Is laser eye surgery worth it??
Question: I am very very short sighted, cant see further than my nose without my glasses or lenses. I have heared mixed reports about the safety of this surgery. Has anyone had it done? Did it hurt? Did it work? would you reccomended it to others if you have?
Answers: I just had PRK a couple of weeks ago. I was like you...couldn't see 6 inches in front of my face.
As with ANY surgery, there are risks and benefits to it. The better educated/experienced the surgeon is, the better the technology, and keeping in step with postoperative instructions are the keys to limiting the risks. I chose my surgeon on educational background, experience with the cornea (happened to be my surgeon's focus all through his residency and fellowship, and he is also a professor of the cornea, it's anatomy, pathology, and surgery at a medical school in my region)...and didn't focus on the cost. I felt like I was in VERY good hands because of his knowledge and experience.
It didn't hurt at all during the procedure. They use numbing eyedrops that work within seconds...gave them to me prior to positioning me in line with the laser. I was a little uncomfortable for a few days during the healing (very normal...and quite tolerable with the medications they gave me for the discomfort and pain).
So far so good in working! I had my last postop appointment 5 days ago, and measuring 20/30 in my right eye and 20/20 in my left...and my corneas are still healing. My surgeon said that my vision should be stabilized at about the 3 month mark, and maximum improvement within 6 months...but I tell you...if I do not improve any more...I'm very happy...I can see road signs, my computer, the TV, my kids playing in the backyard...all without contacts or glasses for the first time in my life.
I would recommend that anyone INTERESTED in finding out if they are a candidate to research the procedures (there are more than one), research your surgeons, and have a consultation. Some people are not candidates because of preexisting corneal conditions, glaucoma, and some medical conditions or take certain medications. The only way to find this out is to have a thorough dilated exam.
The link below will take you to a list of the different disorders and what each technology and approach can be used for each. The articles have a lot of information packed into them...including the risks, benefits, alternatives, contraindications (conditions that prohibit the surgery), and studied outcomes. I used the articles for myopia and PRK and LASIK and wrote down questions for my consult. My surgeon gave me answers that did correspond to research that I had done.
I would not go to another country to have this done (the travel costs alone would make it so not worth it), and to me, the investment I made will pay for itself within 6 years based on the costs of my glasses and contacts.
I know that once I hit my 40s, I will probably need reading glasses, but that is so minor compared to the strengths of my contacts and glasses...but when you think about it, the majority of the population needs reading glasses...whether they have had glasses during their younger years or not...once they enter their 40s-50s. and I am saving a pair of my frames that I really like just for that when the time comes.
Good luck! And base your decisions on your research...yes, there are horror stories...I work for an ophthalmology clinic with a corneal specialist in the office...and I have seen horror stories...but the few cases that I have seen, the patient got it done when there were preexisting corneal conditions or glaucoma (the worst case I saw, the patient had a super strong family history of glaucoma...and had it themselves...not a candidate for the surgery...at all) and the rest were resultant from noncompliance of the postoperative drops or a surgeon who did not know what they were doing.
Overall, the surgery is safer today than it was 10 years ago due to improvements in the technology and better, more experienced surgeons...just check thoroughly your doctors, and follow your postop instructions to the letter.
My friend was very short sighted and she had it done. She said it was painless and the best thing she has ever done
theres nothing wrong with wearing lenses or glasses, or is it vanity your considering treatment, you can keep upgraning glasses and lenses, you cant keep having your eyes lasered
It's expensive but worth it, it doesn't hurt, although if you are quite squemish it's nice very nice because they tell you exactly what they are doing...and now I'm just going to burn your cornea...but it doesn't hurt. Afterwards your eyes water like hell.
One of my work colleagues had it done a few weeks ago and she is thrilled with the results. She did end up having to book an extra couple of days off work as I think it was a bit more painful than she expected but after that she was absolutely fine and was extremely pleased with the results.
Go for it I would say
Hell yes! Best £1,000 I ever spent. ( years on, I have perfect eyesight (was a -4 and a -4.5).
Some discomfort for the first few days but, talking to people who've had it done since, that seems to be much better now. Even with the pain, still worth it.
I have heard that it does work very well, but I have also heard that by the age of 40 you would need glasses for reading. A friend of mine was looking into it earlier this year.
I haven't had it because I can't afford it and the insurance doesn't cover it.
