Lasik Surgery, Lasek Surgery, Contact Lenses or Prescription Glasses?
91Lasek at Park Avenue Laser-Dave Gibson's Video
Lasik Surgery
I've worn prescription glasses for nearsightedness since the fifth grade. They were a real downer as a kid and high school football player because I had trouble seeing the ball I was supposed to catch as right end, especially at night on poorly lighted fields. At that time plastic lenses for sports were not available and contact lenses had yet to be invented. Eyeglass lenses were made of very thick glass, and the frames were heavy plastic which was easily broken. Later, shortly after contact lenses began began to be offered I gave them a try, but they irritated my eyes and sometimes popped out unexpectedly. I gave them up after several months and went back to glasses.
More recently I've been following corrective eye surgery developments with some interest. An article, linked below, in today's N.Y. Times by a woman who has experienced problems as a result of lasik eye surgery caught my eye and prompted this page. Her article confirmed my decision not to have lasik surgery. She reports a number of problems.
Her vision was blurry when she was examined the day after surgery, but was told that "was normal." The surgeon told her on subsequent examinations that "everything looked good. "BUT THE BLURRINESS NEVER WENT AWAY." At night she saw halos around street lights; neon signs bled; the moon had two rings around it like Saturn, and her eyes felt sore, a result of dry eyes, which also causes blurriness.
Her doctor told her that sometimes women of a certain age who are undergoing hormonal changes or who take certain medications get dry eye.
Cutting out all prescription and non-prescription drugs didn't help. The doctor told her to use Refresh Plus drops that temporarily help dry eye.She also prescribed Restasis eye drops to increase tear production. But this didn't work either.
The author is no longer wearing glasses, but the 20-20 line onn the chart is blurry. She reports she can read it only if she squints, but her doctor interprets this as proof of success and said that "most patients take 3 to l6 months to completely heal." She reports that nearly a year later her problems remain. She concludes with her opinion that the doctor did not accurately explain the pitfalls of lasik surgery although she signed a consent form confirming that she understood the risks. However, she was not aware that 5 to 10 percent of the patients need to have their vision "fine tuned" after a surgical over or under correction.. Her surgeon was Dr. Sandra Belmont, the founding director of the Laser Vision Correction Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Anyone contemplating lasik surgery might be well advised to read the full N.Y. Times article by Abby Ellin linked below.
Several years ago at a family funeral I took the opportunity to discuss lasik surgery with a cousin who is a medical school professor of ophthalmology. I asked why he was wearing regular old-fashioned prescription eye glasses rather than contact lenses or having lasik surgery. Without hesitating he replied that his prescription lenses correct his vision to 20-20 and since they are safety glasses they also provide protection for his eyes against flying objects which contacts or lasik surgery do not offer. Moreover, he pointed to the risks of both contact lenses (infection and abrasion) and lasik surgery.
My own experience with prescription glasses over the years has been that I've needed a new prescription every couple of years to keep my corrected vision at 20-20. Eyeglass prescriptions and contact lens prescriptions can easily be changed. But making a correction a couple of years after lasik surgery would require additional surgery with its attendant risks. Therefore, I've decided to stick with my old-fashioned eye glasses! How about you?
Lasik Surgery Does Not Necessarily Mean the End to Glasses
- Lasik surgery does not necessarily mean the end to glasses - St. Petersburg Times
Consumer Reports survey says 55 percent of lasik eye surgery patients still wear glasses or contact lens some of the time. Lasik is not a miracle or fountain of youth.
FDA Lasik Surgery Website
Lasik Surgery: When the Fine Print Applies to You
- Lasik Surgery--NY Times March 13, 2008
Report on complications by a reporter who had corrective lasik eye surgery.
Federal Drug Administration Looking into Lasik Surgery Complaints
The New York Times reports that the Food and Drug Administration is looking into complaints about lasik surgery including blurred vision, eye pain, halos, severe dry eye and inability to drive at night. Here's a link to the NYT article:.
Lasik Disaster.com
New Technology Adds Precision to Lasik Surgery
- Improved Lasik Technique
NPR Report on Lasik Surgery
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Comments
I had Lasik surgery a couple of years ago to correct my 625-675 vision and I'm very satisfied with the results. While it's true that I experienced light halos and blurriness during the first few months, and I didn't get my "best corrected vision" like when I was still wearing contact lenses, everything normalized after a while and I now have 20-20 vision. :-)
I am now very happy that I don't have to spend 10-15 minutes cleaning my contact lenses before going to sleep EVERY night. I am also very happy to be able to see my kittens when I wake up every morning. :-) I used to be practically blind in the mornings because I wore my contact lenses only after my morning shower to prevent them from getting dislodged by the water.
