[lookout bob]

have any of you done this? I've worn glasses for 46 years and have thought about 'doing' my eyes lately. Pros? Cons? Lookout Sue tells me there's something about high altitudes that is a con. Anyone know? Thoughts? Experiences? Please share.

[Sore Feet]

You wear glasses for reading or distance? From what I've understood about Lazik, it basically melts parts of your eye into place so it'll stay focused. It doesn't necessarily alleviate the need for glasses.

[Starjumper7]

If it works properly it will help you focus at one distance but scar tissue always causes stifness so your depth of field will decrease. Once I saw a 'comedy' reporter interview a Lasik eye surgeon. Reporter: Does this Lasik surgery work pretty well. Dr: Yes it works great. Rep: Do you recommend it for everyone. Dr. Yes, I recommend it for everyone, well, except for blind people. Rep: Well then how come you still wear glasses? Audience: HAHAHAHAHAHA The best way to get rid of glasses is to use the Bates method. Invented by Master Bates. Also eye stretching exercises help.

[Aussie]

I had it done about 18 months ago. I'm glad I did but my vision now is not as good as it was when I wore glasses. The day after the surgery my vision was exceptionally good - I couldn't quite believe it - but that's the best it'll ever be becuase the 'cuts' on the cornea are fresh and the scar tissue hasn't had time to develop. I think I'm correct in saying it is usual for it to deteriorate at least slightly. I know one person who said it 'didn't work' for her but I never got the full story as to what that means. I do know she wears glasses but don't know if she is precluded from contacts. It took me four years to work up the courage to have it done. I needed 18 seconds of laser cutting/burning (it does smell) on each eye, and that 18 seconds for the second eye seemed very long. While it didn't hurt per se, the 'clamp' they have to keep your eyes wide open is pretty damn uncomfortable. The eye care required after surgery is pretty daunting and I was paranoid about it, but given what I'd put myself through to get there, I didn't want to mess anything up. I did find for quite a while (months ?) the street lights when I was driving at night had some starring effect but that seems to have cleared up over time. My eyes are definitely drier than they used to be - most days I use drops in the morning and at night. On windy days, particularly when hiking or if I go out for a run, they get very dry. When I'm tired, it impacts my vision too. That's just my personal experience. Others I know who have had it done didn't find it in the least bit traumatic, just a bit uncomfortable, and haven't had any problems. I think its worth doing if you're eligible, but there's no guarantee as to how successful it will be.

[Chief Paulina]

I had mine done in November. They zapped my less dominant eye and made it so that I could read without glasses. They called it mono vision, where one eye sees long, the other eye sees closeup and they work well together. I don't regret it. I threw away the reading glasses, a real pain in my The results were not as perfect as I had hoped but I'm OK with that. I too think that the scarring fuzzes things up a bit and hope that it will get better. It seems sometimes like my eyes and brain take some time determining whether to focus short or long and I see flaring of headlights in night, compromising my depth of field. All in all, I'm glad I did it.

[wildernessed]

My wife had Lasik eye surgery, I was in the room watching the surgery as they did it, pretty cool. You are concious, they often will give you a small oral dose of valium for anxiety during the procedure about 30 min. before the procedure. Her entire surgery (both eyes) lasted maybe 10 minutes. It is to correct vision. She wore glasses and or contacts since her childhood and her vision was corrected to 20/15 on both eyes. She got in on a sweet deal they were giving to RN's working for the healthcare system and paid $1000.00 for both eyes. She has had no problems and her vision has remained at the corrected acuity. I wish I would have had it done at the time. She had it done about 4 years ago.

[mpaul_hansen]

RE: eye correction surgery - waiting for improvements... Intend to keep checking into this every five years or so. With an exceptional asymmetric right eye, advised by many not to pursue this....at least given the current state of the art. Years and years ago when this was under development to some degree, a local practictioner "pushed the envelope" and many people paid the price. He became one of the most sued Wash St eye doctors.... ....Until he split for Europe just after wiring all his assets to secure and secret bank account(s).

[horse with no name]

[ree]

[Starjumper7]

[ree]

SJ, I actually did the Bates method eons ago. I bought the LP and did all the exercises. I still need corrective lenses tho. It really only works if you keep up with it. I really don't have time to do 20 minutes of eye exercises everyday. Other options are more expedient. I was at my eye doctor recently, and I asked him why he didn't have lasik. He said he was nervous, especially signing all the "informed consent" paperwork necessary to get the job done.

[dkemp]

Man... Well all I can do is speak for myself. I am just so glad I didnt wait. Its done, and its perfect, and I am very glad to be done with eyeglasses for myopia. As stated before, it does nothing for presbyopia and at 43 I'm starting to notice that condition coming on. But having done Lasik years ago, I have been glasses-free for years. I have loved every minute of it. Boy, its awesome.

[horse with no name]

It sounds like if it goes perfectly, your vision will be perfect and you'll be happy as a clam. But it also sounds like there's a good chance that your depth perception will be permanantly diminished. That's too risky for me. Especially considering the importance of depth perception to appreciating the views when hiking. Are there any pre-surgical tests to indicate if your depth perception may be damaged?

[horse with no name]

This is enough to spook a horse with 20 names: http://www.surgicaleyes.org/ChristmasVision.htm

[Chief Paulina]

That's not what I see. My slightly less depth of field does not screw up my view of scenery at all. I have a little trouble judging the distance of headlights at night. It actually makes me a safer driver. This is all that I notice that is different.