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Laser Eye Surgery and skiing

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
R32, actually I've had more than enough of the little tit for today. Off to bed, I feel. (Although going to bed before midnight makes me a 'loser', undoubtedly. And with a short sighted kickboxer too. Tsk.)
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:

Was -4.5 in boht eyes and drove the folllowing morning.

Well, back on topic.... we paid for laser surgery for my daughter for her 21st (her request). she researched it very carefully and decided on the least risky procedure, which was also more painful (and also less expensive, as it happens). She certainly could not drive the following morning, she had both eyes done at a time and was bandaged for 24 hours, then had lots of drops for another week, and was exceptionally light sensitive. She had to sit under a blanket..... After about five days she could just about read, but was very long sighted, and it was around 6 weeks before she could tell that her vision was really good. Now it's fantastic, and she loves it - for skiing, but also for windsurfing and surfing, which were hopeless in specs. She never got on well with contacts. So, it was well worth it in the end, and her vision is great. BUT, it was quite painful, and severely disrupted her life for weeks. AND it won't stop her getting presbyopia (old people's eyes) when she is around 40, just like the rest of us. Not much point older people having it done, for that reason. I don't think I'd be brave enough, personally.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Lizzard, Leave JC alone wink wink Laughing , or is that Jean Claude (Vandamme).
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pam w

Me and the wife had it done the same day. I had the treatment done where they peel the eye skin back, more risky but quicker healing hence I could drive the next day. My wife had the less risky (she is (was) only -1.5 in each eye) and her recovery was a week or so.

Have been of line all day and haven't read most of the thread (can't now blind, joking!) as it seems a lot of dribble has been written or fighting or something. Personally I would recommend to everyone to get there eyes done. I had no issues whatsoever wearing glasses, it was sport that was the problem as I hated contacts. The ability to go play any sport any time is worth every penny. Very Happy
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When I asked my optician about tiit he said go for it! He runs a small independent opticians and my family has been going to him for years so I trusted his opinion.
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I like to think glasses hide the bags under my eyes - or perhaps I'm just deluding myself..... Toofy Grin Toofy Grin
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I wear contacts for sport only, otherwise I wear glasses. I can understand long term contact wearers wanting to go down this route as I believe that 20yrs of bins all day, every day might have an effect on your eyes.

I'd consider surgery but am not desperate to have it done at this time.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
I'm looking forward to getting mine done in a few years. For now I'll suffer contacts though. I'm just waiting for a higher success rate - my eyes are not something I want to risk very much.
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tequilaslammer, how high?
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Not sure haha, but a lot nearer 100%. There's also the issue of raising money for it.
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Quote:

There's also the issue of raising money for it.

It did seem like a lot, that's why it was a 21st present for my daughter, but actually it pays for itself quite quickly given the high cost of specs. Just spent hundreds at Specsavers for new varifocals with lightweight lenses etc.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
tequilaslammer wrote:
Not sure haha, but a lot nearer 100%. There's also the issue of raising money for it.


Cost me and the wife £1,200 each. Paid for itself in 2 1/2 years in pure money terms. As a -4.5 close to guide dog person, cost in terms of now ability to do any sport any time, Priceless. snowHead Very Happy
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gwaelod wrote:


Cost me and the wife £1,200 each. Paid for itself in 2 1/2 years in pure money terms. As a -4.5 close to guide dog person, cost in terms of now ability to do any sport any time, Priceless. snowHead Very Happy


gwaelod -4.5 close to guide dog person - pah! Toofy Grin I'm -11.0 in both eyes - real short sightedness. Which is one reason I am also cautious about having laser surgery, see this report
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Alastair Pink wrote:
gwaelod wrote:


Cost me and the wife £1,200 each. Paid for itself in 2 1/2 years in pure money terms. As a -4.5 close to guide dog person, cost in terms of now ability to do any sport any time, Priceless. snowHead Very Happy


gwaelod -4.5 close to guide dog person - pah! Toofy Grin I'm -11.0 in both eyes - real short sightedness. Which is one reason I am also cautious about having laser surgery, see this report


Fair point. The optican advising me is/was -8.5 in each eye and was open about that at his level he wouldn't have it done as technology wasn't there yet but for my eye level so long as I knew the potential risks it was ok.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Alastair Pink, this is the reason I've never had it done. -10.5 in one (and astigmatism) and -9 in the other. Have worn contacts for nearly 20 years but advised to stop wearing them all the time, so like others I only wear them for sports now. gwaelod, you don't know what shortsightedness is!! I'll wait a while longer whilst they get it sorted better as I do miss wearing contacts, but the long term health of my eyes is more important!
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 Poster: A snowHead
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Not an option for me as I have a condition called Ketatoconus. I have seen (slightly blurred wink )a specialist every 6 months for the past 20 years. Double figure minus in both and a very short tolerance, due to the condition, for contact lenses. Only hard lenses are any use, which reduces the wear time further. Night vision is not great either.

