Laser Eye Surgery

[iwbus]

Has anybody had any experiences/comments on this procedure?

[lightoftruth]

you have absolutly nothing to fear. All that happens is that either they place your head on a machine and a other piece of equipment is pushed gently on your eye.

They will most probably ask you if you are comfortable. Make sure you say if you are as if you arent then usually they can accomodate this and the procedure is done via the optopmetrist placing on a sort of headet.

All that occurs is that you see (for me anyways) a green light in your eye. No pain at all

[Lonnie]

I have a friend who had this done, expensive, but it worked, he no longer needs to wear glasses.

[Quizmonster]

Do not even consider laser eye surgery until you have discussed ORTHOKERATOLOGY with your optician. This is a system whereby you wear contact lenses only at night. These are designed to correct the curvature of the eyeball so that you can see perfectly in the morning and the effect lasts all day. Apparently, Chinese Emperors used such a system in the past by placing small bags of sand on their eyelids overnight. Today, it costs about �100.00 for the initial consultation and about �40.00 per month thereafter for the supply of lenses. This is about the same as many pay for standard contact lenses. The great beauty of the method is that it is not invasive and cannot actually harm your eyes, which is more than can be said for laser treatment. It is also worth knowing that only three in a hundred people who enquire about laser treatment actually go ahead with it...(cont)

[Quizmonster]

(cont)...
Every time the question of having laser eye surgery arises, someone invariably says: "It's great!...You should have it done." Often, this answer also suggests that opticians will advise you against it because they have everything to gain financially from continuing to sell you spectacles or lenses.
Listen to NICE, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, Britain's watchdog for such procedures. Their report of 15/12/04 concludes that laser eye-treatment (quote) "does not justify its widespread use...because of concerns for its long-term safety for patients."
The Medical Defence Union, the major insurer for doctors, reports that the number of claims against laser eye-clinics has doubled in six years.
In addition, the American Journal of Ophthalmology claims that problems appear in something like one in ten cases rather than one in a thousand, as its proponents suggest.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists suggests: "Severe loss of vision is very unusual, but some patients could require corneal surgery or hard contact lenses to restore vision." (Are you prepared to be one of the "some patients"?
Even �Which', the Consumers Association magazine in Britain, warned people that they were literally (quote) "gambling with their sight."
The woman who formed the �Lasermyeye' pressure group now suffers from double vision and a loss of night vision...she can no longer drive. Other people have suffered worsening of sight in other ways.
Experts are particularly concerned about the lasting results over a period of many years caused by the surgical thinning of the cornea.
Well, there you have it. If you think the doubts expressed above are just so much hot air, then go ahead and "gamble your sight". I wish you luck if you go ahead!

[Clanad]

In line with Q's usual erudite discussion, I asked my own Optometrist and Opthamologist why they both continue to wear glasses although they highly recommend the Lasik procedure. Both were evasive, but my Optometrist did say that there a re occasional problems and when they do occur they can be quite significant (read, possibility of losing eyesight). We have a family friend who had the procedure about a year ago. She is still going back for treatment of one eye. It has improved, with the exception of night vision and haloing effects... not to be taken lightly as most advertisements suggest it being a "sure thing"...

[jump79]

It's a good option if you happen to have very poor eyesight as it will be a more accurate procedure then and the difference is more noticeable as well. You also have to be above 21 years of age, as your eye number should have stabilized by then.

Its a safe, painless procedure but like any other surgery, it carries some amount of risk and possible side-effects as the above posters have already mentioned.

[Belle Fast]

Great answers everyone, - I have often wondered about it, but really don't think I ever would, because I've heard some people can get 'halos' a permanent white patch in your field of vision. I would find that really annoying, especially since my vision is corrected well by contact lenses and perfectly with glasses.

[lightoftruth]

i should probably add that my surgery was because of a injury and not for vision correction.