Have You Ever Been Through Or Considered Corrective Eye Surgery?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
March 24, 2011 9:10pm CST
As in Laser Surgery?
In my case, I have worn specs since I was 11 years old. I started wearing them all the time around 5 years ago as I got fed up of taking them on and off so ended up keeping them on. I didn't wear them on my wedding day as I wanted to look "different" and I actually look younger when I don't wear them. Luckily, John (hubby) is very tall with red hair so I knew I was marrying the right guy! He has worn specs for a long time as well but I'm responsible for him wearing more trendy ones. He used to wear glasses that made him look, well, a geek if truth be told.
I am short-sighted and short-sighted people are considered ideal candidates for corrective eye surgery. I see adverts all the time of past Olympic athletes telling us all that their eyesight is "brilliant" after surgery and "who wouldn't want 20/20 vision?"
Mmmm! I remain unconvinced. For starters, I'm terrified about anything to do with my eyes. I also know that not everyone HAS perfect vision after such surgery and ends up being back (eventually) to where they were before they had it done..and in rare cases they end up blind due to the surgery itself.
What are your views on this? Have you had this procedure done or are at least thinking about it? Do you know anybody who has had it done? Was it a success?
I am short-sighted and short-sighted people are considered ideal candidates for corrective eye surgery. I see adverts all the time of past Olympic athletes telling us all that their eyesight is "brilliant" after surgery and "who wouldn't want 20/20 vision?"
Mmmm! I remain unconvinced. For starters, I'm terrified about anything to do with my eyes. I also know that not everyone HAS perfect vision after such surgery and ends up being back (eventually) to where they were before they had it done..and in rare cases they end up blind due to the surgery itself.
What are your views on this? Have you had this procedure done or are at least thinking about it? Do you know anybody who has had it done? Was it a success?2 people like this
17 responses
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Mar 11
Back in 1999 I talked to a Dr. friend about it. He had done some research on it, and here were his main objections:
1. didn't cure presbyopia (where you need reading glasses when you get older)
2. procedure hadn't been around long enough to know what the long term effects were
3. if the correction was "off" there was no way to go back and fix it
My sister has had the procedure done and is very happy with it. I've been thinking about it for a long time, but will probably just continue to deal with glasses.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
29 Mar 11
I've never heard that it was temporary. Probably your eyes can still change, but I don't believe they can go back to the way they were before.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
25 Mar 11
I'm short sighted and I have been using spectacles since the age of 11. In 1996, I got my contact lenses...but I use those only when I go out and prefer specs to the lenses. I haven't been through laser surgery but am considering it (when I manage to save enough for it). My sister got laser surgery done a couple of years back and she has perfect vision now. She was a little wary of the surgery but she got it done by her student's parents and she is happy with the results.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Mar 11
Is it true that if you move ever so slightly it can make the operation fail and you may go blind? I read that ages ago but the procedure must've improved since then, otherwise no-one would take it up. I agree about the expense though..very dear! Glad it was a success for your sister.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
25 Mar 11
I don't think there is a problem with slight movement but I will need to ask my sister. There are are precautions to be taken for a week or so. That was another reason why I didn't get it done when my sister did. My younger son was just a year old at the time and I would have needed more help at home if I chose to have it done then.
@GardenGerty (157678)
• United States
25 Mar 11
I am far sighted with astigmatism and would still need glasses much of the time even if I had corrective surgery. I have a sister in law who had it and it was great for a while. Now she does sometimes wear glasses to read but for most everything else she is great. She must have had the surgery at least ten years ago. It is a procedure that keeps improving and if I could afford it and it would make a huge difference I would consider it. I imagine that eventually I will have cataracts and need to have them removed, but that is a different surgery.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Mar 11
Yes, my Mum has had one cataract removed and will need to have another one removed from her other eye once it grows right across. This is rare as she's still only 64.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157678)
• United States
25 Mar 11
Most people I have known have had cataracts removed in the fifties and sixties. My dad was a lot younger. Of course he had been a smoker, and never wore sunglasses.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
28 Mar 11
i'd thought about it.but it's just too risky for me.
i can really live with my eyesight rather than risk something going bad.
having said that tho,most of mom's family had cataract surgery,so i expect it.
maybe i'll just have both fixed at once.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Mar 11
Laser surgery was mentioned to Mum when she had her first cataract removed. It would probably be free for her to have it done but she still declined. She's so glad to have the cataract removed she's not that bothered about any further treatment that may or may not be available. New specs is what she needs, same as me.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
25 Mar 11
I know a few people who have had this done and have done well with it and very happy. If I used glasses I must admit I would be too afraid to be one of the ones that perhaps it did not work on.
I would be afraid that while trying to repair my site I would be the unfortunate one to end up blind or something like that. I have read on it often and see they say it is safe but I am way too leary about it.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
25 Mar 11
Actually Janey I know of a male and female up in age past 60's who have done it, but I would be tooo scared.
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
9 Jan 12
What is the power of the glass you use now? If it is more than -6 Dsp you can opt for LASIK surgery. Otherwise, it is wise to use ordinary specs or at best a contact lens.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Jan 12
To be honest I've no idea as I've not had my eyes tested for about 5 years.
