| Author | Message | ||
     Raceautobody  |
Has anyone had laser eye surgery? I have needed glasses since I was 10 years old. (thats over 20 years) My eye doctor said it might be a good thing for me. Any comments would be great, I don't know anyone how has done it. | ||
| Danny |
http://www.sacborg.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=011214 Consider checking this thread out. Danny 95 S2 02 V-Strom | ||
| Mr_grumpy  |
A friend of mine had it done and it worked out fine for him, I've worn glasses since I was about 6 & I just can't picture myself without em. The latest ones weigh next to nothing with bendy titanium frames & organic lenses, so Ill keep on with them, I think I'm a little scared that without em I'll not be the me that I (and everyone else) has come to know & love.  | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise)  |
Im leery about it. What if they slip? Whats going to happen 20years down the road? Be totally blind due to it? We all thought asbestos was safe many years ago. Comes down to myself just being afraid to let anyone mess with my eyes. I have worn glasses for 30+ years & am so used to them that its a non issue to me. | ||
| Ingemar  |
My uncle had it done and it worked out fine. The healing process takes quite a long time, and one layer came loose after a few weeks but that was an easy fix. | ||
| Reepicheep  |
I had it, love it, 20/15 both eyes when done. Lasik Plus in Cincinnati. It makes motorcycling much better, one less "thing" to manage, and if *everything* gets fogged by some freak event, you can flip up the visor and see again. When I had glasses, it did not happen often, but when it did it was *no* fun. | ||
| Raceautobody |
That is a big reason I am thinking on doing it. In the winter I snowmobile alot and fogging up/freezing up sucks. I have been trying contacts when I am on my bike and last year on the sled but with the wind through my helmet my contacts dry out in no time flat.Hey Reep, is there anything advise about the surgery or what to ask? I keep thinking how nice it would be with glasses but I only have two eyes. Hate to have them screwed up. | ||
| Cyclonemick |
I've had 2 friends do Lasik and are happy with the results. Just do Your Homework on your Physicians background and you'll be fine. | ||
| Reepicheep |
There is some simple stuff, but I think they are all doing such a good job the answer will always be yes. Make sure they don't reuse the actual cutter. In theory, they are good for like 4 cuts, I wanted to the first. Don't think anyone reputable reuses them. There were three machines I could choose from. I took the most expensive, a bausch and lomb flying spot deal. It matched up with some fancy eye surface mapping systems built by the same company. It probably did cost me just a little in up close vision, but nothing significant yet. Later, if I get farsighted sooner, I would rather have my "default" good vision be distance, and my need to be corrected vision up close. I also made sure my surgon had done a boatload of operations. Mine was Lasik Plus in Cincinnati, and the Dr. had done some absurd number of operations, like 12,000 or something. | ||
| Steve_mackay  |
I've been SOOO tempted to get this done. It would be nice waking up, and just being able to see properly. I've had glasses for the past 32 years. Being able to have "normal" sunglasses and such would be nice too. My only thing with having the surgery, is I have to wear some sort of glasses at work most of the time anyhow(work in a moldmaking shop Reep, what did you pay? | ||
| Rek  |
I talked to the Doc about it last year and he convinced me not to because (he said)if you're doing it to get rid of your glasses and you're over 40 you're wasting your time (i.e. bifocals come into play). I have the same problems w/ fog and general dust etc. Cost-wise it is usually less than $2K. Rob | ||
| Newfie_buell  |
A friend here had it done and her eyes went cloudy, she compares it to looking through a heavy fog. She has had more corrective surgery since and its much better but still not 100%. I wear contact lenses and in all the years of biking I have had only one blow out. I am with Greg on this one and my eyes are way too valuable to have someone screwing around with. Now if I was blind and there was a procedure to restore vision I'd jump at the chance. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
my eyes are way too valuable to have someone screwing around with. Yep, you only have 2 & I dont want to take any chances. Besides as has been pointed out, most of us working in factory environment need to wear some form of glasses & while on your bike you need some eye protection if you ride lidless or maybe even if you run around for the day with the face shield on your helmet up or off. Rob..dont mention bi-focals. I think I may be headed that way  . More & more I have been looking over my glasses or taking them off to do close up work, & while reading im now holding the paper further & further away. We are all turning into our grandparents. | ||