Sounds a bit rough but it is not: I am legal to drive with glasses, have been stable for 15 yrs, and here is the best bit - have improved vision when I do wear contact and when skiing can wear them for 8 hrs Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy The cool fresh air rushing into the eye is simply wonderful for the eyes. Skiing rocks in soooo many ways

Sorry for the essay but bored at work Laughing
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Frosty the Snowman, stevew,

I never really got on with contact lenses and during a visit to the optican a lady optican explained to me the reason was I didn't wink properly. I mis heard her initially and was stunned Shocked Embarassed . However then I realsied what she said and asked her to explain.

When I wink I don't close my eye fully leaving a small gap for air to get in which causes the eye to dry out. Often after a while wearing contact I wuld have to peel the lens out Sad Sad . She told me to go away and practice winking. I gave up on contacts other than to purely do or play a sport and they came out the second I finished.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Quote:

I gave up on contacts other than to purely do or play a sport and they came out the second I finished.
Nothing wrong with that. Specs rule....you should see me dressed as a sexy secretary Toofy Grin
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Whitegold wrote:
Short-sightedness is harmful to health... it causes low self-esteem. ...


In all seriousness I would be interested in your sources for this.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Ray Zorro, and a source demonstrating that 'low self-esteem' is a health issue per se.
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Alastair Pink, thanks for that link, interesting read. That suggests a better chance of success with my eyesight than some other things I've read.

I'm -7.50 (-0.50 cyl) and -8.00 (-1.00) with the worse eye being the one that's giving me problems with contacts now (following a nasty bout of shingles - not recommended, folks)

I shall see (as it were) what the clinic says on Friday. I'm at least reassured that skiing is usually ok, from people's helpful comments!

My self-esteem is alive and well, but I am a bit fed up of not being able to drive!
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
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My husband is very short sighted and also diabetic and mostly for the latter reason has decided against laser surgery. He would also probably still have to wear specs for "old people" eyes, so there's not a lot of point. But I am going to think about some prescription goggles for Christmas!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
JT wrote:
kitenski,

Could be.... or he knows something we don't. It is a relatively new procedure so we don't know what the long term issues are, either.

I'll wait a while longer


I've just come across this site, I know why refractive surgeons wear glasses (interesting title! Toofy Grin )
It seems to list a lot of potential problems with laser surgery Shocked , but in fairness to the site it does say "These are EyeKnowWhy opinions and everyone is free to disagree. References have been provided for your own research. "

Apparently the mechanical strength of the cornea is provided by transparent fibres called stroma. With the Lasik procedure where a flap is cut,this involves cutting across stroma, with an inevitable reduction in the mechanical strength. This can cause structural weakness, resulting in a condition called ectasia. Elsewhere I've seen it stated that this reduced mechanical strength increases the chances of rupture in accidents (eg if a car airbag goes off)

A typical consent form lists the possibilities of what may go wrong. I think for the moment I'll stick to wearing glasses.
Madeye-Smiley
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I learnt an interesting fact today - having 20:20 vision just means having both eyes the same, not how well they can see. Its to do with perspective and stuff....
I wouldn't have guessed, but it means my sister could fly planes if she wanted.
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tequilaslammer, wrong I'm afraid. It refers to one eye. It means that it can distinguish objects 20 ft away that an average eye (of those not needing correction) can distinguish at 20 ft. I'm willing to be corrected on the detail, but I'm pretty certain it's a measure of visual acuity.
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well i don't mind being wrong on that - it means my sister was wrong, and its always nice to correct her Very Happy
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
tequilaslammer, it's exactly as laundryman posted, a test of visual acuity, in essence the ability to discriminate points at an angular distance apart, and there'll be a value/result for each eye
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Well my optician says I have better than 20/20 vision with my new £300 varifocal glasses..... just better not lose the b**g*rs.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Used to ski with glasses and have been a contact wearer for two years now, with glasses... it's not helmet friendly, least for me. Glasses would get pushed forward and eugh such a hassle so just never wore them and not great, now i ski and i can see too!
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
JT,
Quote:

I can understand long term contact wearers wanting to go down this route as I believe that 20yrs of bins all day, every day might have an effect on your eyes.

