Too old for laser eye surgery...

[pigletpie2177]

Interested in views on this...

I went to the opticians yesterday for a routine eye test. My prescription had changed slightly since last time but not by much. I am very short sighted (Think -7.00 ish) so absolutely need my glasses/contacts.

The optician and I discussed laser eye surgery and she basically said that at my age (mid 30s) I was probably past the point where it was worth it as I'd likely need reading glasses in 5-10 years.

Given the slight change in prescription I'm not sure I can do it right now anyway but interested as to whether people think that a valid view or whether it's standard patter from someone who is also in the glasses/contact lense selling business so might be somewhat conflicted in the discussion.

My close-up vision didn't start to go until my early 50s so a 5-10 year prognosis sounds quite short to me - although that's just my experience.

But yes I do know a couple of people who had it done and then ended up with reading glasses later down the line.

My dad had it in his fifties and my sister in her 20s both are back in glasses less than ten years on.

Ortho K lenses might be worth considering?

I had mine done about 3 years ago when I was 30, similar prescription to you and I distinctly remember the surgeon at my consultation saying the opposite. From what he said if you are very short sighted then you are far less likely to need reading glasses (even then I think it would be a good 15 years before you need think about them) and if I had the surgery I would be more likely to need them. I can't remember exactly his explanation but needing reading glasses at 50 seemed like a better option than needing glasses or contacts all the time for the next however many years.

I had the surgery and while I'm pleased I did I was left with a residual prescription of about -0.5 which has increased to about -1. I usually wear my glasses but I could more than manage without them.

I have a similar prescription too you OP and I would rather have surgery and reading glasses than be dependent on glasses/ lenses full time.

I would go for the consultation and see what they say. I was told I wasn't suitable as my prescription was too bad and I had thin corneas. The combination meant it was a no go.

When did you have your consultation Nico? They seem to be able to do most eyes these days

About 12 years ago so maybe it's worth another ask?

Thanks all - seems well worth having a consultation then! I suppose arguably they are also there to sell you the idea so not sure that will be totally unbiased but the idea of being able to open my eyes in a morning and not need glasses sounds so good...

As someone who's just had cataract surgery which also corrected my sight, it's absolutely life changing. Do investigate it, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I had optical lens implants 5 years ago just as I turned 50, the equivalent of cataract surgery. The custom made varifocal lenses have given me perfect vision distance and close up. It also corrected a slight astigmatism. I’ve gone from a life time of coke bottle bottom glasses (my final prescription was -11 and -13) and contact lenses to having excellent eyesight. I would thoroughly recommend it. My only slight reservation is that I now get some ‘flaring ‘ which makes night driving harder.

Not to be cynical, but dispensing opticians are unlikely to recommend these surgeries as they lose a lot of business. The surgery was expensive (about £6000), but I’ve already saved that much by no longer buying glasses or contact’s.

Bollocks! I had a consultation recently and they said majority of patients are in 30/40s. A lot of people can’t even afford it in their 20s!

And being a cynic, I would think “well opticians would say that wouldn’t they, they lose a load of business if their customers all get laser eye surgery!”

Exactly my thoughts Penguin - I certainly couldn't afford it ten years ago when she was suggesting I should have done it! And they were immediately trying to flog me glasses after the test obviously...

I had mine done when I was 35, and my prescription was -2.00/-1.75. I'm 49 now, and only need reading glasses in poor light, which I fully expected anyway.
I still think it's the best money I ever spent.

I had it done about 15/16 years ago. My prescription was -3.75. Just recently I have noticed my eye start deteriorating a bit. Need reading glasses now.

I have no regrets. Its wonderfully freeing not to need glasses or contacts.

I wish I'd had mine mid-30s (10 years ago). I do now need reading glasses, but for 10 years completely without it would have been worth it.

Couldn't afford it then - had to choose between eyes and orthodontics and teeth won.

I had laser eye surgery at 30 years old. My prescription was -6 in both eyes - so pretty blind
I had worn glasses / lenses all my life sine about 7 years old and it was amazing. The best thing i ever did.
10 years later, almost to the day, i noticed my eyesight was starting to deteriorate and went back to the opticians My new prescription is -1.5 in both eyes. So i am back to wearing contact lenses again. BUT it was still worth it. Cost around £2k at the time, i think.

I had mine done two weeks go at 49 and a prescription of -5.75 and I so wish I'd had it done years ago. They said I may need readers in a few years but it's a small price to pay for perfect eyesight the majority of the time.

I had mine done 9 years ago in late 20s. Have just had to start wearing glasses again full time, noticed deterioration about a year ago. Optician said about 10 years is right longevity.

I was glad I had it done, although it did leave me with dry eyes but I understand that this happens to the minority.

Did anyone notice their close up vision wasn't quite as sharp post laser eye surgery?

Similar to others, I had it done a few a years ago when I was 35. Contact lens prescription was -6.5 and -7.5. I was advised I may still get long sighted in future and to expect it.

BEST THING I EVER DID! I was so short sighted I couldn't even see a clock by my bed at night and it's brilliant now. Wish I'd had it done years ago.

It's not true that short sighted means you need reading glasses later than others.
Im 45 with a still worsening short sightedness of -8.50.
But for about 2 years I'm struggling with reading etc.
But a close relative has rp and is blind so ....

my husband and i both got the surgery done at about age 40. the fact i would need reading glasses at some point was one of the reasons for wanting to get it done - the thought of bifocals or varifocals was not appealling!

we both ended up with better than 20/20 vision and i found it helped enormously with night driving compared to my glasses. am starting to head towards needing reading glasses (at 45) but probably got a couple more years yet.

i love the fact i can walk in the rain without needing windscreen wipers for my glasses although i do also feel more "exposed" - had worn glasses since i was 10!

I had mine done in 2004 at the age of 41. I've only started (very occasionally) needing reading glasses in the last 6 months. Go for it!

I had intra-ocular lenses (the same as WhyOhWhy above) when I was 31, 7 years ago. My last prescription was about -12. About 6 months ago I was told that my right eye had deteriorated to -1.5 and while I was grumpy about having to wear glasses for driving and working, I still felt that it was money well spent as I could still do the rest of my life (distinguish between shampoo and conditioner in the shower/shave legs with shower running/see in the rain/find the sodding glasses) while not wearing them. At my last IOL check-up it came to light that I'm really -0.5, so don't need the glasses at all, and the problem was inflammation from an injury, which the optician hadn't noticed, and which has now healed. The surgery was significantly life-improving for me, so I'd say go for it if you can afford it. If I have to wear reading glasses in future, it's still better than milk-bottles all my waking life.