Lasik Eye Surgery FAQ:
Afraid that if I do yrs later there will be some talk on the news about how lasik surgery has been proven to be harmful.For those of you who had it done would you share your exsperience with me.Have there been any complications? Are you satisfied? I am so tired of wearing glasses and contacts seem so complicated.
Afraid that if I do yrs later there will be some talk on the news about how lasik surgery has been proven to be harmful.For those of you who had it done would you share your exsperience with me.Have there been any complications? Are you satisfied? I am so tired of wearing glasses and contacts seem so complicated.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, complications do occur, in a percentage of cases, from the minor to the very serious.
About 96% of people, even if they do have some side effects would still recommend the procedure to a friend.
(Most common side effects:
Rx not as near zero as hoped for.
Dry eyes, temporarily or permanently.
Haloes and glare at night, temporarily or permanently.)
The essential thing about contact lens wear is that the Rx can be changed if the eyes do, and that if there are any problems the lenses can be changed or discontinued.
To my mind that flexibility is worth a little inconvenience, but that is a personal decision.
Opting for laser treatment, certain risks have to be taken on board as possible lasting effects. Hence the consent from that is to be talked through and agreed to. (sample below, along with the FDA Lasik site.)
Dryness and halos. Not much. Yes it is very good.
I had LASIK done 3 years ago and most of the time I forget I ever had it. It’s been wonderful to wake up in the morning and see the clock clearly, drive in the rain or cold weather without having to worry about spattered or fogged glasses, and being able to go swimming or to water parks without having to deal with contact lens cleaners and plastic cases, not to mention itchy dirty lenses that even gave me pink eye once in a while.
It did take my eyes some time to adjust and settle down. For the first month after the operation, my vision fluctuated some between near- and far-sightedness, and I had to wear different strengths of reading glasses to do deskwork (I’d never been farsighted before, so it was really weird to experience). After that, though, it was perfect all the time and I can still honestly say I’ve never made a better decision or had my money better spent!
It’s great to be cautious. There are risks connected with LASIK procedures.
I am 10 years post-LASIK, I am pleased with my results. I am also an optician and I see mixed results, most people are happier after it is done but some people have continuing problems.
The procedure has improved greatly since I had mine done but there are some drawbacks. There is a high correlation between LASIK patients and greatly-reduced low-contrast vision—a type of vision problem not really addressed in a standard eye exam. I do not have 20/20 vision now (I never did, quite) but my low-contrast vision is poor. This means I see ok in an eye exam under very good dark/light conditions, but that my vision is considerably reduced when a room is dark or for night driving. Also, I needed reading glasses a few years before most other people my age–but use them only at work with tiny eyeglass screws, etc.
Knowing what I know now, I would still have had the procedure done.
If my son (high RX) wished to have it done, I would encourage him to do so–but I would help him carefully research the best place to have it done. This is very important.