Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: experiences with Lasik eye surgery (programmers especially)?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–88 of 88 posts

Re: Ask HN: experiences with Lasik eye surgery (programmers especially)?

#81

Post by weaksauce »

rahoulb wrote: post #67
weaksauce wrote: post #45

Has anyone done Orthokeratology? It seems cheaper than lasik and still fairly effective in what it does. Any thoughts on this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthokeratology

I hated Ortho-K - they couldn't get the lenses to fit correctly so they hurt my eyes and some days I would wake up with imperfect vision (at a basically random power).

Do you think it was the fault of antiquated machinery, the doctor, or your eyes that caused the discomfort? How long ago did you do it? I have been doing some research on it after posting my query and it seems like they have improved the process behind it. ymmv though.

Re: Ask HN: experiences with Lasik eye surgery (programmers especially)?

#82

Post by aaronbrethorst »

weaksauce wrote: post #79
aaronbrethorst wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My mom did it for about 10 years and had generally good results. I tried it and found the lenses too uncomfortable to wear. Soft contacts don't bother me; just rigid ones. Give it a shot! The worst possible outcome would be no change.

I take it that you would need to go to a specialist? I know nothing about eye doctors but are there special ortho-k providers that only do that type of treatment or would it fall under a normal optometrist? I guess the top dog of the eye care totem pole would be an ophthalmologist. Do you know roughly the cost?

Personally, I'd always go to a specialist for anything that involves messing with my eyes. I don't know specifically if there are ortho-k specialists, though.

And, no clue on the cost. I tried this out about 14 years ago.

Re: Ask HN: experiences with Lasik eye surgery (programmers especially)?

#83

Post by silverlake »

pingswept wrote: post #18

I worked on the redesign of a Lasik machine in 2005. As part of this work, I spent a few weeks just watching lasik operations in various locations around the US. I saw several events that made me very wary of the procedure-- specifically, a technician accidentally setting a microkeratome to the wrong size and thereby detaching the corneal flap. I also talked with several patients who were back for 3rd and 4th session…

The defense department has done research on the success of Lasik and PRK. They now pay for it and allow you to fly most planes after surgery. I had it done 4 years ago and my vision has been perfect since then.

Re: Ask HN: experiences with Lasik eye surgery (programmers especially)?

#85

Post by portman »

peteforde wrote: post #38
portman wrote: post #15

I had LASIK in the summer of 2002. (Wow, hard to believe it's been more than 8 years!) No problems to report. I do experience the so-called "halos" while driving at night, but it's not a problem and hasn't impacted my night driving. Furthermore, a few of us got LASIK that same summer: - My mother, who was 51 at the time - My wife - My best friend All three of us have had no problems. We all used the same doctor, Dr.…

I've read a few claims like that. Perhaps I'm being overly pedantic, but assuming he started when the procedure became FDA approved in 1995, doesn't that imply that he does 4.5 operations a day, 365 days a year?

I suspect it's more like 10 operations a day, 3 days a week, 48 weeks per year since 1992 (when the clinical trials started).

Re: Ask HN: experiences with Lasik eye surgery (programmers especially)?

#86

Post by rahoulb »

weaksauce wrote: post #81
rahoulb wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hated Ortho-K - they couldn't get the lenses to fit correctly so they hurt my eyes and some days I would wake up with imperfect vision (at a basically random power).

Do you think it was the fault of antiquated machinery, the doctor, or your eyes that caused the discomfort? How long ago did you do it? I have been doing some research on it after posting my query and it seems like they have improved the process behind it. ymmv though.

It was over a period of four or five months, ending about six months ago.

I think it was the shape of my eyes at fault - i would have a fortnightly scan, they would remould the lenses (which was done at some central factory, not by my doctor) and they still wouldn't sit correctly.

Re: Ask HN: experiences with Lasik eye surgery (programmers especially)?

#87

Post by sanud002 »

I had Lasik surgery at the Aris Vision Institute in Juarez Mexico. I live in Las Cruces New Mexico and found that these guys offered really good prices on Lasik. I have been nothing but ecstatic over my decision to have Lasik at Aris Vision. The Doctors were awesome and the staff was excellent. I have sent a few friends there as well since and they had a great experience too. I highly recommend you take a look at their site. This is the promotional link I used when I went and sent my friends as well. http://www.arisvision.com/informacion/promociones.html

Re: Ask HN: experiences with Lasik eye surgery (programmers especially)?

#88

Post by driverdan »

quicksilver03 wrote: post #75

I'm absolutely terrified of anything that comes close to my eyes, be that lasers, contacts, ophtalmologists... I'm wearing glasses from 1987 and I will start thinking about eye surgery only when I'll stop programming. I'm not satisfied about a minimal risk, I want zero.

Nothing in life has zero risk.
Post reply on HN