Eligible for laser eye surgery?

Zascar

I'm 31 and I've been wearing glasses since i was about 14. I started with only a tiny prescription but now I'm up to roughly -3.5. The last few times I've had my eyes tested they have got a little bit worse, as they have done consistently since i was 14. My optician tells me that your precriptions usually stops getting worse and levels out when you are about 18-21 - and I'm told it's unusual that they keep getting worse into your 30's (however I do spend a lot of time in front of a computer). Because of this I'm told I cannot get laser surgery, as your prescription should have leveled out for at least two years.

However, I was talking to a few people who have lad the surgery and none of them were asked about this at all, they just do the consultations and look at their eyes - and tell them if they are eligible. Can anyone comment on this?

It's been about 2 years since I last got my eyes tested and I don't think they've got much worse - so is it worth me going for a consultation to see? Has anyone had this problem?
Thanks

CeannRua

I think it's normally a year rather than two years. It is to your own benefit to be honest because if your prescription is not stable I guess you're at higher risk of needing another procedure. I was definitely asked if my prescription had changed much during the previous year but I guess this might vary between clinics. Best thing might be to ring around clinics and check.

Edit: Just editing this cos it's probably a bit misleading now I read back on it. Lahinch Lass is right. It's not that your prescription can't change at all, it's that it shouldn't change drastically.

lahinch_lass

Zascar I'd suspect your eye's situation is somewhat similar to mine.. I started wearing glasses at about 10 or 11, just for the blackboard/whiteboard at school. By the time I was 16 my sight had degraded to the point of needing glasses all the time, my prescription has kept changing by about .25 on each checkup over the years since then. However the prescription on my right eye was always stronger than the left and about 18 months ago the prescription in both eyes matched for the first time and they seem to have stabilised as a result of that, the right eye prescription hadn't changed at all, only the left had worsened & even acquired a slight astigmatism for the first time !

On my visit to optical express they did take a pair of glasses with my current prescription and ask when it had been set to use as a comparison with the current state of my eyes. That was their basis for saying it was stable enough for laser correction.

My understanding from reading online it seems that "stable" is more that your prescription isn't changing drastically between visits to your optician. e.g. I had a fairly severe degradation at 16 my eyesight got 3 times worse than it had been previously, it's that sort of instability that is why they advise you stay away from laser op.

If you know the way your prescription has changed say in the last 4 to 5 years and it's just a minor change each time then it's likely to be "stable".
But do make sure you're happy with the laser consultation thoroughness, I've heard complaints from friends about certain consultations being very sketchy.

Zascar

Thanks. I think I'll go get my eyes tested and see what they say.

So, now I have to work out which company to use. A quick google finds a good few of them - how do I pick? Are there any good threads here to help?

CeannRua

Hi Zascar, what I did was go for a consultation with one of the companies that offer them for free. Some consultations you have to pay for. I figured that if I changed my mind it wouldn't have cost me anything. I wasn't comfortable with them for various reasons so had the laser somewhere else in the end. But I'd do it this way again.

If you're in Dublin like your profile says it would be easier for you to stick with Dublin or somewhere close. At the initial consultation they put in drops to dilate your eyes. You won't be able to drive for a while afterwards so if you need a lift you'll need someone to pick you up. You will also have a number of checkups afterwards so even if you save a few quid on the procedure going to Belfast or somewhere it probably isn't worth it.

With some companies you meet the surgeon who will be doing the laser at the consultation. With others, no. So if you'd prefer to meet the surgeon I'd ask this when booking the consulation. I wouldn't have thought about this beforehand but I'm glad I did meet the surgeon at the consultation.

I couldn't recommend going with the cheapest company but some do offer (or at least they used to do this) discounts based on if you hold private health insurance with a specific company.

I only started looking at this forum lately and there does seem to be various threads with people singing the praises of certain clinics but then some of them are replied to with accustations that initial poster works for the comany in question!! Who knows where the truth lies on this one... I guess the most important thing is that you are comfortable with whichever company you choose to go with. And talk to people who have had it done in various places.

Sorry for the essay but hope this helps. If you want the name of where I got it done you can send me a PM.

Analee

Hi Just wondering has anyone who got laser eye surgery done suffered difficulty reading afterwards. I am so disappointed because I feel I am in a worse situation now. Dose it improve and if so how long does it take?

lahinch_lass

Analee wrote: »

Hi Just wondering has anyone who got laser eye surgery done suffered difficulty reading afterwards. I am so disappointed because I feel I am in a worse situation now. Dose it improve and if so how long does it take?

It's almost 6 months since I had the op, so if my experience is any guide for you...

I certainly still have issues with small low-contrast text, think ingredient lists on some food products & cosmetics as an example.. but apart from that and the hazing produced by white text on black on an electronic display/projection I haven't much problem with reading.

Certainly for the first month after the op reading anything on an electronic interface was difficult, and the level of discomfort varied with the type of device... smartphone being the worst. but after that first month it was just the small low-contrast, and the white on black electronic display that still caused issues.

They are at this stage talking about a medical review for me since they tried steroid drops over the last month and that just made the hazing worse while making no improvement on the low-contrast issue.