Laser eye surgery in your 40s -- worth it?

[Alevelprep25]

I always put this off. Either scared by the low risk of complications or didn't have money to do it when the kids were younger. I am just about -2.5 in either eyes but the astigmatism makes it worse! Anyone went for it when older and did it last? Or did you need reading glasses shortly after?

I've always been short sighted and looked into this aged 40. My optician advised against laser treatment on the grounds that once you reach 40, your eyesight changes and its close vision that then deteriorates over time. In my case he was right, my short sightedness has deteriorated very slightly since but I do now wear varifocal glasses so that I can read a book or a computer screen without needing two pairs of specs. I also wore varifocal contact lenses for a period of time. They were great vision wise but made my eyes dry and uncomfortable within 6 hours so I stopped wearing them.

I've had it. No it didn't last and 6 years later I need distance glasses again.

However, I don't need reading glasses (yet) and the optician reckons as I've reverted back to become slightly short sighted, that's preventing me needing reading glasses!

Since laser I am more sensitive to light on a bright day and need sunglasses and "halos" from lights at night are more pronounced.

Thank you both for the replies. It doesn't sound it's worth the money at this age 🫣

I did it at 30, for me it's been worth it although I do sometimes wear glasses again. I was -7 , I'm now -1 (possibly 1.5, I can't remember) so I don't wear my glasses all the time. For me it made a huge difference and I think if I hadn't had it done I would have been -8 now. I don't know if I would do it at -2.5.

I had it done about 20 years ago, I was a couple of years shy of 40. I also have astigmatism. I have to say I’ve never regretted it, and it’s still wonderful not to wake up to a blur! I still don’t use glasses even for driving but I do need reading glasses now.

I had it done when I was 32. Best thing I have ever done. I'm now 54 and still have 20/20 vision. Although I do now use reading glasses. I buy them off the shelf at £1.50 a pair!

I had it done in my early 50s. Still got perfect vision after 15 years. It was the best money I ever spent, and I’ve saved a fortune in glasses, lenses and things like prescription swimming goggles.
Travelling is so much easier. Just sunglasses needed now.

Can you please share where you've had that done? The last experiences shared are encouraging!

I had laser eye surgery at 36, 3 years ago.

Best thing I ever did.

It's lovely not to need glasses any more. The procedure itself is weird but not painful at all.

I had mine done through Optical Express: OE LP 1 – Laser – Bing – Optical Express

More than happy to say more, OP, or answer specific questions.

I had mine done at an eye hospital. More expensive than the chains but I felt more confident if there were issues they would be more inclined to help.

I once had to research eye surgeons for work (long story), and ended up quizzing one of the UK's top surgeons about laser surgery. He was very against it for vision correction, because he said the risk of complications is higher than generally promoted, and most of his work was on people who'd had botched procedures. Put me off!

I use ortho-K lenses at the moment, which are fantastic, though sadly expensive. I'm 43 and my close vision is starting to go a little bit, but hopefully if the ortho-K keeps working I won't need varifocals, just ordinary ready glasses.

That's very interesting! Was that specifically for the older age group or just in general. Can you expand on the complications he mentioned?

Just in general, he felt that eye surgery should be for medical reasons because the risks of complications were too high to be justified.

Both my optician and friend whose married to an opthalmic surgeon have told me that after 40 it makes a lot more sense to go for lens replacement. You might improve a bit with laser but the chance of not needing any glasses in 5yrs time is low.

Actually, lens replacement was the surgery I initially had to find a top surgeon for, and he was even less in favour of that for vision correction than he was laser.

Of course this is just one man's opinion, and likely to be coloured by the fact that most of his work is correcting botched eye surgery.