Laser Eye Surgery/Lasek

[Goonerview]

I'm a complete newb when it comes to this, but I'm really interested in getting it done. Tired of glasses and contact lenses.

I'm 26 and my eyesight has been deteriorating for the last couple of years. A couple of years ago, I only needed glasses to watch TV, now I need them 24/7.

If I get lasek, should I wait till my eyes have stopped getting worse? and plateaued?? If I get them done now, is there a danger of my eyesight deteriorating again?

I know there are different procedures, I personally don't like the idea of a doctor slicing into my eye ... as I am a bit squemish, is there any way of avoiding this scenario??

Are you awake during the surgery or under anaesthetic? Does it hurt afterwards, how long does it take for it not to hurt.

I live in Japan and will probably get it done here.

 

[molest]

i had mine done a couple years ago, my eyes kept getting more blind and i couldnt take it anymore.
im very squimish myself but they give u some benzos to relax you, and that pretty much solves it lol. yeah ur awake during the surgery but kind of drugged and relaxed so you wont be nervous at all
your eyes feel kind of akward the surgery you might even say painfull but its totally worth it, if you have the cash go for it, one of the best investments of my life

 

[GhostZ06]

id love to do this, im so sick of my glasses

 

[Paradigm]

you should look into PRK instead of LASIK if you plan on sparring at all. seems like its a longer recovery time and more pain but your LASIK flap won't get dislodged by a punch to the eye.

 

[Bob Gray]

Buddy of mine got it done and has said goodbye to glasses/contacts ever since. Seems to be quite successful.

 

[BoogerDawson]

I'm a complete newb when it comes to this, but I'm really interested in getting it done. Tired of glasses and contact lenses.

I'm 26 and my eyesight has been deteriorating for the last couple of years. A couple of years ago, I only needed glasses to watch TV, now I need them 24/7.

If I get lasek, should I wait till my eyes have stopped getting worse? and plateaued?? If I get them done now, is there a danger of my eyesight deteriorating again?

I know there are different procedures, I personally don't like the idea of a doctor slicing into my eye ... as I am a bit squemish, is there any way of avoiding this scenario??

Are you awake during the surgery or under anaesthetic? Does it hurt afterwards, how long does it take for it not to hurt.

I live in Japan and will probably get it done here.

Usually, by your early 20's, your vision should stabilize. Are you myopic, hyperopic, have astigmatism?

You mentioned LASEK, which is slightly different from LASIK. LASEK is a modified PRK. Not many surgeons do LASEK. LASIK involves creating a flap in the cornea, either with a special blade called a microkeratome, or bladeless with newer technology (femtosecond laser). PRK involves manually removing the top layer of the cornea (kind of the like a scrape on your skin, which will later grow over and heal), and then applying the laser correction. This top layer will grow over in about 3 days.

You will be awake, as physicians will often give something like Valium or similar for anxiety. If you have LASIK or LASEK, the recovery is quick and shouldn't be a lot of pain. If you have PRK, you may have more discomfort, but have a bandage contact lens place along with some drops and/or oral pain meds.

If you have the procedure done now and both eyes are corrected so that your distance vision is optimized, by the time you reach your 40's, you'll need reading glasses to do such tasks as reading at arms length (books, magazines, texting, typing fishing knots, etc) and slightly farther away (computer screen). There is a misconception that having LASIK or any other laser vision correction will rid you of glassses forever, and that isn't true. Prior advertisements have been misleading by showing a large trash can full of glasses that patients discarded after having the procedure. Your reliance on glasses and contacts will definitely be greatly reduced. However, you probably will need glasses again in past your 40's some of the time.

On the plus side, certain activities such as swimming, scuba diving, waterh sports will be great not having to rely on any correction.

As another poster mentioned, you may want to consider PRK if you are involved in any contact sports/activities as the flap can dislocate (finger poke to eye, punch, etc).

 

[Goonerview]

Usually, by your early 20's, your vision should stabilize. Are you myopic, hyperopic, have astigmatism?

You mentioned LASEK, which is slightly different from LASIK. LASEK is a modified PRK. Not many surgeons do LASEK. LASIK involves creating a flap in the cornea, either with a special blade called a microkeratome, or bladeless with newer technology (femtosecond laser). PRK involves manually removing the top layer of the cornea (kind of the like a scrape on your skin, which will later grow over and heal), and then applying the laser correction. This top layer will grow over in about 3 days.

You will be awake, as physicians will often give something like Valium or similar for anxiety. If you have LASIK or LASEK, the recovery is quick and shouldn't be a lot of pain. If you have PRK, you may have more discomfort, but have a bandage contact lens place along with some drops and/or oral pain meds.

If you have the procedure done now and both eyes are corrected so that your distance vision is optimized, by the time you reach your 40's, you'll need reading glasses to do such tasks as reading at arms length (books, magazines, texting, typing fishing knots, etc) and slightly farther away (computer screen). There is a misconception that having LASIK or any other laser vision correction will rid you of glassses forever, and that isn't true. Prior advertisements have been misleading by showing a large trash can full of glasses that patients discarded after having the procedure. Your reliance on glasses and contacts will definitely be greatly reduced. However, you probably will need glasses again in past your 40's some of the time.

