Laser Eye Surgery - What do YOU think?

So, basically...would you do it?

Here's my only problem with it...there has not been enough long term result data to convince me I'm not going to go blind in 30 years...or 20.

I know many people who have had it done, and they are overall happy...and richer due to not having to buy glasses and/or contacts.

I would love to be able to fall asleep whenever I wanted, without having to worry about leaving my contacts in or squishing my glasses.

Do any of you have it done? Have any of you had it done for a LONG time already? Any side effects?

I can't go blind. Impossible. I think I'd accidentally walk off a cliff. :wtf: lol


Convince me.



The Fog :rastasmoke:

im skeptical (probably why i still wear my contacts) but it seems like a wonderful procedure.

my being a biology major has given me great faith in the medical field, so i believe it to be a potentially promising surgery.

i dunno the whole idea of someone pealing back my eye then laser it freaks me out... but it works, tons of people in my family have done it and thank god i dont have bad vision.. i think its good and the prices have gone down..

I go to one of the best ophthalmologists in NYC, who performs Laser surgery on patients. He wears glasses. Most optometrists seen to wear glasses or contacts as well. This is enough to keep me from doing it.

Its a really simple procedure. As freaky as it sounds its totally painless. If there was any risk of problems down the road the procedure would have never come close to getting approved. I say go for it.

Although i wouldn't say its as riskless as many people seem to think, i know my mom got it when it was first mass marketed and she seems to love it. she's close to her 50's and has worn glasses her entire life, has not complained since the surgery, and loves being able to do things without looking for her specs all the time.

Go for it if you got the money

From what I can tell you, its awesome. and if you do go blind 30 years down the line, dont worry, all humans will have electronically enhanced vision by then. Getting your eyes fixed would probably be a cake walk. Hell even now, scientists are enabling blind people to see fuzzy shapes and stuff, not long before its completely enhanced with nano technology.

It's a GREAT IDEA....hmmm...you go first.

I've known lots of people who've done refractive laser vision surgery and had very good luck with it, including many of the opthalmologists practicing in our area.

My hesitation is that my ability to do procedures in my work relies so heavily on my eyes. They can't guarantee perfect results with Lasik. Nor do they have any long-term results since the technology is still relatively new. When I need visual assistance for small vascular work, I wear glasses with scopes on them. I'd hate to take even a small risk with my eyes if I can't be sure the outcome will be flawless. From what I've read, the technology on the lasers changes so quickly that the procedure results vary and improve practically every six months. That gives me pause, too.
lasic eye surgery tips

I'd be a lot less hesitant to have modern cataract surgery than Lasik. Cataract surgery has a successful outcome rate of 95%.

I know that occasionally people who get Lasik can have trouble if they're high altitude mountain climbers because of the corneal changes after surgery. Back when radial keratotomy was in fashion (Lasik has replaced that now), it caused real problems in high altitudes. Some climbers still report troubles after Lasik, too. Just something to be aware of if you're into mountain climbing.

Fog - I had Lasik 5-6 years ago and I'm glad I did. But when I had it done correcting for near-sightedness left you far-sighted (can't see up close) so I just had one eye done. Now I can see far away and up close without glasses.

From the commercials I've heard lately, I think they're saying they can do the Lasik and you can see close and far. But I would certainly check first if I were you. Also - my intermediate vision sucks, so for things like the computer or shopping (reading labels), I still need glasses.

I still wear glasses a lot of the time because of the intermediate vision thing. I have progressive lenses so I can focus at all distances. But even with the problems with the intermediate vision, I would have it done for the simple fact that I don't need my glasses. I can drive without them, something I would have never attempted before, I can wake up and look at the clock and tell what time it is, I can participate in water sports. The freedom you get from not needing the glasses is what is so great about it.

Hmmmm - should I tell you about the burning flesh smell or let you be surprised. LOL

My vision isn't bad so it's probably easier for me to say this....but I would never get it done, I don't care how many success stories there are, there is always possobility it can go bad and you will be left blind. I figure why mess with something so fragile just to see a little bit better...seems like people that get this operation are not completely freed from their glasses, at least my mom isn't, so I can't personally see how the risk is worth the benefit. But that's up to you to decide.

I'd probably only do it if I was already near blind, otherwise I'd stick with the glasses n contacts

Well, first of all. Thanks for the replies. It seems the answers are about as diverse as any other group of people I would have asked.

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Originally Posted by halfassedjediknight

im skeptical (probably why i still wear my contacts) but... i believe it to be a potentially promising surgery.

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Originally Posted by BlAzInIt4:20

i dunno the whole idea of someone pealing back my eye then laser it freaks me out... but ... i think its good and the prices have gone down..

