Has Lasik helped you shoot better?

go talk to a good eye doctor first. lasik is the trendy thing but there are other options, some better. full lens replacement is becoming more popular, especially as you age and have any signs of cataracts, and will allow for perfect vision again.

I took a shot at getting Lasik from a reputable eye surgery center, but when they did the critical measurements, they found that my left eye had some rather this areas in the lens, so they declined to perform the surgery. Good decision, and I respect that they didn't go for the quick bucks instead.

So I sit here with glasses, glad that I didn't get it done. There are or will be alternatives soon, so I will wait until there is something else available.

DiscoLizard wrote in post #2258528
I've had it, I love being able to see without any aids. It's a real feeling of freedom.

Thats what I am looking for. I hate my glasses, they are a pain. My contacs are crystal clear, but affect near near vision.

DiscoLizard wrote in post #2258528
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.

I'm not so freaked out about the actual procedure. It's more the side affects afterwards.

coreypolis wrote in post #2258548
go talk to a good eye doctor first. lasik is the trendy thing but there are other options, some better. full lens replacement is becoming more popular, especially as you age and have any signs of cataracts, and will allow for perfect vision again.

Hmmm... full lens replacement, sounds drastic. Maybe worth asking around.

gjl711 wrote in post #2258618
Thats what I am looking for. I hate my glasses, they are a pain. My contacs are crystal clear, but affect near near vision.

I'm not so freaked out about the actual procedure. It's more the side affects afterwards.

Hmmm... full lens replacement, sounds drastic. Maybe worth asking around.

Plus you have to take contacts out, and clean them, you can't go swimming, the beach is a nightmare, playing sports in the rain is difficult, things go strange if you rub your eyes by accident, etc etc etc.

The side effects afterwards are;
1. If you're unlucky, you will still need glasses or contacts. You won't get another shot at the surgery probably.

2. You may get some (minor) halo effects around bright lights at night - this is similar to a mild version of the "chlorine" eyes that you sometimes get after swimming.

3. Your eyes may occasionally feel a bit dry and gritty, particularly if you're tired. This can be solved by using eyedrops, or even just yawning (which gets your tear ducts going).

My doctor told me that in the 10 years that he'd been doing it, at an average of 5 patients a day, he'd seen 3 people come out with worse vision than they started with.

Full lens replacement sounds pretty drastic to me too. They have been talking about intra-ocular contacts for years, but I understand there is concern about them causing as many problems as they solve.

gjl711 wrote in post #2256584
just the thought of a laser carving tiny little slices on your eyeball freak the heck out of me

Then you might want to avoid watching Logan's Run just before your procedure.

(Just a suggestion.)

Seamless wrote in post #2260004
Then you might want to avoid watching Logan's Run just before your procedure.

(Just a suggestion.)

I remember that movie. Something about killing everyone when they turned 30 and the glowing light in your palm. But I don’t remember anything about Laser surgery? Did I miss something?

BTW, my comedian dentist did once use the “Is it safe” line as I was sitting in the chair. I told him he’s one sick man.

coreypolis wrote in post #2258548
go talk to a good eye doctor first. lasik is the trendy thing but there are other options, some better. full lens replacement is becoming more popular, especially as you age and have any signs of cataracts, and will allow for perfect vision again.

I know two people that have had lens replacement done and it really is incredible. If I had an extra $10k or so, I'd go for it, if I could...I don't think it's currently approved on patients that have had lasik surgery.

After I had LASIK, I had the halos for about 3 months...just on bright lights at night. My night vision was HORRIBLE for about a year. But now, it's great. I have no complaints at all. Just like many others have said though, definitely go to a reputable doctor who's done A LOT of procedures. I had no fear going in and no regrets afterwards!

gjl711 wrote in post #2261366
I remember that movie. Something about killing everyone when they turned 30 and the glowing light in your palm. But I don’t remember anything about Laser surgery? Did I miss something?

