Hacker News Reader

Comment by dinfinity | Hacker News Reader

Unsure if this will work for your case, but I am _very_ happy with my implanted contact lenses. They sit behind my iris and optically function as normal contact lenses. No hassle, just a straight up body upgrade.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intraocular_lens

I was very surprised that this is not a more common thing to hear about amongst people with bad eyesight. Laser correction sucks in comparison, with more risks of complications, generally worse vision outcomes, longer recovery, etc. The lens implantation process is even undoable and as safe as cataract surgery which has been done since the 1970s.

View on HN

Honestly, I'm absolutely terrified of doing anything that might damage my eyesight. I know the common procedures (i.e. Lasik) have come a long way in the last two decades and are very low risk, but they are not zero risk. I won't even wear contact lenses, I long ago fully committed to glasses. That type of procedure doesn't fit my risk tolerance.

I understand the hesitation, but that's the thing about this: It's even simpler than cataract surgery (where they actually _replace_ your own lenses instead of just flopping one in front of it), which is very very common, and very very safe.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_cataract_surgery

IIRC the chance of complications for Lasik is about 10x that of the one for intraocular lens implantation. The nature of the complications for the latter is also more along the lines of "an eye infection for a month" instead of something permanent.

I definitely suggest researching it (and not mentally lumping it in with Lasik, because they are quite different). Cheesy, but my only regret is not having done it years sooner.

>cataract surgery, which is very very common, and very very safe.

Ever since my elderly friend had cataract surgery (5 years ago) she finds bright light painful, so she spends less time outdoors.

> so she spends less time outdoors

Instead of just wearing shades? That's silly.

I perpetually rub/touch my eyes. My big fear around these surgeries is weakening a structure such that damage is more likely.

you need to stop, that can cause keratokonus

try bandaids on your fingers, it takes 21 days to form a habit. buy a few big boxes, 30 bandaids a day is cheaper than a beer

I would still never bifocals or at least reading glasses. Once you reach around 45 everyone day. Lasix probably makes you need them sooner (but we are talking at most a couple years, not very significant)

I get my glasses in ANSI rated safety glasses so wearing glasses all the time doubles as protection from all the things that could get in my eyes. This is useful if you have hobbies where that is a worry, though for most people you are fine without.

> I would still never bifocals or at least reading glasses. Once you reach around 45 everyone day.

What are the rest of the words? Or the auto'correct'-corrections?

You would still wear* and after 45 everyone does* perhaps?

Sigh too late to edit anymore.

never should have been need

Lasik et al are elective surgery on a critical organ.

>I won't even wear contact lenses, I long ago fully committed to glasses. That type of procedure doesn't fit my risk tolerance.

I feel similarly, but as the thickness of my glasses increases as I age, I'm starting to consider Lasik or similar. If I already had cataracts, implanted lenses as part of the cataract removal would be a non-brainer.

In my case, I've had multiple ophthalmologists recommend against getting IOLs until I'm much, much older, as the risk of side affects (specifically retinal detachment) outweighs the benefit I would get from having them.

I still dream of being able to see first thing when I wake up.

I did the same more than 10 years ago, still perfect vision. It did take around 15 minutes for each eye, with 2 weeks between and 10-15 minutes recovery time

Reply on news.ycombinator.com