Laser eye surgery

TwoShedsJackson

I'm going to be getting this done in the next few months to correct my appalling short-sightedness. If anyone reading has had it done or knows someone who has could you post here or email me at hickeyc@hotmail.com and let me know how well it worked etc. Ta.

My brother and sister had it done and they love it and if you were to ask them they would tell you to do it ASAP.Everything i have heard about this is brilliant.

Mills

My father's had it done, they had to take 3 goes at his left eye to get it just right but they got the right one first time, he's absolutely delighted with it, hasn't had to wear glasses or contacts since, and has had no other problems at all, apart from a slight discomfort for a day or so after, but worth it ten times over.

Loomer

I had it done about 6 years ago in New Zealand. I was pretty short-sighted and it worked well kind of. They did the two eyes a month apart. The first eye was sweet but they decided to give me different drops for the second one and it healed more than it should of so I am slightly off 20/20 but the strong eye compensates for the weak one. I think the first drops they gave me were some kind of steroid drops, so enquire about what kind of drops they give you after the treatment. You get a wicked ****tail of drugs after it. And its takes like 24-48hrs lying in a darkened room to recover for each eye. The healing process is quite possibly the most painful experience I've ever been through(next to flying 12 hours on a plane) but is totally worth it!!!

Hope that helps

_CreeD_

A girl I used to work with had it done and loved it.

Ive been toying with the idea myself over the last year and the main advice I picked up was to check the success rate of the optical-surgeon. The vast majority of problems have been due to human error through lack of experience. Especially with Lasik.

Kali

I know two people who have got it done and both were far from perfect operations although they are both (well sorta) happy with their sight now...

My sister got hers done about five years ago.. there were problems with the first eye that got done, had to be redone, second eye was grand.

Another person i knew got it done more recently (last year) has been back 3/4 times to get it refixed and she couldnt see when its anyway dark out and can no longer drive at night, needless to say she was deeply unhappy with it for the first five months, and after numerous complaints and checkups I think its eventually been resolved.

Bob the Unlucky Octopus

Well- there have been no major detected contraindications yet- however the technology has only been in wide use for a relatively short time. As of yet- there are no reported signs of long-term damage- but 10 years is far too short in medical terms to assess such a thing especially with radiation surgery conducted on the cornea- a tissue extremely prone to malign change.

I'm happy to stick to the policy of advising the people I treat that new procedures should be given a chance to assess long-term risk before patients themselves expose their bodies to such risk. Safety first isn't a problem- and corrective lenses are still the safest and most effective long-term treatment plan for myopia.

I would advise that you discuss the risks with your medical practicioner and see what he/she tells you- if you're happy to take the risk- then well and good. Personally, I have no problem with myopia- I'm just acutely astigmatic in both eyes- and I usually find glasses and torric lenses work fine- it's up to you at the end of the day- but don't forget to consider the risks of corrective surgery.

Bob the Unlucky Octopus
=E Pluribus Unum=

Cake Fiend

I'm planning to have it done in a few years; I went through glasses hell for a few years before I switched to contacts (I'd never go back), but even contacts are a hassle I don't need.

SantaHoe

Sounds OK from what a lot of you have said already... I've only ever heard of the 'horror stories', which I hope are few and far between

Still, contacts are almost like having normal 20:20... after a while wearing them you forget you ever had bad eye-sight.
I can't even feel mine anymore, and I wear them most of the day... takes less than 60 seconds to pop them in and even less to take them out.
They're not as much hassle as they're made out to be.

Pfft, glasses?! No, sir... I'm faar too attractive to wear glasses

Does anyone know how much this surgery costs?
Or can you somehow fiddle your health insurance to cover it?

Karl Hungus

I'm seriously thinking of getting this done...

I can't stand wearing glasses, and they really don't suit me...

Can you please tell me how much it is to get done?

TwoShedsJackson

The prices I heard from a friend of my sisters were 3000 quid for both eyes. That was about six months ago, I assume it's still something similar.

Karl Hungus

DrunkLeprachaun

Just remember to use the drops to stop your eyes from crusting over.

---

If there's one thing I hate, it's people.

Karl Hungus

I'm scared of wearing contacts... I just KNOW I'll get drunk and forget to take them out before going to sleep...
Then I'll have to be rushed to the hospital to get 'em surgicaly removed...

Cake Fiend

Heh, that's happened too many times to me, don't worry, they don't get welded to your eyes or anything. Just takes a little more effort to peel them off (do it SLOWLY!)

Panda

That was always something i wanted to when i first got glasses, which i really hated.

