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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 22, 2014 - 01:36pm PT
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So, I'm finally ready to pull the trigger on Lasik Eye Surgery.
I have a drawer filled with reading glasses and am tired of throwing away $$ as my eyes worsen with age. And I want to at least be a grampa before I look like one.
Any supportive stories of how wonderful it is to have your sight back after surgery? Horror stories? Pontifications? Tales of happiness or woe?
As always, thanks for your wisdom, insight and charity hilarity.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Feb 22, 2014 - 02:24pm PT
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I am soooo with you. I'm looking forward to this beta...
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Nohea
Trad climber
Living Outside the Statist Quo
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Feb 22, 2014 - 02:47pm PT
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My wife did it and she is pretty happy. Once she opened her eyes she smiled. That was 5 years ago. At 47 or so I only recently bought my first pair of reading glasses.
She wore glasses most of her life, it wasn't a reading thing. I would have her type here but to her the taco stand is a vice.
Aloha,
Will
7 years ago
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Feb 22, 2014 - 02:59pm PT
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How old was your wife at the time, Nohea? How old are you, pud?
My understanding is that the surgeon wants to see a relatively unchanging Rx in recent years (reflecting a stable cornea) before considering the surgery.
Has anyone heard this, too? This concerns me, as my Rx has slowly changed throughout my life, and continues to do so. Not sure if I'd be a good candidate.
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Braunini
Big Wall climber
cupertino
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Feb 22, 2014 - 03:01pm PT
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Everyone I know that has had this done wishes they had had it done sooner.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 22, 2014 - 03:09pm PT
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I'm 53 yrs old. I noticed a change at 40 and have worn readers for a decade. The last three years have gotten significantly worse. I held off doing it because my doc told me I may have some loss of depth perception post surgery (which I couldn't afford when motorcycle road racing). I retired from that sport and now just want to lose the glasses.
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Feb 22, 2014 - 04:26pm PT
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About 10 years ago had it done. Had coke bottle glasses since i was young. Had 20/20 vision that night after the surgery was done. Its hard to believe how life changing it is. You get to throw your glasses and contacts in the trash. Dont hesitate! But go to the best place you can find.
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Braunini
Big Wall climber
cupertino
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Feb 22, 2014 - 09:55pm PT
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As opposed to actually not commenting
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Jan 30, 2015 - 02:26pm PT
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Pud,
It's almost year later - did you do it? How'd it go? How are you now?
After years of "should I, shouldn't I?", I'm probably going to finally do it. I'm 50 now so eyes have finally stopped changing. I'm blind as a bat near-sighted. Need readers now (which I wear over my contacts). May do mono-vision - did you? If so, how is it affecting your depth-perception? That's something I'm a bit concerned about. Would love to hear of your experience.
What refraction were you beforehand? I'm a -7.75 and -6.75.
Thanks!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 30, 2015 - 02:32pm PT
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Will lasik cure my Snail Eye or do I have to continue the T treatments?
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Under Achiever
Trad climber
Los Angeles
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Jan 30, 2015 - 02:37pm PT
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Best two inventions of the last 1,000 years:
1) Lasik eye surgery
2) Microwave popcorn
Advice:
Go to best surgeon you can afford, and hope your health insurance might even cover a little of the cost. My ins. covered $300 per eye, which was better than getting kicked in the shins.
This is my guy:
http://www.maloneyvision.com/
He did surgery for Lindsey Vonn, Cindy Crawford, Drew Carey.
Edit: Maloney's web page even has a simulated eye performance improvement image, showing Royal Arches, Wash. Column, and Half Dome!
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Jan 30, 2015 - 02:51pm PT
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Hi UA,
Thanks. I have a surgeon...he's been my eye Dr. for years and is excellent and like Maloney (and maybe more so) an expert in the field. I'm super selective with Dr's and conservative and so is he. One eye at a time, etc.
I actually saw Maloney for a second opinion and while I'm sure he's good and he has a nice office, for various reasons I'm sticking with my Dr. And you're absolutely correct, no discount places for me either.
Thanks for your comments!
