LASIK - Would you? Have you?

[TibialplateauFx]

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Hey Eye Docs ---


I am just about to start Medical School in August and am seriously thinking of getting LASIK. I just had my consult yesterday, and my pupils are still so dialated its not even funny! Anyways.... They said I was an ideal patient ( 31 yo and healthy w no medical issues in family either). But they may say that to everyone!

Do you seriously recommend LASIK, I am hearing so many mixed reviews. My eye doctor from my home town said he'd never do it!!! Now I am reading about the flap not fully healing, and night time issues to name a few!!!! As well as close up vision issues!! I'm interested in opthamology, or Ortho surg -- lol I know two huge differences but I am amazed by both, and also I need precise vision for both too!!!

The place I am scheduled to have surgery at (next Wed) has very experienced surgeons - they work with local hospitals doing all sorts of stuff( corneal transplants, cataract surgery -- all of the docs there have done thousands of LASIK procedures). So I know they are experienced.

I am scheduled for Custom Bladefree LASIK - I cannot stand wearing glasses and over the years my eyes have become more and more intolerant of contacts. I am -4.5 rgt, and -4.75 left. Just, the more research I do the more I wonder!!! Halos, night issues, ghosting!!!

Honestly, how do you guys feel on the subject -- you are the Eye pros! I will listen to all thoughts - smash me and bash me if you must!

Thanks for your time!

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

I wonder how long it will take them to close this thread. You are asking mostly students for their opinions and not trusting your doctor's. Get a second opinion if you don't trust the first.

 

[JMU07]

I know a few people who have had it done and love it. I also can't really wear contact lenses because I have pretty severe dry eye, but I don't mind glasses. I just do ortho-k (wearing rigid contact lenses while you sleep to mold the cornea) so that during the day I don't have to wear anything. Your prescription is pretty borderline for that to work but it's worth a shot. Cheaper than LASIK and not permanent. But like another poster said, asking students for their opinions instead of another doctor is probably not the best idea.

You said you were reading about all the possible bad things that could happen... did your surgeon not tell you about the risks?

 

[TibialplateauFx]

Yeah the eye surgeon told me risks of Temporary halos, starbursts, ghosting, blurry etc... But, there are other issues like -- early onset cataracts may be linked to LASIK or the steroid drops -- there are FDA studies ongoing for that.

A higher number of ectasia due to the flap from the LASIK procedure being permanently weakened. Not being an ideal eye surgical candidate down the road if any issues/injuries during life may arise. The flap never completely heals to full strength -- actually only something ridiculous like 2 percent of its original tensile strength! So if you are active it may not be favorable.

Hmmm, maybe this is one thing mother nature never meant to play with?

Ryan_eyeball -- I was just wanting to hear about stats or negative/positive experiences. I am a big boy, I can handle myself and make grown up choices. I was just looking for data/info.

I just found it odd that I see a few of the eye surgeons wearing glasses?? Hmmmmm.

Thanks for your time guys!

 

[Oogilily]

It sounds like you already know the risks. There's really nothing else to it. I don't think you will find anybody saying anything different. You just need to decide if the pros outweigh the cons. I won't be getting lasik because I don't want to chance having glares and halos and I don't want to have to deal with dry eye that can also follow the procedure. For me, the cons outweigh the pros of it. I'll just deal with glasses/contacts and that works for me. Basically you have all the information you just need to make a decision and what works for your situation.

 

[JMU07]

I just found it odd that I see a few of the eye surgeons wearing glasses?? Hmmmmm.

Thanks for your time guys!

Well I know I'd never want to take the chance with my eyesight, even though it's a very small risk. And you're still going to have to get reading glasses later in life, LASIK doesn't prevent that.

 

[Meibomian SxN]

Hey Eye Docs ---


I am just about to start Medical School in August and am seriously thinking of getting LASIK. I just had my consult yesterday, and my pupils are still so dialated its not even funny! Anyways.... They said I was an ideal patient ( 31 yo and healthy w no medical issues in family either). But they may say that to everyone!

Do you seriously recommend LASIK, I am hearing so many mixed reviews. My eye doctor from my home town said he'd never do it!!! Now I am reading about the flap not fully healing, and night time issues to name a few!!!! As well as close up vision issues!! I'm interested in opthamology, or Ortho surg -- lol I know two huge differences but I am amazed by both, and also I need precise vision for both too!!!

The place I am scheduled to have surgery at (next Wed) has very experienced surgeons - they work with local hospitals doing all sorts of stuff( corneal transplants, cataract surgery -- all of the docs there have done thousands of LASIK procedures). So I know they are experienced.

I am scheduled for Custom Bladefree LASIK - I cannot stand wearing glasses and over the years my eyes have become more and more intolerant of contacts. I am -4.5 rgt, and -4.75 left. Just, the more research I do the more I wonder!!! Halos, night issues, ghosting!!!

Honestly, how do you guys feel on the subject -- you are the Eye pros! I will listen to all thoughts - smash me and bash me if you must!

Thanks for your time!

There are many factors that go into why someone's LASIK did not come out superb. It seems your eye surgeon convinced you enough that the gains outweigh the risks in your case.

When a patient asks me is LASIK any good, I tell them upfront about the pros & cons and go from there. Many of the problems you read about happen when doctors hide the cons.

Good luck with the surgery and with school

 

[ksidoc]

If you are going to a reputable corneal surgeon and understand the potential risks you will be fine. My wife (also an OD) had it done 4 years ago and LOVES it. She was getting severe GPC with CL and just hated wearing glasses. The anterio seg guy that did it is fellowship trained in cornea from Wilmer and had LASIK himself. I refer no less than 5 patients a month to him for LASIK and have not seen any lasting complications yet. Flap integrity is good with blade free, it is actually approved by armed forces for pilots. Just make sure you are not going to "LASIK factory". If you are uncomfortable have second opinion. Good luck in school!

