[Closed] Lazer Eye Surgery: Is it for me?

I'm around -3.5 but far too scared to consider eye surgery (i.e. what if it goes wrong).

I know folk who have been very pleased with it. You'll probably still need reading glasses, but distance should be good.

I personally wouldn’t go near it; if it goes wrong, there’s no going back because the laser burns away a layer of the cornea, which can’t be replaced if too much is removed.
There are alternative surgical procedures - one involves making incredibly fine radial cuts in the cornea, and reshaping it, the other involves replacing the actual lens underneath with a plastic one, just like when cataract replacement is carried out, only the plastic can be tweaked to correct the patient’s vision, then frozen at the best result. This means that cataracts will never be a future issue, so a win-win.
The first one is a Russian technique, the other, I think is European, not certain.
Both are expensive, but if I needed an operation then option two is what I’d go for.
Can’t give links, but I’m sure Google can find plenty of info.

Laser surgery won’t help your reading glasses problem, you’ll still need them but possibly more so than with your normal glasses as you won’t be able to look over the top of them. Later surgery is like wearing permanent glasses (for distance).
Having said all that it’s the best £3k I’ve ever spent.

My cousin had it done, cost over 5k -6.5 in both eyes, one with astigmatism.
Could see perfectly after it, but 5 years later he now needs glasses occasionally.
I personally wouldn’t bother, but I don’t find it any hassle to wear glasses or contacts.

I think I always say this when this comes up. I'm an anaesthetist, work with lots of eye surgeons, they all seem to wear glasses. Asked one about it once, he said if you have to don't go anywhere thats advertising to do it cheaply.

think I always say this when this comes up. I’m an anaesthetist, work with lots of eye surgeons, they all seem to wear glasses. Asked one about it once, he said if you have to don’t go anywhere thats advertising to do it cheaply.

That old chestnut again!!! they were saying this over 20 years ago when my dad first started looking into getting it done. Some eye surgeons believe in god and cannot explain the evolution of the eye and cannot get over how the the eye came about without a creator..so not all eye surgeons have all the answers and still hold onto irrational fears. And generally eye surgeons don't do laser corrective surgery. It's done by an automated machine operated by qualified technicians. It could be done on the street corner by a vending machine on your way to the shops, but we're a way off the general public accepting that, just like we're way off them accepting driverless cars or pilots aircraft or driverless trains etc. even though in almost all of those cases the driver/pilot is the cause when things goes wrong.

This isn't some new fangled technology. It's been around for 20 years. My dad got it done over 20 years ago now and it he's been fine. My wife got it done over 10 years ago and she's fine. You have far less chance of it 'going wrong' than any other procedure as its basically fully automated so no human to cock it up...plenty of highly qualified and experienced surgeons, some who wear glasses and some that don't, cock things up every year...my step mum sits on BMA cases of doctors who have cocked up week in week out, so that makes think where and when we can replace people who are prone to making mistakes and are not capable of being 100% correct all the time, with machines that cannot make mistakes, the better off you are.

The latest procedures can be done multiple times and are used to correct people's eyes from many years ago that were done by previous generations of procedure. My wife got hers done over 10 years ago and was offered another zapping on one eye because they only achieved 20;20 vision whereas the other eye was better than 20:20. Laser eye surgery can make your eyes better than nature can.

There are limitations to the technology and it isn't suitable for all situations and in some the results will last longer than others...eyes naturally deteriorate over time so the results are not permanent, but my dad doesn't wear glasses most of the time over 20 years on after wearing glasses permanently for his life before that, so wearing glasses some of the time is better than wearing them all of the time as far as he's concerned - and enables him to participate in assorts of activities that would be complicated through wearing glasses. And similarly my wife. My eyes are deteriorating after never having to wear glasses and I would jump at laser surgery as soon as its appropriate.

Get your eyes checked out and if appropriate I'd say go for it. You're at nor more risk, in fact far less risk, than any other medical procedure. Why on earth would you wear glasses if you don't need to?

It's your choice, and your prescription is on the high end (worth the benefit).

I've had a simple op go very wrong (long lasting issues), then refused spinal surgery when I broke my back (that ended up as the best decision - no metal work and full mobility, but long recovery).