On the plus side, certain activities such as swimming, scuba diving, waterh sports will be great not having to rely on any correction.

As another poster mentioned, you may want to consider PRK if you are involved in any contact sports/activities as the flap can dislocate (finger poke to eye, punch, etc).

What is myopic, hyperopic??? How do I know if I am that??

The surgery sounds brutal ... I am so squemish with injections, the sight of blood, I don't think I could ever be comfortable being awake while someone cuts into my eye ... could I just have a general anaesthetic and wake up and be done with it???? ... I'm serious.

 

[Goonerview]

Just typed myopic into wikipedia ... it means "shortsightedness" ... yeah, I think that's me, I can see shit clearly when it's in front of me, but need my glasses to see shit that is far away, like watching TV, people's faces when I'm out in public. etc.... does that mean I can't do the surgery.

Also, you said something about Lasik being where they cut the flap and then I should avoid combat sports .... is that forever??? Is that area of my eye going to be weak forever?? I don't even do combat sports, but I am not sure if I am happy knowing that a freakish blow to my eye may result in the flap coming loose at any given time ... that's fucked up.

 

[minute bull]

What is myopic, hyperopic??? How do I know if I am that??

The surgery sounds brutal ... I am so squemish with injections, the sight of blood, I don't think I could ever be comfortable being awake while someone cuts into my eye ... could I just have a general anaesthetic and wake up and be done with it???? ... I'm serious.

Myopic means nearsighted. Hyperopia means learn to use google. The surgery is simple, read more about and reduce your fear. Or don't and wish you had.

 

[Goonerview]

After continueed research (thank you Google), I think Lasek is better thn Lasik ... I don't do contact sports at all, but I don't want the physical strength of my eyes to be comprimised to any freak accidents.

 

[J0N0]

Are you sure you aren't happier without the ability to watch Arsenal? =p

 

[Hotspur]

I've had YAG laser surgery, didnt hurt at all. They put drops in your eye to numb it and dilate the pupil then they shoot a laser through the iris to break up the crud on the lense.

 

[Naramie]

I had lasik done like five/six years ago. I was nearsighted and needed glasses for driving. I had bad astigmatism in both eyes. Lasik corrected both problems and gave me better than 20/20 vision.

I wouldn't recommend doing unless your eye prescription hasn't change at all in the last few years. If you get it while your vision is still changing it will be kind of worthless. Your eye surgery improvements won't last forever because as you get older vision will get worse, surgery won't stop that from happening. Hopefully by then surgery will be cheaper/better and you'll just get it again or not care at all.

 

[Hotspur]

Every five years I have the procedure, mine is only in my right eye though (accident years ago), nothing wrong with the other eye. Because I had an accident at work the NHS takes care of me, no need to go private for the ops, that can get very expensive.

 

[BoogerDawson]

I've had YAG laser surgery, didnt hurt at all. They put drops in your eye to numb it and dilate the pupil then they shoot a laser through the iris to break up the crud on the lense.

YAG capsulotomies are simple. This is for those who already have an artificial lens in the eye and a haze forms on the capsule which holds the lens implant in place. The anesthetic drops are to either prevent the eyes from burning as one needs to hold the eyes open during the procedure with minimal blinking or the surgeon may place a special lens that rests on the surface of the eye. The capsule has no nerve endings, so that actual disruption is painless.

 

[LATEXXX COMMANDO]

Your age is the perfect age to get Lasik/Laser. Are you active in sports? If so, you should get PRK instead of Lasik.

 

[goleta83**]

Usually, by your early 20's, your vision should stabilize. Are you myopic, hyperopic, have astigmatism?

I sure wish mine would stabilize. Almost 30 and been wearing glasses since 2nd grade and contacts since 8th. But I have to get a stronger prescription every time I get checked. And have an astigmatism in both eyes. Also, more and more shit is going wrong with one eye and I have trouble wearing a contact in it for more than 2 weeks without taking a break for a few days. And now if I fall asleep with them in, I am having to take really long breaks from wearing bc of that eye feeling terrible.

Has anyone had the surgery with really really bad eyes and an astigmatism? Both of my contacts are -9.00 and my glasses like -10.75 in one and something bad in the other.

 

[Hotspur]

YAG capsulotomies are simple. This is for those who already have an artificial lens in the eye and a haze forms on the capsule which holds the lens implant in place. The anesthetic drops are to either prevent the eyes from burning as one needs to hold the eyes open during the procedure with minimal blinking or the surgeon may place a special lens that rests on the surface of the eye. The capsule has no nerve endings, so that actual disruption is painless.

Aye thats the one, i had an artificial lens fitted after my argument with a grinder at work . When i get mine done they put an eye piece directly onto the eye ball to stop the blinking.

 

[The D Is Silent]

I may need it myself.

 

[blink_man182]

A few friends and parents of my friends swear by it. I don't see how people wouldn't do it right now too if they are really desperate especially since the cost of getting it done at a reputable office has gone down drastically as well.