Even if I did have the money, I'm not sure if I would do it. I've read that people with progressive myopia (i.e. most of them) will benefit from the surgery only temporarily (2-3 years). Then they will have to go back to eyeglasses, albeit with lower power.
Laser eye surgery is recommended for people with very short eyesight, so it might be the right choice for you nonetheless.
I have not had surgery, but I know many people who have, and from what they have told me, it is not a painful procedure. It is very quick, with a fairly quick recovery. Whether or not it is worth is depends on what you decide. if your vision is as bad as you say it is, then yes, it would beneficial to go ahead with surgery, but you have to make that decision for yourself. Good luck!!
Laser eye surgery is very safe nowadays. My cousin got her dental implants and lasik surgery in India by a company called Indian Health Guru Consultants. The Price for dental and lasik surgery is very less in India. She paid 25% of the price she was quoted in America.
Indian Health Guru Consultants is very famous in India They arrange Dental surgery, jaw surgery, lasik eye surgery, Dental Implants etc for foreign patients in India. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and magazines- about their patient stories.They arrange financing for USA, Canadian, UK and other international patients who plan to have surgery abroad for low cost, as dental and eye surgery is not covered by insurance. They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. There are huge cost savings. As a doctor I personally believe that surgery can be easily handled in India, as the quality of healthcare available In India is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.
http://www.indianhealthguru.com
Hope this helps.
Depends how much glasses bother you.
LASIK eye surgery is generally considered to be a safe and effective method of treating near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism and millions of people undergo this procedure every year throughout the world.
No surgery is without risks or complications, however, and this must be understood and accepted before making the decision.
The most common side effects of LASIK eye surgery are dry eyes and glare. The incidence of these are debated between proponents and opponents of the surgery. The FDA considers the risks to be low enough to approve the technology required for LASIK (microkeratomes, excimer lasers, etc.)
Safety can be increased by selecting a skilled surgeon using the best technology. Studies show that experience is one of the most important factors in selecting a surgeon.
There is a really good San Diego Lasik website that has lots of info and some very informative Lasik articles. See the links below:
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/...
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/...
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/...
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/...
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/...
http://www.inkjet-cartridge-source.com
I brother-in-law had it done. He doesn't wear glasses anymore, but he says his vision still isn't perfect. He's just too vain to put on a lower prescription eyeglass.
Answers: I just had PRK a couple of weeks ago. I was like you...couldn't see 6 inches in front of my face.
As with ANY surgery, there are risks and benefits to it. The better educated/experienced the surgeon is, the better the technology, and keeping in step with postoperative instructions are the keys to limiting the risks. I chose my surgeon on educational background, experience with the cornea (happened to be my surgeon's focus all through his residency and fellowship, and he is also a professor of the cornea, it's anatomy, pathology, and surgery at a medical school in my region)...and didn't focus on the cost. I felt like I was in VERY good hands because of his knowledge and experience.
It didn't hurt at all during the procedure. They use numbing eyedrops that work within seconds...gave them to me prior to positioning me in line with the laser. I was a little uncomfortable for a few days during the healing (very normal...and quite tolerable with the medications they gave me for the discomfort and pain).
So far so good in working! I had my last postop appointment 5 days ago, and measuring 20/30 in my right eye and 20/20 in my left...and my corneas are still healing. My surgeon said that my vision should be stabilized at about the 3 month mark, and maximum improvement within 6 months...but I tell you...if I do not improve any more...I'm very happy...I can see road signs, my computer, the TV, my kids playing in the backyard...all without contacts or glasses for the first time in my life.
I would recommend that anyone INTERESTED in finding out if they are a candidate to research the procedures (there are more than one), research your surgeons, and have a consultation. Some people are not candidates because of preexisting corneal conditions, glaucoma, and some medical conditions or take certain medications. The only way to find this out is to have a thorough dilated exam.
The link below will take you to a list of the different disorders and what each technology and approach can be used for each. The articles have a lot of information packed into them...including the risks, benefits, alternatives, contraindications (conditions that prohibit the surgery), and studied outcomes. I used the articles for myopia and PRK and LASIK and wrote down questions for my consult. My surgeon gave me answers that did correspond to research that I had done.
I would not go to another country to have this done (the travel costs alone would make it so not worth it), and to me, the investment I made will pay for itself within 6 years based on the costs of my glasses and contacts.
