Glasses, Contacts and Lasik

[Jilly]

The "roughing it" thread has many comments about contacts and Lasik, or any version of laser surgery. I wear contacts, but my eye specialist hasn't mentioned to me about any surgery. They do it, so that's not the issue. How many of us wear contacts, what type and are you thinking or have had laser correction??

I've worn contacts for almost 30 years. I've gone from hard, to soft, to disposables. Now my prescription is such that I need cheaters to read the computer. Just like my mother!! I would love to look into surgery and also would like to hear the stories.

 

[lynseyf]

I had surgery 8 years ago when I was 21 which was the youngest age you can get it done at in the UK. I couldn't wear contacts all the time, only for a few hours a day and only a few days a week and I found my glasses really annoying when it was raining or cold or if I just wanted to lie in bed and watch tv. I haven't had any problems at all with the surgery and find it difficult to remember how blind I was before
I would totally recommend it, particularly if you know someone else who has had it done and could recommend a good surgeon.

 

[SkiNurse]

I hated wearing contacts and hated wearing glasses even more. I wish I would've had the Lasik done at an earlier age, but at least it is done. I had mine done two years ago at the age of 41.

I have such dry eyes anyway, the one complication I have is even more dry eyes. But, it is nothing compared to thehassle of contact lenses/glasses for skiing, hiking, camping etc.

Noiw, just because I've had Lasik done, doesn't mean I won't have to wear cheaters some time in the future...just what happens with age. But, if you are already wearing cheaters, than there is a corrective Lasik that can be done so you don't have to wear them.

 

[altagirl]

I wore extended wear contacts (slept in them 99% of the time) for almost 20 years. Finally that started to get to me and my eyes didn't like wearing contacts any more and I coughed up the money to have LASIK done.

Wow, I should have done that sooner.

Now, 5 months later, I have 20/12 vision (awesome!), my eyes are way LESS dry than they ever were before (still need drops if I get dehydrated or am in really dusty conditions - but say one or two times a week max.), and my night vision is also better than it ever was before. I always had such dry eyes at night with my contacts things would get blurry, and if I wore glasses I always noticed glare on the lenses and nothing ever looked as clear as it should. After the LASIK, I had halos around bright lights at night for a few weeks, but that cleared up and now it's perfect. And my daytime vision was perfect within 12 hours of the procedure!

Definitely go to a good doctor though. I know I had been told that I didn't NEED custom wavefront LASIK, that the regular cheap stuff would be enough. But I'm so happy with my results - I'm glad I spent the extra money and went with the best doctor and facility I could find. You can get a free evaluation from any facility - so go check them out and see where you feel most comfortable.

 

[ski diva]

I've worn contacts for about 30 years, too, but the idea of having elective surgery done to my eyes scares the crap out of me! With my luck I'd be one of those people with bad side effects. So I think I'll pass.

I also suffer terribly from dry eyes,which had an awful effect on my vision. Recently I started using Restasis, and omigod, what a difference! My vision has improved tremendously with and without my contacts, and my eyes are much more comfortable.

 

[abc]

I went from glasses to daily to disposable. I would have love to have LASIK done but my prescription is such it's not doable for the first 10 years of LASIK. Even now, it's still considered "challenging" case only the latest and greatest procedure will do.

In the mean time, I've started getting old age related issues. So I figure what's the point of getting rid of one glasses only to put on another in a couple of years?

There're procedure that will deal with both. But those are a bit new and I'm not that adventureous when it comes to my eye sights, poor as they currently are. :( In any case, I'm at a borderline age so I figure I'll wait a few more years to see what I REALLY need while waiting for the technology to muture.

I expect I'll get LASIK at some point and have the one eye normal and one eye close up kind, unless they come up with any better solutions. My prescription is too strong to NOT do it as I get older.

 

[Little Lightning]

I haven't had any desire to check out Lasik because I wear bifocals and can't see the sense of having to wear glasses too.

A friend of mine had Lasik monovision, so she can also read. My experience with monovision contacts (one contact for reading, one contact for distance) is that it cuts down my depth perception making it difficult to see clearly in cloudy or rainy conditions and at night. However, my friend says she hasn't experienced that problem.

