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Anyone had corneal refractive surgery to correct their eyesight? I'm considering having it done to correct my vision. I've worn glasses for 15 years, and it's never bothered me, but now I want to change jobs and I'm just outside the vision requirements. I've heard lots of positive reviews and experiences regarding the surgery and the results are aparantly amazing. Wanted to see if any of the dakka community had any experiences with it?

Is it worth it?

It can work wonders. I was trained up to sell it for Optical Express around 15 or so years ago. So please do be aware my info is based on facts, but somewhat outdated ones. I Am Not Presenting As An Expert.

There are various on the market, so do your research. The one I used sell (the name of which escapes me) was super safe. The machine mapped your eye using something like 700 unique points. It plotted out the laser pattern, and if your eye was even fractionally out, wouldn't fire.

However, it's still new to the point of nobody really knows the long term effects. It may be there are none. It may be it's not been around long enough for them to manifest consistently.

Depending on your current prescription, it could lead to you no longer need specs.

However, if you were reading specs? It may not be able to help. We need reading specs as we age because we ruin the muscles in the eye, causing lack of focus. Laser Surgery can't help with that.

Someone at my gym just got it done, and she no longer needs glasses. She's a month out of surgery, and has seen improved vision over the course of that month.

Have your optometrist evaluate you for it- I haven't had it myself, but apparently they thought I was a great candidate because I've got thick corneas. He said he could do it 9 times on me if he needed to! Before that, I'd never considered the possibility of multiple operations. I thought it was a one and done type of deal.

My ex got her eyes lasered, apparently it stung for a while but then was much much better.

I think most times it only takes one surgery. My employer stipulates I can only have lasek, lasik or prk. Anything else is not allowed. I'm going to book in for a consultation which is free and see if I'm eligible with my current prescription.

The ex used Lasik. She was highly complimentary of them.

My Fiance had lasik done like 8 years ago, or whenever the WBF rulebook came out (last edition before AOS) I remember because I brought the book with me to read while I waited for her and just picked it up the day before

She was nearly legally blind at the time, now her eyesight is perfect and has been ever since. I'd say it's definitely worth it.

I enquired about it once at a posh opticians (I used to earn good money, nowadays Specsavers is a bit up market for me!)

I'm really short sighted in one eye, and the other is only really better by comparison, rather than objectively good. I've worn specs since about 4, if you're not so bad it may be different.

While he wasn't dismissive, he handed me his business card with a name and a Harley St Clinic address on it, with the explanation that this guy was the only clinician he knew who was doing the procedure who had actually had it done to hinself, largely because the jury was still firmly out on the long term potential issues, while the immediate safety issues and efficacy were well understood.

Caveat being that conversation was probably around 2007-2009, so there'll be a lot more info about any potential long term problems now, but it's worth considering.

I had hereditary damage in my eyes that had to be lasered (tiny tiny holes in the back of the eye). They numbed me for it, but it was the most uncomfortable (not painful, mind you) thing I’ve ever endured. I was squirming and drooled all over myself without any control. I hated every second of it. Then again, that’s NOT the same thing as corrective vision surgery.

Ive had laser eye surgery to correct myopia with astigmatism. it was in 2006, and it was pain free - your vision is clouded after (looks like you are in thick fog) but it mostly clears after a couple of days and was gone in a week. Had to wear plastic eyeguards when sleeping to stop you accedently rubbing you eyes in you sleep for a month i think it was. looked very insect like.

Eyes were 20/20 or what ever the scoring is now once done. It is good long term but not a permanent fix. Your eyes can still degrade after - they said good for 10years at the time. Last year I have had to have glasses for diving but at a far far lower prescription than before.

Yeah.. I only really need it for entry to the new job, once I'm in its not an issue. It's stupid because you're allowed to wear spectacles in this job so why they need an uncorrected visual acuity value on entry I don't know. It may possibly be the case that because I'm transferring internally I won't need to meet that standard, so I'll have to see. If that is the case I'll probably just wait and maybe get it later on instead.

Kale wrote:
Ive had laser eye surgery to correct myopia with astigmatism. it was in 2006, and it was pain free - your vision is clouded after (looks like you are in thick fog) but it mostly clears after a couple of days and was gone in a week. Had to wear plastic eyeguards when sleeping to stop you accedently rubbing you eyes in you sleep for a month i think it was. looked very insect like.

Eyes were 20/20 or what ever the scoring is now once done. It is good long term but not a permanent fix. Your eyes can still degrade after - they said good for 10years at the time. Last year I have had to have glasses for diving but at a far far lower prescription than before.

I had it done more recently than that, maybe 2008-10 ish, and had no clouding, just 24 hours of blurriness, and about a fortnight of haloes around lights at night. I didn't have to wear any plastic eyeguards.

I was 20/20 within 48 hours, and my vision improved more after that.

