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02/05/2007 11:03:08 AM · #1
Has anyone had this done? And....if so, has anyone had it done over the age of 40 with Myopia and Prespiopia? (far and near sighted). If so, what was the outcome? My eyes can no longer handle contacts (been wearing them since I was 9) and I really don't like what glasses do for me (never sharp enough and hate the feel of them on my face).

Just really considering it might be time for me to have the surgery done.

02/05/2007 11:25:57 AM · #2
I've had it done, it's awesome. One thing though, DO YOUR HOMEWORK and get it done by a good Doctor / facility. I spent over 3k for mine and haven't had a single problem / side effect.

If I remember correctly, and it's been a while, for your case they would correct one eye for near and one for far sightedness.


02/05/2007 11:29:40 AM · #3
My wife and I both has had it done. Love it BTW! My father had it done when he was 48. I can't say he has had the best results from it. All it done was change his far to near sight. Instead of wearing glassing for far distance now he has to wear them to read. Which was fine for him b/c he didn't like wearing glasses to drive.

Also, he went to a small company here in lexington. (not lasik plus) WRONG in my eyes! You need to go to a company who only works on lasik surgery.

My wife and I went to Lasik plus. I went to cin, OH. My wife went to the branch in louisville, KY. Here in the past year they have open another branch in Lexington.

Here is the website.
Lasikplus

Hope it helps
Phillip
02/05/2007 11:47:18 AM · #4
A good friend had it done several years ago. His distance vision was really bad, something like 20/400. Close-up, his vision was fine.
He's very close to 20/20 for distance now. He does need reading glasses for close-up work. My wife has heard this same report from her co-workers.
Bottom line, my friend is definitely much better off than he was; only needing glasses for reading is much preferable to having to wear them all the time.
Do go to a provider that uses the latest equipment and techniques; they won't be the least expensive, but the technique is continually improving, and you want the benefit of that. In your situation, you might also ask whether having one eye done at a time would be lower-risk.
02/05/2007 11:54:12 AM · #5
Originally posted by CalliopeKel:

Has anyone had this done? And....if so, has anyone had it done over the age of 40 with Myopia and Prespiopia? (far and near sighted). If so, what was the outcome? My eyes can no longer handle contacts (been wearing them since I was 9) and I really don't like what glasses do for me (never sharp enough and hate the feel of them on my face).

Just really considering it might be time for me to have the surgery done.


Kelly, I work as a clinical photographer and angiographer for a large multi-specialty ophthalmology clinic. Prior to my current position, I handled all patient counseling, testing, education, etc for LASIK patients. I still serve as our Refractive Surgery Coordinator and have an active role in the process as well as serving as our laser technician on all of our surgery cases (just less patient involvement). We have been doing LASIK for almost 10 years and also do PRK, ReSTOR IOL's, Rezoom IOL's, LRI, etc etc etc. I have also had LASIK done and have counseled countless patients on the pros and cons of surgery. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me and I'll be happy to help in any way I can.
02/05/2007 11:55:54 AM · #6
I had it done something like four years ago. I absolutely love it! One thing to remember, and this is important...if you have one eye done for close work and one done for distance (that is what I did and would strongly recommend having it done if it is an option for you)...make sure that you have the eye that you use through the viewfinder done for your distant vision!

Also, be prepared for the possibility that you may need to have it redone (tuned up) after your eyes have completely stabalized (six months or so). That is fairly normal - at least it was when I had mine done (things may have changed since then).
02/05/2007 01:00:25 PM · #7
I had it done about 10 years ago while in my forties for myopia w/ slight astigmatism (sp?). Restored my distance vision to better than 20/20 at the time with no side effects. I do have to wear cheaters for reading unless I'm in natural bright light. I chose not to do one eye for distance and the other for close work. I tried that with contacts before and did not like it as I never seemd to have crisp vision for either.

After ten years my eyes are now changing slightly. One eye is better than the other and it gives the most trouble when reading from the computer screen. Distance vision reamains good. I'm going to make an appointment with the eye doctor to see about getting glasses specifically for computer use.

Godd luck with yours.
02/05/2007 01:07:57 PM · #8
I had it done about 5 or 6 years ago - I am super duper happy.

Since much good advice has been said already I'll stop here :)
02/05/2007 01:15:30 PM · #9
Had it done June 1, 2006 in Jackson, MS. Went from 20/200 to 20/20 overnight.....literally. By my company physical in August they fully healed and was tested at 20/15 and no side effects. Echoing some other comments, DO YOUR RESEARCH. Not everyone can have it done. Get recommendations from anyone you know that had it done for a doctor. I got a booklet detailing EVERYTHING I needed to know (wish I still had it, I will look), from the good to the bad (after all, it is surgery) and I'll admit, it was a bit scary reading it all. But, I wouldn't hesitate to have it done again. The better places will do an exam free of charge. You will need to keep your contacts out for a week (I think it was) before your exam.

Edit to add:I was 39 at the time.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

P.S. I could have gone to work the next day (I drive a truck) had I not had to see the doctor. Which, incidently, is the most important visit you will make after surgery.

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 13:23:05.
02/05/2007 01:18:08 PM · #10
My dad got his done 6 or 7 years ago when he was in his late 40's. He hasn't had one complaint.

