[Mahmood07]

Originally Posted by schoy

I've always thought about it, but I'm -11.0 in each eye. If I can't get to 20/20, then I don't think I'd bother. I can't find sufficient info online to confirm whether my eyesight is too far gone. Thoughts

My prescription is pretty strong, but not as strong as yours! I am -7.0 in each eye, and I'm pretty happy with wearing contacts (I've been wearing them for 7 years). I heard the eye sight has to stabilize before you can do the procedure but mine gets worse every year. I don't mind waiting another 5 years until the technology becomes more advanced.

[newdadkel]

Originally Posted by schoy

I've always thought about it, but I'm -11.0 in each eye. If I can't get to 20/20, then I don't think I'd bother. I can't find sufficient info online to confirm whether my eyesight is too far gone. Thoughts

Hopefully I can provide a little insight into laser vision correction. It really does not have as much to do with your prescription as the thickness and shape of your corneas. There really isn't much that the newest lasers cannot treat, but there has to be enough tissue and normal curvature to do it.
The screening process should involve detailed mapping of the corneal surface with several measurements of thickness. What we have seen is that it is not just measuring the front surface of the cornea, but looking at the back surface as well which can only be done with newer instrumentation. You also exclude people with significant dry eye for LASIK in particular because it does get worse for a few weeks after the procedure. The reason is that you have severed the corneal nerves to create the flap. The cornea has some hypoesthesia for the first 6-8 weeks until the nerves regrow. You need normal sensitivity to allow the eye to detect dryness and/or dirt, foreign body, etc. to signal for tear production. So in the first 4-6 weeks, you have to supplement with artificial tears, but some do notice dryness for weeks longer.
The info that the public does not know is that there are multiple platforms for laser vision correction from different companies. So when you go in to a place for your screening/procedure, you really do not know what instrumentation they are using. Obviously we are on a BMW forum so we know that you do have to spend more for quality sometimes, and THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES! Do not go to the cheapest place to save a buck. There is a reason it is cheap. They may be using an older laser that they may have gotten used, or refurbished, that does not have the newer treatment programs. The screening equipment may be based on older platforms, and you may miss something that newer imaging would detect. Or the price may only cover the cost of the laser and not cover any of the followups, medications, enhancements, etc.
Finally the issue of the surgery "wearing off" is a misstatement. The theory behind LASIK is to reshape the cornea, which is a part of a 2 lens system, to bring the focal point onto the macula, or more precisely, the fovea. As soon as the laser shuts off, the theoretical reshaping and refocusing has been done (assuming correct treatment). Now the unknown factor is how the tissue will respond and heal after the laser treatment. There is an unpredictable individual variability that we just cannot determine before hand. You may do the exact same treatment on both eyes of the same person, and they may heal differently. One may heal much faster than the other, one may act like it was overtreated and then regress back, or may not regress back all of the way. Anyway, after the healing/regression has taken place, the cornea would not change much during the years afterwards as long as you have excluded those patients that have corneal pathology that may predispose them to this in the future. But the lens inside your eye grows every year, and also loses a little ability to focus every year. Beginning in the 40's for most people is the onset of presbyopia, which is when the lens loses noticeable focusing ability. But the lens is the other part of the 2 lens system mentioned above, and it possesses about 1/3 of the focusing power of the eye. So as it grows and changes in thickness, it is typical for the prescription to change over time. It is common to experience a slight myopic shift (as some guys have mentioned being around a -0.5 above), or it may not change much or even shift more hyperopic (+ number).
So hopefully this helps!

[shah269]

GOD I WANT IT SO BAD!

My admin is from Colombia, all three of her girls have gone to colombia and gotten their eyes fixed for all of $1k.
So $1k for the flight, $1k for the eyes and $1k for aaahh...well...hum...well....back rubs from very attractive ladies! =)

True funny story, she told one of her husbands friends about it...he was in his late 40's...he went...got his eyes done....and married his nurse. The woman has some of the best fake tits I've ever seen and her cookins is even better!
So now not only can the man see but now he has a great reason to smile!

[bga23]

Originally Posted by rezadue

I went for a sonsult and was told they could do one eye for near and one eye for far. Anyone else had something like this done? Any depth perception issues after? Did one eye regress?

Thanks

I was getting my annual eye exam a few weeks ago and mentioned to Dr. (new Dr. to me) I had thought about LASIK in the past and what were his thoughts on it. He told me since I naturally have one eye for near and one eye for distance not to do it, as that's what they look to achieve. Don't know exactly what sort of correction I need for my near eye (-1.00 maybe??) to see distance but I don't have any depth perception issues.

[Hisam135i]

Originally Posted by r0wr

Since you're in socal, can you tell me who you went to?

I went to Harvard Eye they're located in Mission Viejo. Excellent staff!

