LASIK enhancement

lemmno

Hi all,
I had LASIK wavefront done 4 years ago, thinking of going for a top up as its rapidly deteriorated literally in the space of a month. I'm just wondering has anyone had the enhancement, and if so does it last? Or am I going to need yet another top up in another 4 years? Any insight to this would be very helpful!

lemmno

Bump!!! Any opinions??!!

Mousewar

What happened to you in the last year?

Basically, you were shortsighted because your eyeball elongated and so light focused in front of your retina rather than on it. You had your cornea adjusted when you had Lasik to adjust for this elongation. Since then, your eyeball presumably elongated a bit more and now your cornea needs to be adjusted again to take this into account. There's nothing to say it won't elongate again in the future even though, with most people it doesn't.

lemmno

Mousewar wrote: »

What happened to you in the last year?

Basically, you were shortsighted because your eyeball elongated and so light focused in front of your retina rather than on it. You had your cornea adjusted when you had Lasik to adjust for this elongation. Since then, your eyeball presumably elongated a bit more and now your cornea needs to be adjusted again to take this into account. There's nothing to say it won't elongate again in the future even though, with most people it doesn't.

Thank you very much for your reply. Do you think I'm better off to wait it out as much as possible before getting an enhancement (was I given surgery before my eyes had completely stabilised?) and also are the risks of an enhancement any more than the initial surgery? I came out of the first one very well, no issues with dry eye or watery eyes or any pain. I'm worried I'll go for a second one and experience one of the above! Sorry for all the questions but you seem to know what you're taking about! My sister had EK and a top up and though her vision is good she gets watery eyes.

Mousewar

What age were you when you first had it done?

lemmno

Mousewar wrote: »

What age were you when you first had it done?

I was 23

Mousewar

23 isn't too young but then again it's young enough so it's possible that your eyesight hadn't fully stabilised. Actually, it's certain that your eyesight hadn't stabilised as here you are needing a top up.
Your sister needed a top up. You need one. It's probably genetic that your eyesight has continued to decrease into adulthood. It might decrease again, it might not. Presumably it hasn't decreased to the level it was at prior to surgery. So if it does decrease again in the future it would be a very small decrease. All guessing thought tbh. It's up to you - you need to talk to your original surgeon. Most offer a lifetime guarantee but they'll only actually do the procedure again if you have dipped below driving standard which is relatively bad.
Are their increased risks to having it a second time. Not sure. Probably better with Lasik as they'll just lift up the flap they cut last time.

lemmno

They've definitely not regressed to what they were prior to the surgery, I was -5.75 then. Right now I'm not sure what I am but I'm still at driving standard as I asked what line that was at an eye test last year and I could easily see that and more. It's stuff like number plates, road signs. Things that I could easily see a year and a half ago are now squint situations. My 60 year old mother can see these things whereas I can't! My original surgeon has left that clinic and has emigrated to the UK so if I were to do it again I'd be under a different surgeon so I can't go back and chat to the first guy. When I went back last year with my concerns while I know it's my own decision they weren't very helpful! There was a lot of 'maybe this and maybe that...' involved but no real advice. I know they probably aren't allowed to sway you in any which way but initially I was told that any regression id suffer would be within the first year and once I'd get through that I'd be fine. I was delighted when after a year my eyesight was still pretty amazing. Five years later I noticed a big difference. Six years later I'm noticing more. Should I expect more regression? I don't know!
I have some thinking to do.
Those with naturally perfect eyesight really don't know how lucky they are

mutley18

I'm in the same boat lemmno, had it done 3 and a half years ago when I was 23 and it has since deteriorated, my sight is still a hell of a lot better than what it originally was but not 20/20 which is disappointing.
I went back for an aftercare appointment about a fortnight ago and they told me it would be best to wait at least 6 months to see if my vision has stabilised.
So I am getting a pair of glasses for watching tv and nighttime driving to keep me going until then.

lemmno

mutley18 wrote: »

I'm in the same boat lemmno, had it done 3 and a half years ago when I was 23 and it has since deteriorated, my sight is still a hell of a lot better than what it originally was but not 20/20 which is disappointing.
I went back for an aftercare appointment about a fortnight ago and they told me it would be best to wait at least 6 months to see if my vision has stabilised.
So I am getting a pair of glasses for watching tv and nighttime driving to keep me going until then.

Not the only one then.. Going to specsavers today actually to see what they say my prescription is. I wont be getting glasses as I cant afford them but Im pretty sure they'll say I need them, they always do afterall! Once I find out what my prescription is ill go back to the clinic and see what they advise. Such a disappointment! Do you mind me asking where you got it done? PM me if ya like

mutley18

lemmno wrote: »

Not the only one then.. Going to specsavers today actually to see what they say my prescription is. I wont be getting glasses as I cant afford them but Im pretty sure they'll say I need them, they always do afterall! Once I find out what my prescription is ill go back to the clinic and see what they advise. Such a disappointment! Do you mind me asking where you got it done? PM me if ya like

No not at all, got it done with Ultralase in Belfast but they have since gone into liquidation and Optimax have taken over so that's where I had my aftercare appointment. Or maybe it was Optilase?! Opti something anyway!

lemmno

mutley18 wrote: »

No not at all, got it done with Ultralase in Belfast but they have since gone into liquidation and Optimax have taken over so that's where I had my aftercare appointment. Or maybe it was Optilase?! Opti something anyway!

Just back from Specsavers, I'm -1.00 and -1.75, just about good enough to drive but in bad/dark weather this will feel even worse. So it's not just my imagination, I need glasses or a top up. They advised if I go the top up route to still get glasses for driving in the meantime, depending on how long it takes to get an op appointment. The thoughts of going through that gruesome surgery again.....would it be dramatic to cry?!? Aaaaaargh!