Question about Lasik eye surgery?

Question

I went to my eye doctor today to be evaluated for Lasik eye surgery. I wear bifocals, so he said I could have surgery in one eye for far sided and the other for near sided and that way I wouldn't have to rely on any glasses but would take some getting used to with the lop-sided vision......or he said I could get both eyes done for far sided but have to rely on reading glasses for anything up close.

He gave me some contacts today that simulate what it would be like to live with the lop-sided vision, and it isn't as bad as I thought it would be, but my vision isn't as sharp as I had hoped.

Does anyone know of any other options? I don't know what the best decision is.

Answer 1

There are so many options, but I think you need to have realistic expectations. Many people explore LASIK so that they won't ever have to wear glasses or contact lenses. Basically the vision correction options with LASIK or with the clear lensectomy mentioned in a previous answer are the same choices as we have with contact lenses. Once we reach the age where bifocals are needed, we are faced with compromises.

You are fortunate to have been given the chance to experience "mono-vision" and now you know its limitations. Some people accept the limitations more readily than others. In contact lenses there are bifocal versions and the implants used in a clear lensectomy are also offered in bifocal form. They, too, force people to give-up some clarity in order to achieve compromised flexibility. Clear lensectomy may also be performed to offer mono-vision correction. It would offer no distinct advantage over similar corrections in LASIK or contact lenses. Even though some surgeons promote themselves as experts in performing it, LASIK offers no proven multifocal options.

The clear lensectomy would be considered the definitive refractive surgery procedure, BUT and it's a big BUT, it has risks, especially in the very near sighted person, that do not occur with the other two methods of correcting your vision. The upside to the lensectomy, is that it is the same surgery as cataract surgery, and the pool of competent, talented surgeons is much larger than that of LASIK.

So many choices, and no really easy answers. If I were very, very nearsighted, I'd go for correcting both eyes to see clearly far away, and reach for reading glasses when needed. I have seen many more people over the age of 40 who are happy with that system, and have seen too many unhappy people who opted for mono-vision LASIK or multi-focal implants. I get to see them and deal with their frustrations after the surgeon returns them to me for their routine eye care.

Answer 2

Everyone that i have talked to who had the mono vision option done is not really happy with the results. You lose some depth perception, and always feel that one eye is out of focus. A relative had the mono vision done, and she is planning on going back and having the "close" eye redone for distance!

I had the choice, and I had both eyes corrected for distance. I found that my reading glasses were actually too strong. (I used to use reading glasses when I was wearing contacts)

I still need reading glasses,but not as much as i did. I bought several pair (at a discount store) and leave one pair at home, one at my desk at work, and one in the car!

I had extremely poor vision. The Lasik is the best thing I have ever done. (Marrying my wife is a close 2nd)

Answer 3

What the doctor is doing is called mono-vision. It can be a little tricky at first, but most people do well with it.

Another option if your doctor performs this type of surgery, is a clear lensectomy. They remove your natural lens like cataract surgery, and replace it with an intra-ocular lens implant with the idea being that you will not have to wear glasses again..far or near. Mind you, it is more expensive than LASIK, but the upside is you'll never have to worry about cataract surgery when you get older.

Answer 4

You could just stay with the contact option (one far-sighted and the other near-sighted) or you could get multi-focal contact lenses. I'm just looking into those so I can't offer my opinion on them.

I do know of one person who had the lasik on one eye only and she had no problem adjusting without glasses, reading or distance.

Everyone I know who has had near-sightedness corrected with lasik has needed reading glasses as they age.

Answer 5

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