Laser Eye Surgery

[scoobydooby]

Is there anyone out there who, like me, has had Laser Eye Surgery (PRK, Lasek etc) only to find that after a few years your eyes have deteriorated again? I've had perfect vision - almost binocular, for the past seven years and thought having PRK was the best thing I'd ever done. However, over the past few months I've noticed a huge change in my eyesight and I'm very depressed about it. I was approx. 30 when I had my PRK and my prescription had been stable for donkey's years - so what's happened now? It seems that everyone else gets perfect vision for the rest of their lives and mine only lasts a measly seven years! I hated wearing glasses and my eyes were too dry for contacts!

Has anyone had Laser Eye Surgery more than once?

Thanks in advance.

[Clanad]

Unfortunately, your experience is not unique. I'm not sure that I agree with your statement that "everyone else gets perfect vision for the rest of their lives..." Little is known of the long term effects of thinning of the cornea by the surgery. Many friends that have experienced the surgery have reported dry eyes. One has the beginnings of a cataract after less than 1 years time. This information is obviously anecdotal in nature, but I find it unusual that so many problems are reported. I asked both my optometrist and opthamologist why it is that so many of their profession continue to wear glasses or contacts; this was met with a slight shrug of the shoulders...

[Clanad]

By the way, check this article:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/31/health/main327664.shtml

I'm sure there are those that have had successful, comfortable results, however...

[Scarlett]

Everytime I go to the Opticians I seem to have different sight than the last time. Just as weight changes, your eye shape can alter over time- either thickening or thinning or the lens or the eyeball shape changing.Just like having your best suit dry-cleaned, it isn't gonna stay clean! Eyes alter as we get older, whether or not they were previously perfect!

[christini]

HI there, i was interested when reading your question. I'm 31 and thinking of having wavefront lasik - you might find it useful to pose your question on the following forum, even though it's part of ultralase web site, the comments and opinions are brutally honest and not always positive http://www.lasereyeforum.com/

[thikasabrik]

I had PRK (which isn't laser treatment for anyone who doesn't know...the surgeon uses a scalpel) in 1995. Before the op I could only see clearly for a distance of about 2 feet but immediately after the op I had perfect vision. This year I have had to start wearing reading glasses and this is due simply to ageing and not any result of the surgery.

I know it must be disappointing for you scooby and I'll admit it was for me, but when my friend's daughter recently gave birth to a baby who is blind it kind of put it all into perspective and made me feel grateful for what I have.

[littlemissx]

when my uncle had his done they warned him they would deteriorate and he would need them re doing in approx 10 years

[stevie21]

I had it done about 6 years ago and my eyesight was great for a while but is back to about -1.5 now. It was about -2.5 before.

[scoobydooby]

Thanks to everyone who's replied here. A laser was used to perform my PRK - I don't think the surgeon would have survived the afternoon if he'd approached me with a scalpel! Your links have been very useful and I now know that needing specs again is quite common.

You're right thikasabrik - we should be grateful that we can see.

Thanks to all :o)