Lasik surgery with unstable prescription?
I don't know if my prescription would necessarily be unstable, but ever since I began wearing glasses (almost 15 years ago, I will be 22 in 3 months), my vision has continued to get worse. My prescription a year ago was I believe a -6.70 or 80something. I just had my annual appointment and it has, yet again, gotten worse. I am now a -7.12. I wear contacts all the time, but I've decided to stay with my -6.50 after this last appointment because I don't feel I have any problems with this prescription, and I don't want to stress my eyes to a -7.00. I've always thought about Lasik surgery, but I can't find any clear cut answers on whether or not it would be a good idea to get the surgery considering my prescription has progressively gotten worse and worse over the past 15 years. Should I wait and see if it plateaus? Would it be a better idea to wait until that happens? Or is it a good idea to go ahead and do it? At what point would it be worth considering? And any other info, resources, or suggestions you may have!!
With this prescription can I get LASIK?
If I qualify in every other way can I get lasik with this prescription? Left Eye SPH -4.00 CYL -2.25 AX 180 BC 8.7 Dia 14.5 EXP Right Eye SPH-3.75 CYL -2.25 AX 20 BC 8.7 DIA 14.5 Honestly I don't know what any of this stuff means and im pretty sure the DIA isn't imporatant. (These are off my contacts boxes))
Is laser eye surgery worth getting?
I fully agree with Gabriel Taub.If your eyes are eligible and are otherwise healthy, it’s entirely up to you. Someone whose lifestyle makes it difficult for them to wear glasses or contact lenses, or who just does not like these devices, would benefit. Others who don’t mind them, would be fine carrying on as they are. So it’s all up to the individual.The greatest benefit from getting laser refractive surgery would be convenience from not having to wear glasses or contact lenses (before the onset of presbyopia). Waking up to clear vision, being able to jump into a pool without a second thought, etcOn the other hand there are the small risks of surgery which could include things like under or overcorrection-which could of course be corrected with enhancements. Rarer still are things like infections. You need to be aware of the limitations of such surgery too, including the fact that it does not ‘cure’ presbyopia.If you are really interested in this procedure you need to get a proper eye assessment and then an in-depth discussion with the counsellor/doctor.
Is getting LASIK worth it?
Is it ‘worth’ getting LASIK? There are a couple of ways you can answer this question:Financially - the cost of contact lenses, solutions, and glasses typically costs $200–300 per year. Over your lifetime, until you get to the age when you develop cataracts, this can add up to anywhere from $4000–8000 depending on your age. LASIK costs on average $4000 for both eyes.Lifestyle - some occupations do not allow the use of glasses, certain sporting activities like scuba diving our outdoor sports can be very difficult or inconvenient if corrective lenses are needed. Patients who need glasses have reported being scared when traveling and losing their glasses and not being able to function/find their kids in an amusement water park/etc. LASIK patients universally comment about how they feel ‘liberated’ from having to depend on their glasses or contacts.Do your own research, consult with surgeons and laser centers that have an excellent reputation and results, don’t get talked into something that you are not comfortable with.
Should I consider Lasik for my severe myopia? My prescription is -10 in my left eye and -11 in my right. Will I have success with this procedure?
I would consider -10D and -11D to be right at the edge of what might be treatable with LASIK for a good outcome. The main determinant of suitability would be your corneal thickness, and that would only be known after measurements are done with a corneal pachymeter in clinic.If LASIK is found to be not suitable, there are other refractive surgery options like ICL surgery.But, should you consider LASIK (or any other refractive surgery) for your myopia? Only you can answer this question, because different people have different needs and priorities in life. If you are happy with your glasses or contact lenses, then there is absolutely no need to have surgery. If you find them a problem or a hindrance, or you are having eg problems with contact lenses, then surgery is an option for suitable people.Will you have success with LASIK (or any other refractive surgery)? This question can only be answered after your eyes are assessed in an eye clinic.What about ‘alternative’/’natural’ therapies? I think it’s also worth asking:Will you have success with endmyopia?I would suggest you look up the Endmyopia.org topic or search endmyopia in Quora. There are some interesting answers explaining what lies behind its facade.Suffice to say that there is no evidence that any natural therapy, including endmyopia, works. There are lots of stories and anecdotes, yes, but stories and anecdotes are not considered evidence that you can use to support a particular form of treatment.Delve a bit deeper into the studies cited in endmyopia, and you will find issues like unjustifiable extrapolation and frankly, unsupported claims.Even if things like endmyopia may not physically injure your eyes, theyWaste your timeWaste your money (by making you get unnecessary extra pairs of glasses)Give false hopeBut I digress.If you are not sure, I would advise that you stick with your glasses or contact lenses.I am wearing RGP contact lenses myself, with myopia similar to yours. I have done so for over 3 decades. I have never bothered with ‘normalized’ or ‘differential’ glasses and my myopia has been stable for the past 2 decades.
