Eye Surgery

[talie]

Thinking about Lazer Eye Surgery to correct my vision and stop having to wear my glasses/lenses -has anyone had it done (is it painful?), where did you have it done, cost etc and have you any advice?

Thanks.

Very good points, chipmonkey.

At the place where I had my Lasik done, the first question they ask, or get you to ask yourself, is "am I happy with my glasses or contacts"? If the answer is yes, then there is no point in going for Lasik - nothing to gain, so nothing to justify the, albeit small, risks.

The other thing that they emphasised was that Lasik did not remove the need for reading glasses. Everyone that dealt with me - optometrists and nurses at the screening and evaluation visits, and the opthamologist right in the theatre - asked if I understood this.

As for scaremongering...the risks of anything severe are very remote, so although it's important to outline these, it is also important to state how rare they are. The risks of dry eye are much higher and it's important that the customer/patient understands that they may be replacing one inconvenience (contact lenses) for another (eye drops).

There has also been a lot of learning since the first laser refractive surgery. The risks nowadays are much lower than the risks 20 years ago, but some of the stories circulating on the web are of people who had their surgery a long time ago who would nowadays not be considered suitable for the surgery, let alone that they did not benefit from the ever-improving technology.

One little anecdote from one of the optometrists I saw - this was in the US 2 years ago, and he said that the UK was much more advanced than the US in their Lasik skill and research. Apparently, Moorfields is held in very high regard there.

Hey chipmonkey, I'm an optometrist too! Didn't know there were any others on here!! Nothing to add to what you've already said, except to say that there is absolutely no way I would have it done myself, however one of my colleagues is seriously considering it as the procedure is so " safe" now if you pick the right bod to do it. I have recommended many people to a reputable surgeon but meny get cold feet once they read the 10 page disclaimer of potential complications they are risking. Of course the vast majority have a fantastic outcome, but you and I get to see first hand the despair a poor result can cause in that tiny tiny tiny percentage that have a disaster.

Janh, clear lens extraction even for lower degrees of myopia is a growing area, as the procedure is safer and we know it is safe long term. If you have c.l.e like you have, you are also saving yourself having a cataract op when you are an old crone...because basically you have have had it done already.

A point not mentioned yet is that if you have had laser surgery, then develope a cataract, technology is not clever enough (yet) to calculate accurately what implant is needed. As we are all living older now we will nearly all need cataract surgery (and you can get catarcts in your 40's and 50's) so this is a major problem at the moment although of course technology will catch up eventually.

Having clear lens (or yellowy in her case!) extraction like janh solves the problem. You can even have varifocal implants now though they are not recommended if you are shortsighted for various technical reasons.

What area are you from chipmonkey?

It was very expensive though, froot - the surgeon said he didn't think the NHS would pay, and even if they would I'd have to wait a long time, and I was desperate...£4500 for both eyes

I wish I'd had one made slightly short-sighted, I can't remember if it was suggested but it would have been useful; but it is still wonderful to be able to see so well

Ireland, froot! Actually, jabberwocky is also an optom. if I remember correctly, but she's in the US

Ireland, froot! Actually, jabberwocky is also an optom. if I remember correctly, but she's in the US

Ahh. Great job, innit?!!

I love it but am on maternity leave at the moment and not really looking forward to leaving ds3.

ChicPea - . I find your post reading "NomDePlume, your optician set out to scare you and succeeded. Good for her - you'll continue to go back for your specs/contact lenses for ever more.

I am going to get an expert to read through this and come back with all the answers to the points raised. ", incredibly rude.

Why is my 'expert''s opinion less valid than yours ? Surely, in your eyes, all health professionals in the eye business will have a vested interest either way ?

JanH, if its any comfort, some people don't tolerate one eye being left shortsighted. I have some patients who are myopic in one eye only and they still feel the need for specs or a contact lens in just one eye. One surgeon I know advises people to reduce the power in one of their contact lenses for a week to see how they get on. Although one guy liked it so much that he decided to stick with the contacts and forget about LASIK!

My oldest DS is 24 and had Lasik surgery at Moorfields a couple of years ago. He is delighted with the result and from being extremely short-sighted now has perfect vision. It is much more expensive at Moorfields-however he would not have had it done anywhere else.

My thoughts too, NomdePlume!

Thanks for backing me up chipmonkey .

There are two types of laser eye surgery. LASIK and LASEK (you'll need to google to find out the differences) They have slightly different risks.

I had the one done (LASIK I think). It was brilliant. Definately the best thing I have ever done. It did hurt the day after though. But from not being able to recognise a person sitting across the room from me unless I wore lenses or glasses (I was that short sighted), I have almost perfect vision. I've had no halo or other problems. My eyes were always much more dry with contact lenses than they are now, and I did need lubricating eye drops for a few weeks after the op, but none since then. Anyway, I would not have cared about having to use the "artificial tears" if I had had to - the contact lense solution is much more expensive anyway. Also my night vision is virtually perfect now, whereas before I could not see well enough to drive even with glasses or contact lenses.

Perhaps the profession is very different here in NZ, but many optomitrists and opthalmologists here have had it done here.

It is a very personal choice though, and you need to get professional advice from someone you trust and/or have had personal referals to (and there is no harm in getting a second opinion). My optician was not too keen on me getting it, but said that he could recommend a highly reputable surgeon. He knew for a fact that this surgeon had turned down several patients who he did not think were good enough candidates. As far as he knew most of these still went on to have the surgery by less picky surgeons, and he had never come across any (either the good or not-so-good candidates that had been unhappy with their results). This was even though he personally did not like the idea of this surgery (he thought it was too drastic).

3 types actually PRK being the third. A bit like LASEK but instead of peeling back the epithelium they scrape it off.
(anaesthetic drops frst of course!!)
Then its just the same as lasek.

PRK is the original, followed by lasik (also called flap and zap)

then came lasek (used if cornes is too flat/steep for lasek or if there is a risk of future flap dislodgement eg rugby players.

Froot, have any of your px's had varifocal implants? None of mine have so far and I was kind of expecting that some of them might have by now!

at your descriptions, froot !

Best not to think too much about it NomdePlume!

Just found this thread and wholeheartedly agree with chipmonkey - I'm definitely not having it done! Of course, many people have had it and are thrilled with the results. I hope they continue to be. In the meantime, I will continue to try to get my patient who had RK done 20 years ago to a point where his vision is stable enough with contacts that he no longer has to get his glasses changed several times a year! And yes, when he first had his RK surgery he was thrilled with it.

Jaberwocky, was the RK performed in Russia?

Nope. Here in the US - Texas I believe.