Is LASIK worth the cost and potential risks?

  • Thread starter Galileo
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In summary, the conversation revolves around the topic of getting eye laser surgery. The speaker expresses their frustration with glasses and seeks advice and experiences from others. They mention a specific type of LASIK treatment and the potential risks and costs associated with it. Some individuals share their personal experiences with the surgery, mentioning successful outcomes and cautioning against inexperienced or unreliable providers. The conversation also touches on issues such as night vision and the limitations of the surgery. The overall consensus is to thoroughly research and consult with a trusted optometrist before making a decision on whether to undergo the procedure."
  • #1
Galileo
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I`m strongly considering getting my eyes lasered, because I`m fed up with my glasses.

Are there people here with knowlegde or experience in this area? Or people who have undergone similar treatments? I'd like to know your experiences.

I'd probably go for a LASIK treatment in which they cut a flap in your cornea, laser away, then put and stroke the flap it back into position. The flap will heal and attach to the cornea again. Good as new (according to some advertisers)
But http://web.mac.com/omca/iWeb/ooglaseradvies.info/Lasik%20flap%20does%20not%20attach.html" [Broken] a research (from a more reliable source) showing that the join is very weak and the flap will always remain there, making the eye very vulnerable afterwards.
From Journal of Refractive Surgery Vol. 21 No. 5 September/October 2005 said:
The human corneal stroma typically heals after LASIK in a limited and incomplete fashion; this results in a weak, central and paracentral hypocellular primitive stromal scar that averages 2.4% as strong as normal corneal stroma

My faith in scientific integrity (outside of the exact sciences) has taken a blow recently, so I'd like to hear some expert advice (wrong forum, I know) or testimonials.

And why is there some much difference in prices? Some are € 600,- and other € 3000,- per eye (extremes). I couldn't find much about it. Only that the cheaper companies are much less profit oriented. Less people in commission. They don't drive big expensive cars and the institute hasn't the look like a state-of-the-art science lab (the public view of it anyway, most labs look like basements), no unnecessary plasma screen displays or big marble floors. Can such price difference come from that? All I really care about are my eyes and I believe they are in good hands wherever I go, since such 'medical treatments' are obliged to meet certain standards by law.
 
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  • #2
I know two people that have had LC and both are resorting glasses again after i think three years, two is not a good example but they are the only ones i know of.
 
  • #3
I have a couple of friends who have made it without any problems. But I also have a relative who had to redo the operation three times before it was ok...the doctor said he had increadibly "hard eyes" or something like that...
Anyway, I think in most cases it goes perfectly well. Here the operation usually costs about $1000 per eye.
 
  • #4
I've found lots of sites saying its the best investment you'll ever make (from companies who only care about profit) and lots of sites against it mostly from doctors who are against such 'cosmetic' surgery; don't mess with healthy tissue).
And reading something like http://homepage.mac.com/omca/somca/ten_reasons.pdf" [Broken] will give you second thoughts. The paper refers to results from scientific journals, so it's reliable in that sense, but also very qualitatative: Lots of people experience this, many have that and some even have those. I'd like to see some figures. Ofcourse with thousands of people getting treated there are cases in which something happens or goes wrong, it's a surgery after all, but I can't make a decision unless I know how common it is. The text does make good points overall and I've read testimonials of people experiencing dry eyes, seeing haloes, decreased contrast sensitivity etc. They are being told that normal and will go away, but never have I read of cases where it does go away. I only read that's exactly what companies avoid and concentrate on how well you can read the text on that board over there while applauding the result.
 
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  • #5
My aunt had it about 5 years ago and so far its delivered on its promises. Around here, they have a laser correction procedure that's all laser instead of having to use... *shivers*... the knife. Something about using a laser to create a circle of CO2 bubbles or something.
 
