Laser eye surgery

[Greg Muller]

I'm going under the knife (or should I say, 'laser') this thursday, 1/17/08, in order to correct my vision.
I researched this for over 2 years and know all the risks and have seen every frightening video about this that exists, so please no fear-mongering.:o
I am currently near-sighted (can't see far well), and am going with the 'mono-vision' option. That means I will be able to see far well with my dominant distant eye (right eye for me) and see up close with my left eye, because I don't want to have to use reading glasses in the future when I get old (er).
Has anyone else here on SMC tried this? I have been told it may take several weeks to get used to the "stereo vision". I took the MD's suggestion and tried wearing only one contact for a week to see how I liked it. It will either work once I get used to it, or I will slowly find myself going insane and decide to get the other eye corrected as well.

If any of you have tried it- either the monovision or laser vision correction in general- please post your opinions of how well you liked your results.

Oh...and wish me luck... prayers also accepted.

Greg

[Rick Gifford]

I wish you the best of luck. Hope all goes well. This is the first time I heard they do this to one eye only. I think I would go batty. Interesting though.

I'd be interested to hear how you like it after you have healed and adjusted.

Once again, good luck!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Greg,

I have a friend who had that done and it worked well for him.

Good luck!

[John-Paul Murphy]

SWMBO had it done 2 years ago. Same as you plan. She could not see with out her glasses prior. She had to go back for a touch up. Troubles seeing at night for a while and still does not like it.....but we're getting that age....since the procedure she has problems with depth perception, not terribly but some. I asked her and she said she would have it done again in a heart beat...good luck

[Brent Powers]

Two things about nearsightedness. 1.) it gets progressively worse. 2.) one learns from a young age to instinctively compensate for ones vision. Mine was really bad (legally blind without correction in most states).

I had it done in 1998. I remember having it done well. Your vision actually seems to go dark for about 1.2 seconds, and, in that time, right after my vision twinkled to darkness, I went through the full gamut of reactions (denial, anger, bargaining, acceptance, etc), and then my vision came back and I took a breath. The second eye was a little easier. I ended with 20/25 in both eyes, and the astigmatism was gone. It was great.

Interestingly, most people who are near sighted get progressively worse, and I continued to. I just got glasses again 3 weeks ago, and realized I should not have been drinving for the past two years.

Why not the surgery again? Because, I paid retail (i.e. full price, and expensive) the first time, that was supposed to come with a 'lifetime' guarantee. However, they gave me enough grief that I got tired of arguing with them. I may still fight it, but... time and effort.

[John Schreiber]

I've thought about it for years. I'm badly near sighted, starting to have trouble reading things up close and I can't tolerate contacts. We'll be pulling for you.

I'm thinking I might try http://www.lasikathome.com/. The price is right and I think they have a money back guarantee.










:D:D:(:D:D
Yes, I know.;)

[Randal Stevenson]

My sister got it when she just started needing glasses, and she loves it. I have seen and met several people who have both had it done, and know several of the local (Independence also), Dr.'s that do it..

I have heard of the monovision option, but never really understood how it can and does affect eye dominance.

I do qualify for it and could get a discount if I got it done with my mom's boss, but she told me if I had it done, who she would go with (the most experience in this area no discount). I have seen a couple of problems, but not to worry, those are NOT the norm. However, the ONE area, that I have of concern, is make SURE the Dr. is a LOCAL one. We do have a "bargain" place in our area, that the Dr.'s fly in from out of town for, and we had one guy come in our place looking for it, he was back later with a torn cornea (believe he scratched it at work), but the Dr.'s weren't in for a few days (at least two).

Glasses have saved me too many times (NORMAL glasses), I don't plan on doing it. (KLUTZ with my face).

[Dick Rowe]

I had the mono vision laser option done in 1997 (not LASIK which was just getting started then, I had PRK instead).

I was used to it in a few hours, shouldn't take several weeks.

