Has Lasik helped you shoot better?

I had done a few searches about Lasik and photography and there are a few threads loosely discussing Lasik's merits none really relate it to how it has impacted your photography so I though I would ask a more direct question.

Has Lasik surgery had any affect, either positive or negative, on your photography?

I now wear both glasses and contacts. I have to adjust the diopter when switching between the two and each has some advantages and some disadvantages. When I am shooting with glasses, I pop them on top of my head so unless I am looking through the viewfinder, I am blind. Glasses are also easier to manually focus with and I have an easier time when I am macro shooting. When shooting with contacts I have a difficult time seeing the back panel clearly and do a lot of tromboning.

I am contemplating having Lasik done sometime early next year. I have heard many positive stories from both friends and family and a few negative ones as well. But none are photographers and I have concerns that there will be some negative impact.

Anyone who has had the surgery care to share their observations?

Gah, I never thought about that. I can't imagine how crushed I'd be if I couldn't take decent shots anymore because of that.

Ronald S. Jr. wrote in post #2254443
Gah, I never thought about that. I can't imagine how crushed I'd be if I couldn't take decent shots anymore because of that.

I don't think it would be that drastic, or at least I hope not. Thats why I asked. The question comes from a discussion I had with my brother-in-law. He had Lasic surgery about 18 months ago. The one thing he noticed is that it is difficult for him to read without the assistance of reading glasses, or at least those magnifying glasses you can get at the drug store. I have a similar shortcoming when I have my contacts in. I have trouble focusing close. I think it comes from just getting older. It doesn't affect anything in the viewfinder as I can adjust the diopter, but reading the menus on the back panel is difficult.

I had lasik surgery almost 5 years ago...it's hard to remember what it was like before it. I have no complaints at all...20/20 vision is great! (20/15 in my left eye, actually!)

JaertX wrote in post #2254583
I had lasik surgery almost 5 years ago...it's hard to remember what it was like before it. I have no complaints at all...20/20 vision is great! (20/15 in my left eye, actually!)

Good to hear, I have two concerns, near vision and sparkles with bright lights. I guess that sparkles would not affect picture taking, but poor near vision definitely would.

I have poor near vision now.. and wear glasses all day every day.. lasik and the allure of perfect vision is incredible.. and then you hear a bad story and clean up your glasses..

sari

A good friend of mine got lasik and he loves it, while not a photographer, his only complaint is a bit of light sensitivity at night and he get halos around lights at night. I'm going to get it done within the next year, they'd really have to screw up to make my vision worse. I'm not concerned with near vision cause I'm can't really see near uncorrected as it is.

saravrose wrote in post #2256257
I have poor near vision now.. and wear glasses all day every day.. lasik and the allure of perfect vision is incredible.. and then you hear a bad story and clean up your glasses..

sari

I have had that allure for quite a while and have been putting it off. Then my brother-in-law basically comes up and tells me he replaced one set of glasses with another, well that kind of defeats the whole purpose.

deadpass wrote in post #2256488
A good friend of mine got lasik and he loves it, while not a photographer, his only complaint is a bit of light sensitivity at night and he get halos around lights at night. I'm going to get it done within the next year, they'd really have to screw up to make my vision worse. I'm not concerned with near vision cause I'm can't really see near uncorrected as it is.

My near vision without glasses is near perfect which is why I have the diopter adjusted for shooting without glasses. Plus, I have no problem with reading anything on the back display, checking histograms, or just plain chimping. But get more than 10 feet out, and a train could pass and I would miss it so I am constantly flipping my glasses out of the way, putting them back to see outside of the viewfinder, then back up. It’s a royal pain

I'm also contemplating LASIK (particulaarly Custom VUE Bladeless LASIK) also and would like to hear how other Photogs are doing after surgery. I've already pick out my Docs but just don't have the courage to actually go thru it.

lostdoggy wrote in post #2256546
I'm also contemplating LASIK (particulaarly Custom VUE Bladeless LASIK) also and would like to hear how other Photogs are doing after surgery. I've already pick out my Docs but just don't have the courage to actually go thru it.

Call me chicken but just the thought of a laser carving tiny little slices on your eyeball freak the heck out of me which is why I am still thinking about it…

I'd love to be free from my glasses or contacts, but everytime I start thinking about it I see something better in cilnical trials. Then when it comes out to the public, I want to wait until doctors are expreienced enough with it, and right when they are, something newer and even better is on the horizon. I don't think it will end! I'm most afraid of losing color sensitivity, or haveing trouble focusing up close.

My eyes don't effect my photography much because most of the time the AF is great, and in macro photography, even when you get your subject in focus, the DOF is so small, you can't hold it there or just hitting the shutter puts it OOF 1/3 of the time.

Had the procedure done about 5 years ago. They did the right eye first and everything went great but they ran into issues with the shape of my left eyes so they weren't able to work on it. Currently have 20/20 and 20-100 vision. I'm thinking about seeing if one of the newer procedures will work for my left eye.

Mike

Reptile Bob wrote in post #2257193
I'd love to be free from my glasses or contacts, but everytime I start thinking about it I see something better in cilnical trials. Then when it comes out to the public, I want to wait until doctors are expreienced enough with it, and right when they are, something newer and even better is on the horizon. I don't think it will end! I'm most afraid of losing color sensitivity, or haveing trouble focusing up close.

We are thinking along the same lines. Right now I see fine and though glasses are a nuisance, there is nothing I can’t do. But just to wake up and be able to see is a strong draw.

Mcary wrote in post #2257255
Had the procedure done about 5 years ago. They did the right eye first and everything went great but they ran into issues with the shape of my left eyes so they weren't able to work on it. Currently have 20/20 and 20-100 vision. I'm thinking about seeing if one of the newer procedures will work for my left eye.

Mike

This is my nightmare. If they goofed up my left eye, I could live with it, but my right eye is my workhorse.

Mcary wrote in post #2257255
Had the procedure done about 5 years ago. They did the right eye first and everything went great but they ran into issues with the shape of my left eyes so they weren't able to work on it. Currently have 20/20 and 20-100 vision. I'm thinking about seeing if one of the newer procedures will work for my left eye.

Mike

From what I've read on the subject, they have a new machine that is more accurrate in mapping your eyes which translate to more accurate procedures. The Docs I've chosen to perform the procedure are all trainers and One claims to have perform the most procedures on Opt docs then any other in this country at least. And has all the Lasik Machine available on premise.

I've had it, I love being able to see without any aids. It's a real feeling of freedom.

It's not as frightening as you may think. They have eyedrops for the anaesthetic these days, and the surgery itself takes about 5-10 minutes. 24 hours after that, you get to take off the little plastic shield they put over your eye, and WOW.