LASIK

[Omaha 680]

My advice: do not skimp on your eyes.

I am very satisfied with my procedure. I did it locally at the most experienced LASIK center. One eye required a 'touch-up' procedure a few months later. This meant that over the course of one year, I was seeing the staff pretty regularly. If you have a good center close by, that is the best option. If there are any complications (relatively rare but they do happen), it is just easier to get them taken care of.

Even in my small city I've seen one bad LASIK result. One health care worker developed a nasty viral infection in her cornea, and it was recognized too late. Her vision is most likely impaired for life, and I've heard her say she felt very uncomfortable with the level of care she got. This isn't meant to scare you, but just realize that there is are different levels of LASIK care out there. Don't gamble with your eyesight.

I agree with all of this. There were far less expensive options than the center I ultimately chose, but from the first consultation I felt most comfortable with my doctor. She thoroughly explained all the procedures and which ones were available to me based on my prescription and cornea thickness. She did a bunch of follow appointments in the weeks after the surgery until they were spaced out a 3 months. Now I'm going every 6 months. I still read a 20/20, but my right eye is slightly worse than my left, resulting in vision not quite as sharp as I'd like. She has given me the option of a "touch-up" surgery to see if we can tweak that eye to near perfect like the left, but I haven't decided if I'll do it yet. All this followup care including any additional surgeries was included in the price of the procedure.

I you read my posts in this thread, I actually went with PRK, which is no-incision laser correction surgery, as opposed to traditional LASIK. This is typically only done by those who aren't candidates for LASIK because of cornea thickness, but I liked the idea of not having an incision in my eyes, and supposedly some of side effects are less common with PRK (dry eye, "halos"). Even with the much longer recovery time I am still happy with my decision. I would go in for a consultation at a couple places and have them explain the different options to you. I saw three doctors and my selection was just based on level of comfort. I will say that getting the surgery is some of the best money I've ever spent. Being able to swim, play sports/exercise, work late hours, take naps spontaneously, etc, without planning ahead for whether I have my glasses and/or contacts with me has been a huge increase in quality of life for me.

[Commando]

Yeah it has been amazing. I am one of the lucky ones, I guess-- the follow up visits were more of just a burden for me because I experienced zero negative side effects. My eyesight was perfect out the gate.

[Bo Diddley]

I still read a 20/20, but my right eye is slightly worse than my left, resulting in vision not quite as sharp as I'd like.

Are you right eye dominant? I am, and my left eye has a slight astigmatism and has never really bothered me. It's particularly helpful to be set up this way forwhen shooting rifles with iron sights.

I'm old enough that I have to wear reading glasses all the time. I'd be interested in trying out a contact lens in one eye for near vision all the time. If that works maybe I'll look into lasik as a permanent solution. Anyone know if this works?

[creekster]

Are you right eye dominant? I am, and my left eye has a slight astigmatism and has never really bothered me. It's particularly helpful to be set up this way forwhen shooting rifles with iron sights.

I'm old enough that I have to wear reading glasses all the time. I'd be interested in trying out a contact lens in one eye for near vision all the time. If that works maybe I'll look into lasik as a permanent solution. Anyone know if this works?

I am extremely near-sighted and have astigmatism in both eyes. I have worn hard contact lenses for over 40 years. When I turned 45 a few years back I started to need reading glasses and that was just too much. My eye doctor said I could get LASIK but would likely still need reading glasses. Instead, at his suggestion, I reluctantly tried the different prescription contact approach. When I first put them in they bothered me a LOT but my eye doctor suggested I try them for at least 2 days. By the second day I had adjusted completely and I have now worn them for over 5 years. They are not perfect; you get a bit of a ghostly halo when driving at night due to the near eye being unable to focus on-coming lights, and low light situations are as bad or worse than before. But, on balance they are great. The brain is amazing as I never have to think about which eye I should use to focus with. It just happens effortlessly and seamlessly. I am a fan.

[Shaka]

I am extremely near-sighted and have astigmatism in both eyes. I have worn hard contact lenses for over 40 years. When I turned 45 a few years back I started to need reading glasses and that was just too much. My eye doctor said I could get LASIK but would likely still need reading glasses. Instead, at his suggestion, I reluctantly tried the different prescription contact approach. When I first put them in they bothered me a LOT but my eye doctor suggested I try them for at least 2 days. By the second day I had adjusted completely and I have now worn them for over 5 years. They are not perfect; you get a bit of a ghostly halo when driving at night due to the near eye being unable to focus on-coming lights, and low light situations are as bad or worse than before. But, on balance they are great. The brain is amazing as I never have to think about which eye I should use to focus with. It just happens effortlessly and seamlessly. I am a fan.