I know that once I hit my 40s, I will probably need reading glasses, but that is so minor compared to the strengths of my contacts and glasses...but when you think about it, the majority of the population needs reading glasses...whether they have had glasses during their younger years or not...once they enter their 40s-50s. and I am saving a pair of my frames that I really like just for that when the time comes.
Good luck! And base your decisions on your research...yes, there are horror stories...I work for an ophthalmology clinic with a corneal specialist in the office...and I have seen horror stories...but the few cases that I have seen, the patient got it done when there were preexisting corneal conditions or glaucoma (the worst case I saw, the patient had a super strong family history of glaucoma...and had it themselves...not a candidate for the surgery...at all) and the rest were resultant from noncompliance of the postoperative drops or a surgeon who did not know what they were doing.
Overall, the surgery is safer today than it was 10 years ago due to improvements in the technology and better, more experienced surgeons...just check thoroughly your doctors, and follow your postop instructions to the letter.
My friend was very short sighted and she had it done. She said it was painless and the best thing she has ever done
theres nothing wrong with wearing lenses or glasses, or is it vanity your considering treatment, you can keep upgraning glasses and lenses, you cant keep having your eyes lasered
It's expensive but worth it, it doesn't hurt, although if you are quite squemish it's nice very nice because they tell you exactly what they are doing...and now I'm just going to burn your cornea...but it doesn't hurt. Afterwards your eyes water like hell.
One of my work colleagues had it done a few weeks ago and she is thrilled with the results. She did end up having to book an extra couple of days off work as I think it was a bit more painful than she expected but after that she was absolutely fine and was extremely pleased with the results.
Go for it I would say
Hell yes! Best £1,000 I ever spent. ( years on, I have perfect eyesight (was a -4 and a -4.5).
Some discomfort for the first few days but, talking to people who've had it done since, that seems to be much better now. Even with the pain, still worth it.
I have heard that it does work very well, but I have also heard that by the age of 40 you would need glasses for reading. A friend of mine was looking into it earlier this year.
I haven't had it because I can't afford it and the insurance doesn't cover it.
Even if I did have the money, I'm not sure if I would do it. I've read that people with progressive myopia (i.e. most of them) will benefit from the surgery only temporarily (2-3 years). Then they will have to go back to eyeglasses, albeit with lower power.
Laser eye surgery is recommended for people with very short eyesight, so it might be the right choice for you nonetheless.
I have not had surgery, but I know many people who have, and from what they have told me, it is not a painful procedure. It is very quick, with a fairly quick recovery. Whether or not it is worth is depends on what you decide. if your vision is as bad as you say it is, then yes, it would beneficial to go ahead with surgery, but you have to make that decision for yourself. Good luck!!
Laser eye surgery is very safe nowadays. My cousin got her dental implants and lasik surgery in India by a company called Indian Health Guru Consultants. The Price for dental and lasik surgery is very less in India. She paid 25% of the price she was quoted in America.
Indian Health Guru Consultants is very famous in India They arrange Dental surgery, jaw surgery, lasik eye surgery, Dental Implants etc for foreign patients in India. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and magazines- about their patient stories.They arrange financing for USA, Canadian, UK and other international patients who plan to have surgery abroad for low cost, as dental and eye surgery is not covered by insurance. They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. There are huge cost savings. As a doctor I personally believe that surgery can be easily handled in India, as the quality of healthcare available In India is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.
http://www.indianhealthguru.com
Hope this helps.
Depends how much glasses bother you.
LASIK eye surgery is generally considered to be a safe and effective method of treating near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism and millions of people undergo this procedure every year throughout the world.
No surgery is without risks or complications, however, and this must be understood and accepted before making the decision.
The most common side effects of LASIK eye surgery are dry eyes and glare. The incidence of these are debated between proponents and opponents of the surgery. The FDA considers the risks to be low enough to approve the technology required for LASIK (microkeratomes, excimer lasers, etc.)
Safety can be increased by selecting a skilled surgeon using the best technology. Studies show that experience is one of the most important factors in selecting a surgeon.
There is a really good San Diego Lasik website that has lots of info and some very informative Lasik articles. See the links below:
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/...
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/...
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/...
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/...
http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/...
http://www.inkjet-cartridge-source.com
I brother-in-law had it done. He doesn't wear glasses anymore, but he says his vision still isn't perfect. He's just too vain to put on a lower prescription eyeglass.
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