[Lee Koepke]

oddly enough, I am doing a Molding Process, ( ortho-keratology ). What it does is, I put on hard contacts at night, and it reshapes my cornea, just like the laser would, except non surgically, and non permanent.

Each persons eyes react differently, mine took about 4 weeks until I could go the entire next day without ANY glasses .. since then, I am 20/20 all day long. I have to wear "retainer" lenses at night 4 or 5 nights a week, and if I ever decide to quit .. well, just stop wearing them.

The non surgical / reversable part was VERY important to me.

PM me if you have any questions.

[Greg Muller]

I had the mono vision laser option done in 1997 (not LASIK which was just getting started then, I had PRK instead).

I was used to it in a few hours, shouldn't take several weeks.

Dick,
you were used to it in a few HOURS? Really? How bad was your vision pre-op? Like I posted earlier, I tried the single contact trial for week and didn't get fully used to it.
Did they give you a valium before the surgery started? I told her that I wouldn't need it since I've had over 20 surgeries in my life (Vertebral, orth, etc...) and I usually refuse general pain meds, I doubt that I would have any trouble holding still or getting panicky, but the nurse told me they offer them to everyone and that I should just take it. I'm doubtful on it, but still considering...

Greg

[Jim Becker]

Mine was on 17 January 2003...welcome to the 17th club!

I have a slight monovision and have had no problems with it.

As to the experience. Surgery took 10 minutes. I know that to be true because when I sat up after the computer was done with me I saw on the clock that only 10 minutes had past. I then realized that clock was clear the heck on the other side of a large room. An interesting revelation for someone who have been horrendously nearsighted for most of his life!

Recovery was not all that much. Limited light for a day and a half or so along with wearing eye protectors while sleeping. (To keep from rubbing the eyes which could open up the "flap") Like everyone getting this kind of surgery, I had a little bit of haloing at night while driving but that dissipated after a bit.

I did have Valium pre-op. Normal part of the procedure here.

[Mike Cutler]

Greg

I know a number of co-workers that have had that procedure done. None of them have had a problem.
Goodluck, and follow all of the post op procedures and you should be fine. I'm thinking of having it done next year.

[Tyler Howell]

I had the Mono on Sep 17 2003. One of the best things I ever did.
Having a little trouble with distance after 5 years but still love it.

[Dick Rowe]

Dick,
you were used to it in a few HOURS? Really? How bad was your vision pre-op? Like I posted earlier, I tried the single contact trial for week and didn't get fully used to it.
Did they give you a valium before the surgery started?
Greg

Greg,

I'm sure that I was comfortable with the mono vision in less than a day.

I was pretty near-sighted since I was a kid, and had an astigmatism as well. I had worn glasses for 35 years, and it was really an experience I will never forget when I sat up and could see things around the room clearly without glasses. I recall that the actual laser burn to do the correction was something like 35 seconds for my 'distance' eye (right), and 11 seconds for the 'reading' eye.

As far as the valium, I had it, but the PRK process was significantly different than LASIK. With LASIK I believe they peel back a little flap on the outer sheath of your eye, shoot the laser through the flap opening, then put the flap back. People that I have talked to said they had virtually no discomfort after the procedure.

With PRK the first step was to actually burn off the entire eye sheath with the laser. They then did the laser on the exposed eye. After that they put a full eye clear contact 'bandage' on the eye, and it had to stay on for a couple days until the eye sheath grew back. I was glad I took the valium because I was a little nervous about that first 'sheath' burn.

During the initial recovery period (a day or so) I had some minor discomfort, kind of felt like a small headache or fever in the eye, but even with that, I had adjusted quickly to the mono-vision, and aspirin easily controlled the discomfort.

I should also mention that back in those days they didn't like to do both eyes at once 'just in case', so I had my distance eye done first and about a month later went back and had the reading eye done.

[Chris Padilla]

I have a colleague who had the reading/far distance thing done. He seems pretty happy with it.

