Invention to Impact: The story of LASIK eye surgery
new.nsf.gov
new.nsf.gov
Or I'm just projecting because you remind me of me :( my initial LASIK went well, but when I had it corrected years later it turned into a 7 surgery living hell spanning years. It's stabilized as what you described, primarily in my left eye, while weirdly my right eye has more in growth
Now me - I had the surgery in one eye, it wasn't great and I never did the other eye.
Except for completely uncorrected vision, the non-surgery eye was significantly better in all aspects than the surgery eye. (both with correction)
Nobody asks the lifetime of the surgery, but I can tell you after a few years the surgery eye was back to where it started. It will need cataracts earlier. It has halos at night. It has continued to need correction, and now needs more correction than the other eye. So now the non-surgery eye is the best in all respects.
With correction (astigmatism contacts), the non-surgery eye has more immediate focusing, less glare, and better corrected vision than the surgery eye.
oh wait, I couldn't get correction of the surgery eye when it started needing it, since contacts were too thin.
In my specific case, I couldn't wear glasses because the low correction of the surgery eye could not work with the high correction in the non-surgery eye. (two different image sizes, brain couldn't put them together)
If I had known, I would have asked two questions:
- will I get the best corrected vision from the surgery or from no surgery + contact lenses.
(the doctors typically try to compare no correction pre surgery to no correction post surgery, which is ridiculous)
- what will happen to my eyes in 5 years, 10 years, etc
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASIK
How many of those end up with life-altering complications? For being a website trying to highlight how problematic something is, it oddly is missing a bunch of data to back it up.
Says it right there?
Tears are a crucial part of the vision. With less tears, the eye has worse vision. So one can end in a paradoxical situation where they have a better vision in theory (and tests!), but in practice, they may see considerably worse. And there's nothing one can do - eye drops only last a short amount of time.
I had considerable eye dryness that improved over several (5+) years, which is almost entirely recovered. A couple of years ago I've tried contacts and they wouldn't hold (it wasn't the case pre-op).
The (licensed) doctor was a liar (about the risks), and they actually didn't care about me post-op.
I couldn't go outside for months. I'd wear double sunglasses and a hat. I'd just cover myself completely. I couldn't open my eyes to see, it was blindly bright. I couldn't use an oven, the hot air instantly and painfully burned the moment I'd open the over door. Etc.
It's the second worse thing of my life
People seem to google "lasik best prices" then wonder why their experience sucks?
Don't go for the first google links when researching something, avoid sensationalistic BS
But to your point: I will assume the HN who posted here was smart, and that the procedure was performed by a licensed professional within a standard risk profile, using equipment that was functioning as expected.
> within a standard risk profile
Well, not following post-op guidelines takes it out of the risk profile, still, it is good to have a second opinion and understanding the risks for your case
> laser used had a smaller diameter than my lenses
Given that it was 20 yrs ago it is possible that this was an effect that was not well known and it is better controlled today.
It is very possible that this result would have been better with modern equipment and techniques (especially if this was not bladeless Lasik) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31353955/
This was known at the time. If you think about it, it's an obvious effect if you can't correct all of the surface that will admit light in. I had a great outcome with my eye surgery from around that time, with my vision needing no correction for 20 years now. However I distinctly recall the doctor saying that if some features were a bit wider (iirc iris), then his equipment wouldn't be viable for me. I feel strongly that the poster who had this situation had an unethical doctor.
I know lots of people who've gotten LASIK or PRK, and nobody I know personally has regretted it. I only see the horror stories online.
I myself have gotten LASIK, and have had no issues outside the original healing period, except a slight tendency towards dry eyes in the morning, but it's mild.
I can without a doubt say it has been the best money I've ever spent. I spend a lot of time outdoors and hike and camp. Doing that with glasses or contacts absolutely sucks. Either your glasses get finger oil on them, or your contacts get some dirt and you have to take them out (but first you have to find clean water to wash your hands). I'm so much happier now.
Since then, a lot of friends and family members have also undergone the procedure, and none of them have had any problems, and all of them are extremely happy with the results.
edit: I had super dry eyes for the first 2-3 or so months (specially since I'm staring at the monitor all day), but that was expected and I was told about it by the doctor. Eye drops did the trick, and it went away completely after 6 months.
