LASIK

[DianaD]

Lasers in general can produce unpredictable results and I'd worry about self administration unless the person had some training or there is/was a lot of reliability in the laser being used...the FDA has been approving some questionable things since the 90s, just read an article where Lasik, which generally causes complications with MOST people was basically ushered in to the FDA by laser companies and doctors. Great.

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/20...sik/index.html


I'm not hating, I've had Lasik and don't consider my side effects TOO bad but it's too bad I have them in the first place, (My vision has regressed a little, my eyes are very sensitive to the sun and I have halos at night) but my vision is still better than it was with glasses/contacts. Also? I now don't mind wearing glasses-and my 30 year old self was very opposed! My doctor basically told me afterwards if I'd had the newer laser I'd have had better results, but oh well. Charged me the same price, of course! So when I read about "lasers at home" I can't help but worry a little.

[Marianne]

I was just reading that exact article on Salon but I thought I had barraged everyone with enough negativity lol. I really wanted to so I am glad you did.

I don't think LASER (for skin) is a good option for me, at least ablative. Seriously, I have a horrible scar from Thanksgiving just from a burn from a pan handle. It won't fade. I have hypo from the several burns I have gotten throughout my life. Only one burn (4x6 in oval) I had healed well but I had wound therapy for over a month, EVERY DAY. I had to have it scrubbed with betadine and a scrubbrush and then packed with Silvadene every day. Thank goodness for Lidocaine. You can't even see it now.

I am so sorry you have side effects. I went back and forth with my decision about LASIK forever. I decided not to. I recently got new contacts (Toric) and it is like night and day. Sure, it is a pain but trust me seeing is better than not. Coming into a corner at 130 MPH and needing to brake but the markers are blurry = no good. But the contacts have improved my perception. I already have shown improvements and am getting used to the sensation of the ground being higher when I walk. HAH! Do you know what I mean? I kid that I am just shorter than I thought and couldn't tell as easily before lol. And trees have leaves, they aren't Monet paintings. Did you know that?? No wonder I prefer to paint Impressionism. That's what it looks like without my contacts

I already don't have the best night vision and also don't want to need reading glasses. And to think it is only going to get worse lol. Aging stinks.

Anyway, I am sorry again to hear of the problems you have. I am just thankful you didn't get the implants. So many people have had problems

[DianaD]

just for distance but I hate taking them on and off so I end up leaving them on. I have to take them off to read, too...

I thought the implants were supposed to be better because you could take them out if they caused problems? Pfft! The PR is always so much more exciting than the reality...

[Marianne]

be on steroid drops for the rest of their lives after implants. Especially the color contact implants. There was a lady who posted here who has implants and is fine though.

[cad33417]

I read this thread and wanted to say that I had Lasik back in 1996 before they handed out the little cards with your original measurements on them. One month ago I had cataract surgery. The hardest thing was getting a measurement for the new lens that were inserted due to not knowing what my original curveature measurement were. Fortunately I had one of the top eye surgeons and facilities in south Florida and after one month post surgery I am seeing 20-25. I can read, use the computer and drive night and day without glasses or contacts. I too had problems after Lasik like halos, glare, sun sensitivity and regression. All gone. I can't believe how well I can now see. Moral to this story is if you have had Lasik, get your original measurements and safe guard for the future. Just about everyone develops cataracts at some point (even young people can have them). I couldn't get my original measurements because most Ophthalmologists etc don't keep records after a certain period of time. And do your homework to pick an eye surgeon. I went for a second opinion and the second surgeon had exceptional creditials but he freaked me totally out. The one I chose after a lot of research is a jewell.

[u4riah]

I had accomodating intra occular implants done about five years ago at Feinermann Vision in Newport Beach. It's basically the same surgery as for cataracts, only the accomodating lense is able to flex for both close and far vision. As we get older, the natural lense hardens and won't flex. The accomodating lense is made from silicone, will never get cloudy, will never get hard, and has 100% UV protection coating on them. I now have 20/20 vision guaranteed for the rest of my life (barring some sort of disease). The reading glasses thing was driving me crazy. I always had good vision my entire life and it seemed like overnight when I was about 45, I couldn't focus on anything close. I used to buy 2.0 reading glasses by the dozens and, of course, I could never find them when I needed to read something. I couldn't read the nutritional info on labels in the grocery store and had to go ask someone to read it for me. If someone called on my cell phone, I'd have to hold it up to someone so they could tell me who was calling. Fumbling around in my purse for reading glasses all the time was making me feel like an old lady. NO WAY was I going to put those stupid glasses on a chain and hang them around my neck. Yes -- getting old SUCKS.

[Marianne]

I am so glad this worked out for you I have to wear contacts to do some things, but normally do not wear them every day. I have used word contacts since I was about 15. I don't "need" them for activities but it makes it a lot better. I also cannot pass my vision exam for driving without them (but only by barely). I pretty much have gotten used to trees being fuzzy looking. Everything is a Monet from far away Interestingly I used to be able to read something a couple cm away from my nose, now it is a little over 7.5 cm before it gets in focus. Bleh! That's age! BTW If I get ready in the morning with my contacts on, ACK!!! I can see every flaw!! I would rather not. lol

I was wondering how much irritation you had post-operatively and most importantly (other than how you are thrilled that you don't have to wear your reading glasses! ) if you have to use steroid drops, also how your pressures are?

I am wondering how similar this type of intraocular implant surgery is to the cosmetic iris color change. I am not interested in changing my iris color, I am writing another article on intraocular lenses and my curiosity lies in the amount of issues with the NewColorIris versus the new Brightocular method. I am attempting to understand the complications with NewColorIris. I really wish I knew how many people have had problems with it.