Lasik eye surgery, who did it?!
Question: I have been thinking for well over 2 years now about Lasik eye surgery. I am scared of any type of surgery (as most people are!) and I cannot manage pain so well. I live in Canada (if that makes any change). I have been told by a few people that it doesn't hurt, only puts pressure on the eye for less than 10 minutes. Is it true? What are the outcome (compared to seeing with glasses)? Will it improve my vision, will it be the same as glasses, or will it be worst than having my glasses?... How about night vision? Could they mess it up, and then I go blind? There are so many things I want to see in my life, loosing my vision would be one of the worst thing happening to me. How was your experience while doing Lasik eye surgery? Thank you so much.
Answers: I have been thinking for well over 2 years now about Lasik eye surgery. I am scared of any type of surgery (as most people are!) and I cannot manage pain so well. I live in Canada (if that makes any change). I have been told by a few people that it doesn't hurt, only puts pressure on the eye for less than 10 minutes. Is it true? What are the outcome (compared to seeing with glasses)? Will it improve my vision, will it be the same as glasses, or will it be worst than having my glasses?... How about night vision? Could they mess it up, and then I go blind? There are so many things I want to see in my life, loosing my vision would be one of the worst thing happening to me. How was your experience while doing Lasik eye surgery? Thank you so much.
I recommend that you go for a consultation with a LASIK surgeon. I know you live in Canada, so Im not sure if it may be different, but most LASIK surgeons in the US will give a free consultation to make sure that you are a good candidate. I had this procedure done last year and it has been the best thing I have ever done for my self. I do recommend that you visit more than one LASIK surgeon for an opinion.
No matter what you do, if you decide to get LASIK, be sure to get INTRALASE Lasik. This is the top of the line LASIK and it is used withOUT a blade. There is not a knife involved. Most complications come from procedures that use the blade, regular LASIK.
I was scared too, but I did my research and I chose a good surgeon. I was nearsighted (-7 in both eyes with astigmatism) and now I see 20/20. The ONLY side effect I had was for about three months, some automobile headlights were too bright for my eyes. Not all of them, just some. Believe me, if you are good candidate, go for it. I had my surgery done at 7:30 at night and I was up the next morning and drove into the city by myself for my followup appointment the next morning at 9:00 a.m.
Bottom Line: Be sure to do your research, go for more than one opinion consultation and go with your gut when choosing your reputable surgeon.
I haven't had it, but Mikey Way from MCR did, and he hasn't worn glasses since, and he also said he was very happy with the results.
So, I recommend it.
Lasik, (there are other laser refractive surgery techniques, such as lasek) does not tend to be very painful at all at the operation, or immediately afterwards.
The aim is to achieve a refraction very near to zero and this is usually but not always accomplished.
The very best vision post-Lasik is, technically, likely to be marginally worse than the very best vision possible with glasses pre-lasik. (this isn't an issue with most people, for whom the question of vision *without* glasses or contacts is of much greater importance.)
Night vision can be "messed up" in the sense of experiencing glare and haloes.
That doesn't equate to "going blind", of which I don't think there's ever been a case.
The most common dissatisfactions with Lasik are:
Rx not as near zero as hoped.
Dry eyes temporarily or permanently.
Haloes and glare, (especially but not exclusively at night), temporarily or permanently.
These risks are low, but they are there. You'd be talked through a consent form (see example below) and asked to confirm that you understand and have accepted them.
But 97% of people who have had it done would recommend it to a friend.
See also the US FDA pages on Lasik.
Optometrist, retired.
My brother had it done several years ago. The doctor told him that people from African and Mediterranean backgrounds usually don't have to come in for follow up treatments. The doctor attributed it to the dark eye colors.
Yes, it is perfect.