I'm too young to need reading glasses (YET!) so I had both eyes done about 2 years ago: laser to cut the flap, laser to reshape. I was at about -3.75 diopters in both eyes and I don't miss the 13 years I wore contacts. I'm trying to convince the wife to take the plunge but for her right now, she has dry eye and her perscription is still shifting on her, and the thought of anything going near her eyes makes her sick to her stomach.

[Jim Becker]

Chris, I had/have dry eye, yet I'm still happy I did the LASIK. I only use drops now when I first wake up in the morning and on rare times, when I'm in a customer office environment that there is a lot of "nastiness" in the air from new carpet/paint/etc. I also keep my use of allergy meds to a minimum as they can exacerbate a dry eye situation.

That said, Professor Dr. SWMBO is in the same boat as your LOYL...shifting prescription and astigmatism in the higher ranges.

I do need to use reading glasses, especially in low light, but that's to be expected. But they are only 1.5-1.75 and "off the shelf" solutions.

[Daryl Upole]

I got the laser about 10 years ago and it's been wonderful. I'm just getting to the point that it's a little harder to see that small print. In my late 40's now and Dr. said by 45 most need reading glasses or something. I did not try the mono.

I was worse than 20/200 in both eyes. Now, that's not too good. My experience, and the Dr said this would happen, after the surgery it got progressively better. AFter the first day I was at 20/40 and within 2 months was better than 20/20. It was a miracle to me. I wish this would have been available when I was 20!!

[Greg Muller]

Thanks, Guys!

You are all making feel a lot better about my decision to go with the mono-vision. My current vision is also 20/200+.
I finally got tired of wearing glasses (I am 42, in case I hadn't mentioned it) and contacts. This weekend I look forward to shopping for some sunglasses and (non-prescription) safety glasses.

Greg

[Chris Parks]

If in doubt do what I did. I had a cataract done in my right eye and I was extremely short sighted and wore contacts. The doctor gave me full corrected vision in the right eye and a reading lens in my left eye. Nirvana, it was great, no glasses needed to read and only one contact, I have since had the left cataract done and they gave me reading sight so I now have permanent monovision. Now for the downside, depth perception is defintely a minor problem and if I am doing any really fine work that requires depth and good vision it is hopeless. Imagine trying to solder a very fine wire onto a PCB, that sort of work. For that, I put a contact in my left eye and revert to reading glasses. Having said that, I have had to do it once in six months. Another downfall of mono is if driving in a bright light with the sun shining in my distance eye from the side my distance vision is reduced, not a big deal but it can be annoying. I would not go back to non mono as I love to read and I hate reading glasses and I will suffer the few side effects gladly.

[Bill Cunningham]

I've thought about it for years. I'm badly near sighted, starting to have trouble reading things up close and I can't tolerate contacts. We'll be pulling for you.

I'm thinking I might try http://www.lasikathome.com/. The price is right and I think they have a money back guarantee.



This website is a joke Right???:eek::eek::eek:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=69846&d=1186883661

[Joe Melton]

I guess I sound like a pioneer in the field, but I'm really not. My surgery was done in 1988 by a local doctor who studied in Russia with Dr. Fyderov, the inventor of RK (radial keratotomy). I was 20/800 one day and the next day was 20/20 in one eye. A week or so later, the second eye was attacked and it came in at 20/30. The doc said he couldn't do any better than that because of the severe astigmatism, and commented that this was actually better since I could use the second eye for reading. Now I guess they intentionally make the correction different, for the same reason.
Now, 19 years later, I wear glasses when I am on a long drive, though I can drive ok without them. I go for days without glasses. Only someone who was so totally dependent on glasses can appreciate how wonderful that is.
The idea of a person, regardless of how well-trained and careful he is, going into my eye with a knife was not attractive to me. Even 20/800 is better than nothing. But, it worked out, and I am still grateful daily. I think if one researches the surgery and the percent of failures, he will find it infintessimal.
There was a surprising amount of pain after the surgery. It felt like grains of sand in my eye for a day or so. The pain was not on the level that it should be considered as a deterrent to the surgery, however, not by a long shot.
I've never met anyone who had the surgery who regretted it. Quite the opposite, in fact.
On the other hand, I've not met anyone who performed their own surgery, so cannot comment on that.
Lastly, I'm sure the more modern techniques, with the laser, etc., are better than what I had done.
Joe

