Opinions on Lasik (Laser eye surgery)?

[Vulcan 3,256]

So yeah, I've recently been offered a free Lasik treatment by a reputable establishment in my city and I've been wondering what your opinions on said operations are.

 

For the uninformed , Lasik is a type of operation that has the potential to completely fix eye problems like nearsightedness by  using lasers to re-shape the eye. It has a success rate of 96% , granting it's patients  20/20 vision, meaning that doing so will allow one to never use eye glasses or contacts for a quite a long time, My Doctor in particular , saying he will guarantee great vision  for the next 15 years, after which I'll have to pay for another procedure myself, if the eye happens to change shape again. 

 

I've been debating with myself as to whether or not I should go through it, after all, even if the chance of Blindness is immensely low (lower than the chance contacts will blind you), but the fact that it's an operation that cuts your eyes with lasers, isn't exactly a comforting thought. 

 

 

Anyways. What are your opinions on Lasik? Would you go through it if given the chance?  

 

 

 

[Discordian 6,021]

When I was six years old I had cataract and laser eye surgeries. One (I don't remember which) of those surgeries got screwed up so now I can see without glasses but I also need to use glasses. I can see well enough to do day to day things but seeing details of anything more than a few feet from me? Forget it. I can tell you when a car is in front of me and the shape but I could never read the license plate or tell you what company made it unless I was literally right next to it.

 

So my opinion of Lasik is pretty low. Either it was the one that got screwed up and permanently damaged my eyes or it didn't fix enough and was a waste of time.

 

It should be noted that my experience is an isolated one and you'll find almost no one who has the same problems.

[Celtore 2,770]

My opinion of it is fairly negative. You only have one pair of eyes, if something screws up regardless of how uncommon it might be or how reputable the clinic is, you're stuck with the outcome for the rest of your life. A botch on an order of glasses or contacts can be fixed, reshaping or repairing your cornea is a harder matter.

 

I've also talked with a few guys that went through with the treatment a few years ago as a part of a college project, and a fairly common trend I noticed was permanent severe dry eye. I don't know if they've fixed that problem now or not.

Edited June 28, 2016 by Celtore

[Vulcan 3,256]

 

 

When I was six years old I had cataract and laser eye surgeries. One (I don't remember which) of those surgeries got screwed up so now I can see with glasses but I also need to use glasses. I can see well enough to do day to day things but seeing details of anything more than a few feet from me? Forget it. I can tell you when a car is in front of me and the shape but I could never read the license plate or tell you what company made it unless I was literally right next to it.

 

I don't think the laser eye surgery you had would have been very effective. Having lasik at such a young age won't really do much since the eye reshapes itself quite a lot during puberty. The clinic I've been to only takes in patients 21 years and older, because it's when the eye growth slows down. 

 

 

 

I've also talked with a few guys that went through with the treatment a few years ago as a part of a college project, and a fairly common trend I noticed was permanent severe dry eye. I don't know if they've fixed that problem now or not.

 

The eye doctor actually brought that up ^ ^ , It's actually common and temporary, and every one of his patients recovered within 6-12 months. I don't know if he was lying though,

 

What worries me is that there are a large number of folks online saying that they had permanent dry eyes for years after lasik, I don't know if it's just the vocal minority but It scares me. ;-; 

[Invincible 2,092]

I never underwent the procedure myself, but i happen to know someone who did. It actually helped him see quite a lot better. He wasn't blind as a bat before that, but his ability to distinguish shapes from a long distance was somewhat lacking, whereas now he seems quite a lot more sharp.

[Vulcan 3,256]

 

 

I never underwent the procedure myself, but i happen to know someone who did. It actually helped him see quite a lot better. He wasn't blind as a bat before that, but his ability to distinguish shapes from a long distance was somewhat lacking, whereas now he seems quite a lot more sharp.

 

Did he ever talk about any dryness in his eyes after the operation? 

[Invincible 2,092]

Did he ever talk about any dryness in his eyes after the operation?

