the eye: an essential upgrade?

[jwinty]

i've been doing wedding photography for a little over a decade now and have upgraded bodies, lenses, flash, and so on, but i never really thought about upgrading the most essential tool: my eye. i really shun wearing glasses, but it's gotten to the point where adjusting the focus on the EVF doesn't cut it anymore. i'm sure heatlh and optometry forums have a lot to say about this, but i wanted to get opinions from fellow photographers: is lasik good for me? i'm currently at 50/80 (yeah, it's pretty bad) and was checking out my2020.com (http://www.my2020.com) for options. these days, i usually start to get dizzy when it gets to the toasting ceremony, and i have probably 2 or 3 shoots lined up two weeks from now. any of you fellas got this done?

[jonnythan]

I know a lot of people that have. They're incredibly happy now.

[gecko3s]

Everybody Ive ever talked to about lasik loves it, and if I had the money I'd get it done too. Check references though

[jwinty]

i've heard some "accidents" about it... read some articles - that's why i'm a bit hesistant. the rewards are great though... and they even have it on financing, which is neat

[noxcuses1]

I've had lasik over 5 years ago, and my eyesight is still 20/10!

Before lasik it was 20/200, practically legally blind.

I recommend it, but make sure you have a reputable eye dr do it.

[jwinty]

thanks. my timid little heart is a wee bit boosted now (that's why i decided to pursue this career after all, cause i don't ever want to be in the spotlight. i'd rather be on the other end.) thanks guys - i appreciate it ^_^`

[daleftw]

I wear contact lenses. Can't stand glasses..

[CannedHeat]

My eyes are not that bad, but a little blurred when checking the histogram on the camera. Otherwise I can work fine without my glasses. I have considered RK, but will wait on the advice of a well-known U.S. consumer advocate that says he will not get RK until the risk factor falls to (basically) zero. At this time it is not. The risk is very small, but it is there. Check things out very carefully and make sure you choose the correct clinic, even if it costs more. /Dan

[Raker13]

I have had Lasik an am very happy with the results. I want to emphasize one point. If you require reading glasses now, you will still require them post operation. Your distance vision will immediately improve. You have reshaped the corneal surface. Normal Lasik type work does NOT correct the internal lens issues associated with problems seeing close up. Alas age is the culprit here.

I find it very frustrating to require reading glasses to view the small options and settings on the newer (even larger) LCD screens.

[Bruce Watson]

Had it done over 10 years ago, I was an early adopter despite all the stories "I know a guy who has a brother who had the surgery and both his eyes fell out........".

Small chance of failure, which is defined as not actually improving your vision, incredibly small chance of a catastrophic issue resulting in blindness.

I am delighted with my surgery and would recommend it without hesitation, get a good clinic and doctor (check references) and follow the post surgery instructions to the letter, you will be fine.

I like outdoor photography, especially in the long winters here up north, not having fogged up glasses to contend with is great.

[kuanyu]

I have 2 friends that have had lasik and both are happy. I wear contacts but have considered having it done.

[deadpass]

i'm getting lasik as soon as I can afford it, which hopefully will be in the fall. Right now i wear contacts and have 20/400 uncorrected vision.

[Rubi Jane]

My husband had lasik 14 years ago. He was 20/250 in both eyes and was 20/15 post surgery, and still is. It made a huge difference to him and gave him a whole new freedom. He can't imagine needing to where glasses or contacts all the time, though he does now need reading glasses. Aging is still inevitable ;)

[hastur]

I've talked to several people that have had RK as well as Lasik. The only problems reported were halos and starburst patterns around lights at night. One guy went as far as to say that he wouldn't have had it done if he had known how bad it was going to be.

I'm not saying you will have the same results, but it's worth asking about. This was a few years ago, so things might be better by now.

Good Luck

Rob

[jwinty]

wow! and i thought i was the only one thinking of getting a procedure like this. thanks guys. i really do appreciate the boost in confidence. goodbye lens crafters!!! maybe after the prenup i'll have this weekend, first thing monday, i'll walk in the my2020 clinic.

[deadpass]

a friend of mine has halos around lights at night but not enough that he wishes he was still blind.

[Sam_M]

a friend of mine has halos around lights at night but not enough that he wishes he was still blind.
My aunt got that, but it's not terrible, and besides, alot of people (myself included) have that happen with contact lenses, though it's not all the time.

[Bruce Watson]

My aunt got that, but it's not terrible, and besides, alot of people (myself included) have that happen with contact lenses, though it's not all the time.


I experience some "halo" but relative to similar issues with contacts and/or distortion and loss of peripheial vision with thick glasses, it is a minor issue, I have no problem driving at night or with bright lights.

BTW, I am of a "certain age" where reading glasses normally appear, but when I had my eyes done, they corrected them slightly differently, one eye is strong for distance, one for close in.

As a result, I still can read fine print or work in front of a monitor all day with no problem, but not need correction for driving.

Sounds awkward, but once your brain adjusts, it is seamless.

[daleftw]

I've talked to several people that have had RK as well as Lasik. The only problems reported were halos and starburst patterns around lights at night.
I've had that effect a few times when a contact lens has irritated my eye and I've gone to move it a bit with my finger, then then these stupid patterns wouldn't go away in one of my eyes. Drove me crazy.... sometimes it's enough for me to drive to a chemist and buy a $7 tiny bottle of solution just to fix it!