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Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

nytimes.com

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Re: Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

#81

Post by latchkey »

I find it extremely hard to believe he wasn't warned. I had PRK (in San Francisco) and had to sign my life away, was told over and over and over again about the dangers. Plus, 30 seconds on google and you get plenty of information.

I see these sort of operations as like buying safety gear. You don't skimp on price... or doctor quality. I went to several places first and got evaluated and then made an informed choice.

It took about 6 months for my eyes to totally recover due to the PRK, but oh wow, I'm so glad I did it.

Re: Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

#82

Post by forapurpose »

NetOpWibby wrote: post #74
cm2012 wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a wrap, folks. This comment is more valuable by far than the article.

I've learned to read the comments to any posted NYT article, than visiting said article itself.

Internet rants might sound smarter-than-thou, but I read the articles for myself:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17290745

Re: Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

#83

Post by simonebrunozzi »

So, this poorly written article at least sparkled a good discussion here on HN.

I have an "Ask HN" for you here: it's the year 2018, I am 41, live in Bay Area, have myopia (~2 sx and ~3 dx), and have pondered doing surgery.

What's the absolute best option I have? Is it LASIK? Are there different types of LASIK? I spoke with two eye doctors in the past 5 years, and none of them managed to either convince me, or to clarify the various pros and cons of different approaches. (p.s. I really hate the US healthcare system).

Thanks for any help!

Re: Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

#84

Post by NetOpWibby »

forapurpose wrote: post #82
NetOpWibby wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've learned to read the comments to any posted NYT article, than visiting said article itself.

Internet rants might sound smarter-than-thou, but I read the articles for myself: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17290745

I value my time somewhat so if something sounds the least bit dubious, I peruse the top comments first.

Re: Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

#85

Post by djrogers »

> None of the surgeons he consulted ever warned him he could sustain permanent damage following Lasik, he added.

I had LASIK ~18 years ago, and was warned many times by everyone I discussed the procedure with that there were possible side effects, including the ones in the article. I also signed a bunch of stuff saying the same.

About 12 years ago I had a ‘touch up’ and same deal - warnings everywhere from everyone...

Re: Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

#86

Post by dandelany »

ars wrote: post #73
enobrev wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the _one_ thing I miss about getting my eyesight fixed. Within a month of getting laser surgery, it was so natural that I'd essentially forgotten the experience of glasses and contacts, as though I'd never experienced the previous 20 years with them. One of my very favorite things to do before then was sit in Central Park, or at the Diversey Rocks in Chicago, or anywhere with lots of color, remove my glasses,…

You could force your eyes to blur and achieve the same effect. It's easier to do if you are tired, if you've never done it before. Crossing your eyes slightly also helps (then hold the blurry focus and uncross them).

The continuous effort required to force blurring pretty much negates the calming effect, I think.

Re: Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

#87

Post by NetOpWibby »

stephengillie wrote: post #77
NetOpWibby wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've learned to read the comments to any posted NYT article, than visiting said article itself.

I scan through HN's list of articles, and click "hide" on all NYT articles, before even reading titles. Same for many other newspapers and a few "usual suspect" websites. (This article was an exception, as I've had LASIK in the past 20 years, and it caught my eye.)

Haaaaah, I see what you did there.

Wink wink.

Re: Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

#88

Post by russellbeattie »

Bad news travels around the world before good news even has its shoes on... Except for Lasik. Anyone who's had a friend who had the surgery knows what I'm talking about. They can't stop expressing about how awesome it is, and why haven't you gotten it done yet! I'm honestly surprised there's less than a million operations a year with all the evangelical patients out there. Personally, I'll wait a few more years until the lasers are so good and automated they install them at your local pharmacy next to the blood pressure machines.

Re: Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

#89

Post by acct1771 »

crystalPalace wrote: post #61
bradleyjg wrote: post #41

Anyone here wear the contact lenses that reshape your eyes at night and then during the day you have corrected vision and no lenses? Mostly I don't mind glasses and contacts, but there are some activities I'd rather not have to rely on them.

This sounded pretty cool so I googled it. The proper name is Orthokeratology.

I know it as Corneal molding.

Re: Lasik’s Risks Are Coming into Sharper Focus

#90

Post by sideproject »

strait wrote: post #80

I'm surprised that the Bates method alternatives haven't been mentioned yet. I picked up a book called "Better Vision Now" several years ago and started practicing what looked like the more practical exercises in the book, very infrequently, and all the while still abusing my eyes with excessive reading and computer work. I went from needing a -2.25 prescription to a -1.00 when I went back to the optometrist a few ye…

Let's get more balanced view on Bates' method... https://www.quora.com/Does-Bates-Method-work
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