As to eyeglasses, I got dizzy wearing them outdoors in the sun, which was why I switched to contact lenses in the first place. Plus the weight of the glasses pushed on the bridge of my nose making them sore and made two red points just below the inner sides of my eyes. And whenever I played badminton, I had to constantly readjust my glasses or take them off to wipe the sweat off my nose. It was very irritating. :-p
By the way, I kept the two blades the surgeon used to slice through my eyeballs as a reminder of when I got 20-20 vision back. :-D
That's good to hear. I have no doubt that lasik surgery has proved very successful for many people, particularly those with need for strong corrective lenses. I wonder whether you have any insight into whether it's likely that your vision will change enough to require additional surgery or prescription lenses? I am nearsighted and for 50 years or so and every two three years my eyes have changed enough that I've gotten a new prescription in order to keep my vision at 20-20. The glasses I used 5-10 years ago aren't even close to my current prescription. Any thoughts?
Oh, and there's another thing I'd like to share. When I was still wearing eyeglasses, my eyesight kept getting worse with each visit to the doctor, and I had to keep upgrading the lenses on my glasses. When I switched to contact lenses, my eyesight stabilized.
I asked the doctor about this and he explained that nearsightedness is caused by the something-in-the-center-of-the-eyeball bulging outward (that's a scientific explanation :-p) and when I started wearing contact lenses, the lenses formed sort of like a wall and actually prevented that something-in-the-center-of-my-eyeball from bulging outward even more (more scientific explanations :-D). So my eyesight didn't deteriorate anymore after that. :-)
I've heard that contact lenses retard the progress of myopia. However, I wonder what happens after lasik surgery? I've wondered about that but haven't heard an answer to that question. I.e., the likelihood of significant vision changes following lasik surgery.????
I used to need a new prescription every 6 months while I was still wearing eyeglasses. :-p
The surgeon did tell me that my eyesight would change with age, but he also said the same is true for those who haven't had Lasik. :-o
As to your question of the likelihood of significant vision changes after Lasik surgery, it's still too early for me to tell. It's only been a couple of years, but so far so good. :-)
I wish you the best of luck. If I were younger I might try lasik surgery. When I was a kid I hated my thick glasses. But now I'm used to them. Today, glasses are lighter and the frames are less fragile than they used to be. Also, with age I have become less nearsighted. But I need bifocal lenses for reading and for distance. I fear there is no perfect solution.
Thanks, Ralph. You're right, my age was a big factor in my decision to opt for Lasik. I didn't want to go through 50 more years of contact lenses and eyeglasses. And I had to decide fast because in a few years, my cornea (or something) would've become too thin for me to qualify for Lasik.
As long as you're comfortable with your glasses, I see no reason to change. :-)
Yuk, Ralph, just looking at that picture makes me cringe! I, too, have always been too chicken to opt for Lasik. So far my night-time contact lenses are working well - it still feels amazing to be able to walk around with nothing on my eyes in the daytime. I have to say they weren't easy to get used to, but the more I read about Lasik, the more I'm glad I didn't take the plunge. Oh, and by the way - I wore bifocals, too.
I know it works well, but Lasik surgery just does not appeal to me. People constantly tell me I look great without my glasses, like they are shocked to see me without them. However, I bought this really cute pair with rhinestones recently and they are so stylish and cute, so now I really feel trendy wearing them. Plus I kind of like the smart Librarian look, so glasses work for me.
The newest new thing in laser eye surgery is Lasek surgery. Video added to HubPage.
Thanks for your very informative hub. I am considering doing Lasik, but I haven't decided yet. My brother and stepmother have both done Lasik several years ago and they both really love the results. When I went to see my optometrist, he advised me to wait for a bit until my vision stabilized so that there is less likelihood of vision changes afterwards. He did warn me to expect a possible adjustment surgery afterwards. I am still undecided. I sure would hate it if my vision became worse after the surgery.
Thanks for the comment. I wish you well whatever you decide to do.
Another great Hub Ralph. I have some friends, including my ex-wife, who have had Lasik and they are happy with it. Until i read your article I hadn't heard of problems with it other than seeing reports that after a decade or two your vision tends to deteriorate again so I haven't considered it. However, my wife wants to have Lasik surgery, so I am going to suggest she read your Hub first.
Great job. Chuck
Tnx for the comment. Please make sure your wife knows that I'm not a doctor and have no expertise on eye surgery other than what I've read in published reports.
I had LASIK surgery earlier this year and it was the best decision of my life. I went from being VERY short-sighted (unable to see more than a few inches in front of my face) to 20/20 vision practically overnight.
I get very frustrated with the 'horror stories' of LASIK. While there are people who have had TERRIBLE results, the vast majority have great vision and even the 'side effects' some people experience (like halos, flares and night vision problems) are worth it just for being able to SEE for the first time!
