Lasik corrective eye surgery

[flyingfox2002]

I am considering getting Lasik because my myopia has gotten worse over the years, and I don't wanna end up wearing glasses that make my eyes look like the size of peas. Contacts are a hassle and I don't see well with them on.

I know some people who have gotten it done. Most have had good results, and two didn;t. Still need to wear glasses.

I am wondering if anyone here has gotten Lasik? What was your experience like and was the procedure a success?

Thanks

[charbydis]

I am considering getting Lasik because my myopia has gotten worse over the years, and I don't wanna end up wearing glasses that make my eyes look like the size of peas. Contacts are a hassle and I don't see well with them on.

I know some people who have gotten it done. Most have had good results, and two didn;t. Still need to wear glasses.

I am wondering if anyone here has gotten Lasik? What was your experience like and was the procedure a success?

Thanks

Hi!

I've replied on the risks in the other thread so you can read it there. (I'm an assistant to eye surgeons BTW inacse you think I'm crackers )



I have patients who have had LASIK and they turn up fine as long as you get a good doctor and you fit the criteria that minimises the risks. Most people who have the surgery are mid or late 20's or people who need to get 20/20 vision for entrance into the army or the airforce.

Surgery is achieved by carving away at the shape of the cornea so that light bends at exactly the distance calculated so a clear image falls on the retina where you pick up what you see. The tests that you would have to go through would be a full eye exam to make sure thar there is no other pathology that hidners you from seeing better other than your myopia. You would be interview by the surgeon on your suitability for the surgery and your expectations cos they dont people which over-high expectations. You would get a map of your cornea scanned so that know the shape and thickness on parts that they will remove.

The overall surgery takes around 5-10 minutes per eye. You'd do one eye at a time just to make sure if something goes wrong, both eyes don't get stuffed up. You get anaesthetic drops so you feel think and you're not allowed to blink. You will lie down on the surgical table and look up at a spot or an X marked on the ceiling for the duration of the surgery. Your vision will be blurry during the surgery and you woudl hera weird noises and see strong lights cos the laser is on. You should feel no pain but you might feel your eye being touched.

After surgery, the vision will be blurry for 2 days or so and you go home straight away with your eye padded. Your eye might feel itchy adn watery but don't scratch it. The doctor will check on your eye the next day or the same day depending on what country you're in and you would be on anti-imflammatory and anti-biotic drops for 2 weeks or more, which stings but helps healing. You're not allowed to wash your eye or so exercise for 2 days to one week.

The cornea heals in 24-36 hours and vision would be clear once the swelling goes down (Day 3-7). then go for three or four monthy check-ups and vision should be fine. The vision expected would usually be 20/20 or better (sometimes 20/30, a line worse than normal vision but still good vision) and an improvement should be instantaneous but give it one week to settle down. Then it would be a fine road till 10 years later when it woudl need to be redone and the cornea changes shape.

With your high myopia, I think you would benefit from LASIK but check with your specialist first before seeking out a LASIK surgeon. Your vision would be greatly improved, and even if you don't get 20/20 vision without glasses, you vision would be more better cos you don't get the abberations from the thick glasses.

But things you have to aware of are:

(1) your vision won't get any better than your vision with glasses on. So if you have bad vision with glasses, don't expect great vision after surgery.

(2) of course the risks of surgery and post-surgical complications - eye rupturing, error in lasering, cornea comes loose, troubel with future atarct opearations, etc..

(3) things will seem brighter and you have trouble with bright sunlight so buy some good sunnies

(4) your eyes will water or get red more easily

(5) eye check-ups every 2 or 3 years even though your eyes feel fine.

(6) LASIK's not cheap but worth getting a dearer surgeon and more reliable. Don't get it done in China (HK okay depending on the doctor). you would touch-ups later in your life (10-20 years later) if vision starts blurring again.

(7) You may be not suitable for the surgery at all and you can't do anything about it. But they might offer you alternate treatments.

Anyways, good luck. Have an assessment done by your eye doctor and see what they say.

Cheers!

[flyingfox2002]

cool. thanx for the detailed reply.