Anyone had laser eye surgery?

[Ladycurd]

I'm booked in for a few weeks time, not nervous about procedure oddly but worried about after effects - night glare, dry eyes or things more serious. So many rave about it but there has been a bit of hard sell from company which makes me wary.
So thought I'd ask mne tetra who had had it done for their experiences.

I had it in September 2002. Fabulous, no problems.

Thanks for that! And obvs mne tetra should have been mnetters :D

I might feel naked without my glasses. People say they suit me! Plus they are good at hiding the dark shadows! ;) but I'm excited too

I had it in 2010. Bloody amazing - no side effects at all. No regrets, best thing I ever did

I had it 8 years ago. I admit I really hated the procedure, but that's because I hate people touching my eyes under any circumstance - medical type stuff

I'm glad I've had it done. I don't need glasses socially now, but I still need them for driving if light is dim/ dark. Visual acuity tends to drop in poor light after lasering.

I also get starburst effects round car headlights. That doesn't bother me as much now, and if I wear my glasses when driving it doesn't really affect me. I see everything else sharp, so my brain ignores the starburst.

I was left with a slight prescription afterwards. But that's because my original prescription was so bad. So I do still wear my glasses in cinema etc. it doesn't bother me as I don't have the thick thick lenses I used to have. I also need prescription sunglasses as I find normal ones blur my vision too much. You still get presbyopia as you age- so ultimately will need glasses again.

I don't know if this is encouraging or not. I am glad I've had it done. It's great to go out socially and not have to wear glasses. I genuinely don't mind wearing them some of the time.

Had it done about 10 years ago - no real after affects that I remember.

Yep, me too. Had it done about 10 years ago, no regrets!

My experience same as hardtothink.

I don't regret it as I had a v high prescription couldn't do anything w:o glasses or lenses, not even apply make up, swim, etc.

However I get glare around artificial lights and not just at night. It does bother me if I'm honest but net, being able to see everything else sharply makes up for it. If my eyes are dry it's worse but I've not suffered particularly with dryness.

I have a v small prescription on one eye remaining and use glasses for long days at work computer.

That was supposed to say "without" not a smiley!

I had it in 2009 and for me it was life changing - I had only been wearing glasses for 3 years and HATED them.

I did have dry eyes afterwards - was quite worrying as my vision seemed no better. However, I was in the tiny percentage of people who have a reaction to the eye drops they give you. As soon as they figured this out and prescribed the correct ones everything was sorted.

I do still have bad night vision - if I had the chance again I would have the more expensive one that improves this too.

I absolutely don't regret having it done, is some of the best money I've ever spent!

I had it done a couple of years ago. .. Had dry eyes and had to use blink eye drops for a long time and had to a punctal plug fitted in one eye-they block up part off your tear duct to stop the eye becoming dry. No regrets. Just keep on top of the company if you do feel you are having side effects. I used optical express and their aftercare was poor. Take sunglasses on the day and ask the surgeon for more anaesthetic drops to be put in before you leave to go home. The procedure lasted about five minutes and that was it - all done. Someone u know had loads of bad side effects but they have finally got her sorted eight months down the line.

What's the more expensive one that improves night vision? I hate driving at night

I had it done 9yrs ago and no regrets at all. I won't lie - the actual procedure was terrifying for me but immediately after I was amazed. I left the clinic and was walking down the road reading every number plate and sign post to my mum (who'd gone with me) in total amazement, as previously they would have been a complete blur, yet all of a sudden I could see! My eyes were very watery and stung a bit for a day or 2 but no problems since and eyesight is perfect

Had it done 12 years ago. Best thing ever.
The procedure was awful and I really felt like saying stop after the first eye and running away but I held out.
Amazing vision almost immediately. No problems with night vision or any blurring at all. No dry eyes either.
Going swimming was the best thing, no glasses or contacts is great.
Recently had my vision checked and there hasn't been any change, just as good as when I had it done.
I am sure the procedure is even more advanced now so I wouldn't hesitate in recommending it.
A friend has also had her eyes done recently and she would definitely agree with me.
Good luck.

Agree that I love now that my glasses don't get soaked in the rain! Small things and all that! Can also see when swimming

I think I had the more expensive treatment- not eligible for cheaper one. And my night vision is not good. So I would ask carefully about that.

I am still glad I've had it done

I going for wavefront LASIK which is most expensive but supposed to give good night vision. I'm a bit concerned about this as I am the only driver in our house so in winter this could become an issue. My prescription is mild though -1.75 each eye so I'm told milder correction gives better results.
Those with bad night vision- can I ask if you had wavefront and what your correction was?

I asked my optician her thoughts on laser surgery.

My prescription is -2 in each eye, I wear contacts during the day (for long vision, driving etc) but I struggle to read with them in, so either read without them (fine) or wear cheapo reading glasses as well as the contacts in +2 which solves the problem of reading.
My optician told me that the surgery could correct the lack of long vision, but it would undo my ability to read, so I would still need glasses for near sight. In effect, no gain really.

Looking at the above responses, I'm wondering if the opticians advice is correct? Anyone know?

De-lurking for a kick up the backside. So want to get this done but just hideously squeamish about anything to do with my eyes. I can't let anyone touch them or let the optician put in or remove my lenses. Just googled the procedure and lasted about 5 seconds watching it on YouTube. It's the clamping open of the eye that terrifies me most. There's no hope for me is there.....??

Two friends have had it done and both were extremely unlucky. Although the surgery is supposed to be relatively risk free, in both cases something went seriously wrong - one has permanently fuzzy vision and misses her glasses, the other nerve damage and crippling chronic pain.

just answering ruby

Shortsighted people struggle with distance, but near is usually good (until you are seriously shortsighted at least) so the laser would correct your distance vision only, making your distance vision clear without lenses or specs.

This would effectively be as if you were wearing your lenses FULLTIME (iyswim) and obv you would not have the option to remove them for reading.

So you would HAVE to put on your reading specs to see anything close.

So your optician is correct.

I had it done over 15 years ago, no regrets. I'm now " getting old" so need glasses for reading but really fighting against this :-)

They give you a tranquilliser if you're stressed or nervous.

Thank you for the answer Catsmamma - clarifies what I thought.

I had wavefront. Night vision is bad. But I was -8.5 so there you go!

I has lasek (the cheaper option) about 7 years ago.

Better than 20/20 vision afterwards and no side effects.

For someone like me who loves swimming, watersports, outdoor pursuits, it was really life enhancing.

I didn't enjoy the procedure, but if I had to either do it again, or get poor eyesight back, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I had mine done about 12 or 13 years ago.

I had short sight - prescription was about -2.75 ish.

The actual op wa.s quick and painfree - just a little odd (and smelt of bacon).

Everything has been fine. My last eye test was last year - and the optician says my vision has regressed a little - to -0.5 in one eye, but not enough to require specs again. If it gets worse I will have no hesitation in having it redone - however I am now 46. So at some point soon the need for reading glasses may kick in.