To even consider laser eye surgery?...

[MissGruffalo]

A few years back I only needed my specs for watching tv. Cut to today and I need them for most tasks. Not as short sighted as some but I definitely wouldn’t leave the house without wearing my glasses.
And I hate it.

I’m very squeamish when it comes to putting things in my eyes so I’ve never tried contacts (even though my optician says I have the perfect prescription for it!)

Has anyone had laser eye surgery? Would you recommend it?

I remember reading a few stories a couple of years ago about it going wrong and it’s always stuck with me so I’ve never considered it before. But now I’m so fed up of having to wear glasses.

Any advice?

Excuse any typos, I’ve had a couple of and it’s got me pondering!

An older relative had it in her 80s, said she felt nothing. She then lived, and read, for another 20 years.

I had it done in my mid twenties, in about 2012. It worked and I’m still without glasses now. I had it done because I have a small nose and had trouble finding glasses to fix, and also a slight astigmatism that made contacts uncomfortable, but not enough for a toric lens. I don’t regret it so far, I sometimes wonder if I will in the future.

I wouldn't be brave enough to do it. A total coward, I know, but the horror stories have put me off.

@stillworkingitout why do you feel you may regret it in the future? Are there delayed risks involved?

I would so love to not wear glasses but messing with my sight would be risky business (obviously)
I’m torn!

Had it done 15 years ago, ditched my 30 year glass wearing habit the same day (short sighted). Only now do I need glasses for reading. Do it!

Plus, my trusty pair of favourite frames have recently started hurting behind my ears.. it would be so nice not to worry about silly things like that.
Maybe my giant head has grown, I dunno 🤷‍♀️

Had it done in 2011 - best thing I ever did. From constantly wearing glasses for everything (couldn't be bothered with contacts) to not needing them for anything. Marvellous.

eye specialist here.
obviously there are measured risks but generally I'd say it's fine.
what they may not tell you is.. if you are short sighted you probably will need read ing glasses afterwards or earlier than most.
shirt sighted people usually when they reach late 40s etc just remove glasses for read ing.

I've had it done three times in each eye (4 separate times) and still have to wear glasses now. My prescription is worse than it was before laser.
Although there are a lot of success stories, you don't hear much about the times it doesn't work. I think most the time it does work but I wasn't one of the lucky ones.

I've also have a friend who has had it done and then when she fell pregnant her eyes went blurry again and stayed that way. Hormones can change it too.

Best thing I ever did for myself after 30+ years of nearsightedness. Seriously. It is fantastic and the procedure takes about 60 seconds per eye. It’s weird but really not at all uncomfortable. I’d 100% recommend it to anyone. It has changed my life.

I had lens replacement surgery 10 years ago (short sighted/astigmatism). For the first time in my life (I was 55) I could see perfectly. I have perfect eyesight now which will never deteriorate. Best thing I've ever done, it changed my life. Go for it OP - you will never look back!

BTW - had Lasek on my eyes not Lasik (if I have that right). Did take me a while to pluck up the courage first though!

I had it in 2014.

Every day I wish I hadn't.

They don't tell you about the (very real) risks and complications. I'm still in glasses, and suffer ghosting/glare/awful night vision. I can't drive at night or enjoy movies at the cinema anymore.

Just be aware of the risk it could go wrong.

How d are you OP and what’s your prescription?

I would be very nervous about having it done

d=old!

I would love to have this done.
How much does it cost?
I think I might get saving.

Had it done 20 years ago. No regrets.

I would love to have it done, since having to wear varifocals I struggle with everything - reading, watching TV. My field of good vision is now minute.

My MIL has recently had cataract surgery. She has been told they won't be able to restore her sight properly because her corneas are so thin having been lasered to buggery previously. She is now regretting the years she could have had perfect vision with glasses all along, and still be able to see properly now.

Best money I ever spent. Had it done 12 years ago and it was like a miracle. I had never been able to see without my glasses or lenses, and though it wasn’t a pleasant experience, when I got up from the treatment I couldn’t believe that I could see clearly for the first time. It’s such a pleasure to be able to go on holiday with just a pair of sunglasses, and no contacts, solutions, specs and prescription sunglasses. I have mono vision, so have a ‘reading’ eye and a ‘distance’ eye. They work together perfectly, and although I could probably benefit from reading glasses now, I still think it’s brilliant.

How old are you? It makes a big difference to how the surgery would affect you.

MIL was an eye surgeon. She would not entertain the idea of laser eye surgery for her or any of her family.

I'll go along with her. She was an expert.

Where I went, It costs more depending on how bad your sight is. I was -5.75 contacts and it cost me about £5k. A lesser prescription will cost less accordingly but I don’t think much more is done differently as it’s all computerised.

Btw I waited until well after I was done having kids, and after my sight prescription had been stable for well over 5 years to have it. I had heard pregnancy / having it too early when sight is still changing can mess up the results.

Also, gym, swimming, scuba, snorkelling and skiing are so much easier!