Now I have perfect vision, and everyone I personal know that has had LASIK or PRK have the same story. Bad vision, to good vision, no complications. Everyone I know (including my optometrist) says they'd do it again in a heartbeat.
My lasik in 2008 went perfect. My 2014 touch up turned into a living hell 2014-2018 and I still have issues. But at least I can look at a backlit display again, go outside, use the oven, ........
It's fun to feel good about something turning out well. It's called luck. Don't take it to mean the internet is FUD.
Terrible things really do happen and after 7 surgeries and 4 corneal surgeon specialists across 3 states I am calling absolute bullshit on the suggestion that this is rare. They told me it's not rare. The rarity is it not being fixed after 7 surgeries.
Just to drive this home. They glued my flap down. It felt like a dagger was in my eye. I was screaming. They told me this was normal -- only after the surgery. AND IT FAILED. I had to do it again. And then they sutured it down instead.
I have pics from an iPhone where you can see the stitches popping out of my eyeball
...ugh. Anyway. I'm glad it went well for you. BUT YOU ARE LUCKY. No one should do this unless they understand the risks. I absolutely did not. They repeatedly told me they could fix it and failed.
(I don't mean to be argumentative. It's like a PTSD fueled public service announcement..)
Buying them online at the cheapest price can lower your cost significantly (like up to 80%+ - the price you pay at nation-wide stores is often very overpriced compared to online prices).
Edit: I misremembered, he got PRK, but he does talk about consequences of both methods.
My friends I know who got LASIK had low/medium myopia and didn't end up with long-lasting side effects like Taran. And the starbursts are much smaller and less noticeable in size.
> LASIK has an excellent safety profile with a low complication rate. In fact, LASIK is one of the safest elective surgical procedures available today, with a complication rate estimated to be less than 1%.
Also LASIK isn’t always going to correct vision to 20/20. Some people end up close.
Also read the wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_eye_syndrome
Keratoconus has a strong genetic component. And should have been screened (using the corneal scan) prior to surgery
But of course a surface that is frail is going to become more frail after surgery
I am tempted to get a contact lense inserted into one eye to correct it.
I think I developed it as due to Lasik, but it only occurred in my left eye. My right eye is still good.
Nothing is as safe as a spectacles, which by their nature are likely somewhat protective.
The risks of long term contact lens wear and a laser vision correction procedure (PRK/LASIK/SMILE) are closer. Contact lenses have a non zero risk of serious complications including infection. The risk is much higher with extended wear contacts that are worn overnight. Daily disposables are the safest contact lens option.
The risk of serious complications with laser eye surgery are non zero but low if those who are unsuitable are excluded after examination and imaging.
Recovery was very quick. I was 20/40 a few hours after surgery and 20/15 the following day (could have worked at computer, but took the day off). Pretty intense dry eyes initially, but eye drops helped and this improved over next couple months.
10 months later, vision is still great (though I expect my eyes to continue their normal progression). Halo-ing effects at night are stronger than I expected (believe they're related to pupil size + hole in center of lens), but I've mostly learned to ignore it (I also now prefer not to drive at night). Minor dry eyes but might try NAC supplement as suggested elsewhere in discussion.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat (hated dealing with contacts on camping trips) but wish I'd been more informed of halo-ing risks.
My wife went from "can't read the big E on the eye chart" to only using readers for very tiny print. She had different prescriptions put in each eye, for different distances. It took her brain a little while to sort all that out, but she doesn't notice it anymore.
We both see concentric halos around light points (a side effect of the bifocal and trifocal lenses, I think), but eventually your brain edits those out and you don't notice them unless you try.
I'm in the U.S. and insurance did not cover them. I think we each paid around $7K.
All in all, they were a good buy and I would recommend the procedure. They may not be cost effective, but the quality of life change is amazing.
Once the docs I know start doing it for themselves or their family, then I’ll consider it.
I've had no issues whatsoever in all these years except a slight increase in the halo effect at night just recently.
My doctor was one of the early researchers in lasik and still does the procedure today.
We paid $2500 per eye.
I've also tried red light therapy for the eyes. It seems to work a little too but this is more subjective for me.
I think the best thing would be to live somewhere where its sunny all the time and be outside for the first rays of sunlight.