 

[Meibomian SxN]

If you are going to a reputable corneal surgeon and understand the potential risks you will be fine. My wife (also an OD) had it done 4 years ago and LOVES it. She was getting severe GPC with CL and just hated wearing glasses. The anterio seg guy that did it is fellowship trained in cornea from Wilmer and had LASIK himself. I refer no less than 5 patients a month to him for LASIK and have not seen any lasting complications yet. Flap integrity is good with blade free, it is actually approved by armed forces for pilots. Just make sure you are not going to "LASIK factory". If you are uncomfortable have second opinion. Good luck in school!

Excellent point! If your LASIK sugeon is wearing glasses, start to have serious reservations about them performing your surgery. Have them explain why they have glasses!

 

[PBEA]

perfect candidates sometimes have less then desirable outcomes. That is the risk.

 

[Oogilily]

Excellent point! If your LASIK sugeon is wearing glasses, start to have serious reservations about them performing your surgery. Have them explain why they have glasses!

It could be that the surgeon himself is not a good candidate for LASIK. That's entirely possible. Doesn't mean that he is a bad surgeon.

 

[Meibomian SxN]

It could be that the surgeon himself is not a good candidate for LASIK. That's entirely possible. Doesn't mean that he is a bad surgeon.

True, but I would be less inclined to get LASIK from a surgeon who still wears glasses.

 

[IndianaOD]

To answer the initial questions. No and No.

 

[yOyOYoo]

When I graduated optometry school, our class was offered free LASIK or PRK through TLC. Some of my classmates took the offer.

I turned it down. I'm happy with contact lenses personally. I am a high myope however, -8.00 OD -9.00 OS.

For me, the only refractive surgery that I would consider is getting an ICL implant with the Visian lens. www.visianinfo.com

No dry eyes, no ghosting, no halos, no ectasia, no loose flap, no higher order abberations, reversible, no affect on cataract IOL determination in the future. For myope over -4.00, I'd consider an ICL over LASIK any day. There is a risk of increased inflammation as well as premature cataracts however, but I believe the risk is very slight.

Keep us updated!

 

[jersey9000]

I had blade free intralasik about 5 years ago. Worked well, I was a -9, when I had my eyes checked a few months after the procedure I was 20/15. I have yet to see my optometrist since my last check up 5 years ago.

 

[JMU07]

I had blade free intralasik about 5 years ago. Worked well, I was a -9, when I had my eyes checked a few months after the procedure I was 20/15. I have yet to see my optometrist since my last check up 5 years ago.

Uh.. aren't you supposed to carry on with your post-op visits for so long or else it voids your warranty? I had a family member who never went back for post-op visits and his warranty was voided. That was a while back though.

 

[jersey9000]

Uh.. aren't you supposed to carry on with your post-op visits for so long or else it voids your warranty? I had a family member who never went back for post-op visits and his warranty was voided. That was a while back though.

They give me 6 months of visits for free with lasik surgery, they refracted every time I was there, by the 6th month I was at 20/15.

My eyes are still perfect, I use eye drops once in a while though.

 

[achirum]

They give me 6 months of visits for free with lasik surgery, they refracted every time I was there, by the 6th month I was at 20/15.

My eyes are still perfect, I use eye drops once in a while though.

Was that -9.00D with glasses or contacts?

And when you say by the 6th month you were 20/15, what exactly do you mean by that? Your vision wasn't at 20/15 after the procedure but gradually got better??

 

[4Eyes]

If I was that myopic, I'd be getting my exams for the DFE, if nothing else. That's probably a pretty long eyeball.

 

[SonofanOpt]

I had lasik done about 2.5 months ago... it's amazing.
My mother did my Pre/Post Op stuff and sent me to the MD she recommends most of her patients to. She tagged along because she herself had never seen the procedure. It took me 15 minutes. The only painful part were the 3-4 hours following the surgery (It basically felt like I had left my eyes open in a swimming pool). I took a few tylenol/took a nap and woke up without any pain. The only side effects were halos around street lamps or around the lights on DVD players/the microwave/oven etc. However, these only lasted a week.

I will say that the main driving force behind me agreeing to do it was the fact that my mother repeatedly told me I was an "ideal candidate" and the fact that I got it for free!

 

[JMU07]

If I was that myopic, I'd be getting my exams for the DFE, if nothing else. That's probably a pretty long eyeball.

I was thinking the same. I had a patient yesterday that we referred out for a retinal consult due to her lattice being almost 360 this year (last year it was only inferior).

OP, I know you think your eyes are "perfect" but it never hurts to have your eyes examined just to make sure everything is really okay.

 

[yOyOYoo]

I had blade free intralasik about 5 years ago. Worked well, I was a -9, when I had my eyes checked a few months after the procedure I was 20/15. I have yet to see my optometrist since my last check up 5 years ago.

If you have a chance, call up the office and get your pre operative pachymetry and keratometry information. This will come in very handy in the future. If you request it too late, your chart information may be deleted after some time.

Oh yea, and this is a perfect example of one of the biggest downsides of refractive surgery. Just because someone sees well doesn't mean that they don't need to get regular eye examinations to evaluate the health of the eye. -9.00?! Go get a dilated eye exam.

 

[Oogilily]

If you have a chance, call up the office and get your pre operative pachymetry and keratometry information. This will come in very handy in the future. If you request it too late, your chart information may be deleted after some time.

Oh yea, and this is a perfect example of one of the biggest downsides of refractive surgery. Just because someone sees well doesn't mean that they don't need to get regular eye examinations to evaluate the health of the eye. -9.00?! Go get a dilated eye exam.

You can almost hear the strain of the retina....