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Originally Posted by Breukelen advocaat

I go to one of the best ophthalmologists in NYC, who performs Laser surgery on patients. He wears glasses. Most optometrists seen to wear glasses or contacts as well. This is enough to keep me from doing it.

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Good point.

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Originally Posted by NextLineIsMine

Its a really simple procedure. ... I say go for it.

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Originally Posted by Skrappie

...Go for it if you got the money

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Originally Posted by mythin

From what I can tell you, its awesome. and if you do go blind 30 years down the line, dont worry, all humans will have electronically enhanced vision by then. Getting your eyes fixed would probably be a cake walk. Hell even now, scientists are enabling blind people to see fuzzy shapes and stuff, not long before its completely enhanced with nano technology.

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If I knew this to be true...maybe.

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Originally Posted by wholapola

It's a GREAT IDEA....hmmm...you go first.

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LOL...

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Originally Posted by Dave Byrd

I've known lots of people who've done refractive laser vision surgery and had very good luck with it, including many of the opthalmologists practicing in our area.

My hesitation is that my ability to do procedures in my work relies so heavily on my eyes. They can't guarantee perfect results with Lasik. Nor do they have any long-term results since the technology is still relatively new. When I need visual assistance for small vascular work, I wear glasses with scopes on them. I'd hate to take even a small risk with my eyes if I can't be sure the outcome will be flawless. From what I've read, the technology on the lasers changes so quickly that the procedure results vary and improve practically every six months. That gives me pause, too.
lasic eye surgery tips

I'd be a lot less hesitant to have modern cataract surgery than Lasik. Cataract surgery has a successful outcome rate of 95%.

...

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This is precisely how I feel. My work requires my use of my eyes. Without them...I'd be broke. I don't think I can risk that.

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Originally Posted by PharmaCan

Fog - I had Lasik 5-6 years ago and I'm glad I did. But when I had it done correcting for near-sightedness left you far-sighted (can't see up close) so I just had one eye done. Now I can see far away and up close without glasses.

From the commercials I've heard lately, I think they're saying they can do the Lasik and you can see close and far. But I would certainly check first if I were you. Also - my intermediate vision sucks, so for things like the computer or shopping (reading labels), I still need glasses.

I still wear glasses a lot of the time because of the intermediate vision thing. I have progressive lenses so I can focus at all distances. But even with the problems with the intermediate vision, I would have it done for the simple fact that I don't need my glasses. I can drive without them, something I would have never attempted before, I can wake up and look at the clock and tell what time it is, I can participate in water sports. The freedom you get from not needing the glasses is what is so great about it.

Hmmmm - should I tell you about the burning flesh smell or let you be surprised. LOL

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Well, Pharm. Seems like you just have a different TYPE of vision problem now...instead of perfect vision. Hmmm. The watersports thing is big for me, cuz I am very active. I have a good pair of goggles now, so that with my contacts have worked so far. BURNING FLESH?!?!?!?! :eek: :D

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Originally Posted by Nailhead

...seems like people that get this operation are not completely freed from their glasses, at least my mom isn't, so I can't personally see how the risk is worth the benefit.

I'd probably only do it if I was already near blind, otherwise I'd stick with the glasses n contacts

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Yea...I'm not sold on it yet, either. It would be really nice to not have to wear glasses...EVER, but if I still had to buy/wear glasses in "some instances," I think I'd be more frustrated with trying to keep up with them all the time. As it is, I just keep my lenses in at all times, or glasses on.

Ahhh(sigh)...I was hoping someone could give me some kind of arguement that would convince me to go do it, cause it would be awesome if it was as good as it sounds. :(

Again, thanks for the comments. I guess I'll just keep trying to succeed in my experiment to cure vision problems through the use of medicinal cannabis use. :smokin:


The Fog :rastasmoke:

Fog - You hit the nail on the head. Lasik can correct astigmatism and myopia. But you seldom hear a promise of "perfect vision".

Burning flesh - LOL - The laser "burns" your eyeball to do its thing. The burning eyeball tissue smells awful. Not real strong, but pretty funky nonetheless.

LOL...nailhead....nail on the head...am I the only one laughing here? :p


Well, yea, I mean I guess I am not so much worried about having perfect vision as I am in LOSING MY VISION sometime in the future. That would be unacceptable. My job/life requires me to use my eyes. That is something I cannot compromise with.

I thought u were kidding about the smell of burning flesh. :(

Maybe when they can make blind people see more than blurry objects, then I'll give it a shot.


The Fog :rastasmoke:

You're a liar, you aren't planning the procedure, you're here to advertise your stupid site. How do I know? I'm smarter than a sea cucumber:
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