But i grew up. I wear contact lenses now, but not every day because my optician told me that they wear down the surface of the eye and leaves you prone to som particularly nasty infections.

I saw an ad in the paper a couple of years back where there was a special offer, something like 1000 for each eye. But i missed the chance.

I'd still like to get it done tho, instead of worrying about lenses when i go out, or when im swimming. I have yet to fall asleep with them in but ive often just thrown away a pair of lenses after coming home from a drinking session due to utter drunkedness.

---

Aka: Dragon,Sexual Harassment Panda, SCUMM.

Red Moose

You might want to also check out your insurance (e.g., car) regarding premiums and whether with it or whatever you can get a lower rate (if they are charging you extra because of having eye deficiencies).

I suppose the same would apply for your job if it involves a needed accuracy of your eyes, like driving or flying.

Loomer

I got it free under NZ private medical insurance before they copped on to the amount of people getting it done and removed it from the policy hehe

Mills

Price was £1500 an eye as of a few months ago, that covers any amount of times they have to have you back in to correct it, and can be written off against tax afaik.

yellum

What about eye surgery for perfectly sighted people ? Golfers are big into this now as it allows them better than normal eyesight. Seea good bit further when they do it. Maybe this is Tiger Woods secret, or one of em.

TinCool

Janeymackers had it done and he's never complained, doesn't have to wear glasses anymore. Another mate of mine had it done too and he says its great. The only thing he thought had changed since he got it done is that red lights in say night clubs and the like are alot more prominent than what they were before the operation. May be that's a good thing when you're driving at night

Where are you thinking of getting it done and how many magic beans ?

_CreeD_

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by AngelWhore:
I'm scared of wearing contacts... I just KNOW I'll get drunk and forget to take them out before going to sleep...
Then I'll have to be rushed to the hospital to get 'em surgicaly removed...</font>

Or have fun freaking people out by taking them out when you're ****ed in the pub, losing one, finding it on the side of your glass and popping it back in....Vodak&Coke does not a good eyedrop make.....

TU154

Had PRk done two years ago, and, sorry for shouting but, IT WAS THE BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT ON ANYTHING EVER!!!!! I had mild short sight, -1.75 in each eye, but enough that I needed glasses. I never took to contacts, they irritated the ****e out of my eyes. I had it done with optimax in the uk, they were quite reasonable, did both eyes the same day, but that was because they were doing the prk and the chances of success were good. There is another technique called lasik which involves a more complicated procedure, but much less healing time. it's more expensive, they also won't do the two eyes the same day. Recovery from prk was excruciating. Two days in a dark room, wandering around the house with my eyes closed. It also took three weeks or so for my eyesight to stabilise to any normal degree, and several months before I had results that I was happy with. After two years I'm very happy with the results. I have some haze around lights at night, but not much. I think optimax charged £1000 sterling for both eyes the same day, I was able to have checkups in ireland. Check out their website (.co.uk) there's also some good info on the US FDA website about the options, pros cons and risks.
About the same time I had it done, a bunch of mates also had it done, not a bad result among the lot of us. One guy had miserable eyesight and astigmatism, he's not got perfect eyesight now, but he doesn't need the glasses, he had the biggest correction needed, but the bigger the correction, the more unpredictable the result.
The laser surgery does not correct the need for glasses though for reading and all that lark come your middle age spread.
Hope it helps make your decision. There is a risk that it won't go well, it is very dependant on how your eyes heal, they also don't know the long term results as has been pointed out. But for now with me 2 years later, best cash I ever spent. Even better than the money I invested in the beer belly.

Celt

Friend had it done, his has ****ed up bad, my brother and sister were both going to get it done but theyve started hearing bad stories from a number of people.

TwoShedsJackson

Just got the bumph from the clinic - it's now 3280 quid in total for both eyes, 98% success rate yadda yadda.

Going to look over the stuff tonight, will probably ring them tomorrow and go for it.

DrunkLeprachaun

You can't start listening to the bad stories. I'd say the 98% isn't far off, but you usualy only hear about the bad things. The same goes for many things.

---

If there's one thing I hate, it's people.

Victor

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Castor Troy:
Just got the bumph from the clinic - it's now 3280 quid in total for both eyes, 98% success rate yadda yadda.</font>

And what happens the other 2% are they left the same or worse?

Take your time making the decision - in any case most people would have to save up.

---

Too many freaks, not enough circuses.

TwoShedsJackson

Lucky I'm not most people I'm going to check out their literature thoroughly, I have opinions from about 35 people in total now including those who posted here (thank you all), and I will then make up my mind.