Whilst your eyes can still degrade over time, that is still only the same as anyone else. Whilst you might get worse over time, it will still be much better 10 years later than if you had never had it done, and also still better then before you had it done.

I only had about -1.75 on my prescription. I spent about £1800 and had everything done with lasers, no need for microblades. That improves the recovery time and may be the reason I had less clouding, etc.

Honestly, it is the best money I ever spent. I found contacts okay, but hated the inconvenience if I stayed overnight somewhere unexpectedly, or got drunk and forgot to take them out. I also hated the feeling of glasses sitting on the bridge of my nose and ears. Plus, I have broken my nose many times, so glasses never sat well on my face.

How can they call it “laser eye surgery” if it doesn’t let you shoot lasers from your eyes? Lots of false advertising going on here.

I’ll stick with glasses until I can get a real baleful gaze out of this.

To be fair, even if I dont need to have it done to apply for this job, I'm considering it more and more for down the line as everyone seems to say how awesome it is.

Fifty - glad yours was better! I did have to have the microblade job, thats was the cause of the fog ( i was -5.25 in both at the time).

I agree on the money side, mine was a little more but well worth it. I am still able to go without glasses most of the time, just have to for driving, and i hate to think how bad my eyes would be without it.

Its looking like I may have to get it to apply. I'm thinking about going with accuvision. They have good customer reviews.

I got Lasik done back in 2015 and would not recommend it for the following reasons:

I was -4.5 in both eyes and went to get the surgery done.
For about a year I had 20-20 vision but since then it has dropped to -1 in both eyes. They have offered further treatment but I am not going to take it.
I suppose it depends on where you go but it turned out my eyes arent that suitable for the surgery. However the "suite" of tests they do are very generic and they dont do a "deep dive" on your eye type, history, backhground etc.
Subsequently I got infections in my eyes - possibly from the surgery, possibly not, the consultant I saw couldnt say 100%. However she told me in no certain terms she had seen more trouble and issues from patients getting LES than was worth it (she worked in Dublins eye and ear clinic - our national clinic).
Again everyone may be different but I now suffer from extreme dry eye - some days you wake up and have to almost peel them apart. I spend more on eye drops now than I did on monthly contact lenses.
The recovery time for Lasik is about 1-2 days but be prepared for a very uncomfortable/painful few days. Once the anaesthetic wears off, its not pleasant.
You can also suffer from night blindness in some cases which means you cant drive at night (my brother had that after getting his done).
As others have said it wont help as you get old for reading etc only for far away vision.
Most places in Ireland offer life time care i.e. you can go back and "top up" but look into if your place offers that.

Tl;dr This surgery imo will work for probably a good number of people (and friends/family have done it with no issues) but its a disaster for others. If you are going to go and get it, make sure you seen at least 3-4 different practitoners to get their opinion on whether you are definitely suitable or not.
Personally I would stick with your glasses but good luck if you go for it - it can work well for many.

Wow that doesn't sound good. I guess it depends on where you've been to aswell. The company I'm looking at has very good reviews from pretty much everyone. I've got a consultation booked next week. Aparantly it's an hour minimum for all the tests.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Fifty wrote:

Kale wrote:
Ive had laser eye surgery to correct myopia with astigmatism. it was in 2006, and it was pain free - your vision is clouded after (looks like you are in thick fog) but it mostly clears after a couple of days and was gone in a week. Had to wear plastic eyeguards when sleeping to stop you accedently rubbing you eyes in you sleep for a month i think it was. looked very insect like.

Eyes were 20/20 or what ever the scoring is now once done. It is good long term but not a permanent fix. Your eyes can still degrade after - they said good for 10years at the time. Last year I have had to have glasses for diving but at a far far lower prescription than before.

I had it done more recently than that, maybe 2008-10 ish, and had no clouding, just 24 hours of blurriness, and about a fortnight of haloes around lights at night. I didn't have to wear any plastic eyeguards.

I was 20/20 within 48 hours, and my vision improved more after that.

Whilst your eyes can still degrade over time, that is still only the same as anyone else. Whilst you might get worse over time, it will still be much better 10 years later than if you had never had it done, and also still better then before you had it done.

I only had about -1.75 on my prescription. I spent about £1800 and had everything done with lasers, no need for microblades. That improves the recovery time and may be the reason I had less clouding, etc.

Honestly, it is the best money I ever spent. I found contacts okay, but hated the inconvenience if I stayed overnight somewhere unexpectedly, or got drunk and forgot to take them out. I also hated the feeling of glasses sitting on the bridge of my nose and ears. Plus, I have broken my nose many times, so glasses never sat well on my face.