The secret to damage-free corneas in long term use, if my experience is anything to go by, is to make sure that you wear your glasses for odd days from time to time. I have been wearing hard lenses (gas permeable ones, apart from a few scratchy initial years) for well over 20 years and have never had a moment's bother with them. If need be, I can wear them for 24 hours at a stretch (have even been known to sleep for short periods with them in) but I usually have at least one day in glasses at the weekend, plus the odd evening.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
My eyes are too valuable to me to risk the small risk of complications, particularly when a satisfactory alternative is available. The risk of bothersome if not devastating complications is bigger than for instance the risk of significant complications from general anaesthesia. I'd only have a GA if I needed one to have treated or prevented something that would likely have a major effect as opposed to inconvenience on my activities of daily living. I'm happy with glasses when out and soft contacts when playing sport, though it's of relevance that my eyes aren't that myopic, so that I can get away without them for lots of day to day stuff. Not interested in how glasses make me look.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
[quote="pam w"]
Quote:

. AND it won't stop her getting presbyopia (old people's eyes) when she is around 40, just like the rest of us. Not much point older people having it done, for that reason. I don't think I'd be brave enough, personally.


Anymore info on this Pam?

regards,

Greg
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
[size=7]Laser eye surgery is not suitable for 1 in 4 people due to the depth of the cornea. I have had Lasik wavefront surgery done on both eyes 5 weeks ago. I wore +3 glasses before as i was long sighted. The procedure only takes about 10 minutes although the appointment takes up about 3 hours in all. You must not drive afterwards that day at least so get someone to go with you.
It seems from my research beforehand that Laser eye surgery has more instant benefit for short sighted people. In my case my near vision was perfect right away but my distance vision is coming back gradually and for longer sighted people considering this treatment i would advise you to expect reduced distance vision whilst driving and every car headlight and street light will be a Glare Fest. This will pass but you have to give it time. This transition to normal sight is due to the surgeon over correcting to compensate for the eye returning to it's natural shape after surgery.Like i said,you have to give it time. I did become (and still am) obsessed with reading car number plates as an acid test on how my distance vision was/is improving. I am at a legal standard to drive now but i have nowhere near the distance i had when i wore glasses. I will not wear glasses to correct this as that may impair a natural transition back to normal distance vision. It's frustrating though.

I have been skiing at the Snowdome at Tamworth since and i am well chuffed as before eye surgery i could not wear glasses under goggles due to steaming up so i had to ski blurred at times when i needed to wear goggles.

For people with severe long sight then the 'eye people' will recommend Lens implants or replacements.This is a more invasive procedure similar to corrective Cataracht surgery (and also more expensive).You can expect 20/20 vision afterwards.

http://www.eye-surgery-uk.com/eye_rlr_a.html

Do i recommend corrective eye surgery - YES.

Overall i am saying , Get all the information you can, shop around and then Go for it