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Under Achiever
Trad climber
Los Angeles
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Jan 30, 2015 - 02:52pm PT
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I forgot to give the justification for my advice above ^^^
My surgeon was recommended by a co-worker, who ended up with spectacular results. My results were (and continue to be) equally spectacular.
Another co-worker went to Dr. Cheap-O. He had some nasty post-op issues, and now wears glasses...again.
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Jan 30, 2015 - 02:58pm PT
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No worries.
I would never, ever go to a Dr. Cheap-O for anything. Thanks again and glad you have been so happy with it.
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Jan 30, 2015 - 03:03pm PT
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Locker,
I know you had a bad experience and I am sorry for that.
The reason I bumped this is because I want to hear about Pud's results, especially since we are about the same age.
I have the doctor, I've studied everything carefully (for a few years now), I have weighed the pros and cons. So, you may ask, why am I asking for an opinion here? Well, because presumably Pud is climbing and/or doing other outdoor sports and I want to hear how Pud is doing now, about a year on.
Thanks.
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Under Achiever
Trad climber
Los Angeles
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Jan 30, 2015 - 03:04pm PT
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Good point, @locker. I wear reading glasses, too, and my far-sight correction probably made my near-sight vision worse. But I knew that going in. But we're outdoors people first, so to be able to buy a nice pair of sunglasses right off the shelf, or wear ski goggles without another set of foggy lenses underneath...totally worth it.
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Under Achiever
Trad climber
Los Angeles
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Jan 30, 2015 - 03:17pm PT
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I wish you the best possible procedure, and results @crusher. There will always be some risk, medically, and results-wise. It looks like you've done a lot of homework beforehand and that's the best you can do.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
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Jan 30, 2015 - 03:44pm PT
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Locker isn't alone.
One of my co-workers, aged 26, had Lasik from a top notch center. He had to have corrective surgery and after 2 years still has days he can't see well enough to drive. He almost went blind for a while but his eyes are slowly healing and his vision is pretty good now, except the days when it isn't.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 30, 2015 - 04:36pm PT
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I've never heard of a pilot having it done; too great of a risk of being
immediately unemployed. What is the 'complications' rate, 1%? You wanna
roll those dice? I'm not sure that honest reporting is available so I am
merely guessing at the rate.
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Jan 30, 2015 - 04:39pm PT
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Reilly,
A lot of pilots have it done. Military included. That's not the question.
I'll just PM Pud.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Jan 30, 2015 - 04:54pm PT
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My eyesight improved vastly when i tried the virtual reality porn glasses...It's like being in the mix...
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Roger Brown
climber
Oceano, California
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Jan 30, 2015 - 05:09pm PT
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Yea,
Old eyes. My Cataract's were so bad I couldn't see 20/40 even with glasses. Had Cataract surgery on the second eye yesterday. 20/20 left eye-20/30 right eye now, today, without glasses. They put in new lenses. Amazing
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jan 30, 2015 - 06:53pm PT
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hey there say, all... oh my, i am still worried about one of my sons (in late 30's of age) that did this, about 1 1/2? ago... just learned that he had this done, so that he'd not have to wear contacts or glasses... :(
me, yeah, i wish he had done this as, you only got one set of eyes, and it is a risk, just for adjusting vision... yet i understand why he'd try, or be tempted to, for such 'freedom' after hearing all this 'success' stories...
me, and my daughter, and i think it is her son, as well, well, we are so near-sighted (think my son was this bad, too) that we can't see more than 'three feet, about, to distinguish facial features, etc--and--even at two feet things are blurred... however, this is part of life, and i think my folks showed a good example of just be patient with your body, and get on through life, and be thankful...
but now, see, i am worried about how this will fair for him, later, etc...
i remember locker's story, and one or two others, though, their experiences were not as bad... and then, i have known of one other, that so far, is okay, as well (though this guy is still young and had it done about ten?? years ago???)
thanks for sharing, everyone...
hope things went safe, well, and okay, for pud...
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 30, 2015 - 07:50pm PT
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It turned out the only surgery I was a candidate for was "monovision lasik"
where they tune one eye in for distance and the other for near vision.