| Richieg150  |
I've had about a dozen friends who have had laser corrective surjery,all have loved the results.Like any surjury,there are risks,even if very slight.I myself,havent actually talked to anyone who has had a poor result or problem from this kind of procudure.I think the key is, as I read here earlier,check out the doctor your useing.........for any surgery. | ||
| Midknyte |
We are all turning into our grandparents.   | ||
| Odie  |
One of our flight mechanics had Lasik (sp?) done. Hw said it was the best thing he had ever done in his life (he's only 22 so he's got a ways!) | ||
| Prof_stack  |
Many people need reading glasses when they turn 40 or so. Laser surgery right now can't fix that.  I had contact lenses for years before the dust in the air (between contact lens and eye) irritated my eyes so much during long rides that I went to glasses. Nowadays I have progressive lenses which give me a continuous sweep of sharp vision from up close to distance. Maybe when the technology does the whole package... | ||
| Hootowl  |
I had it done last July. The latest machines even use a laser to cut the flaps...no blades involved. There's no slipping. A computer makes a 3D map of your eye, turns on the laser (which can remove ONE CELL AT A TIME!) and goes to town, if your eye moves even the smallest amount, the laser shuts off. I am very happy with my results. | ||
| Oddbawl  |
Do you guys suppose we could get a group discount? | ||
| Doughnut  |
I'm 27 soon 28, and have worn glasses full time since 5. I would love to not need my glasses to take a •••• in the middle of the night. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Oddbawl, if those are you glasses in your avatar, I'd most definately suggest lasik  | ||
| Sportyeric  |
Its on my to-do list next spring. Checking out the chicks at the swimming pool without having to wear glasses, which is a big giveaway. Motorcycle related:I'm paranoid about having a get-off and having a well-meaning citizen try to remove my helmet while my glasses are still on. I think that would be bad. If I put my glasses down on a table, I can't see them. Have to remember where they are and if someone moves them 6 inches, I'm blind. (Brings back memories of my single days.) There is no reason to go through life like that anymore. I am a little leery that I have developed coping strategies that work now and won't after. Approaching 50, I should have bi-focals but don't like that idea.I read by taking my glasses off and closing one eye. PITA but it works. After surgery, I'll need to go looking for the reading glasses. I'll adjust. I met a girl a couple of years ago from Alaska who was staying in Vancouver to have it done. The price is so much cheaper here that she could cover the flight, the hotels, the procedure,and,I think, a follow-up, for the cost of the procedure alone in the US. "Starting at $499(Can) per eye." There are two different types. I haven't done the homework on that yet. | ||
| Raceautobody |
The Doc I am maybe using is located in soiux falls south dakota. Does bladeless surgery on most. I made an appt. for Jan 12. so i have sometime to back out. My wife is all for it. I am still not quite. Thanks for all the comments. Al | ||
| Davegess |
My wife did it and loves it. She had MONOVISION done, one eye fixed for close up and one for far. She had both near and far vision problems. One eyes ses the close stuff and one the far away. Now she can drive and read the speedo without putting on glasses. She was tolerable for distance, she could pass the DOT eye test for driving but barely. Now she can see great for distance and close up. The brain decides what eye to use for what. It took a few hours for this ti realy kick in a few days for it to work real well. it wasn't that she couldn't see just that the eye that was not seeing well would get eyestrain from trying. Now it just stops trying. The near stuff is from age and getting it fix at 40 can mean you will need glasses in ten more years. Waiting a few years until the aging stablizes and it should last a long time. She was up and reading in about 5 hours. It took a few days for them to feel real good and it has been a few months and she still has some dryuness late in the day. They will also start to hurt a bit after a long day but that is getting better. | ||
| Uwgriz  |