He still wears reading glasses when in low light situations, but besides that he is beyond happy with not having to wear contacts any more.
02/05/2007 01:21:47 PM · #11
oops

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 13:22:05.
02/05/2007 01:48:53 PM · #12
I had it done about 6 years ago. They only did one eye (for close vision) and left the other one as it was for distance. I was definitely over 40, still am BTW. My wife had hers done about a year after I did and we have both been really happy with it. I do notice that when my eyes are tired or I am in low light conditions that I have more trouble focusing.
03/20/2007 05:09:45 PM · #13
I've scheduled both the pre-op and surgery dates for laser surgery, and I'm wondering if I should be talked out of it. :) The list of complications is pretty daunting, low-risk though they may be. Has anyone heard of anyone that had any serious complications? And what has everyone's experience been about the time to heal, and resumption of normal activity?
03/20/2007 05:17:55 PM · #14
An ex-coworker of mine had a bad experience. His vision was corrected perfectly, but he was left with persistently dry eyes. He never went more than 30 minutes without eye drops.

Definitely research.
03/20/2007 05:23:30 PM · #15
I've heard that results for lighter colored eyes (blue, green) can be different than for darker colored eyes - ie more problems with halos at night and such. Any truth to those rumors?

03/20/2007 07:44:23 PM · #16
Originally posted by Louis:

I've scheduled both the pre-op and surgery dates for laser surgery, and I'm wondering if I should be talked out of it. :) The list of complications is pretty daunting, low-risk though they may be. Has anyone heard of anyone that had any serious complications? And what has everyone's experience been about the time to heal, and resumption of normal activity?


There is a very high correlation between the experience of the doctor and complications. You want a doctor with thousands of operations in experience and a willingness to share their success/complication data. The serious complications I have heard about have been with less experienced doctors.

My surgery was over in 1/2 an hour. I was seeing well when I left the clinic/hospital, but wasn't to drive. I had to keep my activity down for a couple of days - no serious exercising. Then, I had to wear eye covers when I slept for 2 weeks and couldn't touch my eyes. I also put drops in every 2 hours and a bit of gel in at night. I was not to swim, dive, etc for 6 weeks.

Contacts left my eyes very dry by the end of the day, even with the type you were supposed to be able to wear without taking out for 2 weeks. The Lasik made my eyes drier than they had been, but since I'm not wearing contacts, the extras strength "tears" at night is enough to keep my eyes comfortable and healthy. My doctor also warned me that was to be expected.
03/20/2007 07:49:10 PM · #17
Had lasik done 5 years ago at the age of 38. My vision was 20/800!!!

I found a great surgeon and now my vision is 20/20 - I would never go back. I felt like a miracle had happened.

I would highly recommend it.
03/20/2007 08:03:52 PM · #18
Had Lasik done eight years ago at the age of 46. Both eyes prior to surgery were 20/400 each. Decided to get one eye for long distance and one for closeup (reading) Ended up with the 20/25 in the distance eye (bad) and 20/50 for closeup vision (reading). Because the distance eye is not clear, it still fights with the closeup eye. Very frustrating!! Had it done at American Eye Institute. Was told that I could have "unending enhancements". When I told the doctor that I was not happy with the distance eye, he said to me "Do you really want to waste an enhancement on that small of an amount of eye correction???" Well, YEAH, I'd like to SEE!!!!!
Needless to say, I'm NOT a happy camper! I recently went back thinking that they could perform one enhancement on the distance eye, but they were going to charge me $150 bucks just to tell me if they could do it not!!!!! I originally paid $4000 for the original operation.
It's quite a racket they have going there, I'd say. So, just find a reputable doctor and get lots of reports from people that he has actually performed the surgery on. And don't believe all the hype that they tell you when you go to one of their seminars. Get all the facts, first. I wish I had.....
Good luck!!

Message edited by author 2007-03-20 20:04:58.
03/20/2007 08:09:49 PM · #19
Thanks for all the responses... not sure what it means for my decision though. The pre-op consultation and exam is free, and I've been quoted anywhere between $450 and $2,000 (cad) per eye, depending on the surgery they recommend or that I choose.This is the clinic. Are dry eyes permanent I wonder? I thought I read somewhere that it was temporary, anywhere from a few days to a few months. I also read that the night halos go away after awhile, because they're the result of excess water from the healing process behind the corneal flap.
03/20/2007 08:19:45 PM · #20
Well my vision is 20/750 (basically blind) and I am told I will have to come out of my gas permeable lenses a month for every decade I've worn them (that means 3 months for me) and let my eyes settle into their natural shape.

I believe the option of having one eye for up close and one for distance is a common option. I would rather see crystal clear distance and need reading glasses for the close stuff.

It never is an easy decision this.
03/22/2007 07:07:17 AM · #21
Originally posted by CalliopeKel:

Well my vision is 20/750 (basically blind) and I am told I will have to come out of my gas permeable lenses a month for every decade I've worn them (that means 3 months for me) and let my eyes settle into their natural shape.

I believe the option of having one eye for up close and one for distance is a common option. I would rather see crystal clear distance and need reading glasses for the close stuff.

It never is an easy decision this.


Kelly,

I was in a real similar situation. At 38, I was right on the edge of leaving one eye for close up and one eye for distance, but everyone (including my cousin who is an eye doctor, but doesn't do surgeries) to have both of them done for distance. I was 20/800. 20/800. But, they "buzzed" my eyes, about 8 minutes of surgery, had me sit up and read the clock across the room. I got a chill up my spine. I could see across the room with out glasses or contacts. no dry eyes, no problems.

But, like my cousin says, "Take the Valium when they offer it." I was extremely nervous going in. But, thankfully, things turned out great. I am sure they will go well for you also. I paid a bit more, but in this area, do not seek out the low cost provider:)

Also remember, pilots, golfers, baseball players, and racecar drivers all have have had this surgery with success, as well as regular guys, like doctors and lawyers. People who depend on their eye sight for a living.

I hope the best for you and let us know how it all turns out.
03/22/2007 07:29:43 AM · #22
I had it done last September. I have one for reading and one for distance. This works great for me but it is not for everyone. I too wore contacts for a very long time and it got to the point my eyes couldn't take it anymore. I was over 40 when I did this.
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