O/T Refractive Eye Surgery

This is way off topic but I need a bit of feedback, has any of you guys had refractive eye surgery I'm so dang worn out with glasses either there broke, bent or scratched and always dirty.
I went to the eye Dr. yesterday and he said I would be a good candidate for the wavefront PRK procedure but I would probably still have to wear reading glasses which I could tolerate.

Good Luck!

I have no experience with the RES. However, I do have eye conditions and have some surgery next week. My only advice would be if you do have the surgery, have it done by the best Dr. you can find, and one who has considerable experience with that procedure. Also, after the surgery, do what the Dr. tells you to do and do not do what he or she tells you not to do. Good luck.

Is this what is commonly called "laser surgery"? If so fellow in the office says it hurts like heck. But he was able to get away from wearing glasses. I just wonder about the long term effects.

I had Lasik done on both eyes three or four years ago. Up till that point, I had worn glasses for more than 40 years. Now I wear them only for protection or reading small print.
My vision was worse than 20/600 to start, and have settled in around 20/30 or so.
I wouldn't hesitate to have it again.

I have not had it done because of the age related near vision issue. I would have to carry glasses around anyway. I am interested in something called "Crystalens" that is a flexible lens replacement. Eye doc says may lenses are starting to be a little cloudy and that some day I may need catarac surgery.

I talked to my doctor about it and he said I was probably a good candidate. My vision hasn't changed in years - so the surgery should take and last.

He advised that I consider the surgery in only one eye. The current trend is if a person is near sighted (up close I have much better than average vision) that they only "fix" one eye to see far away. Your brain "learns" to use the "fixed" eye for long distance and the "unrepaired" eye for items up close. Because you still have vision in both eyes you have depth perception. Two people in our office have had this procedure and both like the outcome.

If you "fix" both eyes as you become older you will need glasses again as you near vision detoriates with age.

What makes it even better is you are only paying for one lazer surgery so it about half the cost of traditional lasik surgery.

I checked into it once, did an axam on a bright summer day, was a good candidate, paid my money, and showed up with a group of others one rainy morning to do it. While waiting in a dark room with the others for our eyes to adjust, they took us in one by one to dry run the procedure and set the machine up, etc. Due to the rainy morning and sitting in the dark room, she measure and said my pupils were too big. Doctor came in and talked to me for 15 minutes trying to talk me out of it. He said with my big pupils and the limits of his machine, I would always see starbusts at night around lights. I told him I already see them anyway with contacts but I followed his advice and didn't do it. Went back a few years later when he had a newer model machine but he still didn't think I would be happy with the results and didn't want to do it. They tend to screen away anyone away who might not be happy with the results.

I would like to do it just to get rid of the astigmatism. I wear multifocal contact lenses as it is to see distance and up close. Even after surgery I could still wear contacts to adjust for 20/20. My prescription has stabilized but I've kinda decided to spend my money elsewhere even though I think the machines are even better now.

Do one eye at a time. They set the eye to either long distance or up close so some people do one to see far and the other to read.
Also if you're getting to the age for cataracts; they want to wait and replace the lens which is best by far. That's like getting brand new, see all eyes!
Like another said - you can get used to using one eye to read and the other to read.

Hi Walter,

If you want too see how good the results are go sit in the waiting room for a few hours and talk with patients who had that Doc.

They play alot of games with you in order to get maximum dollars out of the insurance.

I'm blind in one eye and will have the cataract removed in two weeks, distance only as they want another $2200(cash as the ins. won't pay) for the bi-focal lens that doesn't work that well.

I use a 28" LCD and 12" away I'm typing this with my "good eye" that gets surgery the end of the month.

If I was you I sure would go see several Doc's before picking one. You might check with a cat Doc just too get there opinion.

We're supposed to have the best of eye Doc's in AZ and I sure wouldn't give you a plug nickle for some of them. I'm on my 4th eye Doc.

T_Bone

Don't know you Walter so outside feed back. Answer is a BIG NO. Pain over extended period of time, star burst, night driving at night only by shinning a flash light in your eyes to be able to see, after a time you will be back to glasses, Many eye drs will not see you after this surgery. This is the short list. Spend the money in vagus and have a good time. Get away from cheap frames. More than one person wished they had skipped the eye cutting thing.

Walter,
When I'm not tending the cattle farm, I work as an optometrist. PRK is more painful than lasik and can have more haze afterward. Wavefront technology can be used for either. It measures the abberations of the eye in addition to nearsightedness and farsightedness. If you are close to 65 wait for catatact surgery. It is actually safer and more effective.
3

I'm sorry. I know this is serious , but I have to say , EYE JUST CAN'T SEE IT !

I had the Custom Lasik done last October. They use a laser to cut the flap and laser the cornea several times from different angles.
The vision isn't as crisp as with the glasses an honest 2010 and 2015 with soft contacts. The left eye is now 2015 and the right 2020. I do miss seeing what I used to.
I don't miss the glasses or contacts but now I'm getting to stage when in dim light at the end of the day, my arms are getting longer.
There is some flaring at night from street lights in the right in in particular that didn't heal as well. My corneas are oversize which does reduce success.
I recommend the procedure with some reservations.