Somewhat. He did complain about some irritation in his eyes for a few days after he started using his eyes again, but other than that he seems pleased with the results.

[Fhaolan 4,494]

I had Lasik about... fifteen years ago? Something like that. At the time I was at the limit of where they said they could help, due to severe astigmatism. The lenses of my eyes were so distorted that I had no depth perception, something I didn't realize until after the Lasik. suddenly I had depth perception and everything looked so weird. For about eight years I didn't need glasses, but slowly my eyes have continued to deteriorate and I'm back to wearing glasses full time again. No where *near* as heavy a prescription as what I needed back then, and I still have depth perception so I'm going to call that a win. From all reports they could have done a better job now, if I had waited, but they can't do anything to 'touch up' as the old procedure didn't leave enough material for them to work with.

 

In any case, I didn't have the issue with dry eyes that they warned against.

[cmarston1 5,964]

I don't think I am willing to risk my eyes to do this kind of surgery.

While I would like not having to wear glasses, I am too afraid of things going wrong and screwing up my eyes to try it.

[Solid 1,327]

I read from numerous sources that apparently LASIK is preferably for more severe eye conditions, which means it is not recommended for those with mild conditions.

 

I have mild myopia, I could still function without glasses, but I wouldn't be able to see the details or read signs from afar (hence needing glasses to drive).

 

Still, even mild myopia really sucks (I personally do not like wearing glasses), as my visions are just blurry enough to not see the details or render me unable to read street signs from afar, yet considered not severe enough for LASIK.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 42,202]

My opinion? A big confident NOPE from me. Surgery itself already terrifies me on its own, anything involving the eyes quadruples that. It is good that it has helped quite a few people, but it is not something I would ever consider.

[Lisa 5,553]

I'd love to get Lasik but I don't even want to risk screwing up my eyes. Also the surgery looks awful. 

(Skip to around 17:00)

Edited June 30, 2016 by Holiday

[Rulerofblocks 210]

Lasik wouldn't phase me a bit. I have already had 4 eye surgeries for exotropia strabismus. I would definitely only do it if my condition was serious enough.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,339]

My best friend had lens replacement surgery on both eyes. She now has synthetic lenses in her eyes, but it only marginally helped her vision. My father had a detached retina which was successfully restored by laser. They actually hung him upside down so the retina would drift back into proper alignment, and used a laser to "spot weld" it back in place. He said that the light had an almost physical pressure and was very painful because they can't anesthetize the inside of your eye.

 

I'm back on an edit here...

I forgot to mention that when he had the detached retina, his eye filled with blood and he was totally blind in it. They had to wait for the blood to be reabsorbed before the procedure could be done. Thankfully his vision was restored 100%!

 

My eyes are very bad, but the thought of lasik absolutely terrifies me even though I know two people who had eye surgery. I have heard of cases where the person ends up with WORSE vision after the procedure.  I'll stick with glasses until my vision is too poor for them to work. Then, I'll try more intrusive options.

Edited June 30, 2016 by cuteycindyhoney

[Vulcan 3,256]

Kinda wanted to make an update regarding my operation. After weeks of research...I have finally decided to opt for PRK rather than Lasik. Mostly due to my concerns of eye dryness. To the uninformed, PRK is Lasik's predecessor. sparing you the details, It has shown to have slightly better end results with a much lower risk of Eye dryness but in exchange you have to go through a much longer recovery period and it hurts like the dickens. 

 

A few weeks now, since the operation, and my eyes are getting better and better. It could still use more improvement and the doctor says it will get progressively better for the next few months. 

 

 

 

I had Lasik about... fifteen years ago? Something like that. At the time I was at the limit of where they said they could help, due to severe astigmatism. The lenses of my eyes were so distorted that I had no depth perception, something I didn't realize until after the Lasik. suddenly I had depth perception and everything looked so weird. For about eight years I didn't need glasses, but slowly my eyes have continued to deteriorate and I'm back to wearing glasses full time again. No where *near* as heavy a prescription as what I needed back then, and I still have depth perception so I'm going to call that a win. From all reports they could have done a better job now, if I had waited, but they can't do anything to 'touch up' as the old procedure didn't leave enough material for them to work with.   In any case, I didn't have the issue with dry eyes that they warned against.