That's about the level mine are at, but with a little extra due to astigmatism. I'm literally 0.5 dioptres outside the limit and 6 upside of the required visual acuity limit

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
Wow that doesn't sound good. I guess it depends on where you've been to aswell. The company I'm looking at has very good reviews from pretty much everyone. I've got a consultation booked next week. Aparantly it's an hour minimum for all the tests.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Fifty wrote:

Kale wrote:
Ive had laser eye surgery to correct myopia with astigmatism. it was in 2006, and it was pain free - your vision is clouded after (looks like you are in thick fog) but it mostly clears after a couple of days and was gone in a week. Had to wear plastic eyeguards when sleeping to stop you accedently rubbing you eyes in you sleep for a month i think it was. looked very insect like.

Eyes were 20/20 or what ever the scoring is now once done. It is good long term but not a permanent fix. Your eyes can still degrade after - they said good for 10years at the time. Last year I have had to have glasses for diving but at a far far lower prescription than before.

I had it done more recently than that, maybe 2008-10 ish, and had no clouding, just 24 hours of blurriness, and about a fortnight of haloes around lights at night. I didn't have to wear any plastic eyeguards.

I was 20/20 within 48 hours, and my vision improved more after that.

Whilst your eyes can still degrade over time, that is still only the same as anyone else. Whilst you might get worse over time, it will still be much better 10 years later than if you had never had it done, and also still better then before you had it done.

I only had about -1.75 on my prescription. I spent about £1800 and had everything done with lasers, no need for microblades. That improves the recovery time and may be the reason I had less clouding, etc.

Honestly, it is the best money I ever spent. I found contacts okay, but hated the inconvenience if I stayed overnight somewhere unexpectedly, or got drunk and forgot to take them out. I also hated the feeling of glasses sitting on the bridge of my nose and ears. Plus, I have broken my nose many times, so glasses never sat well on my face.

That's about the level mine are at, but with a little extra due to astigmatism. I'm literally 0.5 dioptres outside the limit and 6 upside of the required visual acuity limit

I had a very small amount of astigmatism too. I don't know if it is 100% gone, but I certainly never notice it.

Oh, and the laser firing off sounds like a gas cooker ignite. And be prepared for the very faint smell of cooking pork.

I'm not worried about pain. I've sat for 6 hour tattoo sessions so 10 minutes or so should be fine. Most people seem to say it's fairly painless anyway.. Both my younger sisters managed it haha.

@ratius - its not optimal for all people unfortunately, and some are unable to have it done (my friend can have it done due to an inheareted thing causing thin corneas - he would need replacement lenses, very scary operation).

Talk to the clinic, voice any concerns to them and see what they say. Remember they dont just want your money, they want happy clients giving reviews as well! (and healing people of course....)

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
I'm not worried about pain. I've sat for 6 hour tattoo sessions so 10 minutes or so should be fine. Most people seem to say it's fairly painless anyway.. Both my younger sisters managed it haha.

Didn't hurt. Mild stringing sensation, then itchy as hell.

I got PRK done in 06 while I was in the USArmy It was fairly quick and I remember the smell. The discomfort was there for a few weeks. Mostly in the form of very very dry eyes.

I was near sighted and had it done... I think 7 years ago. Couldn't really read anything more than 5 foot out. Procedure was easy if a bit trippy, and it didn't take long to recover from.

There can be side effects though that you need to be aware of. For one thing your eyes will be a bit more sensitive to dryness or sun. I wear sunglasses a lot because of it. Not like your eyes are gonna burn out, just a comfort thing. Also, beware of "halos" at night. It's like having somewhat foggy glasses on, and it happens when you look at a Street lamp or car headlights. I've got those pretty bad and they get on my nerves.

I still think it was worth it though. Id do it all over again in a heartbeat

I had the consult yesterday. the doc was very polite and friendly and talked me through the whole thing. apparently my eyes are perfect for the surgery, right down to having 'soft eyelids', and the corrections needed would take no more than a minute or so per eye.

I'm going to wait on advice from my medical officer regarding my application, then see where to go from there.

Was the consult with a doctor from the company that are going to do the actual surgery on you?

If so, I'll reiterate what I said before - get a second opinion.
My experience is that "everyone is eligible for this wonderful surgery". Wrong

Have you considered the financial obligations? My fiance had it around 5 months ago, and the overall cost wasn't much short of £4000. She was able to put a £600 deposit down and the rest is interest-free for a couple of years but it's still something you should seriously consider before committing to anything.

However, from what she's said the results are beyond belief. After half an hour she was seeing better than she's ever seen in her life. Good luck with it all and I wish you all the best with whatever you decide to go for.

This thread has got me thinking a lot about getting ICLs. To me, the potential drawbacks of Lasik seemed to outbalance to potential benefits (potential coronas, dry eye, not being able to drive at night, and so one). I have been waiting for ICLs to mature and I think it's about there.

I would like to throw a warning out there. Apparently the lasers for these things need to be carefully calibrated. Once they are set, getting them bumped out of place isn't good.

That's why I would suggest you go to an actual brick-and-mortar store. Sometimes you see these "roving clinics" that have a laser eye surgery clinic set up in a tractor trailer. I was told that these are more likely to be just a smidge out of calibration from the constant moving.