LASIK updates?

[Fly320s]

The last LASIK thread was two years ago.  Those of you that had it done, how are your eyes today?

I ask because I wear contacts and I have conjuctivitis again.  I seem to get it every year.  Even though I use disposable contacts, the risk of eye infections are increased. I don't like wearing contacts/glasses anyway and the yearly infections are just more reasons to get rid of contacts.

Prices are down, plenty of data on file about how safe it is, so I am thinking about getting it done.

[MillCreek]

Having LASIK done does not impact your FAA medical? 

[roo_ster]

Having LASIK done does not impact your FAA medical? 

Not sure about that, but attitudes have changed WRT corrective eye surgery over time. 

Back when it was RK, it would get you disqualified for the Air Force Academy and maybe even all armed forces.  They could detect RK via the scars left on the eye from the surgery. 

Then the after better LASIK surgeries came a rash of AF Academy cadets who miraculously improved their eyesight during their time at the academy.  With no detectable scarring on the eye.

Nowadays, it is not disqualifying for the AF Academy or the other services, IIRC.

I used to be adamantly against RK/LASIK for my own self, but I am less so today.  Heck, I think the armed forces might benefit from providing it to some of their members, such as pilots.

[BobR]

I used to be adamantly against RK/LASIK for my own self, but I am less so today.  Heck, I think the armed forces might benefit from providing it to some of their members, such as pilots.

The Army, as well as the other services have been providing vision correction surgery to their member for a while now. Some, somewhere probably saw the value in having warfighters being able to see clearly without the use of corrective lenses that get lost, scratched, dirty, and eventually get thrown away because crappy vision is better than what you get with scratched up lenses. Strange, common sense prevails at times in the Big Green Machine. :)

http://www.army-portal.com/benefits/eye-surgery.html

bob
 

[Kingcreek]

In 2008 had the wave front Lasik procedure.
Still testing 20/20 or a little better, Still very happy. I go back and pay $75 for an annual eye exam that is basically an extended warranty on the Lasik. If It ever has to be redone or adjusted, its no cost to me.
If I time traveled, Would I do it again? You bet, only sooner.

[Fly320s]

Having LASIK done does not impact your FAA medical? 

No.  The FAA approved it many years ago.  IIRC, LASIK is also approved for military personnel.

I see that has been answered already. 

[Fly320s]

In 2008 had the wave front Lasik procedure.
Still testing 20/20 or a little better, Still very happy. I go back and pay $75 for an annual eye exam that is basically an extended warranty on the Lasik. If It ever has to be redone or adjusted, its no cost to me.
If I time traveled, Would I do it again? You bet, only sooner.

Good info, thanks.  Did you use an individual surgeon or one of the "chain" stores, such Clear Advantage Laser?

[MechAg94]

I am 4 years or more out from surgery.  No issues so far.  I was near sighted with astigmatism.  The doctor warned me that I was of an age where my near vision would start getting bad in a few years.  Sometimes I think that is happening, but I think it is mostly in my head.  I used eye drops for nearly a year after the surgery.  I slowly stopped using that stuff as much to the point I never used it after that year. 

I actually stopped going to the eye doctor as I have no need of prescriptions for lenses and such.  I probably need to get back to an annual visit.

[Kingcreek]

Good info, thanks.  Did you use an individual surgeon or one of the "chain" stores, such Clear Advantage Laser?

I used a optho eye surgery group in our area that does everything, cataracs, glaucoma, retinal detachments, etc with one doc that had done thousands of the Lasik procedures, many more than anyone else in the area, and had excellent ratings by the industry or manufacturer of the Lasik equipment.
I figured I wanted to find the best balance of cutting edge new technology and actual experience in use. I had one minor "adjustment" on my right eye 6 months after the initial procedure but everything great since.

[RoadKingLarry]

5.5 years now. One of the best things I've ever done for myself.
I do need reading glasses for reading and close work but most people over 50 do anyway.
Pre-LASIK I was so nearsighted that I couldn't read a stop sign at 20'.

[Ben]

So just curious, standard LASIK is different than something like cataract surgery? Because my dad had cataract surgery when he was 85, and now he sees better than I do, including not needing reading glasses anymore. It appears LASIK doesn't address near vision (i.e. what you need reading glasses for)?

[RoadKingLarry]

For us more seasoned folks the problem with near vision is more due to the age related loss of eye's ability to change it's focus point.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/presbyopia.htm

[Ben]

For us more seasoned folks the problem with near vision is more due to the age related loss of eye's ability to change it's focus point.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/presbyopia.htm

Well, my dad needed reading glasses before the cataract surgery. After, he didn't need them at all. I think he already started using them in his 40's. I didn't really start needing them until just a couple of years ago, in my mid-50's. I'm just now starting to see some degradation in my far vision. If I went in for a surgery, I would love something that eliminated all glasses.

[Kingcreek]

They can do a split correction with one eye for distance and one for near. They tried to talk me into that but I insisted I wanted both eyes for distance vision because I shoot skeet and sporting clays and I hunt. I want good binocular vision. I am willing to wear $10 cheaters for reading.

[Ben]

They can do a split correction with one eye for distance and one for near.

I'm getting a headache just imagining that. 

[Andiron]

11 years out,   no issues other than halos around bright lights for the first year or so.

If you have sensitive eyes ( I couldn't wear contacts), it hurts like a mother *expletive deleted*er.