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

Electromechanical reshaping offers safer eye surgery

spectrum.ieee.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 81 posts

Re: Electromechanical reshaping offers safer eye surgery

#21

Post by superkuh »

tiahura wrote: post #8

Glasses are annoying, and I’m not particularly risk averse, but unless I was completely blind or in excruciating pain, I can’t imagine any scenario in which I would elect to have someone cut, lase, or reshape my eyeball.

Lasers are not fun. Especially when they're not aiming at the cornea/etc flap and instead are intentionally burning your torn retina flap to "photocoagulate"/glue it back on to the back of they eyeball with the rest of the retina. It hurts quite a bit (like getting punched in the eyeball 300 times) and you have to remain perfectly still with your eye always looking at the the same exact spot for 20 minutes minutes while the doctor flashes the green laser at random unpredictable intervals. There are no resting intervals. It's very intense and difficult to hold so still while getting hurt. And sometimes the laser will literally hit a nerve and suddenly you'll feel like puking. I had this done to both eyes in the last month and both times I left absolutely soaked in sweat and pale like a ghost.

I still can't look at flashing green LEDs the same way. Too many bad memories.

That said, this electroforming process sounds even worse than photocuagulation! I can't imagine it being a procedure they could do to a conscious person.

Re: Electromechanical reshaping offers safer eye surgery

#22

Post by JumpCrisscross »

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #18
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do your pros and cons versus ICL. It's pricier. But it comes with fewer side effects, is fully reversible and allows for refinement down the road.

Looks like ICL isn't generally available after the age of 45.

> ICL isn't generally available after the age of 45

It’s essentially cataract surgery, so not for safety reasons.

FDA doesn’t recommend it past 45, I believe, because if you have age-related eye degeneration ICL won’t help where LASIK might and because it’s most studied in the 21 to 45 age group. Would be surprised if a surgeon said no due to age alone.

Re: Electromechanical reshaping offers safer eye surgery

#23

Post by stronglikedan »

euroderf wrote: post #20

I'm wondering: if you get LASIK to fix myopia, then does this mean you'll need reading glasses to read fine print ?

I got lasik at 40, and started needing reading glasses at 45. From 40 to 45, the lasik reverted in my right eye. I needed to either wear glasses full time for that, or deal with monovision. I just said fuck it and went back to regular glasses (progressives) all day long. My eyes are too valuable to keep fucking around with, so another round of lasik wasn't an option for me.

Re: Electromechanical reshaping offers safer eye surgery

#24

Post by moduspol »

BobbyTables2 wrote: post #7
moduspol wrote: post #2

That'd be nice. I had LASIK a few years ago and the number of Windows Vista generic error sounds (BONG BONG) I heard during the procedure was a little unsettling. Ended up working out just fine though, so far at least. EDIT: Given some of the comments below, for reference: mine was done almost six years ago.

At least it wasn’t win95!

Yes! It could have been worse.

Re: Electromechanical reshaping offers safer eye surgery

#25

Post by stronglikedan »

tiahura wrote: post #8

Glasses are annoying, and I’m not particularly risk averse, but unless I was completely blind or in excruciating pain, I can’t imagine any scenario in which I would elect to have someone cut, lase, or reshape my eyeball.

For the vast majority of candidates, it's a life changing experience for the better, and well worth the minimal risk. Mine reverted in one eye, but I'm glad I did it regardless and have zero regrets. Just luck of the draw, really.

Re: Electromechanical reshaping offers safer eye surgery

#26

Post by moduspol »

whartung wrote: post #9
fnands wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anything to look out for for someone considering going for LASIK in the next few months?

Just be prepared for the waiver you have to sign. After all of the advertising about how amazing and safe and wonderful it is, the rubber meets the road with the release you sign. Essentially “we’re about to shoot LASERS into your eye and if we manage to not BLIND you, that’s a good outcome.” All routine, of course, but it’s still a scary form to sign.

Indeed. They also don't seem to let you schedule each eye separately. Maybe they will if you complain enough, or are willing to pay more.

Re: Electromechanical reshaping offers safer eye surgery

#28

Post by 7e »

fnands wrote: post #3
moduspol wrote: post #2

That'd be nice. I had LASIK a few years ago and the number of Windows Vista generic error sounds (BONG BONG) I heard during the procedure was a little unsettling. Ended up working out just fine though, so far at least. EDIT: Given some of the comments below, for reference: mine was done almost six years ago.

Anything to look out for for someone considering going for LASIK in the next few months?

Don’t get LASIK. Get Wavelight Plus ray-tracing guided LASIK. The outcomes are incredibly improved.

Re: Electromechanical reshaping offers safer eye surgery

#29

Post by aardvarkr »

fnands wrote: post #3
moduspol wrote: post #2

That'd be nice. I had LASIK a few years ago and the number of Windows Vista generic error sounds (BONG BONG) I heard during the procedure was a little unsettling. Ended up working out just fine though, so far at least. EDIT: Given some of the comments below, for reference: mine was done almost six years ago.

Anything to look out for for someone considering going for LASIK in the next few months?

I had it done in late 2022. The doctor does close to zero work and it’s all in the laser. I called almost every lasik specialist in the city to figure out what laser they use and what their price is and then narrowed that list further with in person consultations. Don’t go for the absolute cheapest but there’s zero reason to pay quadruple.

At the time it was about $1k per eye and of course vision insurance sucks and won’t make a difference for lasik. My company even had a lasik benefit ($1k/eye) but the offices that worked through insurance cost $2.5k/eye.

If I recall correctly there’s three major laser brands and they’re on the fifth generation lasers. The buzzword at that time was waveform technology.

Overall it has been AMAZING and everyone should do it. Literally can’t express how wonderful it is to no longer need contracts or glasses. It’s probably paid for itself already as well but the quality of life improvements are worth it even if there was no break even point.

Re: Electromechanical reshaping offers safer eye surgery

#30

Post by dleary »

I had PRK done at Stanford in 2007 or 2008.

Now it's nearly 20 years later, and I just turned 48.

My vision has deteriorated from "old age" enough now that I might have considered getting the procedure done again. Touch-ups are/were free at the Stanford clinic.

My vision has not deteriorated in the past 5 years or so, I am farsighted enough now that it is more comfortable to hold fine print things at arms length to read. And things far away are a bit blurry again.

But, I now think that getting eye surgery now to fix your vision is a bad move if glasses can correct it.

It's really just a strategy decision in the 'game of life'.

"Pretty soon", we are going to have wearable AR goggles that actually work.

When that threshold is crossed, "everyone" is going to have AR glasses, just like "everyone" has a smart phone right now.

Since you're going to be wearing glasses in a few years anyway, why risk the surgery?

Post reply on HN