Farah Fawcett-Majors ---> thisclose(toast)

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There is actually a new surgery with much better results where they replace the entire lens.

rklepper wrote in post #2266926
There is actually a new surgery with much better results where they replace the entire lens.

Been looking into that for the last few days. Seems it has been around for a long time as a replacement for cataracts but has recently has been used for vision correction as well with high success. I haven't found a doc around here that performs the surgery for anything other than serious vision correction such as cataracts, but I'm looking.

gjl711 wrote in post #2268675
Been looking into that for the last few days. Seems it has been around for a long time as a replacement for cataracts but has recently has been used for vision correction as well with high success. I haven't found a doc around here that performs the surgery for anything other than serious vision correction such as cataracts, but I'm looking.

I know there is a great guy here in Seattle that does it, I'm too chicken right now to go any farther with it.

Forum n00b, but...

How old are you? I ask in a generalistic way, as from late-30s on, your eyes lose the ability to focus close-in. LASIK won't fix that. I'm 34 and I want to get PRK. I tend to obsess about things and read waaaay to much.

If your eyes can't focus closely, there is a procedure called "monovision". One eye is permanently set for distance vision and one for near. I have no idea how this would affect photography - if you are right-eye dominant, and have that eye set for near-sight so you can shoot, can you deal with using your left eye for all distant sight? I've not looked enough into pros/cons left or right eye in the case of LASIK / PRK and monovision.

I'd be really interested to hear from someone who is a shooter and has monovision.
-Keith

I had Lasik almost 2 years ago. The best money I ever spent. The halo is not that bad and it's getting better each day.

Beside photography, I also play sports and ski so the freedom from contact lenses and glasses is really worth it.

I still remember the first time I woke up and didn't have to put on glasses or contact lenses. It was a great feeling.

The best $2500 I ever spent. Period!

keefyboy wrote in post #2274789
Forum n00b, but...

How old are you? I ask in a generalistic way, as from late-30s on, your eyes lose the ability to focus close-in. LASIK won't fix that. I'm 34 and I want to get PRK. I tend to obsess about things and read waaaay to much.

It's a bi*ch getting old ain't it, Yea, I am old enough where my eyes are having trouble focusing close with either my glasses on or contacts in. Without either I can still read perfectly. And as you say, I obsess way too much as I have been ready to do this for quite some time, but I alway talk to one other person and they put my whole decision in doubt, as this wonderful forum has.

keefyboy wrote in post #2274789
If your eyes can't focus closely, there is a procedure called "monovision". One eye is permanently set for distance vision and one for near. I have no idea how this would affect photography - if you are right-eye dominant, and have that eye set for near-sight so you can shoot, can you deal with using your left eye for all distant sight? I've not looked enough into pros/cons left or right eye in the case of LASIK / PRK and monovision.

Boy, this sounds like it could mess with you head big time. When one contact slips off, I am totally thrown off balance. I can not imagin going through a whole day that way

keefyboy wrote in post #2274789
I'd be really interested to hear from someone who is a shooter and has monovision.
-Keith

Same here, anyone had this done?

4x4rock wrote in post #2274893
I had Lasik almost 2 years ago. The best money I ever spent. The halo is not that bad and it's getting better each day.

Beside photography, I also play sports and ski so the freedom from contact lenses and glasses is really worth it.

I still remember the first time I woke up and didn't have to put on glasses or contact lenses. It was a great feeling.

The best $2500 I ever spent. Period!

Boy, and that's the lure, isn't it. I hate my glasses. They are a pain in the a$$ to keep clean, they fog up, they pinch ones nose, their basically a pain to maintain.

Anyway, I am looking into the lens replacement option as well. I found a doc in the area and will be chatting with him in two weeks. He said to stop by the office and I can pick up some brochures but I have not yet done so.

I had PRK done 2 years ago. It was the best $1500 I have ever spent. I have had no problems yet. Nothing better than being able to see the alarm clock in the morning without trying to find your glasses. @ of my friends had regular Lasik done at the same time and both love the results.