Two years after LASIK eye surgery • Hacker News Board

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#71

Post by bstamour » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:59 PM UTC

I had my eyes zapped about six years ago, and it's been nothing but positive for me. Like the author said, the procedure itself was painless (and very fast, a few minutes per eye).

I had the surgery done early in the morning, and afterward slept through most of the day to let my eyes heal. I woke up the next day and was able to read car license plates across the street, where two days prior my vision was bad enough that I couldn't make out facial features over an arm's length away without my glasses.

I'll second the author: it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#72

Post by devy » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 2:00 PM UTC

sergiosgc wrote: post #42

I did mine 9 years ago. Best decision of my life. Long term effects: - I suffered from the night halo effect for two years afterwards, but it went away. Even then, I was happy having done the surgery. - I am more light-sensitive now than I was. I'm uncomfortable without sunglasses in a bright summer day, something that didn't happen before. From what I can tell I'm still in the normal light sensitivity band. - My eye…

9 years is a relative short term comparing to a normal human lifespan of 70-80 years.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#73

Post by outworlder » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 2:00 PM UTC

kgtm wrote: post #35

Slightly unrelated, but has anyone developed floaters (moving or static) in their eyes (late 20s)? I find them quite irritating, especially on solid light-colored backgrounds, not to mention the white background on most apps. I'm slightly worried about them, especially if it means i will develop more as i get older...

Black-ish floaters? There's a discussion on those in this thread.

Floaters usually move. If they are static, they may be something else.

It's common and normal to develop floaters. What is NOT normal is to develop a bunch of them very suddenly. That could mean many things, such as possible retinal detachment. Which is a very common Google search result, but uncommon otherwise.

If you are worried, get your eyes checked. I did, as part of my checkups. My doctor told me that she had one, she couldn't see mine, but that she sometimes had to move her eyes to make sure it was a floater in the patient's eye and not hers :)

Just include add this conversation at your next eye doctor visit but don't worry about it. Floaters can appear and disappear with time and can become more frequent as you age.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#74

Post by eps » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 2:03 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.

I have the same problem, talked to the doctor and there is no way to fix it permanently. What you can try is move floaters by doing a "teenager" eye roll, very rapidly several time in a row. In my case this helps to shift them away from the view.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#75

Post by bstamour » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 2:04 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…

I had it done about 6 years ago. While I wasn't completely under, I was given Valium beforehand and therefore didn't really give a shit about what they were doing. Also, because of the freezing, I didn't feel a thing. I just floated there, looking where they told me to look, and about 10 minutes later I was back out on the waiting room with my parents.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#76

Post by mharrison » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 2:06 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.

I had a retina detachment earlier this year. My retina had torn and scarred on the bottom of my eye and decided to detach while I was out of the country. Recovery has been ok and I have 20/30 vision on that eye .... But that is with staring at the letters for long enough until my brain has averaged the letter out (the letters actually narrow and widen). I now have a permanent pinch in the middle of my sight due to the retina not lying down perfectly flat. I will have to deal with this as my doctor says this will not heal. It is not fun. If I wear corrective lenses my eye tries to merge two images that aren't the same size.

Anyway I'll stop ranting. One of the signs that you might be having tears (precursor to detachment) is an increase of floaties in the eye. Also nearsightedness (yes for to the eye shadow you have a higher chance of detachment), and light flashes. If you are noticing more floaties you might want to get out checked out.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#77

Post by meapix » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 2:08 PM UTC

I went to a clinic to get a quote, as soon as they analyzed my eyes and we get to paper work, the lady wanted to sell me stuff. You're playing with my life with money, I never returned. For those who want to do this, either RUN or look for insurance policy in case you can't see anymore. I'll live with glasses for now.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#78

Post by meapix » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 2:09 PM UTC

anti-shill wrote: post #52

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

Exactly, people think it's about ethics, it's not, it's a pure dollar making machine.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#79

Post by meapix » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 2:10 PM UTC

nacnud wrote: post #9

igvadaimon wrote: post #3

I had one 7 years ago, never looked back.

Was that because it worked, or because you couldn't? :)

He never looked back, he didn't even try :P

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#80

Post by davio » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 2:10 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…

My LASIK was all laser, so the flap was cut with a laser instead of the microkeratome. My doctor gives you a Valium before the surgery.

Total time in the surgery chair was 6 minutes. First laser cuts, doctor opens the flap, second laser does the correction, doctor closes it up. Repeat for the other eye. Freakiest part is when they open the flap up and your vision goes completely hazy.

I was a long time contact wearer, so I was squeamish about having my eyes touched. I think it would be a lot more uncomfortable for someone who only wears glasses.

Best $4k I've ever spent. I had halos for a couple of days but no discomfort. For a couple of years, the reflective letters on highway signs seemed WAY TOO BRIGHT, but that's gone away now too.