I would have to go for the consultation first where they explain everything completely and do all tests, including seeing that I have enough extra tissue on my eye for some to be removed for the surgery - if I don't it's a total non-starter anyway.

As regards the 98% success rate, that means 98% success in restoring full vision, the success rate for near-full is 100% As my left eye is currently -3.50, and the right -6.75, that means a huge improvement.

_CreeD_

Well if it was me I'd go for LASIK. It is more complex but many clinicis will do both eyes in one day (More likely than doing PRK in one day). ANd as was said the recovery time is much shorter, you can be up and about within a day of having LASIK treatment.

Both methods use a laser to mould your eye's lenses into a shape to correct your focus. BUT PRK has to burn through the protective coat on your eyes, this weakens them and leads to much more pain and a longer recovery time.
LASIK involves basically slicing this protective coat above the lens, not taking it all the way off but enough that they can move it out of the way. They then perform the same steps as PRK, folding the protective layer back when they are done. I know it sounds gruesome but if you want to avoid all the extra pain and hassle for weeks to come LASIK is the way to g.

WhiteWashMan

i had my eyes done about 3 years ago and both of them are now f*cked up.
i have to sleep wearing special goggles, and i have to wear dark glasses as intense sunklight hurts my eyes. cuases the muscles behind my eyes to contract and casues serious migranes.
but apart from that ive heard its fine.

TwoShedsJackson

Yes Eamo, you seemed to be able to play Tekken in my gaff last week well enough

WhiteWashMan

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">ahh my eyes, the goggles do nothing.....</font>

as said by reiner wolfgang in the simpsons...

entropi

loomer ,i like your thinking about the NZ thing... whitewashman, his name is Ranier WOLFCASTLE , and i'm also thinking about getting this done next year hopefully as i fÜcking hate wearing glasses, i been doing so for 8 YEARS ffs,i'm getting it done when i save up the odd £900 for each eye

---

"that island has freedom written all over it, sir, that's cuba"

lphchild

Kinda OT...
I was wearing glasses for years, swapped to
contacts, got ****ed off getting drunk sleeping in them and getting 'sticky eye' swapped to all day all night lens -****in deadly - wear them constantly for a month no probs - on the laser treatment -does anyone know if VHI covers it..or what scam if any i can use to get something back off the price?

lph

[This message has been edited by lphchild (edited 06-07-2001).]

Kix

Anyone know if it works for long-sightedness?

Kix

Actually, now that I think a bit more about it; I think that I've heard that there is a recently developed laser-surgery procedure which works for correcting long-sightedness. Still, I can't remember any of the details. Perhaps this jogs someone's memory. Is it approved? How much does it cost?

Does anyone know?

[This message has been edited by Kix (edited 06-07-2001).]

TwoShedsJackson

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">as i fÜcking hate wearing glasses, i been doing so for 8 YEARS ffs,i'm getting it done when i save up the odd £900 for each eye </font>

I'm nearly 20 years wearing mine. It's currently 1600 quid per eye, btw.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">on the laser treatment -does anyone know if VHI covers it..or what scam if any i can use to get something back off the price?
</font>

VHI does not cover this, it's elective surgery, not something you have to have to save your life. You can, however, set it as an expense against your income tax so you get a portion of it back at any rate.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Anyone know if it works for long-sightedness?
</font>

According to the details the clinic sent me, the same procedure works up to -14d short sightedness, or +4d long-sightedness. Ring the Wellington Laser Clinic and get them to send you out the brochure thingie.

bonkey

AFAIK, LASIK and related techniques can have side-effects, the most common of which is a thing called "Starbursting".

Its been a long while since I read this stuff, but IIRC, you can end up with what is effectivelz a "lens flare" effect or "starburst" whenever you look at a light source. As a result, night-driving, and many other things can become hazardous.

Im not trying to detract from the tech - I think its a great idea, but I would seriously recommend looking at the failure rates, and what they signify...what percentage end up with no improvement, how many end up worse off, and how many suffer side effects such as starbursting.

My info may be out of date - you may find that this is no longer an issue. You may find that the odds are tiny. Just remember though....theyre youre eyes, and you dont get another set. If something does go wrong, you dont get to undo it.

Personally, I side with Occy. I think the tech is still a bit too young, and for me, the risks (small tho they are)are too high for elective non-essential surgery. Ill stick to my glasses for now.

Then again....Id say the same about getting a cosmetic nose-job done

jc

amp

£1600 to get a laser in your EYE!? COOL! How much for the titanium exo-skeleton?