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by LTO

dry eyes is the most common side effect. many times a little regression may occur after about 5 years, but you can get a touch up. i had mine done in 2007 and i'm about -0.50 D now. still happy though!

ha! Optometrist Prime. good one.

[black335i]

Nvision in socal is good.

[Comet]

Originally Posted by catherinelam

did you do it in Montreal?
they recommend waiting until minimum 25.
i've heard so many horror stories about dr. michel pop in montreal!!!

I did it in Beirut
I was 20 at the time.
Montreal doctors are quite incompetent from my experience.
They recommend that when your prescription has been stable for 3-4 years to do it.

[WreckerX5d]

Originally Posted by rezadue

I went for a sonsult and was told they could do one eye for near and one eye for far. Anyone else had something like this done? Any depth perception issues after? Did one eye regress?

Thanks

I was told by an optometrist once that depth perception has to do with the spacing between your eyes and one other thing that I forgot.

[Templar]

Got mine for free from the military. May need a touch up, distant vision is getting a little tough.

Side effects: dry eyes from time to time still, and my night vision is odd. In low light, I have some trouble seeing things, but if it's completely dark I can see better. It's around that dusk time or when the street lights are on where it's a little iffy. I can still read and see signs and all that, but I get halos around lights during the night.

I actually got LASEK (they scrape away part of the cornea and place it back on top, putting a contact on it to allow it to heal). LASIK involves the flap, and is much quicker to heal. My options were LASEK or PRK. Looking back I probably should have done PRK even though the recovery time was greater.

[UncleWede]

The differnece in the two eyes is to address the presbyopia tha occurs. It's kinda like having built-in bi-focals. Dominant eye is set better for distance (making it 20/20) and the other is set for reading.

I've had contacts for almost 30 years. Been -3.5 and -4.0 for 25 of them. Starting to need the +.5 for the presbyopia and it drives me crazy that I can't see things without lighting if I have my contacts in now.

My dominant eye is the right, and I ride a motorcycle. The idea on NOT being able to tell with the left that a cager isn't seeing me has stopped me so far. Being diabetic, healing COULD be a challenge, so I have been too chicken to go under, so far.

[Hisam135i]

Did my one week post operation checkup today morning. Left eye = 20/20, Right eye = 20/15!!!

[1LRM3]

Originally Posted by catherinelam

I'm scared to do LASIK and go blind ..

i am with ya on this one

[Vanity]

Paid for LASIK with your investments, Sam?

[bumere90]

Is lasik for everyone? I mean I am 25 and my vision is getting horrible already
I'd give it a shot for sure

[Hisam135i]

Originally Posted by Vanity

Paid for LASIK with your investments, Sam?

[Hisam135i]

Originally Posted by bumere90

Is lasik for everyone? I mean I am 25 and my vision is getting horrible already
I'd give it a shot for sure

Good for it, I'm 18. The way I see it, the younger you get it the better as you will have more time to enjoy your perfect vision.

[catherineanh]

Originally Posted by 1LRM3

i am with ya on this one

i read this in the newspaper back then and scared me:

"A 26-year-old woman is suing one of the pioneers of laser eye surgery in Quebec. Karine Cloutier has been legally blind since Dr. Michel Pop operated on her in 2001.

The woman is seeking more than $2-million in damages.

On his website, Pop says he is one of the most experienced laser eye surgeons in Quebec. He opened his first private clinic in Gatineau in 1992. He's performed laser surgery on thousands of patients since then."

[amanda hor$t]

you could always do one eye at a time

[El Cheapo Loco]

Originally Posted by catherinelam

i read this in the newspaper back then and scared me:

"A 26-year-old woman is suing one of the pioneers of laser eye surgery in Quebec. Karine Cloutier has been legally blind since Dr. Michel Pop operated on her in 2001.

The woman is seeking more than $2-million in damages.

On his website, Pop says he is one of the most experienced laser eye surgeons in Quebec. He opened his first private clinic in Gatineau in 1992. He's performed laser surgery on thousands of patients since then."

I would not let someone named POP to go anywhere near my eyeballs.

[black335i]

Lasik is great lol

[Sylon]

I need to check out the OT section a little more often. I had something similar done back in March, called PRK, through the military. Unlike LASIK, PRK doesn't have the flap. Instead, the surface of the eye is zapped. Recovery time is a lot longer than with LASIK, but it's the preferred method of laser correction in the military, due to the lack of the "flap".

My eyes are pretty good, still healing though. Nighttime glare, slight double vision and dry eyes are all normal. I keep getting told the double vision will go away. The dryness is kicking my ass though at the moment.

Small issues compared to the benefits. I've had bad vision for over 20 years, and in 20 seconds they fixed the issues and now I have 20/15 left, 20/20 right. Incredible. Thank you American tax payers!