You can do the same thing with LASIK. If I remember correctly it's called a monovision correction. That's what they did to me. I can read everything but the tiniest fine print on customs forms.

[Bo Diddley]

I am extremely near-sighted and have astigmatism in both eyes. I have worn hard contact lenses for over 40 years. When I turned 45 a few years back I started to need reading glasses and that was just too much. My eye doctor said I could get LASIK but would likely still need reading glasses. Instead, at his suggestion, I reluctantly tried the different prescription contact approach. When I first put them in they bothered me a LOT but my eye doctor suggested I try them for at least 2 days. By the second day I had adjusted completely and I have now worn them for over 5 years. They are not perfect; you get a bit of a ghostly halo when driving at night due to the near eye being unable to focus on-coming lights, and low light situations are as bad or worse than before. But, on balance they are great. The brain is amazing as I never have to think about which eye I should use to focus with. It just happens effortlessly and seamlessly. I am a fan.

You can do the same thing with LASIK. If I remember correctly it's called a monovision correction. That's what they did to me. I can read everything but the tiniest fine print on customs forms.

I've been reading about corneal onlays and inlays. This is actually more interesting to me to make the near vision correction. It also gets me thinking about my color-vision deficiency (red-green). I anticipate that one day they'll have onlays or inlays with color filters to allow people to overcome their color-vision deficiencies.

[Drunk Tank]

I am setting up consultations. My current eye doc doesn't do Lasik, but I guess I should probably ask him who he recommends. I have an astigmatism in both eyes, which is the main problem. My actual prescription isn't very strong, so I am hoping for the best possible outcome. I did have to start using progressive lenses for reading so I am sure I may still have to do that.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

LASIK

This isn’t a perfect fit, but you guys are smart enough to figure it out. On Friday afternoon, as a 43 year old, I humbly walked into the ophthalmologist’s office and had my first eye exam. Despite having some sort of super power called stick magnetism, my eye sight has been getting fuzzy over the last few years. I guess the test showed that I’m a little far sighted and near sighted. They recommended a “progressive lens that is essentially an all encompassing trifocal lens. Within that progressive lens world, they gave me three levels of quality with about a $200 spread between the highest and the lowest.

Does anyone here wear or have tried progressive lenses? What has your experience been? Do they tend to give you tunnel vision? Is it worth the expense or do I just get a far sighted lens since distance doesn’t really bother me, yet?

I always sort of looked forward to getting to wear glasses, but after trying on 50 pairs with the intent to having to actual buy a pair, I’m not so sure anymore.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PaloAltoCougar]

This isn’t a perfect fit, but you guys are smart enough to figure it out. On Friday afternoon, as a 43 year old, I humbly walked into the obstetrician’s office and had my first eye exam. Despite having some sort of super power called stick magnetism, my eye sight has been getting fuzzy over the last few years. I guess the test showed that I’m a little far sighted and near sighted. They recommended a “progressive lens that is essentially an all encompassing trifocal lens. Within that progressive lens world, they gave me three levels of quality with about a $200 spread between the highest and the lowest.

Does anyone here wear or have tried progressive lenses? What has your experience been? Do they tend to give you tunnel vision? Is it worth the expense or do I just get a far sighted lens since distance doesn’t really bother me, yet?

I always sort of looked forward to getting to wear glasses, but after trying on 50 pairs with the intent to having to actual buy a pair, I’m not so sure anymore.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've had progressive lenses for several years and like them; no problems at all. I can understand why you entered the obstetrician's office humbly if you were expecting an eye exam.

[BigFatMeanie]

I echo what PAC says about progressive lenses, and about obstetricians. I love mine progressive lenses. When I first put them on it was a little weird but after only a couple of hours your brain adjusts and you automatically look through the different part of the lens to see at various distances without even thinking about it. I've never had any tunnel vision. They're definitely worth the expense in my opinion. Also, pay extra to get the super-light, thin lenses - it's worth it.

