LASIK vision correction?

**p.dath** · 19th October 2009, 18:09

I've been thinking about getting my eyes lasered for some time.

I wear contacts and glasses, but both have their drawbacks, especially when it comes to riding my bike.
If I'm on the track, and wear contacts and accelerate hard the contacts shift off from where they should be on my eyes, and I temporarily loose good vision (okay, I'm almost blinded) for 30s or so. If I wear glasses they tend to get pushed hard into my face and it is not very comfortable.

If I ride early in the morning, when it's cold, I have to wear contacts as glasses tend to fog up if I have to stop at the lights (I have a pinlock visor).

And I'm pretty much reaching the point where the annoyance has reached the point where I am thinking of separating with some cash. Both eyes need to be done, but I thought I'd just get one done to reduce the cash outlay. I would probably change to using contacts nearly full time in the other eye as long as I had one eye I could rely on.

I'm thinking of having the procedure done at the Auckland Eye Clinic.

Would anyone else care to share their experience to help me make up my mind.

**Katman** · 19th October 2009, 18:19

I would strongly recommend getting the procedure done. It has ended up being the best money I have ever spent. I had the surgery done on both eyes at the same time about 2 and a half years ago. However...........

I did develop an inflammation under one cornea which turned into a fairly major problem. I had to put up with extremely distorted vision for just over a year before it healed and settled down to the point where the Institute was prepared to have another go.

But don't worry - mine was a 1 in 5000 occurance.

**Dean** · 19th October 2009, 18:34

Contacts work fine, you should have your eye size checked and order new ones. They should suction back into place.

Eye surgery obviously can get you blind if the procedure goes wrong I know a lady blind in one eye because of it has ruined her life in so many aspects. Can you accept the risks? I personally wont do it the risk is higher than you think.

**Katman** · 19th October 2009, 18:40

Originally Posted by Dean

Contacts work fine, you should have your eye size checked and order new ones. They should suction back into place.

Eye surgery obviously can get you blind if the procedure goes wrong I know a lady blind in one eye because of it has ruined her life in so many aspects. Can you accept the risks? I personally wont do it the risk is higher than you think.

Shut up clown. The risks are miniscule.

**Ronin** · 19th October 2009, 18:44

Originally Posted by Katman

Shut up clown. The risks are miniscule.

Name calling again? That's a little one eyed isn't it?

**p.dath** · 19th October 2009, 18:45

Originally Posted by Dean

Contacts work fine, you should have your eye size checked and order new ones. They should suction back into place.

I have my eyes checked at least annually. My prescription has been static and non-changing for quite some time. My contacts are exactly the prescription they should be.
I have myopia, so the contact has to sit on a certain angle to work, and the bottom of the contact is weighted so the gravity assists the contact to sit on the specific angle that it needs to. Alas it is very easy to pull 0.2G on a motorcycle, and just as gravity makes the contact sit on the right angle, acceleration pulls it onto the wrong angle (which distorts my vision).

Originally Posted by Dean

Eye surgery obviously can get you blind if the procedure goes wrong I know a lady blind in one eye because of it has ruined her life in so many aspects. Can you accept the risks? I personally wont do it the risk is higher than you think.

You are highly unlikely to be left blinded from laser eye surgery used to correct vision. Perhaps your friend was having a procedure for some other issue. There must have been significant complicating factors for that to happen.

I am happy with the risks (which are very low - hell they even offer a money back guarantee if they don't give you 20/20 vision!). It's parting with the cash I'm not so happy about.
I would want a good result after spending $3k on an eye. I don't want to do it, and find out that I can "walk" around fine, but while riding there is some other complication. Hence the question here.

**steve_t** · 19th October 2009, 18:48

I'd say you'd be best to talk to an Optometrist or Opthamologist. I had the info sent to me by my optometrist a few years back. I think these days you can actually have it done without needing to cut the front of your eye. I remember there was something called "customeyes" which used 3D topographical mapping and a computer algorithm to control the laser.
As far as I'm aware, major issues a very rare, however a permanent haze was a risk I didn't feel like taking. Maybe when I'm older or blinder or more pissed off with having to live with contacts/glasses I'll take the step.

**Mully** · 19th October 2009, 18:50

I had it done in 2005 - September.

Hand on heart; the single best investment I have ever made.

My eyes were -4.5 and -5. I had them zapped on the Friday morning (first appointment 0830h) and I was up watching the news at 1800h that night (they give you sleeping pills for that day.

The chances of an infection are tiny. Tinier than tiny these days (which is why they'll do both at once).

I would suggest doing both rather than one cos having one would drive me mental.

If you want any more info, please just ask.

**martybabe** · 19th October 2009, 18:51

Good luck with it mate, I'm contemplating it myself. Do let us know how you get on.

There is a very good thread on here somewhere all about this very subject, have a search mate it's a good read.Can't for the life of me remember who wrote it.

**Mully** · 19th October 2009, 18:53

Originally Posted by steve_t

I'd say you'd be best to talk to an Optometrist or Opthamologist. I had the info sent to me by my optometrist a few years back. I think these days you can actually have it done without needing to cut the front of your eye. I remember there was something called "customeyes" which used 3D topographical mapping and a computer algorithm to control the laser.
As far as I'm aware, major issues a very rare, however a permanent haze was a risk I didn't feel like taking. Maybe when I'm older or blinder or more pissed off with having to live with contacts/glasses I'll take the step.

They used to use a blade to cut a flap off the front of the eye (quicker healing than the old way which was scraping the front of the eye)....

These days, they advertise "Blade-Free LASIK" which is they just use a laser to cut the flap instead of a blade. Apparently, it's more accurate.

I had minor "halo-ing" at night for a few months which I had to be careful of. And dry eyes for a few weeks. Other than that, it was all good.

**Katman** · 19th October 2009, 18:53

Originally Posted by p.dath

I have myopia, so the contact has to sit on a certain angle to work, and the bottom of the contact is weighted so the gravity assists the contact to sit on the specific angle that it needs to.

That sounds like Astigmatism rather than Myopia.

Go along to the Eye Institute. From memory the consultation is free and they will give you far better information (including the risk involved) than you will recieve here.

The only thing that might be of interest to you in this thread are the opinions of the people who have actually had it done.

**ManDownUnder** · 19th October 2009, 18:54

Originally Posted by Mully

I had it done in 2005 - September.

Hand on heart; the single best investment I have ever made.

... etc ...

If you want any more info, please just ask.

Exactly what he said! I got mine done end of '99 and best thing I could have done. Would I do it again? IN A FUCKING HEARTBEAT!

Both eyes Myopic, one with astigmatism to boot. All fixed... and just AWESOME.

The only drawback was having to wait for 10 days till it rained (I wanted to know what it was like to walk int eh rain, be able to see and not get spots in front of my eyes... and we got the longest run of sunny days I think I've ever had... (well it seemed that way at the time).

**tri boy** · 19th October 2009, 18:55

+1 with Mully and Katman.
Just make sure the clinic supplies you with sleep/pain meds, as 1 in 50 people can have a really rough first night after surgery. DAMHIK
Besides that, wakening up the first morning to excellent eyesight for the first time is a fantastic experience not to miss in ones life.