Lasik -- worth it or not?
There are many variables that to think of when deciding whether it is worth it or not. You didn't mention your age, but I think this is one of the more important issues. First of all, you need to wait until your prescription is stable (usually around 20 years old). Also, if you are a student in college, you may want to wait until you get out because you will probably need a touch up since you will be reading a lot. You also want to make sure that you have enough time to enjoy it because around 40 years old you will probably need readers anyways. If you are around 20-low (maybe mid) 30s, you may want to consider it. Some people are trying to get of glasses for life, but know that lasik will only correct your distance vision (unless you get monovision, but many people do not like it and make sure that you will be able to adapt to it). Then, you would want to make sure that your prescription will be able to be corrected for and that you are actually a candidate. Cost is important issue and risk is another. If you do decide to have it done, make sure that you go to a reputable lasik surgeon. Don't just go to the cheapest place that you can because after all your eyesight is in their hands.
Is this eye prescription high for a 15yr old?
Yes this is relatively high, but aside from thicker glasses, does it really even matter? Once a person needs to wear glasses full time, people still have to wear them. Good thing is the strength of your prescription has nothing to do with eye health. You will probably enjoy great vision as long as your eyes stay healthy. Surgeries to change your prescription should not be done under 21 years old. This is because most eyes will stabilize by this age. Computers, TVs, reading, etc.. have nothing to do with your eyes changing. Unlike what people say, LASIK is not a risky procedure. It is only risky because people are so aware of their vision that they complain when things are not "perfect". Funny thing is that many studies show 1 year after surgery, people who have custom lasik have LESS glare complaints after the procedure then before. The only reason why some offices use -10 as a cut off is that the thickness of the average cornea and the amount of tissue needed to be removed creates a less stable corneal structure. This number has REDUCED over the years as options like ICL's create better results and are safer to insert. With an ICL, you could have a prescription double or triple your current numbers. In 6 years, the procedures will be even more refined.
Is laser eye surgery worth it?
Ok heres my story: I had -7 myopia. awfully thick glasses, pretty expensive too and I was virtually blind without them. my glasses were pretty much a part of me, the last thing I did before sleeping and the first thing I reached for when I woke up in the morning. I had astigmatism to boot, and contacts weren't an option. and to make things worse, I had to keep getting stronger pair every 6 months or so. I am glad I went and got my Lasik. Freedom. my eyes havent gotten weaker, and I didn't need to get glasses. Apparently glasses and their constant moving towards and away from the eye have something to do with increasing power. Yes as I age, my eyes will get weaker in the close region and I might have to get reading glasses for hyperopia, it is not the same thing, and is much better than glasses 24x7 for normal vision. Be aware though that it isn't entirely a bed of roses. There are some small differences between perfectly normal eyes and lasik treated eyes. First thing you would notice after surgery is dispersion. Bright lights in the dark tend to spread a little, no a disability but is slightly annoying till you get used to it. (this might or might not happent to you depending on the power that you are corrected for). Another effect is a slight drop in contrast when ambient light is low, again not a real issue. You should also be aware that not all people are eligible to get lasik. your eligibility is the thickness of your cornea. depending on the power for which your eyesight has to be corrected, your cornea needs to be of atleast a minimum thinkness before a surgeon can create a lens on it. thinning it too much is dangerous because the eye holds some fluids that are under pressure. Though the surgeon tries to bring the error to 0 Diopters, sometimes there can be a "residual" power left and you might still need to wear glasses after the surgery. But for somebody like me, wearing -0.25 glasses after surgery when i was wearing -7.0 before is perfectly acceptable and is worth the expense. It might not be acceptable for someone wearing -0.5 before the surgery. This is something for you to decide on before you go for the surgery. 24 is a reasonable age to get your lasik. your vision "stabilises" once your growth stops. This is around 18-22 for most people. I'm 25 now, I got my lasik when I was 22.
Can I have LASIK done? I am 18 years old with -0.75 and -1.50.
Wait for atleast 2 more years but its more safe to wait till you are 24 or 25. Eyesight is normally fixed by the age of 25 years. If you just can't wait for 5 / 6 years more then at least wait for 2 years. Going for operation as early as 18 is too risky. Your operation result may not last longer and need for enhancement if operation is done before 20.I hope you know the risks of the procedure. Its not a simple surgery. Its a very delicate surgery. If done correctly by an experienced surgeon using latest technology the risks are extremely minimal. Your prescription is in mild range. It can be easily corrected without any ill side effects.I did surgery when I was 24. Its one of the best decisions of my life. I was also very eager to get rid of glasses but I waited till 24. My prescription was in -3.00 range and was stable for 4 / 5 years. So it was the perfect time to go for surgery. I now have 20/15 vision. Better than perfect 20/20. I haven't experienced any side effect because I went to a highly qualified experienced surgeon in a reputed eye hospital, not a random LASIK center.