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Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

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Re: Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

#41

Post by moffkalast »

diggan wrote: post #27
moffkalast wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> From the report: "In [FDA] studies, ~15% of patients experienced night vision symptoms that were worse or significantly worse than preoperative night vision symptoms. Approximately 20% of patients experienced dryness symptoms that were worse or significantly worse than preoperative dryness." View complication table from report. Says it right there?

As someone who never had any issues with my eyes, is worse night vision and/or increased dryness something that is considered "life-altering complications"?

Well I've definitely heard of cases where they needed eye drips every evening before sleep or they'd wake up in pain from dryness, which I'd say is pretty life changing. Like having a chronic disability that requires constant medication.

Re: Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

#42

Post by LordGrey »

graboid wrote: post #12

Did anyone here do the eye surgery where they make a cut and slide in a permanent contact lens? My eyes are too bad for lasering, but this method would apparently still work. The doc tried to sell it to me as the better method irrespective of how bad your eyes are, since it is reversible (you can remove the lens).

Both my wife and I did. She went first, and had bifocal lenses inserted. I waited a couple of years and got trifocals instead. I think I've had mine for five years or more by now; I don't remember.

My wife went from "can't read the big E on the eye chart" to only using readers for very tiny print. She had different prescriptions put in each eye, for different distances. It took her brain a little while to sort all that out, but she doesn't notice it anymore.

We both see concentric halos around light points (a side effect of the bifocal and trifocal lenses, I think), but eventually your brain edits those out and you don't notice them unless you try.

I'm in the U.S. and insurance did not cover them. I think we each paid around $7K.

All in all, they were a good buy and I would recommend the procedure. They may not be cost effective, but the quality of life change is amazing.

Re: Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

#43

Post by lobsterthief »

RasmusFromDK wrote: post #30

Tangentially related: for those who are considering LASIK in order to save money on contacts: I created https://lenspricer.com/ , which compares contact lens prices across almost all online stores. Buying them online at the cheapest price can lower your cost significantly (like up to 80%+ - the price you pay at nation-wide stores is often very overpriced compared to online prices).

An article+calculator on how long it would take for you to break even from LASIK based on your selected contacts and rough LASIK price would be a great story for your site.

Re: Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

#44

Post by RasmusFromDK »

lobsterthief wrote: post #43
RasmusFromDK wrote: post #30

Tangentially related: for those who are considering LASIK in order to save money on contacts: I created https://lenspricer.com/ , which compares contact lens prices across almost all online stores. Buying them online at the cheapest price can lower your cost significantly (like up to 80%+ - the price you pay at nation-wide stores is often very overpriced compared to online prices).

An article+calculator on how long it would take for you to break even from LASIK based on your selected contacts and rough LASIK price would be a great story for your site.

I like that idea, thanks!

Re: Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

#45

Post by malfist »

moffkalast wrote: post #24
diggan wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> As of 2018, roughly 9.5 million Americans have had LASIK https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASIK How many of those end up with life-altering complications? For being a website trying to highlight how problematic something is, it oddly is missing a bunch of data to back it up.

> From the report: "In [FDA] studies, ~15% of patients experienced night vision symptoms that were worse or significantly worse than preoperative night vision symptoms. Approximately 20% of patients experienced dryness symptoms that were worse or significantly worse than preoperative dryness." View complication table from report. Says it right there?

I know the plural of anecdote isn't data, but I question those numbers.

I know lots of people who've gotten LASIK or PRK, and nobody I know personally has regretted it. I only see the horror stories online.

I myself have gotten LASIK, and have had no issues outside the original healing period, except a slight tendency towards dry eyes in the morning, but it's mild.

Re: Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

#46

Post by malfist »

lordofgibbons wrote: post #25
kaiwenwang wrote: post #8

https://lasikcomplications.com/

There is no surgery without risks but this FUD website caused me a lot of anxiety and had me to delay getting lasik. I can without a doubt say it has been the best money I've ever spent. I spend a lot of time outdoors and hike and camp. Doing that with glasses or contacts absolutely sucks. Either your glasses get finger oil on them, or your contacts get some dirt and you have to take them out (but first you have to f…

Exactly the same boat here. That site and reddit caused me to put off having good vision for years and years. My right eye couldn't see the E on the eye chart. If I hadn't been able to wear glasses I'd have qualified as legally blind.

Now I have perfect vision, and everyone I personal know that has had LASIK or PRK have the same story. Bad vision, to good vision, no complications. Everyone I know (including my optometrist) says they'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Re: Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

#47

Post by malfist »

graboid wrote: post #12

Did anyone here do the eye surgery where they make a cut and slide in a permanent contact lens? My eyes are too bad for lasering, but this method would apparently still work. The doc tried to sell it to me as the better method irrespective of how bad your eyes are, since it is reversible (you can remove the lens).

They still do that, but it's primarily for cataracts now

Re: Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

#48

Post by malfist »

kamikaz1k wrote: post #38

Came across some people that reversed serious myopia (upto 6 diopter) well into adulthood. They have interviews on their youtube channel. https://endmyopia.org/

My right eye was a -5 and was able to be corrected by LASIK. It's mind boggling how big of a difference it can make

Re: Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

#49

Post by raverbashing »

khazhoux wrote: post #39
raverbashing wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They also mentioned they ignored potential red flags and didn't follow correct post-op care, so blaming the technique seems like barking up the wrong tree People seem to google "lasik best prices" then wonder why their experience sucks? Don't go for the first google links when researching something, avoid sensationalistic BS

The question had nothing to do with that. It was whether LASIK can have life-altering complications. The answer is Yes. But to your point: I will assume the HN who posted here was smart, and that the procedure was performed by a licensed professional within a standard risk profile, using equipment that was functioning as expected.

"Can $procedure have life-altering complications?" Yes, every procedure has a non zero chance of having complications. Yes even stuff at your dentist, or having a mole taken out etc.

> within a standard risk profile

Well, not following post-op guidelines takes it out of the risk profile, still, it is good to have a second opinion and understanding the risks for your case

> laser used had a smaller diameter than my lenses

Given that it was 20 yrs ago it is possible that this was an effect that was not well known and it is better controlled today.

It is very possible that this result would have been better with modern equipment and techniques (especially if this was not bladeless Lasik) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31353955/

Re: Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery

#50

Post by throwbmw »

I think people have difficulty in comprehending the risks just from having been presented data and not seeing or talking to somebody having complications. For example I work in healthcare and have never seen an Opthalmology consultant to chose these procedures for themselves or their family.
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