 

 

Glad to know  not everyone's got the dry eye problems but regression is something I've noticed in my research. It sounds like the operation was still worth it though, which is good! 

 

 

 

My best friend had lens replacement surgery on both eyes. She now has synthetic lenses in her eyes, but it only marginally helped her vision. My father had a detached retina which was successfully restored by laser. They actually hung him upside down so the retina would drift back into proper alignment, and used a laser to "spot weld" it back in place. He said that the light had an almost physical pressure and was very painful because they can't anesthetize the inside of your eye.   I'm back on an edit here... I forgot to mention that when he had the detached retina, his eye filled with blood and he was totally blind in it. They had to wait for the blood to be reabsorbed before the procedure could be done. Thankfully his vision was restored 100%!   My eyes are very bad, but the thought of lasik absolutely terrifies me even though I know two people who had eye surgery. I have heard of cases where the person ends up with WORSE vision after the procedure.  I'll stick with glasses until my vision is too poor for them to work. Then, I'll try more intrusive options.

 

What your friend experienced sounds very terrifying.  

 

 

 

Lasik wouldn't phase me a bit. I have already had 4 eye surgeries for exotropia strabismus.

 

That sounds rough. If it's not too personal, Why 4 surgeries? Are they just a sort of temporary fix? 

Edited July 19, 2016 by Vulcan

[Koukatsu 5,899]

 

 

What are your opinions on Lasik? Would you go through it if given the chance?

I had lasik a couple years ago. I'm a fan. What I would warn you about (that I did not have much advanced notice about it); when they do it, they do both eyes as a one, two, one, two type of thing to speed things along, so you will be completely blind for about 20 seconds.

[Guest]

My opinion of it is fairly negative. You only have one pair of eyes, if something screws up regardless of how uncommon it might be or how reputable the clinic is, you're stuck with the outcome for the rest of your life. A botch on an order of glasses or contacts can be fixed, reshaping or repairing your cornea is a harder matter. I've also talked with a few guys that went through with the treatment a few years ago as a part of a college project, and a fairly common trend I noticed was permanent severe dry eye. I don't know if they've fixed that problem now or not.

 

Always go for a doctor who is known. I actually had the procedure done and it's relatively simple and it does work. I wear glasses now for minor correction, but I have had 15 years without the need for glasses and my need would have been far greater without the surgery.

 

Cases of failures are extremely low and that's no reason not to trust medical science.

 

Oh and I've never had dry eyes.

Edited July 19, 2016 by Guest

[EpicEnergy 23,247]

I think it sounds like a good thing.

[Fluttershyfan94 5,749]

I have my glasses never will I ever do a lasek surgery. Expensive and scary.

[The Kaeya Simp 13,996]

Glasses are really good and not really worth lazer eye surgery, costs way much more than just wearing glasses,

plus glasses look way better

[Cirrus. 1,093]

I've worn glasses since middle school, and contacts after high school. They are much better than glasses and I haven't had any issues aside from the occasional contact deciding to be uncooperative, which only happens like once or twice a year. Overall much less annoying than glasses getting dirty, falling down, getting water on them, or fogging up. Because of this I don't have any desire to risk lasik surgery. If my contacts are giving me problems, I can take them out and wear my glasses If I need to. The only thing I would want to get lasik is for swimming underwater, which is something I rarely do anyways.

If my eyes got F#cked up from lasik surgery I'm going to have BIG problems. What then, get an eye transplant? I don't think they have that.

Also I remember dissecting a sheep eye in elementary school, and messing around with your eye seems like a VERY bad idea.

Edited May 16, 2020 by Cirrus.