Getting my eyes cut

[George Hill]

I talked to a very good OpticDoc - I think I'll pass on the surgery for the time being.
While the risks are low - they are still risks I dont NEED to take at the moment.

Besides - I looked over a UBB Forum regarding eye surgery... Most posts are not happy.

 

[MrBlonde]

I would not want a laser beam shot into my eyeball. Especially if it could mean you could not shoot any more. Are glasses too uncomfortable?

 

[parabellum]

Yeah, there are some unhappy campers out there. As was mentioned in this thread, give it a year or two while techniques evolve and improve, and a more substantial surgical results database is built. And good luck with it, George if you ultimately decide to have it. Finding the right physician is the key.

 

[Jeff Thomas]

Two final thoughts from me, on a subject that became an important part of my life.

1. When they tell you the technology has improved, is the best its ever been, etc., notice carefully who is making that statement - it is often someone who is selling the procedure to you. Take it with a grain of salt. I was told the same thing in 1994 ...

2. Remember that the 'bottom line' in this matter is your 'best corrected vision'. Sure, the point is to go without glasses or contacts. But, if you still need glasses or contacts to correct your vision, it is your 'best corrected vision' that will determine the quality of your days. In my case, I was left with eyes that did not correct as well as they did before the surgery. You know how satisfying it is when they use the foropter (device with lenses) to find the right lense / prescription to corrrect your eyes? That is, when the chart comes into clear focus? I never get there anymore, whereas before the surgery I always ended up with a prescription that brought that chart into sharp focus. I assure you ... it is somewhat emotional to be sitting in that chair and realize that you've had a surgical procedure that has taken away what was once nearly perfect 'best corrected vision'.

George et al, best wishes to you in these decisions. Regards from AZ

 

[Cougar]

I have been worse than 20/400 for all of my adult life. I was 20/400 in High School and am 20/525 today, 25 years later. Both eyes. Exactly the same. Even my Optometerist is fascinated by that. My contacts (that I rarely wear) are not even marked right and left. There's no need! Even the curvature is the same on both eyes. Freaky!

My eye doctor has served on my state's Optometery/Opthamology Board. (Optometery deals with dispensing prescriptions for glasses and contacts, Opthamology deals with eye surgeries) That's quite an honor and shows that he really knows his stuff! His opinion carries a lot of weight with his peers -- and patients! My family has gone to him since he started out back in the mid 60's. I have worn glasses since I was seven years old!

My doctor has used my family as 'beta testers' of new things in the past. The reason I say this is to show that he is not reluctant to try new things with his patients if he believes it to be a good thing. Heck, I had Gas Permiable contact lenses 25 years ago!

Anyways, about 25 years ago I asked him about RK (Radial Keratonomy) -- the knife-cut proceedure -- and he told me not to do it because better things were coming.

About ten years ago I again asked him about PRK which is done with a 'cold' laser that makes tiny burns of the surface of the cornea to reshape it. Excimer Laser it is called these days. Again he told me to wait.

Recently I asked about Lasik and he said "Go for it!" BTW He doesn't perform the surgery so he has no financial gain by telling me this! He has made some suggestions as to who I should see about having this done. Don't trust the cheapest! Likewise, just because someone is the most expensive doesn't mean they're the best either!

BTW, I asked why he doesn't have it done. The reply? "Would you trust an eye doctor who didn't wear glasses? Would you expect him to be truly sympathetic to a glasses-wearing customer? Or would you wonder why he keeps ripping you off for glasses at several hundred bucks a pair every year or so for the rest of your life but has done 'one better' for himself?" (Hint -- Many Optometerists that don't need glasses themselves wear a set with non-correcting lenses just to put the patient more at ease for the above-mentioned reasons!) I gotta admire this guy's integrity and honesty for telling me this!

Now all I have to do is decide whether to get the M-1A, AR-15 and Garand that I have wanted for years ($3,200 equivalent), or to get my eyes fixed once and for all. I'd really like to be able to read my 2-1/2 inch high numbered digital alarm clock without being less than two feet away from it!

The choice is yours!