I used to have problems with dry, irritated eyes but it turned out to be allergies. I now use 2 week disposable contacts and Patonal when my eyes itch or feel irritated, which doesn't seem to occur much any more.

I camp, hike, bike, ski, etc. with my contacts. I do bike tours (camping) and don't have an issue with my contacts as long I can get to a sink with water. I carry a small mirror so that I can remove/put in the contacts in the tent if I need to.

Windy days aren't a concern as long as I have a good pair of sunglasses that cover my eyes.

I only wear my glasses around the house or for night/rainy day driving and I do not wear my glasses for any sports activities as the bifocals throws me off.

Unlike the add that I keep hearing about how expensive contacts and glasses are per year I don't buy glasses that often and don't spend all that much on contacts and saline solution.

I figure if what I'm doing works and doesn't bother me why change it?

 

[Kiragirl]

I've worn glasses beginning in 3rd grade and got contacts in 10th grade (thanks, Mom). I've worn contacts for ~ 30 years, cannot get disposables, and my dr. keeps saying as long as we can correct your vision, let's continue with the contacts. I think there are 2 companies in the U.S. that make the contacts I can wear. (I should buy stock in them.) They are actually very good, don't bother me, are very comfortable, are good for sports (with shades or goggles), and I've had them so long I don't worry about the future (yet). I'm hoping I can have LASIK at some point, soon if I can afford it.

My sister had LASIK 2 christmases ago, even tho her prescription is not too bad, but got such an infection and irriation from contacts that she went for it. She loves it, and even drove herself home afterwards. She had one eye for near vision and one for far vision. That seems like it would make me dizzy.

Slightly different topic: my mom has always worn glasses, then had ear surgery, many years ago, the surgeon f*ked up and left her deaf in one ear, so she has always had a hearing aid in her glasses....a mic on one side that delivered sound to the other ear through wiring on her glasses. She always had to wear a somewhat heavy looking frame to carry the wire, now with improvements in the technology she is able to wear a nicer, more lightweight frame because the wire goes around the back of her neck and is not very noticable.

I have often thought, if I were born a few centuries ago, I'd be the crazy person sitting in a corner singing little ditties because I couldn't see well enough to hunt or gather.

 

[abc]

I haven't had any desire to check out Lasik because I wear bifocals and can't see the sense of having to wear glasses too.

You mean bifocal glasses, not contacts, right?

I figure if what I'm doing works and doesn't bother me why change it?

My prescription is quite strong. So bifocal glasses won't work very well (the transition will be too strong). I'm not there yet. But I've seen how my Dad cope (very poorly). So when the time comes that I need bifocals will be the time I look into LASIK to get rid of the near-sightedness, leaving me in the same situation as everyone else needing reading glasses. Or go the monovision way, in which case, I won't need glasses at all.

My family is also susceptable to having catarats early, which I'm having a little bit of already. So it may end up I'll get a new lens instead of having LASIK done on the existing one!

 

[RachelV]

I've worn contacts for about 30 years, too, but the idea of having elective surgery done to my eyes scares the crap out of me!

Oh come on, they're just lasers operated by robots and aimed at your eyes. What's the big deal? ;)

 

[ski diva]

Oh come on, they're just lasers operated by robots and aimed at your eyes. What's the big deal? ;)

That's like the worst science fiction movie ever!

I'm starting to develop cataracts, too, which they tell me is early. So I'll probably have to have something done eventually, anyway. I'll wait for that.

 

[Kiragirl]

an FYI on buying contact lens supplies...I can now buy all my saline, cleaners, etc. through my pre-tax HSA account, which is related to my medical coverage.

 

[snowsparkle2]

Oh come on, they're just lasers operated by robots and aimed at your eyes. What's the big deal? ;)

That's like the worst science fiction movie ever!

Hey you forgot to mention the scalpel slicing bit ........

But seriously, I had my eyes lasered about 6 years ago - especially for my first ski season. It was pretty scary at the time, but one of the best things I've ever done. The most important thing seemed to be to really take care of your eyes for a few weeks afterwards, no smoky bars, no dust etc.

 

[abc]

Did anyone see the LASIK add at the top of the page?

I'd say it's pretty slick!

