Two years after LASIK eye surgery • Hacker News Board

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#41

Post by MrUnderhill » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:35 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 had ICL* surgery instead of LASIK, because the cornea was too thin. It has worked very well so far: I do get halos, but haven't had any other complications. The implants can also be removed or replaced.

* Implantable Contact Lens, from Wikipedia: The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with the patient awake throughout the operation. The flexibility of the ICL enables the lens to be rolled for insertion into the soft silicone tip of the micro incision injector through a very small incision (2.2mm) thus avoiding the need for stitches, and this procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes in the hands of an experienced ophthalmologist. Following the procedure, most people have immediate use of their eyes. The full recovery period is typically 1–2 days with minimal discomfort and most patients are able to go to work the next day. After surgery, the common advice is to avoid driving home and to visit the attending ophthalmologists regularly for several months so as to monitor the implants. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implantable_collamer_lens )

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#42

Post by sergiosgc » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:35 PM UTC

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 eyes are drier now than before surgery. Again, not something that affects day to day life. I notice it mostly when the eye gets irritated somehow (after swimming in salty water or chlorinated water, after being in smoky environments or being exposed to dust).

Doctors routinely downplay both the halo effect and the reduced tear production. The halo effect is more common in high correction surgeries (my correction was 3 dioptries myopic correction and 4(left) and 6(right) asthigmatic correction, which is rather high).

If you have already reduced tear production, I'd advise against the surgery. From people I know who did LASIK, that's the only relevant downside people talk about. Having permanently dry eyes and permanent need for drops is worse than wearing glasses.

It isn't painful, but I was uncomfortable for a couple weeks. For the first couple of days it seemed I had a grain of sand in the eye (and I had to resist the urge to scratch it out). On the plus side, recovery is very quick. I was out and about on the day after, and working in front of a computer screen three days after.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#43

Post by lewisl9029 » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:35 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?

Thanks for mentioning this.

I've only ever had cursory looks at LASIK because my nearsightedness is not quite serious enough to need glasses all the time, but I looked up what you mentioned and found this:

http://www.lasikcomplications.com/flapdislocation.htm

Watching the YouTube video in the link quite literally made me shudder in my chair.

If I ever do get eye surgery I'll probably go for PRK despite the longer healing time.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#44

Post by lpsz » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:37 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #10

I've been wearing glasses since I was 15 (found out I needed them when I failed the eye exam for my driving learner's permit) and long thought about LASIK. A few years ago I switched to contacts and since then the desire for surgery is gone. Contacts are comfortable, I can stop any time they become a problem, and only take up a minute of my day to put in and take out. And as my eyes change, my prescription can change…

And for anyone wearing contacts, I can't highly enough recommend trying daily ones. They are thinner, more breathable, and don't need cleaning.

After suffering for years with monthly contacts (dry eyes, discomfort), I'd only wish I'd learned this sooner.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#45

Post by briane80 » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:37 PM UTC

Numberwang wrote: post #26

briane80 wrote: post #19

Got it done September 2013 and overall very happy. I had poor eyesight (-4.5) and astigmatism in one eye. Cost £3000 for the top end surgery (3D mapping etc.) also due to my thin cornea I had to have the PRK rather than LASIK. This took longer to recover and was very uncomfortable for a few days after. I now have 20/20 vision though I do have a slight halo effect at night and very dry eyes most mornings but this will…

Where did you do yours?

Optical Express in Belfast

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#46

Post by mdolon » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:37 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #10

I've been wearing glasses since I was 15 (found out I needed them when I failed the eye exam for my driving learner's permit) and long thought about LASIK. A few years ago I switched to contacts and since then the desire for surgery is gone. Contacts are comfortable, I can stop any time they become a problem, and only take up a minute of my day to put in and take out. And as my eyes change, my prescription can change…

As someone who had contacts and got LASIK later on, I would still highly recommend considering it. For me, the deciding factors included 1) hassle of putting on contacts, 2) ability to lose them when swimming and 3) lack of access to new contacts when traveling or outdoors.

I've since found that my contact prescriptions were, apparently, never that great, since after getting LASIK my vision feels noticeably better. The first few days it felt like switching from 1080p to 4k, it was that significant. I think it might have to do with how LASIK is done nowadays, where they make a topographical map of your eye and adjust the curvature with extreme precision. You just can't get that with contacts.

Anyways, it's been 2+ years for me too and I can truly say it was one of the better life-changing decisions I've made.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#47

Post by batou » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:39 PM UTC

outworlder wrote: post #34

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.

Not to my knowledge. Last time I did research on that, there were experimental treatments (also involving lasers) to try to dissolve them. Which had dangers and some side effects, among them more floaters! Give it time, it will likely become less annoying. I've had one for 5 years now. In the last couple of years, I've noticed more of them appearing, but this particular bothersome one fading. It is likely breaking do…

That sounds like it's dangerous so I'd avoid that :-)

Thanks for the confidence builder; much appreciated!

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#48

Post by stevepotter » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:39 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #10

I've been wearing glasses since I was 15 (found out I needed them when I failed the eye exam for my driving learner's permit) and long thought about LASIK. A few years ago I switched to contacts and since then the desire for surgery is gone. Contacts are comfortable, I can stop any time they become a problem, and only take up a minute of my day to put in and take out. And as my eyes change, my prescription can change…

I developed an allergy to contacts during college. After wearing them for more than 15 minutes, my eyes would swell up. I was on a sports team and didn't want to negatively affect my performance with eye wear. So I got the lasik. I had a hell of a problem with dry eyes for years, obviously not helped by spending 10 hours a day in front of a CRT monitor. Finally I got diagnosed with Blepharitis, which is an inflammation of the eyelids caused by tear duct blockage. I treat it with a warm compress every morning and get by all right. I often wonder if the lasik caused the Blepharitis, the contacts caused it, or I had it and the contacts irritated it.

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#49

Post by beambot » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:39 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #10

I've been wearing glasses since I was 15 (found out I needed them when I failed the eye exam for my driving learner's permit) and long thought about LASIK. A few years ago I switched to contacts and since then the desire for surgery is gone. Contacts are comfortable, I can stop any time they become a problem, and only take up a minute of my day to put in and take out. And as my eyes change, my prescription can change…

I researched LASIK heavily before deciding not to proceed. A few things that fed into my decision:

(1) 1% have serious complications, and another couple percent say they would've abstained if they could go back in time. Basically, ~3% of people were unhappy with LASIK. That means that you'll see a lot of echo-chamber about how it's amazing (the 97%), but 3% is not negligible.

(2) By the time you're 45 y/o, you're going to get presbyopia -- ie. you will require bifocals because your eyes lose the ability to accommodate. You'll need some form of correction in the future.

(3) Most of the lifestyle improvements were relatively minor compared to donning & doffing soft lenses once in the morning and once at night.

(4) You cannot wear soft contact lenses anymore after LASIK. If you need contact lenses in the future, they'll have to be rigid (eg. gas-permeable). Those suck. It also means you may not be able to take advantage of advances in soft contact lens technology, such as the glucose-sensing lens and the "autofocus" lens. [1]

[1] Disclaimer: I work on these devices. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/16/business/international/nov...

Re: Two years after LASIK eye surgery

#50

Post by jamespo » Fri, Jul 24, 2015, 1:40 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 don't think so. Perhaps you'd better stick with contact lenses.

(I had LASIK and the procedure is not bad at all and over very quickly).