Two years after LASIK eye surgery • Hacker News Board

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#51

Post by tdees40 » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:40 PM UTC

jcfrei wrote: post #4

tdees40 wrote: post #2

I got LASIK four years ago. No haloing, and in general I'm really happy about it. I did have vicious dry eyes for about six months, which was much worse than it sounds, but it went away. Overall, I'm thrilled with the procedure, and as I previously had terrible vision, it was legitimately life-changing.

How poor was your vision before?

My prescription was approximately -8 in both eyes. I was a pretty fringe-y candidate for the surgery and had to do the most expensive one (laser flap, wavefront) to get it done.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#52

Post by anti-shill » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:40 PM UTC

ah, the power of propaganda over homo sapiens...when we they learn that medicine is a business?

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#53

Post by amasad » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:40 PM UTC

Absolutely life changing. I have so many bad memories from growing up with the burden of glasses. One of the worst is when my school took us to the beach for a couple of days and I lost my glasses in the sea. For the rest of the trip (3 days) I wasn't able to be active, just sat at the beach, and worst of all I was a burden on my friends. They had to walk me everywhere.

I'm so glad I got it done -- I did PRK -- but in recent years my vision started deteriorating a little bit. It's not too bad though -- I passed the DMV test. I hope it doesn't get worse than that. However, my understanding is that I can do it again if I had too. Anyone here had to do it multiple times?

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#54

Post by meowface » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:41 PM UTC

codysoyland wrote: post #7

The thing that always bothered me about LASIK is that the flap never fully heals. I considered doing PRK (an alternative procedure that omits the cutting of the flap), but the healing time can take months. I was screened by an eye surgeon who insisted LASIK is a superior procedure. Has anyone scientifically compared the risk of LASIK vs. PRK?

I got PRK. No long term issues (other than occasional minor dry eye, and maybe a tiny bit of light sensitivity), but yes, the 3 week period after you get it can be very rough. You usually have to take at least one week of work off.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#55

Post by bemmu » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:41 PM UTC

phantarch wrote: post #29

I went ahead and read his post about the actual process of getting the surgery and I think that's scared me off of it forever. It's not an invasive procedure, but just the thought of being strapped down and having my eyes mechanically restrained so a miniature band saw can slice pieces of them off is absolutely terrifying. I'm sure the doctors are all qualified for the most part and it's well within reasonable safety…

You can evaluate the risk and consider your anxiety separately. If you think the risk is worth it, then you can take care of the anxiety with medication. After enough diazepam, you won't be anxious anymore. You won't care. Not only does this help you feel better, but I'm sure a less anxious person is better for the surgery as well.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#56

Post by bunderbunder » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:42 PM UTC

batou wrote: post #6

Off topic; does anyone know if there are any services that get rid of floaters? I've got a nasty one right in the middle of my best eye and it is very annoying. Has been there for two years and I haven't got used to it yet.

As far as I know the only fix is vitrectomy.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#57

Post by jdkeller » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:43 PM UTC

stuff4ben wrote: post #40

Interested to know for everyone who has had it, how old they were when they got it done and how old they are now? I'm curious if there's an age factor involved. I'm a 40 year old male with not too bad uncorrected eyesight and a little astigmatism.

I got it done when I was 22 (The Navy paid for it) and my vision was considered severe low vision[0] and an astigmatism. I am 28 now and I have no problems (last test I was 20/15). I was told, however, that my vision would might start to taper off around 40 (I may need reading glasses), but I am sure it varies for everyone.

[0] http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-visio...

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#58

Post by bemmu » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:43 PM UTC

richerlariviere wrote: post #32

Did you have "dry eyes" symptoms after your surgery? For some persons (like me), they can't have this treatment because it can damage lacrimal glands. My eyes are naturally to dry to try this securely.

Maybe sometimes. I was unsure whether to mention it, because I'm not totally sure it's because of the eye surgery, as I only feel it on days after using sleep medication, so I figured it was more likely to be a side effect from that (or perhaps an interaction).

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#59

Post by gcv » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:44 PM UTC

codysoyland wrote: post #7

The thing that always bothered me about LASIK is that the flap never fully heals. I considered doing PRK (an alternative procedure that omits the cutting of the flap), but the healing time can take months. I was screened by an eye surgeon who insisted LASIK is a superior procedure. Has anyone scientifically compared the risk of LASIK vs. PRK?

Your surgeon is lazy. He wants you as a patient for 2 days for his fee, not for two weeks. All my research indicates that PRK is substantially better.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#60

Post by manuelflara » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:44 PM UTC

wasyl wrote: post #37

manuelflara wrote: post #25

I had LASIK 7 years ago, for free actually (luckily my company's health insurance covered it if your sight was as bad as mine). I do see as well as I saw with glasses, so not having to bother with them has been amazing. But I never saw that well with glasses, and I see the same now. By this I mean I still use more zoom on my screen than anyone I know, for example. Otherwise it isn't comfortable. I've gone to the doct…

How bad was your eyesight, then? I'm curious, I heard LASIK effects are weaker when you have smaller defect (~2 diopters)

IIRC I had 5 diopters in one eye, 6 in the other (not sure if that's how you measure eyesight in the US, I'm from Spain). I was farsighted (I've heard shortsightness is healed better with LASIK?) and had some astigmatism as well.