A non-reversible procedure that depends largely on your brain's ability to be "tricked" into balancing these two new lenses in order to give you relatively clear vision. Reading glasses will likely still be needed for fine print.
Possible side effects include :blur or fog in distance or reading vision, glare and halos, especially at night, reduced night time vision, especially driving, reduced depth perception, an uncomfortable feeling, or even transient diplopia (double vision)caused by temporary strabismus (cross eyed)
With four children to raise I could not afford to have even one of these side effects and a few of them would basically leave me unemployed.
The possible risk did not outweigh the benefits and I chose to continue to rely on readers for the time being. Hopefully future technology will catch up and reduce these risks to an acceptable level, at least for me.
Hope this helps!
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Jan 30, 2015 - 07:54pm PT
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Thanks Pud, I did realize after i first bumped this that you were talking about just near sight correction, that's a bit trickier. If you need an outstanding Opthamologist who's really on top of new developments, pm me.
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JOEY.F
Gym climber
It's not rocket surgery
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Jan 30, 2015 - 10:18pm PT
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fwiw, my contact script is all about monovision. Left eye far worse than right so left is corrected for the near and right corrected for distance . Completly adjusted to it. I understand LASIK would yield same vision. Readers are still needed, but outside only need shades, so I'll do LASIK when my ship rolls in.
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jgill
Boulder climber
The high prairie of southern Colorado
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Jan 30, 2015 - 10:29pm PT
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This is a little off topic, but as a college prof I started wearing distance glasses at about 40 in 1977 or so, and continued to wear them after retirement in 2000. However, as I became an old man in his mid 70s my distance vision improved naturally so that I don't need glasses most of the time. When I get up in the morning and look out across the prairie my vision is nearly perfect.
Perhaps the only benefit of ageing!
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Jan 31, 2015 - 08:25am PT
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Jgill that's very interesting. Do you need reading glasses?
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Norwegian
Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
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Jan 31, 2015 - 08:33am PT
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pud i adore
the title of your thread.
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jgill
Boulder climber
The high prairie of southern Colorado
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Jan 31, 2015 - 12:11pm PT
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Do you need reading glasses?
I don't have to use them, but most of the time I wear simple magnifying lenses - cost about $6 at Walmart. My mother also had the experience of distance vision coming back in her 80s. I didn't believe her at the time!
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Jan 31, 2015 - 12:57pm PT
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Man, I tried 'progressive' lenses for a while, and hated 'em. Just couldn't deal with the weird peripheral vision & depth perception- cruising through the backcountry requires clear sight of the object you're looking at, while having peripheral vision around it. Those damn progressives just didn't work for me- just about got myself killed scrambling around some formations in JT 'cuz I misjudged the terrain...
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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Jan 31, 2015 - 01:30pm PT
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I developed cataracts. When my ophthalmologist replaced my lens to remove the cataracts, he fixed my distance vision to 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other: much better than prior. I still need reading glasses, but I can see very well in most light. Also, I don't see star bursts when I look a lights in the night.
One cool thing about new lens is that they are clear, the way my natural lens were when I was twenty. Every thing that I thought was white turned out to be light yellow. For two weeks I had my new eye seeing white and the other, old one, seeing manila.
During the surgery, patents are sedated but wide awake. It was pretty trippy to see through my eyeball as the new lens was being unfolded, like a dreamy underwater movie scene. On the second surgery, I was so comfortable, I fell asleep, then startled awake. The doctor freaked: "That was an earthquake through my magnifying lens. I had just removed the vacuum from your eyeball." They use ultrasound to break up the old lens and then suck it out. They can do all the work through a 2.5 mm incision, even installing a new 5-6 mm lens, all rolled up: no stitches. My wife went down the street for a Starbucks. I was out of post-op and ready to leave before she got back. Cool medicine.
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JOEY.F
Gym climber
It's not rocket surgery
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Jan 31, 2015 - 07:19pm PT
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wow jgill maybe if one's eyes get better later in life well that's something to look foreword to.
Post op Locker, looking gud lol.
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