the downside of LASIK

[SarahC]

i've worn glasses since i was 9, and i can't imagine not wearing them... they're part of who i am i think. i can see how the surgery might be useful if you have to work in a very labor intensive job where you're upside or something for long periods of time like my dad and his friend who work on air conditioners...my dad's friend actually had it done a year or 2 ago, and i don't think he's had any major issues other than he has to carry eye drops with him.

[moxiebean]

I've always had an irrational fear of bees flying into my eyes so with glasses I got that covered...

 

...and I think I look damn good in glasses.

[SeattleC]

Some people can't wear contacts because of the state of their eyes (me, for instance), and I understand that at least some of those people are also ineligible for LASIK because of that condition. Can someone else tell me whether that's ALL people, or just some? Because for glasses-wearing folk who can't wear contacts but ARE eligible for LASIK, and are active enough that glasses are prohibitive, well, that's another no-brainer.

 

Have you recently confirmed that even with newer contact designs you can't wear them? Otherwise it may be worth another try. The ability to correct for astigmatism and improved permeability has made a huge difference in recent years. If not for daily use, being able to wear them for outdoor activities is still worth having some around for (if they'll work).

 

Ain't doing LASIK, no way...

[tugmoose]

Had it 2 years ago. Love it.

[Nobody Girl]

To echo SarahC: I've had glasses since second grade. As inconvenient as they are sometimes, it would be so weird to not wear them. That, and even before I saw this thread, I was terrified that the doctor would screw up the surgery.

[cryptique]

Have you recently confirmed that even with newer contact designs you can't wear them? Otherwise it may be worth another try. The ability to correct for astigmatism and improved permeability has made a huge difference in recent years. If not for daily use, being able to wear them for outdoor activities is still worth having some around for (if they'll work).

This is true, FWIW. Due to extremely dry eyes (probably stemming from an Accutane prescription when I was a teenager), I couldn't wear contacts on an everyday basis for about twenty years, until the technology evolved sufficiently. I now wear Air Optix for astigmatism. It's a new material that I can keep on my eye all day, and I don't even use drops to keep them moist (though there are times that I probably should).

 

I've been much happier since becoming a full-time contact lens wearer again. I never minded my glasses all that much -- or had made peace with them, anyway -- but they were just inconvenient enough that I haven't missed them.

[jenbobblehead]

I have my annual eye check up on Tuesday and I'm going to talk to her about the new astigmatism contacts. I cannot tell you how much i hate wearing my glasses all the time. It really sucks to be so blind that if my glasses broke or i somehow lost them I'd actually have to call someone to either find them, or bring me home.

 

What about RK surgery? how is that different from Lasiks and is it safer?

[cryptique]

I don't really know much about RK. I believe it's an older procedure than LASIK (I remember people getting RK years before I'd even heard of LASIK). The Wikipedia page might answer some of your questions. Apparently it's not done with lasers.

[Guest Speed Racer]

Have you recently confirmed that even with newer contact designs you can't wear them?

 

Funny you should say that. The first thing my eye doctor said to me this fall was, "Are you satisfied wearing glasses?" When I replied yes he laughed and replied, "Good, because you're not wearing contacts any time soon!" Honestly, I've never really inquired about contacts because the quality of my vision without glasses is alright. I've often compared it to driving with the parking brake on; I can do it, but I can tell that something's wrong. That, and when my friend with contacts gets a bug in his eye while cycling it's a lot more of a hassle than when I do.

[bleedorange]

This is true, FWIW. Due to extremely dry eyes (probably stemming from an Accutane prescription when I was a teenager), I couldn't wear contacts on an everyday basis for about twenty years, until the technology evolved sufficiently. I now wear Air Optix for astigmatism. It's a new material that I can keep on my eye all day, and I don't even use drops to keep them moist (though there are times that I probably should).

 

I've been much happier since becoming a full-time contact lens wearer again. I never minded my glasses all that much -- or had made peace with them, anyway -- but they were just inconvenient enough that I haven't missed them.

 

Are those fairly new? I switched to glasses full-time a few years ago because my eyes would start to bother me late in the day and I hated dealing with drops. Plus, my night vision while driving seemed better with glasses.

[cryptique]

I think they're new as of about two years ago? Three maximum?

 

My optometrist participated (as a prescriber) in an initial trial of those lenses that occurred before the manufacturer figured out how to mass-produce them. I had them before they went on the market, and then it was another several months before they were widely available, because there were issues with getting production up and running. I don't believe they were widely available before 2008, but I might be off by a year.