---

Lunacy Abounds! GLminesweeper RO><ORS!
"Boxes for show, Baskets for a pro" - [FCA]SyxPak

Kali

I wouldn't reccomend anyone goes directly from glasses to laser surgery... use contact lenses as an interim to see what you think of them, at the moment I've had them for 8 months and am well happy, I can see myself using them for another 2 years or so at least before I even consider LASIK.. also its usually advisable you leave something like this to an age where you have stopped developing or slowed down anyway at about 22-24, otherwise problems can occur.

I'm scared of wearing contacts... I just KNOW I'll get drunk and forget to take them out before going to sleep...
Then I'll have to be rushed to the hospital to get 'em surgicaly removed...

Well i got the all day all night and all night and its fantastic.It costs 100 quid for a 3 month supply.It can take a bit to get used to but after a month you will be fine .I forget i have mine in now.Come back from the pub and conk out without any problems

Cake Fiend

Just got them myself last week, best thing I ever did
Feels a bit weird being able to see properly when you wake up...

Paranoid Android

I got contacts a few months back, their brilliant. I find that they irritate my eyes if i wear them all day infront of a computer so I wear my glasses at work.

There is a surgery available in the US called intacs. They insert two semi circular tubes under the cornea to change the shape of the front of the eye, apparently it is totally reversable.

I think I'll stick with contacts for the mo.

[This message has been edited by Paranoid Android (edited 19-07-2001).]

entropi

i,m getting the contacts myself in a few weeks instead of laser surgery, i'll wait till a few years to get it . I,m going to get the 3 month supply for £100 and enjoy them for the whole time i've got them.

---

That island has freedom written all over it" Sir, that's Cuba. [url="HTTP://WWW.thesimpsons.com"]look at that smithers!![/url]

[This message has been edited by Death Sentence (edited 23-07-2001).]

TwoShedsJackson

Had the consultation yesterday, rang them today, having the op on the 29th.

leeroybrown

It's a real pain in the ar.se (even maybe the eyes) if you leave your contacts in.

I'll probably have the laser surgery in a few years when I'm 100 % sure that my sight won't get much worse. By then the op should also be even more fool proof.

---

"I'd rather have a bottle infront of me than a frontal lobotamy"

Shiminay

Good luck with it CT - be sure to let us know how it goes...

---

All the best!
Dav
@B^)
So Bob Hoskins was about to roll a spliff when in walks Dana with her 3 foot Bong
[honey i] violated [the kids]
When the Beefy King arrives, I shall be paying homage with Puunack The Receiver in a haze of green curry.

TwoShedsJackson

Thanks Kharn - leeroybrown, depending on what age you are, you need to wait until around the age of 25 to give your eyes time to deteriorate as much as they are going to from myopia.

They won't do the op if there has been any significant change in your sight in the last year so you have to wait til it stabilises.

leeroybrown

Thanks for the advice CT.

... A few years left to wait in that case.

---

"I'd rather have a bottle infront of me than a frontal lobotamy"

Conorisco

Dangerous
Laser eye surgery is to say the least risky
in all cases it diminishes your night vision considerately and increases the blur star lights (from car headlight which can hurt you and reduce your vision)(experts advise against driving at night

Also there is no evidence of the long term effects on the eye as it's only a recently developed proceeder
Other than that its good and although I wouldn't get it myself I wouldn't care about anyone else getting it

---

"I can't speak for command, but I'm gonna clean the place out" - Jc Denton, Deus EX

TwoShedsJackson

Wow a brilliantly thought out and well-informed post there.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Dangerous
Laser eye surgery is to say the least risky</font>

No, it isn't - there is a .001% chance of an infection developing after the surgery (no cases recorded in 7500 done there). That is not what one might describe as risky.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">in all cases it diminishes your night vision considerately and increases the blur star lights (from car headlight which can hurt you and reduce your vision)(experts advise against driving at night</font>

It does not reduce night vision - there is a halo around bright lights at night for around one month per negative dioptre corrected in each eye (-3.5 in my left and -6.75 in my right), so that effect will be gone in six months. I don't drive anyway so that does not concern me - if I did drive I could make alternative arrangements during this period.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Also there is no evidence of the long term effects on the eye as it's only a recently developed proceeder
</font>

It was first carried out in the 70's so there is nearly thirty years of data now - there is no recorded case of anyone developing a problem related to that surgery in later years.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Other than that its good and although I wouldn't get it myself I wouldn't care about anyone else getting it
</font>

Wow your friends and family must love you with a caring attitude like that