Laser eye surgery

[Boris Godunov]

I'm just about fed up wearing contacts, which I've done since high school. My vision has been steady for at least the past 5 years, so I'm told I'm a good candidate for this.

Has anyone here had it done, what were your experiences, and so on? One of the few things I do get freaked out about is anything comin... er, getting into my eyes, so the whole laser thing is a little worrisome, and I want to know what it's like before committing to this. Thanks!

[Kuciwalker]

It's not permanent. My mom had it about 10 years ago. Recently she's started wearing reading glasses again.

[KrazyHorse]

Err....presbyopia is a progressive disease. That's not surprising.

[Kuciwalker]

He asked.

[KrazyHorse]

Uhhh....your mom wearing reading glasses and him wearing glasses/contacts since he was a child are due to entirely different causes.

He likely has myopia, which levels off around age 20-25. Your mom probably has presbyopia which continues to get worse to age 60 or so.

The lasik surgery doesn't reverse itself; your mom's vision problem is probably progressive, unlike myopia in adults.

[Boris Godunov]

My vision has been more-or-less stable since I was younger, yes. I have near-sightedness, so reading glasses aren't an issue.

[KrazyHorse]

Actually, Boris: you are more likely to need reading glasses if you get this surgery. If, as you get older, you begin to lose near focus then you can always switch to glasses, and take them off when you want to read. This surgery is similar in its effects to a permanent pair of contacts.

Not a big deal, but just to let you know.

[Boris Godunov]

I can deal with reading glasses as I get older. School marms are sexy! Since I wear contacts now, a "permanent" set seems fine to me.

What I'm really interested in are the physical sensations of the surgery itself. I am probably unduly stressing myself out over that part of it.

[KrazyHorse]

Congenital myopia is generally due to a slightly mis-shapen eyeball which places the focus of the relaxed lens in front of the retina (instead of on it) for objects in the distance. Laser eye surgery changes the shape of the lens to alter the focal point of the relaxed lens so it falls on the retina. Presbyopia (progressive farsightedness due to aging) reduces the ability of the retina to change shape enough to focus on close objects. This effect is less noticeable if you are myopic, because your uncorrected vision will generally have a closer near point (due to your misshapen eyeball). By fixing the myopia, you give up the advantage wrt presbyopia.

[KrazyHorse]

My ex-girlfriend had it done. She was a giant ****ing whiner about physical pain and even she didn't think it was a big deal.

[Caligastia]

I thought about getting this done, but I'm too nearsighted for it to be 100% effective. Another alternative to consider is to get surgically implanted lenses. That way, if your eyesight changes a few years later you can get them replaced.

[rah]

A lot of guys at work get this to fix cataract problems. None complained about the pain, just the funky oversized sunglasses they have to wear. Only one person reported issues afterwards, everyone else was 100% satisfied. Just hope you're not that one guy.

[Cort Haus]

A friend of mine, who used to have appalling eyesight, had it done, and she is now spec-free. She used to be the one of the most beautiful women ever while wearing glasses. Now she's just one of the most beautiful women ever.

[Kitschum]

A friend of mine, who used to have appalling eyesight, had it done, and she is now spec-free. She used to be the one of the most beautiful women ever while wearing glasses. Now she's just one of the most beautiful women ever.

You hit that or what? How is she?

[Cort Haus]

Neither she nor I are single, and our friendship is platonic, albeit warm. She's a joy to be be around.

On-topic, before the surgery she always wanted to lie down on the sofa watching television, which she couldn't do while her glasses were in the way. Her vision is perfect now, and her quality of life has obviously improved in many ways. And that of her boyfriend too, no doubt.