing glasses again. He says he wouldn't do it again. He said it was really hard to have his eye held open with that retractor and the surgeon kept telling him to relax because the more he struggled to blink the tighter the hold on the retractor would be. He said he wasn't trying to blink, but it was uncontrollable for him.

Had the effect lasted he said it would have been worth it.

 

[Micca]

My vision is so bad they don't recommend the procedure for me. They told me they could improve my eyesight, but I would still need glasses. So why spend all that money?

 

[highland3]

I went in to visit a well-known chain... which was offering the surgery, starting at $490 per eye. Everything went well until they said, because my eyes were so bad, that I would need the new Wavefront laser surgery, which woul be almost $4000!!!!

 

[katerkat]

I want to do it....but I'm terrified. The thought of lasers and my eyes makes me want to puke. If they knocked me out of the procedure, I'd be all for it, but I can't imagine the amount of drugs I'd need to take and still be "awake" for the procedure.

My good friend had it done and highly recommends the clinic she went to. My eye doctor said I'm a perfect candidate (terrible vision, but my prescription hasn't changed in over five years.) I'm coming up to needing to make a decision - order another round of contacts or take the plunge.

 

[Cool-Beans]

My vision is very important to me, so the only way I'd let someone play around with my eyes would be if I was going blind, had seen the BEST eye doctors, and had no other alternative.

If that were the case, I'd have surgery. Otherwise, no way.

 

[cristit14]

I just had mine done in January. I had the Wavefront procedure because I have large pupils. I love being able to see when I get up. I still have the occasional blurriness, mostly at night, but it is great!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Other...

I wear glasses so I don't have the issue of contacts.
My vision is not that bad.
I don't want people messing with my eyes unless they have to.

 

[momof3littlelilos]

I have a visceral fear of something damaging my eyes. When I was a teenager my stepmom used to talk with her hands, and she'd wave knives around while talking in the kitchen...my dad and I were always afraid she'd take one of our eyes out!
Anyway, generally I'm just really afraid to have anyone mess with my eyes, BUT I have an astigmatism and very dry eyes, so I can't wear contacts anymore, and my lenses are pretty thick. So I've considered laser eye surgery, but not seriously enough that I've looked into it.
Maybe someday I'll get over my "stuff near my eyes phobia" but not today...I wish I could.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

For those of you w/near-eye-phobia -- I have the same thing. I can't stand having anything near my eyes, or anyone point at them -- that glaucoma test -- hate it. I have to force myself to rest my forehead against the head brace. So I had a lot of trepidation.

It was still worth it.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

My vision is so bad they don't recommend the procedure for me. They told me they could improve my eyesight, but I would still need glasses. So why spend all that money?

That's what the doctors told me.
My contact prescription is -10.00 in each eye.

 

[claudia]

My brother is an opthamologist. He will not do this type of surgery nor would he have it done on himself. That says enough to me to never look into it.

I was thinking about getting this done....would you please tell me why your brother feels this way? thanx

 

[Hedy]

DSis had it a few years ago and was successful, which I consider a fair benchmark. However, the reading glasses issue gives me pause, so I'll probably wait a)until I get my master's or b)until I need reading glasses anyway.

 

[jimmalru80]

Never had it done, never will. Those are my EYES!!