The only cons to progressive lenses I've had so far:
1. When laying down on the couch or bed and watching TV across the room they're a bit annoying because when you're laying down you're naturally looking through the bottom of the lens which may not be the right place in the lens for the distance of the TV
2. You have to take care to keep them clean because smudges on progressive lenses are more irritating than if you got smudges on your regular glasses. Your brain can manage to ignore minor smudges on a regular lens but smudges seem to stand out like a sore thumb on progressive lenses.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

I've had progressive lenses for several years and like them; no problems at all. I can understand why you entered the obstetrician's office humbly if you were expecting an eye exam.

LOL. I have no adequate excuse for that mix up. Would explain a lot though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Art Vandelay]

This isn’t a perfect fit, but you guys are smart enough to figure it out. On Friday afternoon, as a 43 year old, I humbly walked into the ophthalmologist’s office and had my first eye exam. Despite having some sort of super power called stick magnetism, my eye sight has been getting fuzzy over the last few years. I guess the test showed that I’m a little far sighted and near sighted. They recommended a “progressive lens that is essentially an all encompassing trifocal lens. Within that progressive lens world, they gave me three levels of quality with about a $200 spread between the highest and the lowest.

Does anyone here wear or have tried progressive lenses? What has your experience been? Do they tend to give you tunnel vision? Is it worth the expense or do I just get a far sighted lens since distance doesn’t really bother me, yet?

I always sort of looked forward to getting to wear glasses, but after trying on 50 pairs with the intent to having to actual buy a pair, I’m not so sure anymore.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1) 16 YO me wouldn't believe this, but I definitely would choose optometry over obstetrics. I would cite the reasons, but I'm worried about 2000 word rebuttal, in white, from Clack
2) Do you need to wear progressives? Only if you want to have a pair of glasses you keep on the majority of the time. If you don't mind putting on glasses to read/look at phone/cut fingernails..., then go with reading glasses. The HUGE problem with reading glasses is they are blurry in the distance. Thus why you see at least one member of every bishopric with glasses in his pocket, on his head, or forgotten at home. Most people do very well in progressives, but those who have the hardest time adapting, are liek you- someone who has always had excellent distance vision. The small benefit it provides you in the distance, usually isn't worth the hassle of wearing full-time.
3) If you do go with progressives. Don't go cheap. Much like sushi there is a HUGE difference between low quality and high. The cheap end has a much smaller corridor. Meaning where you look through the lenses it is a lot narrower in low end progressives. Free-form progressives still have a narrowed viewing area, but is double the size of what you will get for the cheap stuff.
4) If you do much computer work, you will eventually get a pair of progressives. Eventually, the on and off, is too bothersome for anyone who spends any length of time staring at a screen.

Hope that helps.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I have tried progressive lenses twice. Absolutely hated them both times.

[Bo Diddley]

1) 16 YO me wouldn't believe this, but I definitely would choose optometry over obstetrics. I would cite the reasons, but I'm worried about 2000 word rebuttal, in white, from Clack
2) Do you need to wear progressives? Only if you want to have a pair of glasses you keep on the majority of the time. If you don't mind putting on glasses to read/look at phone/cut fingernails..., then go with reading glasses. The HUGE problem with reading glasses is they are blurry in the distance. Thus why you see at least one member of every bishopric with glasses in his pocket, on his head, or forgotten at home. Most people do very well in progressives, but those who have the hardest time adapting, are liek you- someone who has always had excellent distance vision. The small benefit it provides you in the distance, usually isn't worth the hassle of wearing full-time.
3) If you do go with progressives. Don't go cheap. Much like sushi there is a HUGE difference between low quality and high. The cheap end has a much smaller corridor. Meaning where you look through the lenses it is a lot narrower in low end progressives. Free-form progressives still have a narrowed viewing area, but is double the size of what you will get for the cheap stuff.
4) If you do much computer work, you will eventually get a pair of progressives. Eventually, the on and off, is too bothersome for anyone who spends any length of time staring at a screen.

Hope that helps.

I hate having to use reading glasses. I hate the quality and fit, but when you have to carry them around with you they take a beating. Perhaps if I spent a little more money for quality they wouldn't be so bad.

I've read a little about onlays and inlays. Any experience with them?

[Art Vandelay]

I have tried progressive lenses twice. Absolutely hated them both times.

5). There is no worse patient than an engineer. as cool as it to have someone bring me a full spreadsheet of how they perceive they see at specific distances, it doesn’t really help me.


I finally figured out how to change the stupid default Tapatalk signature