Laser Eye Surgery

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Mon 22 Nov 2004 08:20
Laser Eye Surgery - top turkey
Hi all.

I wondered if people had any experiences of laser eye surgery and how, in particular, you found driving post surgery? I'm really short sighted (around -6.75) and would love to have laser surgery to dispose of the glasses for good.

I commute around 450 miles per week so would really find other people's experiences of driving post surgery a great help.

Cheers.

TT
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 09:00
Laser Eye Surgery - teabelly
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2937512.stm

I'd think twice before even considering it. If your eyesight isn't deteriorating then you will be safer using glasses. If you are really short sighted then the surgery may just alter your prescription so you just need weaker lenses in your glasses rather than removing the short sightedness altogether.
teabelly
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 09:30
Laser Eye Surgery - Sprice
I had LASIK September 2003, (with Optimax in Bristol) and it was the best money I ever spent. The check up was the day after the 'operation' which I drove to (about 120 mile round trip)with totally unaided vision! My eyesight is now perfect and I would recommend it to anyone! (Obviously there are risks, the risk of worse sight, infection, poor night vision and even total blindness, which you have to sign a waiver for)
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 09:34
Laser Eye Surgery - Sprice
Oh yeah, -6.75 will be easily corrected. I was -4.00, but they can treat up to -11 with lasik, and about -20.00 with other methods. Theres probably loads of web-sights (ha ha) about this, and they WONT treat you if youre unsuitabe. I was a borderline case, the thickness of my corneas was just in the range of treatment, and I mean just.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 10:12
Laser Eye Surgery - David Horn
Close friend was -12. Laser surgery was out of the question, but recently he had an operation where his lenses (in the eye) were removed and replaced with a plastic counterpart. He now has almost perfect vision, and doesn't need glasses to drive any more.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 11:03
Laser Eye Surgery - THe Growler
I have been considering this, however my understanding is it will not correct the effects of aging, but rather existing vision defects?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 11:07
Laser Eye Surgery - J Bonington Jagworth
Don't, Growler. It involves planing your cornea (effectively turning it into a corrective lens) which your body will attempt to repair, albeit slowly. I've worn glasses for over 40 years with no problems, once I discovered the importance of lightness!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 11:09
Laser Eye Surgery - J Bonington Jagworth
"an operation where his lenses (in the eye) were removed and replaced with a plastic counterpart"

That sounds a much better solution for serious cases.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 12:05
Laser Eye Surgery - Clanger
My chum's wife had laser surgery to correct -4.00 ish myopia and has been delighted. Was back to normal life immediately. Had to be restrained from punching me when I said she was better-looking with glasses on!
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 12:40
Laser Eye Surgery - Wally Zebon
Laser surgery has been on my wish list for a long time now, but with a wedding in the pipeline and a house to buy, I just can't afford it at the moment. I have -7.5 and -8.5 eyes and wear contact lenses. I wore glasses for 18 years before vanity got the better of me and I've been wearing contacts for over 11 years now.

I can't understand how people who wear glasses can say that they don't effect their driving. They have the ability get dirty or slip off very easily. Contacts can also fall out admittedly, but a simple blink cleans them instantly. On top of all this, with glasses your vision is only good straight ahead. Peripheral vision is non-existant.

Contacts are not everyone's cup of tea. They can be uncomfortable at times, and unless regularly checked can lead to long term problems. But if you get your eyes serviced regularly, you should never have any problems to speak of.
A bit like a car really.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 13:06
Laser Eye Surgery - Adam {P}
Just to counter that argument WZ, I wear glasses and I have to say, driving wise, they don't bother me at all. I've almost gone for contacts myself but all my mates think I suit glasses better.

I can categorically state that my driving is no different than to how it would be without glasses (and some sort of corrective aid in their place obviously). Also, peripherally, my vision isn't affected; whether it's down to the design of my specs or not I don't know but try as I might, I cannot roll my eyes to the side far enough to avoid seeing through the lense. Up and down is a different matter but that's if I really really try to look up and in the car, all I'd see is the ceiling anyway.
--
Adam
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 14:17
Laser Eye Surgery - Bromptonaut
I can't understand how people who wear glasses can say that
they don't effect their driving. They have the ability get
dirty or slip off very easily. Contacts can also fall
out admittedly, but a simple blink cleans them instantly. On
top of all this, with glasses your vision is only good
straight ahead. Peripheral vision is non-existant.


Worn glasses longer than I have been driving. No problem with peripheral vision, though probably learned to move head more than I would otherwise. Most of the difficulty with specs is down the current fashion for letterbox lenses, far too restrictive. Stick with teardrop/aviator style and wait for fashion to come round again!!.

SWMBO swears by single use contacts, but admits her vision is not quite as good as in her specs.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 13:13
Laser Eye Surgery - pdc {P}
I thought that laser correction screwed your night vision.

to the person who posted about glasses falling off.

I've had a contact lense fall out when driving. couldn't find it, had no glasses with me, but fortunately was about 1 mile from home. It wasn't fun, nor no doubt safe, but I made it home.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 14:37
Laser Eye Surgery - doctorchris
When they first started to offer this on a private basis at our local eye infirmary they offered the procedure free to us local GP's. Don't think I've met anyone yet who took up the offer. The procedure just has not been around long enough to be sure of its very longterm safety. There have also been cases of severe and probably permanent damage to patients' eyesight and however rare, is it worth the risk?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 22 Nov 2004 15:58
Laser Eye Surgery - machika
Having been short sighted since I was 10 years old, I am totally at ease with glasses and I have never really thought it worth the risk of undergoing surgery. The best opthalmic surgeon I have ever met, told me never to let the 'evil' thought of wearing contact lenses cross my mind (eyes too dry) and never to change my glasses unless absolutely necessary (he wore glasses himself).

Lots of progress has been made with lenses for glasses in recent years, to produce much lighter lenses with anti-reflective coatings, etc., so the problems of being dazzled by lights is now much reduced.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 23 Nov 2004 13:12
Laser Eye Surgery - expat
I have been shortsighted and have worn glasses since I was 6. My opthalmologist advised me never to even consider surgery. Her opinion was backed up by the experience of a lady at work. She had the surgery for vanity reasons. It was fine and she was without glasses for several years however as she got older her eyes aged and now she is back in glasses again. Nobody will ever get my consent to operate on my eyes while they can see anything at all!

As far as letter box sized lenses are concerned they are a blessing to those of us who need very powerful and thus very heavy lenses. The TV screen sized frames were terrible for me despite plastic lenses and high density lenses. The worst of it was that it was very hard to buy any other kind. I got to the stage of considering a trip to India in the hope that they would still be in a time warp and sell Gandhi style frames! Luckily the fashion changed before that.

One big problem with short sightedness is the deterioration of your peripheral vision. Missing something coming out a side street or from the bushes in the dark could cause a serious road accident.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 23 Nov 2004 23:49
Laser Eye Surgery - malteser
When you talk about removing one's original lens & replacing with an artificial one, it sounds mighty similar to a cararact operation!
I had a cataract op. in January this year and the sight in that eye is now good enough for me to drive "sin gafas".(specs in UK speak)
It sounds scary, but the op involves "dissolving" your duff lens with ultrasound, slurping out the resulting goo and replacing with a new plastic lens. Absolutely no pain during the proceedure and no stitches as the incision in the eye is so small. Slight discomfort for a week whilst healing. Result - magic!
I can't wait to have the other eye done now and will then only need glasses for reading smallish print. All free too, under the reciprocal health agreements for pensionistas between
E. U. countries.
Viva Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella!
--
Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
Reply | Report as offensive | Link