Rob



Laughing


Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sun 9-09-07 13:47; edited 8 times in total
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kitenski, my understanding is that for someone like my daughter, who was short sighted and had the laser treatment at 21 (the youngest they will do it, as prescriptions too changeable before then) is that once she reaches the age when presbyopia kicks in, she will have the same problems as the rest of us. Holding a needle a long way away to thread it, wondering why phone books are printed so small these days. Gradually needing glasses for reading - the sort you buy for a few quid in Boots, initially. I was lucky to have had perfect vision until my early 40s, and she's now in the same position. We have a friend who had laser surgery for short sight, which was straightforward and successful, but he still has to have reading glasses - he's younger than me, probably early fifties. My vision has changed slowly but surely since my mid 40s, indeed I just got new glasses with a stronger prescription (the old ones are 3 years old). I have varifocals and wear them all the time. Under goggles when skiing, with no problems. Sailing can be a bit of a pain, because of the spray, but if necessary I can see enough without them, for example if helming in rain or heavy weather. I don't think laser surgery would do much for someone in my position, even if I wanted to consider it, which I don't. I'm hopeless with contacts - did try them, but not motivated enough and gave up before even leaving Specsavers "free trial". Makes my eyes water just to think about it. If I was a racing sailor I'd probably stick it out as they are undoubtedly the right answer!
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Laser eye surgery is not suitable for 1 in 4 people due to the depth of the cornea. I have had Lasik wavefront surgery done on both eyes 5 weeks ago. I wore +3 glasses before as i was long sighted. The procedure only takes about 10 minutes although the appointment takes up about 3 hours in all. You must not drive afterwards that day at least so get someone to go with you.
It seems from my research beforehand that Laser eye surgery has more instant benefit for short sighted people. In my case my near vision was perfect right away but my distance vision is coming back gradually and for longer sighted people considering this treatment i would advise you to expect reduced distance vision whilst driving and every car headlight and street light will be a Glare Fest. This will pass but you have to give it time. This transition to normal sight is due to the surgeon over correcting to compensate for the eye returning to it's natural shape after surgery.Like i said,you have to give it time. I did become (and still am) obsessed with reading car number plates as an acid test on how my distance vision was/is improving. I am at a legal standard to drive now but i have nowhere near the distance i had when i wore glasses. I will not wear glasses to correct this as that may impair a natural transition back to normal distance vision. It's frustrating though.

I have been skiing at the Snowdome at Tamworth since and i am well chuffed as before eye surgery i could not wear glasses under goggles due to steaming up so i had to ski blurred at times when i needed to wear goggles.

For people with severe long sight then the 'eye people' will recommend Lens implants or replacements.This is a more invasive procedure similar to corrective Cataracht surgery (and also more expensive).You can expect 20/20 vision afterwards.

http://www.eye-surgery-uk.com/eye_rlr_a.html

Do i recommend corrective eye surgery - YES.

Overall i am saying , Get all the information you can, shop around and then Go for it

Rob
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I'd love not to be such a cowardy custard that I'd go and get mine done. I hate my specs - and have worn specs since I was about 13. As I've explained in threads before I had to stop wearing contacts (that I loved) long term as blood vessels started to grow towards the lens to get more oxygen (I wore contacts in the days when they were still thick lumps of jelly that you needed to wash in soap and soak each night in various solutions). I often think about the success stories of the laser treatments, but I'm sure I couldn't sit through the process due to fear. However, this year the optician has let me have contacts for high days and holidays, and has said that she will let me wear them for a week at a time on my ski holiday providing I take them out when I have finished skiing for the day and let the eyes breath when they can. The only thing is that I will need lots of options with me at a time - my clear pair of prescription specs, my prescription sunnies, my non prescription skiing goggles and my standard sunglasses!!
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Megamum, Have you tried gas permeable hard lenses? They let your eyes breathe! I think a lot of people nowadays assume that soft lenses are always more comfortable. They are for some folks, but not for everybody. And they are the most unbelievable faff in comparison with hard ones (well I guess not the disposables - but with those there's the expense to contend with.) I started wearing glasses when I was five, btw, and lenses - over which I now have to wear reading glasses, as the contact lens options for presbyopia are no good for me - when I was sixteen.

Anyway, just a thought, if you haven't actually tried rigid lenses.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Has anyone here had laser eye surgery? I have been researching lasik information for a few months and I think I am ready for the surgery. Any suggestions?
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kellz123 wrote:
Has anyone here had laser eye surgery? I have been researching lasik information for a few months and I think I am ready for the surgery. Any suggestions?


Me and the wife had it done same time, same day. Drove the morning after. I was -4.5 in each eye.

One recommendation is make sure whoever you seek advice from is an opticans not just a laser eye surgery firm. I went to 3 firms. 2 only did laser surgery and I found, as you would kind of expect, they were to blinkered on the laser and really did not cover the risks.

I used Optical Express. Found them and their after care fantastic.

http://www.opticalexpress.com/uk/home
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I too would like to be brave enough to consider it. I've heard lost of positive comments but I've also heard a few horror stories. Doe's anyone who's had it done suffer from the glare issue which makes night driving tough? I've heard that's a common problem.

Whitegold - you are wrong - I've worn glasses for years and have none of the problems with self esteem that you indicate. In fact, a part of me would kind of miss the (false) "intellectual" advantage which I have enjoyed since wearing glasses as people often view one as bookish or thoughful. I have, at times, found myself being taken way too seriously when wearing specs.
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