I had it done almost two years ago now. Ipm very happy with the results. I get some halos at night (not bad - I can still drive no problem), but that's because the astigmatism in one eye was pretty severe and the doctor having all of the information knew that I was a higher risk for it. I have an eye drop that takes care of it though so for me, I always had eye drops with me for my contacts, so I'm still way ahead of where I was. Most times I don't even use the drop, but if I need it, it's one drop and I'm set for the night so I still don't need to carry them. Put one in before I head out and forget about it. Healing time was short for me, doc cleared me fro everything including swimming after a week. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. | ||
| Sportyeric |
The miracle of "Google" (laser eye surgery)provides: /hyperlink{An FDA report,http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/498_eye.html} Executive summary: Two main types:PKR and LASIK. 5% end up with worse vision than before. Some possible halo effect that could interfere with night-driving. Still within my risk tolerance. | ||
| Sportyeric |
That was interesting.Has the formatting been simplified? Or have I just been over-complicating things? Anyway, that one above is from the US government, so can't really be trusted.This one is much better,credibility-wise, being from the government of Canada, eh?:http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/medical/laser_eye.html | ||
| Reepicheep |
Also make sure you compare apples to apples... Do you get night vision artifacts? Yes, though they fade with time. But without Lasik, you also get night vision artifacts, i.e. you are blind as a bat. Blurry is an artifact as well. So you put on your glasses... and you get a *different* set of artifacts, also very pronounced. Unless your glasses are brand new, and just cleaned, the artifacts from them will be *far* worse then Lasik is even just one day after surgery. There are several machines that do the surgury, and results vary significantly between them. Choose the machine and the Doctor. | ||
| Jeremyh  |
here is what my current prescription glasses look like. i got tired of wearing the lame arse ones that everybody else has.Not the same as having lasiks done but it will do for now.  (Message edited by jeremyh on November 30, 2004) | ||
| Scooterroid  |
I had LASIK done a couple of years ago. I love it. I was nearsighted, now I'm 20/20. I'm 40+ so I do have to wear reading glasses. Small price to pay though since I've worn eyeglasses all my life.  My night vision doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be and I do get a slight "star" effect from night lights. All-in-all it was the right choice for me. Steve-O | ||
| Cyclonemick |
Hey Jeremy I really like your glasses! Where did you get those? | ||
| Littlebuggles  |
I am also considering the lasik, my contacts give me 20/10 which is great for work and recreation both. I always wear sun glasses or clear/yellow lenses under my lid as the dust gets in my eyes. I have noticed my contacts getting sticky in cold weather snowmobiling, don't recall if my eyes did the same with glasses - I've been wearing contacts for 11 years and prefer them to the glasses I wore for the 10 prior to that. They've been advertising "Custom Lasik" lately, sounds similar to what Hootowl described. They map out your eye and make the changes specific to you - giving better results than the cookie cutter surgery that has been done up 'til now. Sounds like while the tools have improved (laser vs blade) which provides improved results, they have still been doing very much the same treatment on each persons eyes. It is my understanding that there have been so many "results may vary" statements in the small print. Any one heard of this? As I type it it starts sounding like a bunch of whooie. Using the cafeteria plan at work I can have the job done at the start of the year and they just take a bit each month. I am thinking if I start saving my lunch money now I may be more comfortable with the options by the time I have sufficient. I'm still watching and waiting for the cost/technology to reach a level I am comfortable with, and at almost 32 I've starting to have some near vision concerns... | ||
| Jeremyh |
Cyclonemick, they are the OAKLEY X-Metal Penny sunglasses that i had transitional prescription lenses put in. Just go to any local eye care place that carries Oakley and they can get them for you. | ||
| Cyclonemick |
Thanks for the info! I have been needing a new pair of glasses. I think I have found a pair. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
I too have a pair of prescription Oakleys. There are a number of different brands you can get but be aware that due to the lens curvature of some of the designs they may not be able to get your precription to fit all frames. |