  • #6
One of my friends had it done, but it didn't involve any cutting, just lasers. It has worked well for him. He decided to chance it because his eyesight was getting so bad he couldn't see anything without glasses. He didn't go in expecting to come out with perfect vision, given how bad his eyesight started out...he would have just been happy being able to find his glasses without glasses on. But, he doesn't need any corrective lenses now.

Be careful of hacks offering great prices, but using old equipment and without a lot of experience. There are a lot of them in this field. I think it's best to get loads of references from other people who have had the procedure done to make sure you pick someone reputable. (I'd avoid anyone who offers a coupon in the local paper, "Buy one eye, get the other done free.")
 
  • #7
I hear reports about very poor night vision and needing to still wear glasses. Nothing definitive though.

Man, I would not go into this without heavy research.
 
  • #8
DaveC426913 said:
I hear reports about very poor night vision and needing to still wear glasses. Nothing definitive though.

Man, I would not go into this without heavy research.
I wouldn't recommend it if your eyesight is fairly decent and you're just objecting to wearing glasses with a light prescription. In my friend's case, his vision was just getting worse, and he was pretty close to being legally blind in one eye. He hasn't reported anything about night vision problems, but I've also known a lot of people wearing glasses who report problems with headlight glare on the glasses at night, so at least in terms of night driving, I don't know if that's any worse. But, there's no guarantee your eyes won't keep worsening after the procedure. One should not expect it to be a lifelong escape from having to wear corrective lenses (it might, but it might not). It's more that when you start needing to wear glasses that are so thick and heavy they're hurting your nose, you can at least be "reset" to a lighter prescription.

It also doesn't work for all types of vision problems.

I'd recommend discussing it with your regular optometrist and getting his or her opinion about whether you're a good candidate for the procedure and references of who are the reputable people to go to for the procedure in your area.
 
  • #9
Unless your eyesight is terrible, you would be better staying with eyeglasses. Cutting healthy tissue and risking side-effects and perhaps a botched procedure just isn't worth it. Lasik is better than radial keratotomy for sure, though. A friend of mine had that done and he sees stars in every bright light. Since he is aging, he has to wear glasses again anyway for near objects.

Wearing glasses can be a hassle at times, but I can't tell you how many times my eyes have been protected from damage by the lenses of my glasses, especially when riding my bike. If you have an active lifestyle and like hiking, fishing, etc, you can probably recount at least a few times when you have been whacked in the face by a branch, and your eyes have been sheilded by your lenses. It may seem like a little thing, but I used to work for a very large ophthalmic practice, and I saw some really tragic eye injuries that could have been prevented. As an optician, I used to strongly recommend polycarbonate lenses for children just for this reason. The more commonly-used plastic can shatter into shards, very similar to glass. Polycarbonate, while softer and more prone to scratches has far superior impact resistance.
 
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  • #10
Moonbear said:
Be careful of hacks offering great prices, but using old equipment and without a lot of experience. There are a lot of them in this field. I think it's best to get loads of references from other people who have had the procedure done to make sure you pick someone reputable. (I'd avoid anyone who offers a coupon in the local paper, "Buy one eye, get the other done free.")

The person whos most talked about around here for doing laser eye surgery sure doesn't do it for cheap :biggrin: I think it's something like $2500 per eye... or was it $5000.. And of coures, insurance doesn't cover it...
 
  • #11
Thanks for the replies. After some research I decided to wait and go for contacts.
 
  • #12
Do iiiiiiiiiit
 
  • #13
my dad had it and his vision is now 20/20. That was like 8 years ago I think he hasn't complained since.
 
  • #14
I have a feeling these are all just the 1% stories that everyone tends to exagerate. I only know 1 person who did it so all i have is the 1 good story. From what i hear, it depends who the doctor is and how good the equipment is.
 
  • #15
Galileo said:
Thanks for the replies. After some research I decided to wait and go for contacts.

If you get contacts:

Don't sleep in them!
Don't swim in them !
Throw them away when you are supposed to(if you get disposables).

If you do swim in them, take them out and disinfect them as soon as you can.