 

[Little Lightning]

Bifocal glasses. A few years ago my dr. told me bifocal contacts weren't that good. However, like anything else they are probably much better now.

I did a search on Lasik and found a survey to determine if I'd be a good candidate. On the survey I stated that I wanted to be totally free of glasses and contacts. The results came back that I would not be totally free of glasses because of my age. I would still need glasses for reading.

If you google "lasik" there is information on the pros and cons. It's not as risk free as it is made out to be.

Some people are not good candidates, having dry eyes, certain diseases and taking certain meds eliminate some people. The long term effects are still unknown.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Great thread!

After decades of contact lens use, both hard and soft (hated hard), and a switch when needed to monovision (which works for me, no depth issues), I saved pennies for LASIK - and promptly failed the exam. I have early-stage cataracts also, and that eliminates the possibility for the procedure (which I was ready, willing and able to have, even though I probably couldn't get 20/20 out of it with my refraction). This eye center tried to "rush" me into cataract surgery, for which I am DEFINITELY NOT ready (big difference between LASIK office procedure and full-on outpatient surgery!! ). Walked out.

So I'm still with daily wear (not extended or disposable due to cost) monovision contact lenses, but mostly only for sports now. Lasik initially did not include people with my (+ instead of -) refraction - when it finally did, I was anxious to have it. Can't. Definitely will do monovision when/if I have cataract surgery, but as I said, not in a hurry for that.

Also have dry eyes (so they say?), contributes to contact lens discomfort and shorter wear period, so thanks for tip, Ski Diva - next eye exam (soon), I'm going to request restasis and try it.

Glasses, ugh, they cost me almost $500 due to needing double-high-indexing of lenses. Really, truly poor vision....:(

Sure happy for those who were able to do this......was "a day late" (if not dollar short) for me....

 

[Kiragirl]

Glasses, ugh, they cost me almost $500 due to needing double-high-indexing of lenses. Really, truly poor vision....:(

It's amazing how, even with my prescription and constant need for contacts, how truly/relatively INexpensive it is. I have a pair of glasses probably 4-5 years old that I never wear; and when I update a pair of contacts for ~$100 every 1 1/2 years or so, the cost seems like NOTHING. I say to myself, it is worth every penny......then, and, so sorry, not to go on a tangent that we would probably not like, think about testing on animals.

I honestly did not want to bring that into the discussion, but have thought about it over the years-----in guilt-----nothing further to say

 

[SkiNurse]

Yep, I'm a Restasis user also.

The place that did my Lasik attempted to put "plugs" into my tears drains to help keep the moisture in. When that works for people, it is fantasitic. They eventually just dissolve..and people that I know that have had that done, have not had dry eye problems since.

Well, my drain holes were too small for the plugs..so, Restasis it is!

 

[abc]

This eye center tried to "rush" me into cataract surgery, for which I am DEFINITELY NOT ready

If you don't have much problem with your current vision, I guess there's no need to rush.

But for my dad, he waited nearly 10 years before cataract surgery (at the advice of his doctor). The improved vision was so significant he wished he had it done probably 5 years earlier!

I haven't done much research on that front. But I'm not aware of any obvious drawback of doing it early (if it need to be done sooner or later anyway). So as soon as it starts to really bother me, I'm probably going to ask to have it done.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

But I'm not aware of any obvious drawback of doing it early (if it need to be done sooner or later anyway).

Drawbacks: cataract surgery is bonafide, flat-out surgery. Period. With the same restrictions post-op as any other surgery. Little to no physical activity for 6 weeks. No lifting above 10#. No bending over farther than the waist. Both my parents had it, also quite a few friends at this point. It's not an office procedure.

It's also not free for many if not most of us, with ever-increasing deductibles, and where outpatient used to be 100% covered, most policies no longer cover anything at 100%. So there is expense to consider.

Mine are minimal at this point in time and require having an intensely bright light shone into them to even detect by an eye care professional. A huge percentage (the number unknown by me at this point, but I believe the majority) of people over 50 have some detectable cataract. They grow slowly.

I'll be relying on my annual eye exam and test - and input from same eye care professional - to tell me if there has been any real change in my vision to warrant the next step. Then I would have to carefully time this surgery and 6 weeks of (torturous) inactivity.

Will pass until absolutely without alternative.