If it goes wrong, you won't be able to see, that's why I won't go for it.

My brother is a dentist, and he says avoid any surgery unless necessary. The pain specialist who treated my issues after my 'simple operation' told me you won't get any guys in his speciality having the snip - shit happens. My spinal specialist actually said 'you've had a simple op go wrong...'

That said, the success rates of eye operations are very high.

I know one person who regrets having it done because they now suffer from some minor but annoying issues which seem to be permanent. It may not be a safe as some are leading oatiients to believe

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/well/lasik-complications-vision.html

I've been wearing glasses all day, every day of my life since I was about 12. Nobody is going near my eyes with a contact lens, let alone a frickin' laser.

"You have far less chance of it ‘going wrong’ than any other procedure"

Hmm. A quick Google suggests general surgery failure rate of 6.5% (from the Royal College of Surgeons) and sight correction failure rate of 6-10% (various sources, although the upper end all seem to refer back to the same small US study).

It's down to the effect on the OP's life.

As a glasses wearer since my late teens, I'm suffering more now as I'm nearer 50. Doing close up work, eg changing a SRAM Guide Lever piston was 'glasses on' to find tools etc, but glasses off for the fine stuff (removing cir-clips) as I can't see near up with my glasses on. I've fitted extra LED flood lights in my garage for bike work now - I can't work with low light on the bikes.

That won't change with laser eye surgery due to age, but it would be glasses on for close stuff only.

It's a tough choice. My BIL is in the OP's range of -8 plus and he can't see without glasses, but I can't see at half that either.

My understanding is that you'd not be suitable for PRK or LASIK because they'd have to remove too much of the Cornea to get full correction. That leaves lens replacement which is a lot pricier, though if you can manage to somehow acquire cataracts you can get it done on the NHS. Result!

A close friend did it and almost lost sight in one eye. He describes what he is left with as ‘looking underwater ‘ under the effected eye.

I’d rather stick with the glasses I wear.

It is a very successful procedure, and given the investment in technology it’s very safe. But it’s still a surgical procedure as a cut is made in the eye (nowadays usually with a laser rather than blade so more consistent and safer)

I worked in the IT department developing the medical software for tracking outcomes and the results were very impressive. There are also varying degrees of complications ranging from dry eye (fairly common and treated with eye drops) to severe infections resulting in damage to sight (none recorded when I left).

However the procedure reshapes the cornea to allow the image to focus properly on the retina. From about mid 40’s onwards it’s generally the elasticity of the lens that causes problems. So your eye could be shaped to focus correctly but your lens can no longer squash and stretch enough to adjust for near and far sight so the focal point is ‘out’

Anyway, get a free consultation from a qualified ophthalmologist and speak to them. My daughter (-4.5) 19 years old wanted it and I supported her. She claims it’s the best decision of her life as she’s got 20/20 vision and doesn’t need glasses or contacts.

Key things, get lasik not lasek. IK cuts a flap and results within a few hours. EK is cheaper but longer recovery (7 days +) and more infection risk as it ‘melts’ the front of the cornea.

Choose a laser cut rather than blade. And choose a custom map procedure which tailors the program to your cornea imperfections.

I had it done 20 years ago painless maybe a few hours discomfort, like chaff in the eye. I was - 6 to able to fly the concord but now - 2.5
Low light vision has always been pretty rubbish since it was done
Im surprised they did a 19 yo, they say your prescription is not settled until 25

Be aware that you won't be able to wear contact lenses when your eyes drift again in a few years.

If you are a professional footballer or mountain biker wanting perfect vision now - and are only worried about now  - do it.

For the rest of us - chat to your optician.

(I wrote the technical report on one of these laser machines. Wouldn't let them near my eyes!)

That hadn’t been the case for many many years now. You can absolutely wear contact lenses after laser eye surgery. You can also have repeat sessions of laser surgery if you need it (or want it!).

Had mine done 16 years ago and still have perfect long vision.

My sister had a cataract and had the corrective lens replacement.... She says it's brilliant.

Surgeons wear glasses because they do close up work.... Laser surgery does not fix that.