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
28 Mar 11
Said my optalmologist, my cataract is in full blown and need to be removed in five years time, though my vision she added, is great and need not necessary for an eyeglass. But I guess this is another issue. But since I never came back to her in years, I need to use an eyeglass to help me, can't read better, I am far sighted and I have problem when I am in front of the computer, especially with this tiny netbook of mine. I don't know one who had done a corrective eye surgery either.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Mar 11
Sorry to hear about your cataract.
I know what you mean about netbooks. I won't have one because of the small screen. This one I have now is part of a desktop computer set-up and the monitor is 20". I'm quite pleased they're still made but desktop computers are becoming rarer because people want info on the go these days.
What browser do you use? I downloaded the latest version of Firefox (4) and it's probably the best they've brought out so far. The reason I ask is that there are add-ons you can download from their website (all free of course, as is Firefox 4 itself) and one of them is called NoSquint. I find it very useful as you can make text larger and change background/text colours as well. You can do this will all sites (Global) or with individual sites, you can also change it back to how it was before. It's very easy to use.
Anything to help us out, right?
I know what you mean about netbooks. I won't have one because of the small screen. This one I have now is part of a desktop computer set-up and the monitor is 20". I'm quite pleased they're still made but desktop computers are becoming rarer because people want info on the go these days.
What browser do you use? I downloaded the latest version of Firefox (4) and it's probably the best they've brought out so far. The reason I ask is that there are add-ons you can download from their website (all free of course, as is Firefox 4 itself) and one of them is called NoSquint. I find it very useful as you can make text larger and change background/text colours as well. You can do this will all sites (Global) or with individual sites, you can also change it back to how it was before. It's very easy to use.
Anything to help us out, right?
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
25 Mar 11
I wouldn't know about this. Although it would be cool to have laser eyes like Cyclops. I can blast anything I can with it.
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
25 Mar 11
I am nearsighted with astigmatisn and started wearing glasses when I was 8, switched to hard contacts when I was 16, and finally went to extended-wear disposables when I was about 30...?...I think. Anyway, I HATE glasses. I wear my contacts day and night for weeks, throw them out, in with a new pair. That is the least invasive way for me to deal with not being able to see.
So have I looked into LASIK? You know it! But, unfortunately, my doctor says I am too nearsighted (20/500) for LASIK to do much good. In other words, I would still have to wear corrective lenses. Well, that sort of defeats the whole purpose!
But if they ever improve it, I am first in line!
But if they ever improve it, I am first in line!@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Mar 11
The only thing I don't like through wearing glasses is that they make me look older. No design on the planet will do the opposite, unforunately. So, in order to look "different" when I go out I simply leave my glasses at home. I have to wear them at the football though, otherwise the players would be a tad blurry. This is a pain but necessary.
I'm not brave enough to have laser surgery and it's way to expensive anyway.
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
25 Mar 11
Well even i had idea of doing a corrective surgery for my myophia or short-sightedness. But my doctor checked and said that i may not need it as my power is -3/-3 on both eyes and to my age its not advisable to go. She also mentioned its true there are side effects in corrective eye surgery. So I dropped the plan and going on with my contact lenses
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Mar 11
Erm, yes, I think the eyes must reach a certain criteria in order for the operation to be carried out. I often wonder if private clinics talk people into having it done then their eyes show an improvement (temporarily) then they go back to how they were before..or worse. No doubt that would happen to me although there are organisations that are fairly well-respected so I'd go to them, not a practice I'd never heard of. I wouldn't want to waste my money!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Mar 11
Yes, I guess if people are brave enough to have it done then good luck to them. I'm glad it worked with your past boyfriend.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16548)
• China
25 Mar 11
I have been nearsighted since middle school,but I didn't wear specs at ordinary time except I attended class or read.It is said that short-sighted people's vision will improve when they are aging.Now I am 61,but I am still short-sighted ,merely at the time I read ,the book has to be slightly farther away from my eyes.As for Laser Surgery,that is not a hundred per cent sure,I have never thought of it.I think It is better to be a shortsighted people than being blind.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Mar 11
That last sentence struck a chord with me my friend. I guess I'm not vain enough to have it done and it's not like I can't see at all. At the moment I can see my daffodils nodding away in the sunshine..that's good enough for me, even with my specs on lol.
@snyderblog (82)
• United States
25 Mar 11
My sister did lasik surgery. She said it felt like she had sand in her eyes for a few days after but now is the best thing she ever did. I do caution though, you must do your homework and go to a recommended, licensed professional. Don't be afraid to check with the AMA - American Medical Association and Better Business Bureau in your area first.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Mar 11
I would if I lived in the US lol..but thanks anyway.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
26 Mar 11
I've considered it, as two of my cousins have had it and their surgeries were successful. But I'm still a bit too scared to do it, I think.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Mar 11
I think it's brave how people have these things done to their eyes. Mum had a cataract removed about 5 years ago and I thought she was brave. Unfortunately, she has another one growing on her other eye so she has to wait for that to cover it before a 2nd operation.
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
25 Mar 11
There is no need for surgery if you are comfortable with your spectacles. However if you want to improve your eyesight naturally you could do some simple yoga exercises.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5jP0QH0yhE
