Have you or would you?

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2003

My hubby has had laser surgery for detached retinas four times for which he has not regained vision much. He is legally blind in that eye now. The Dr. told him that did the laser treatments that cataracts will come to all these people getting these treatments. He is already forming a cataract in that eye after one year. Not enough studies are done on the long term effects yet.

I had a friend who had both eyes done at once. She got infections, cysts in one eye. She is legally blind in that eye now after laser surgery.

I had several friends who are now 20/20 vision. Gamble of the dice I guess.

I have worn glasses since I was 8. I now go between contacts and glasss. I would like to get it done but know I do not want to end up worse than I was before the laser.

renerian

BrandieRNq · Oct 24, 2003

I have had the surgery and am VERY pleased...it changes your life. I have 20/20 vision both eyes now. I can SEE my legs in the shower to shave! I can see the alarm clock time when I wake up in the middle of the night. I can watch TV and SEE it as I'm falling asleep (without glasses on!! ha ha! (don't miss that, too many broken pairs!)) I can see the tele monitors at work sitting at the nurses station 15 feet away (and tell you the rhythm!) Absolutely incredible in my opinion. I can sit in the sun and see the incredible world without a serious eyeglass "glare". The procedure was not bad, recovery was easy...the worst part is the multiple eye doc visits post op...1 day after, 1 month after, 3 months after...etc. DO IT!!! You won't be sorry...I would have paid 4 times what I had to to have it done.

Ms. Pomfrey · Oct 24, 2003

I've worn glasses since I was 9 years old, and finally had LASIK surgery at the age of 36. I still sometimes find myself reaching for my glasses in the morning, or trying to take them off when I go to wash my face. :)

I like not having to deal with contacts, and I would worry about having contact lenses in for long nursing shifts. My eyesight is not perfect, but it wasn't with glasses, either. I see "starbursts" and halos around lights at night, which is common with this surgery. It will have been a year in January since I had the procedure.

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2003

I already have halos and starbursts LOL without the surgery. I have very poor vision with horrible astigmatism.

stella123 rn · Oct 24, 2003

I had lasik a couple of months ago. It is great!! I love it!!

allnurses Guide · Oct 24, 2003

I didn't vote because my choice wasn't there:

I haven't had it and I'm not sure I would.

I'll keep reading though.

steph

deanaRN · Oct 24, 2003

I had PRK done about 5 years ago. FANTASTIC results! I had light sensitivity & halos for about 6 months or so. I also needed artificial tears for a few months. It was the best decision I have ever made! I was too chicken to do lasik though! PRK seemed much less risky, less chance for infection, etc.

sjoe · Oct 24, 2003

From my research on the topic:

1) there are a number of common and unpleasant side effects, from mild to serious. (A google search will describe them as will posts to similar threads on this BB, if you want more detail.) The new "custom" laser surgery is said to have fewer of these SE (and of course it costs more--somewhere around $5K for both eyes).

2) every practitioner I spoke with (3 in this area) said that for people like myself with strong corrections, they would perform this procedure BUT correct just short of where I needed it, since overcorrection is not reversible and they never know exactly what the situation will be after healing (again, for people with strong corrections). THEN, after healing (meanwhile I would have to get new eyeglasses for this part-way level of correction) they can perform the procedure a second time, this time having to make only slight corrections, to bring my eyesight to where it belongs (approaching, perhaps, 20/20). HOWEVER, I would have to pay them for both procedures, not to mention an extra temporary pair of eyeglasses, making the cost prohibitive--nearly twice the advertised cost. AND even then, they didn't know whether I would be able to go without eyeglasses entirely (which means possibly still another pair of eyeglasses) AND I would still be stuck with wearing glasses--avoiding which was my reason to have the surgery in the first place!

My analysis at this point, unless one has rather good vision already and really does not want to wear glasses or contacts, the procedure "ain't yet ready for prime time."

renerian, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2003

Good point joe. I also had several friends who had the procedure done that still need reading glasses.

renerian

nurseygrrl, LPN · Oct 24, 2003

I may have it someday. I didn't vote either like Stevielynn because my choice wasn't there. I just recently had to get driving glasses, but that's it. If my vision gets worse and I need glasses all the time, I may have it.

stella123 rn · Oct 24, 2003

I do not care if I need reading glasses someday. It is better than not even being able to see the alarm clock when you awake.

As for the side affects. As with any surgery there are going to be extremes. The majority of the people just have scrathy eyes and need to use lots of eye drops. Not really that bad.

Joe it sounds like you have a unique situation. My doctor only charges 100$ an eye for the second time around.

Have you or would you?

Have you or would you ever have corrective eye surgery?