After two months, the night glares and halos I experienced disappeared - I can now drive at night quite happily. However, I would gladly keep them if it meant I could still have this quality of vision.
The fact is, LASIK carries fewer life-time risks than contact lens wearing - so it's a cheaper and practical alternative. If you're happy wearing glasses, or your perscription changes, LASIK isn't right for you.
Make an informed decision.
Thanks for sharing your favorable experience!
I had Lasik 7 years ago on 9-11-01, the very morning of that infamous day. The aftermath (of the surgery) for me has been great. I got what is called "single vision" surgery in which one eye is corrected for distant vision (such as driving) and the other for near reading (e.g., reading). Your mind has to sort out which image to "focus" on. I was given soft contacts to wear for a week that simulated the effect, to test whether I was a suitable candidate for single vision. The only problem of consequence that I had was that I kept reaching to adjust my glasses, and pan-icing when I didn't find them on my face. But that went away after a month or so.
My brother in law and a colleague at the University both have done the same and have been well satisfied also.
As to the scary part: I found it a lot easier and much less painful than most dental appointments. Both are similar in that each seats you in a chair, shines a bright light in your face, uses some instruments on you and then sends you on your way with a big bill to pay (the most painful part).
I was 65 when I had the Lasik done and now am 73, and during that time my vision has not changed. I think that I've saved a little bit of money on glasses during that time, as it seems that my vision used to shift enough to need a new Rx every couple of years. Plus there is no wear and tear. The other down side is that my glasses made me look cool and hid my baggy eyes.
On the subject of changing vision/Rx, an opthamologist colleague of mine once told me that wearing glasses actually sets you up for this because it doesn't require your eye muscles to work as hard and they loose some of their tone. There is actually a thearpy for correcting vision based on some sort of eye exercises. My opthamologist colleague recommended it to me and told me that he used it himself. There should be a branch of Bally or Spectrum to tone up our eye muscles along with our abs.
Thanks for the feedback. I thought one of the benefits of lasik is that it makes you look cooler and improves your score with the ladies!
Sometimes I think that the opthalmologist or optometrist find that you need a change in prescription so that they can sell you a new pair of glasses.
A reader's comment from SLATE:
The primary reason for Lasik's decline is not the recession, but problems with the procedure. These affect about 5% of the patients and include dry eye, night blindness, dimmed vision and halos. A very small percentage have had to have corneal transplants to correct the damage.
Unfortunately, even the satisfied 95% are not off the hook. This is because laser surgery weakens the cornea and changes its shape. This complicates matters if one later needs cataract surgery. And most people will need cataract surgery by the time they are 75. This is normally a routine operation with a very high success rate; but not if you previously had laser eye surgery. Because of the change in eye shape, the opthamologist may not be able to obtain an accurate measurement of the correction in the replacement plastic lenses. This can result in poor vision that necessitates repeat surgeries
My eyes are everything to me, as you know Ralph--thanks yet again for this info!
SMOOOCH!
A good sight is a blessing as the very thought of wearing spectacles can be uncomfortable for many of us. Although contact lenses have taken care of this problem to quite an extent, still they come with their own set of disadvantages. A lasik surgery can allow you to see the world much more clearly once again. The surgery can be used to successfully rectify any vision defect like farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism and other eye conditions. http://chicagolasik.us/
Thanks for your comment. I'm glad it worked out well for you.
My Sister-In-Law, who is a teacher, flew all the way to Florida, to have her Brother-In-Law who is an Ophthalmologist perform her Lasik surgery so she would no longer have to wear glasses. Within 24 hours both of her eyes were infected. They were only able to save one. She filed a law suit against her Brother-In-Law (her husband's brother) to get an Insurance pay off. She now lives with sight in one eye and a glass eye in the other. And yes, she still has to wear glasses! Vanity is not worth it.
We can agree on that. Infection is a risk in any surgery. I wouldn't let anybody touch my eyes unless it was absolutely necessary. Thanks for the comment.
This is great information. I used to work for a company that sold "eye exercises" as a way to improve vision and promote healthier eyes - one thing I learned was the dangers of lasik surgery - if you are one of the people who suffers dry eye, the halo effect, or the other terrible effects of surgery gone wrong - it can be a nightmare! As usual, excellent work!
Kartika
robie2 says:
2 years ago
I'm far-sighted( I like to think in more ways than one:-) and have worn glasses for reading since childhood and for everything since my mid-forties. These days I'm blind as a bat without them. I used to wear contacts when I "dresssed up" but rarely even bother any more. I just throw on my glasses and I'm good to go. I'm used to me with glasses and as far as I'm concerned "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" I'm also one of those people who is terrified in the dentist's chair--imagine what I'd be like with a Lasik surgeon LOL--thanks for bringing up and interesting subject, Ralph.