posted
OK, not at all sign related but the best way that I know to reach such a large audience!
My benefits package at work will cover corrective laser eye surgery. I've thought about having this done for years but $ has always been a factor. Now I can get it done for free.
Has anyone out there had any experience with the procedure, good or bad? I know of many people at work that have had it done and are quite happy with it but thought I'd try a little more research before I go under the laser.
I could never pull off wearing a cool pair of glasses like Stevo's so I get stuck looking like an accountant. It sure would be nice to get rid of these dorky things once and for all! Then I would just look like a dork without glasses.
posted
Go for it, Terry! I just got my first pair of bifocals today, & I am 44. I didn't want them, but I have found that I have an 8 step stigmatism, & my new contacts would cost $200 a year, for disposables!!!! So, now that I have been used wearing contacts since I was 16, I have to now resort to glasses, unless I get a big bonus job this year.
My brother-in-law had the surgery, & he was near sighted, & he said that the only thing he did not like was that he can see real good far away, but not closer than 3 feet. He said thet they still haven't perfected that yet. I would say wearing glasses for close ups is better than wearing glasses all the time.
I would get it if I could afford it.
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
Terry, the people I know who have had laser correction surgery are happy with it, but it is a fact that you will need reading glasses for close up work.
Depending on the amount of eye correction you need, consider doing just one eye. Your eye doc can tell you the pros and cons.
I am near sighted in one eye and far sighted in the other. I wear glasses because I don't like fuzziness, but I can get around just fine without glasses. The brain makes it work out somehow. Vic G
-------------------- Victor Georgiou Danville, CA , USA Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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My girlfriend had it done last summer and still preaches about how great it is. They did the surgery in the morning and by dinner that night she was fine. It was kind of funny to see her reaching for her glasses out of habit every time we'd get in the car only to put them on and realize she didn't need them. She's never said anything about not being able to read close up, she may have had a different problem.
-------------------- Pat Whatley Montgomery, AL (334) 262-7446 office (334) 324-8465 cell Posts: 1306 | From: Wetumpka, AL USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Most people who have are happy with the procedure and I almost did it too. I did alot of research just prior to pulling the trigger, since it's irreversable and I don't have an extra pair of peepers.
I opted out for a number of reasons, I'll try to remember them here but the informed decision is the best decision. There are some down sides:
The bigger the correction to make the worse it gets. I'm a -750 in both eyes and would need a perscription for reading distance, since it doesn't effect your lens, and another perscription for very close work. Even then the extreme closeup might not be correctable. Even the distance vision might not be correctable to 20/20.
Your cornea will probably be weak because the flap doesn't heal up like it was before, that's why glaucoma candidates are ruled out. Internal pressure could shift the perscription dramatically, perhaps uncorrectable without a cornea transplant. If you develope glaucoma later on you are on thin ice.
Speaking of which, your vision gets worse as we age so you'll need further corrections. They can tweak the surgery a few times, then it's back to spectacles, although a weaker perscription than you have now.
Many people suffer from dry eyes afterwards because there are tiny veins that keep your cornea moist that are severed in creating the flap and don't grow back together.
Many people get chromatic abberation because the cornea is reshaped and can focus colors slightly differently. Anyone into photography knows what that means. Those people lose some contrast ability. A friend of mine had it done and couldn't see Seattle in the haze when it was plainly visible to me.
You can get light abberations at night, like starbursts or double vision because your pupils dialate. With some people they dialate enough to hit the edge of the correction.
There's always newer better stuff on the horizon so I decided to wait awhile longer. But again, most folks are happy with it.
-------------------- Jim Upchurch Artworks Olympia WA Posts: 797 | From: Olympia, WA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Jim that was lots of good info. I realize that I will end up needing reading glasses eventually. I'm 34 now and if I can get 10 years or so specs free that's good with me!
There is a secondary procedure now to correct the night vision problem. My friend at work just had this done last week and opted for the additional work. It costs $1000CDN and isn't covered with our benefits.
My vision isn't that bad so I think I am a good candidate for it. I still have to meet with my eye doctor to discuss it but with his approval, I think I'm going to go for it.
posted
One of the things that my eye doctr had noted to me when i Inquired about having laser surgery done was that he wouldnt even consider recommending it to any patient of his until he had seen three consecutive years of no change in their prescription, thus meaning that their eyes arent changing. I talked it over with him and we are going to wait a bit longer. because of the time concerns and also because its an out of pocket expense totally.