Take them out if your eyes are red and irritated.

Clean and disinfect the inside and outside your storage case regularly.

When in doubt take them out!

http://www.college-optometrists.org/index.aspx/pcms/site.Public_Related_Links.Eye_Health_Issues.Acanthamoreba_Keratitis/" [Broken]

See http://archopht.ama-assn.org/" [Broken]
 
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  • #16
Pengwuino said:
I have a feeling these are all just the 1% stories that everyone tends to exagerate. I only know 1 person who did it so all i have is the 1 good story. From what i hear, it depends who the doctor is and how good the equipment is.
For every one good story, you can find one bad story of someone who just needed glasses before the procedure, and came out nearly blind and needing multiple additional surgeries to correct the botched procedure. The equipment is expensive, so I'd be highly suspicious of anyone offering a cheap procedure.
 
  • #17
Moonbear said:
For every one good story, you can find one bad story of someone who just needed glasses before the procedure, and came out nearly blind and needing multiple additional surgeries to correct the botched procedure. The equipment is expensive, so I'd be highly suspicious of anyone offering a cheap procedure.

I don't remember seeing any 50% success rates :grumpy: Stop destroying my hopes!
 
  • #18
Pengwuino said:
I have a feeling these are all just the 1% stories that everyone tends to exagerate. I only know 1 person who did it so all i have is the 1 good story. From what i hear, it depends who the doctor is and how good the equipment is.
Well, even 1% is way too risky for me. That's 1 in 100 people. Considering how many people take these treatments, we're talking about many thousands of complications.
I value my eyes, as should everyone should. So I don't care if it's exaggerated.

If it's true most complications come from treatments by inexperienced staff from cheaper companies, I might do so in the future when I've graduated and can earn some real money.
Fortunately physicists get paid reasonably well (not enough though :).
 
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  • #19
Galileo said:
Well, 1% is way too risky for me. That's 1 in 100 people. Considering how many people take these treatments, we're talking about many thousands of complications.
I value my eyes, as should everyone should. So I don't care if it's exaggerated.

mmm I take bigger risks pulling into traffic... considering only a few of those people end up with worse vision.

But eyesight is one of those big things you rather not leave up to anything but long-shot odds.
 
  • #20
Has anyone here had lasik eye surgery? I have been researching lasik for a few months and I think I am ready for eye surgery. Any suggestions?
 
  • #21
I once built an eye profiling/refraction mapping system for a company that specialised in laser eye surgery to fix botched laser eye surgery.

I don't have any comment about the various companies offering it - but none of the many opthalmic surgeons we spoke to while designing the system would ever wear contact lenses never mind consider surgery!
 

1. Is LASIK surgery safe?

LASIK surgery is generally considered to be a safe procedure with a low risk of complications. However, like any surgery, there are potential risks and side effects that should be discussed with your doctor before proceeding with the surgery.

2. How much does LASIK surgery cost?

The cost of LASIK surgery can vary depending on the provider and location, but it typically ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 per eye. Additional factors such as the type of technology used and any pre-surgery evaluations or post-surgery follow-up appointments may also impact the cost.

3. What are the potential risks and side effects of LASIK surgery?

Some potential risks and side effects of LASIK surgery include dry eyes, halos or glare around lights, overcorrection or undercorrection of vision, and in rare cases, a loss of vision. It is important to discuss these risks with your doctor before deciding if LASIK surgery is right for you.

4. How long does it take to recover from LASIK surgery?

The recovery time for LASIK surgery can vary, but most people are able to resume normal activities within a few days after the procedure. It is important to follow your doctor's instructions for post-surgery care to ensure the best possible outcome.

5. Will LASIK surgery completely eliminate the need for glasses or contacts?

LASIK surgery can greatly reduce the need for glasses or contacts, but it is not guaranteed to completely eliminate the need for them. Some patients may still need to wear glasses or contacts for certain activities or tasks, such as reading or driving at night.

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