[Scott Coffelt]

I had both eyes done last January, so a little over a year. I went with both eyes and will wear reading later in life. The whole mono vision thing bugged me as i didn't want the depth perception issues. My wife is trying it with contacts and she says it is real hard to get use to. I heard in time your brain adjusts just fine. I can see 20/15 and also can read 1+ font, so right now i am better than expected. My only side effect is some minor halo's at night.

[Chris Padilla]

Scott, I had halos as well but only for about 6 months after the surgery. I'm pretty sure they are all gone but sometimes you get used to such things and they don't bother you anymore and so you don't even realize if you still have the issue.

[Greg Muller]

Everything went great! The doctor and staff were very professional. I can already tell that I'm really going to be thrilled with this.:D:D:D

My right eye (the one that was operated on) is a little uncomfortable right now, and occasionally I get a moderate discomfortable feeling- I don't know how to describe it, something between point specific and regional headache- but that only lasts a few minutes at a time.

The docto and care specialist both told me to sleep as much as possible today, so i took a 2 hr nap right after the surgery. However, I hate sleeping during the day, so I'm up now until bedtime, probably around 1am as usual.

Anyway, thank you all for your encouragement!! TTYL

Greg

[Bill Cunningham]

I've thought about laser work on the eyes, but I've heard it won't fix a problem like mine.. I wear glasses (the best dollar store ones I can find:rolleyes: ) but only for reading and working at the computer.. Everything beyond 3 feet is crystal clear.. The problem with reading is, my arms are only 2.5 feet long:D Can this fix 'my' problem? (not my arm length, my eye sight!!)

[Jim Becker]

Bill, they can fix the problem, but it's temporary and would ruin your vision beyond that 3' limit! (Obviously, stretching your arms is out of the question...)
----

Greg, I'm glad it went well!

[Chris Padilla]

Everything went great! The doctor and staff were very professional. I can already tell that I'm really going to be thrilled with this.:D:D:D

My right eye (the one that was operated on) is a little uncomfortable right now, and occasionally I get a moderate discomfortable feeling- I don't know how to describe it, something between point specific and regional headache- but that only lasts a few minutes at a time.

The docto and care specialist both told me to sleep as much as possible today, so i took a 2 hr nap right after the surgery. However, I hate sleeping during the day, so I'm up now until bedtime, probably around 1am as usual.

Anyway, thank you all for your encouragement!! TTYL

Greg

Greg,

You shouldn't even be reading or straining your eyes at all...give 'em time to relax and heal after this trauma!

Since I had both eyes done, I had to keep them closed for a full 24 hours and they taped plastic protective cover over them to prevent me from touch/scratching them. I can tell you, they itched and watered like crazy that whole day but I was doing much better the next morning when I was allowed to removed the protection and open my eyes fully for the first time. Very wild being able to see so clearly with no contacts or glasses!

[Scott Coffelt]

I was not allowed to do anything for 24 hours, except drops. I would highly recommend you go lay down with eyes covered and do as they say. You don't want to mess them up, they need time to heal.

[Greg Muller]

They had you guys on restrictions? They told me to take a 2-4 hour nap, but after that I can do anything as long as I don't rub my repaired eye and use my eyedrops as prescribed.

Anyway, I feel great, I see great and by god, I AM GREAT!!!

okay, got a little carried away there towards the end...sorry.:rolleyes:
Maybe I was channeling Stuart Smalley or somethin'.

Greg

[Joe Melton]

"Anyway, I feel great, I see great and by god, I AM GREAT!!!"

No apology needed. I know exactly how you feel. Wearing glasses all the time is a PITA. Your only regret will be that you didn't do it sooner. Go scuba diving to celebrate.
Joe