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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My eye doc said the same thing as what Harris was told. That and she says that they are making huge developments all the time, she says wait. But then again, "they" (whoever "they" are) are always making huge developments in everything!
-------------------- Mike Berry New England Posts: 534 | From: New England | Registered: Jan 2002
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I had the surgery done almost 6 years ago, at age 42. And yes, you will need reading glasses for up close but not until you are 40+ years. They are still perfecting that procedure.
My daughter had hers done a year or so ago and she will be 30 this year. Neither of us have had any problems, other than sensitivity to sunlight, get a good pair of sunglasses and you will be fine. I would and have recommended the surgery to many.
The only suggestion I can make is that you listen to your doctor, and for god sake don't rub your eyes after the surgery, no matter how much you want to, until they have healed. If I could do it, anyone can. My eyes were so sensitive I could not wear contacts, tried them all. Couldn't put them in. GO FOR IT TERRY, and keep us posted on how it goes if you decide to "JUST DO IT"
-------------------- Debbie Scott Scott's Signs & More 467 Saint Johns Rd. Littlestown, Pa. 17340 scottssigns@yahoo.com Posts: 14 | From: Pa. | Registered: Jan 2004
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I'm 54 and had it done about 6 years ago. My insurance covered both me and my daughter 100%.
My doctor's policy on the procedure offered a free redo if unhappy. My daughter (the young heal so fast) has had zero problems and has perfect vision.
When they did me, they made me slightly far sighted because they said people my age typically backslide a little. I didn't and remained farsighted, needing my reading glasses more than before the surgery. At the time of the surgery, I only needed my reading glasses for small print and reading in low light. After the surgery I needed my reading glasses for almost everything.
I opted to have it redone. This time they put me right on 20/20 because I didn't backslide the first time. Well this time I backslid a little toward the previous surgery. So I ended up slightly farsighted again.
I am completely happy with the outcome though. I can see a golf ball rolling on a green 400 yards away. I have no dry eyes, no halos like I did with contacts and glasses, great night vision, no side effects.
I knew going in I would always need reading glasses. I got an extra pair of glasses with a prescription that is weaker than normal reading glasses for use in the shop for computer work, (monitor further away than when reading print) and assembly work. I like them because if I look up at more distant stuff, it's not so blurry as to be bothersome. I'll take being a little farsighted over having to wear glasses or contacts all the time any day.
My doctor would not do more than 6 Lasiks in a day. He wanted to be fresh for every surgery. He took extra time to rinse my cornea and my optomitrist said he'd never seen so little debris under the lens as me and my daughter.
You will have to make your own decision though after weighing all the positives and negatives. They should show you a video explaining all the risks and rewards so yo can make an informed decision. Good luck.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Dave,...you're 54? Wow! I always figured you for about 38-40 by your picture....You don't work in a pickle factory or something do you?? Hehehehe...seriously...you're a young looking 54.
Edit: P.S. I'll be visiting with an old high school buddy tonight who I believe had this done last year....I'll let you know what he says about his too.
posted
Terry, I think the key question here is, why do you want to have this done?
If it's a vanity thing i.e. looking better to the rest of the world, or your own perceptions of yourself, then I would pass. Any kind of surgery done above the neck is something I'd think long and hard about. The only eye surgery I would even consider would be cataract removal. Other than that, no one is going to get near the only two eyes I will ever have. Eyeglasses have done just fine for me for more years than I care to remember. They are as much a part of me as my hands.
Any surgical procedure whether laser or scalpel has a certain amount of risk involved. Only you can decide if the risk versus benefit is worth it---and if the benefit is only to your own idea of self-image---well-- you get the idea.
FWIW.
bill preston
[ March 07, 2005, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: Bill Preston ]
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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Terry...talked with my buddy that had the operation....he said it's been two years now and he loves it.
He said he can read the ingredients on a pop can at a 100 yards.....
But he also said that he had to buy reading glasses for up close work/reading....seems like this may be something that you have to consider as some others have mentioned....
Good luck if ya go for it!
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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I know. Well when you think about it, he had a pretty big nursing staff, and he doesn't own the laser so all the money doesn't go in his pocket. Plus I hear it's down to around $400 an eye now. Was $4000 for me when I had it done. And don't get me started on insurance costs.
But this is in contrast to a local guy who starts at 7 in the morning and does surgery till 7 at night. I wouldn't let that money hungry parasite near me... EVER!
Been young looking all my life. Was a curse the first half of my life, now it's a blessing.
[ March 08, 2005, 02:43 PM: Message edited by: Dave Sherby ]
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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