Impartial Advice on Laser Eye Surgery

[paul_y3k]

sorry for jumping in on the thread, but eye surgery is something that I keep considering.
I've not got my prescription with me, but around 10 years ago I was diagnosed with keratoconus in my right eye. Initially I was checked out every year at the local hospital but after 3 years of no change they discharged me, and when having my yearly checkup at boots - nothing is mentioned so I guess it's pretty stable.

However I'm 40 next year and just not happy with my vision. I have explained this to my optician, and to be honest I get the impession she's not too concerned and just nods;
I have the slight dbl vision thing when tired, and have to squint in bright locations. Reading from laptop screens isn't too bad if I'm close enough, and it's this that has me wondering if there's a better solution to glasses ? I'd love to be able to ditch glasses but find I can't get on with hard contact lenses.

[968]

hindmoor said:

Thanks to 968 for advice regarding my age etc for laser eye surgery. I did go for a consultation to St James Laser Vision in Leeds but was told I am unsuitable due to having the beginnings of a cataract in my left eye. Which 968 did mention! Although I am only 43, I am -8 in both eyes and the consultant said people with high myopia often get cataracts at an early age. So as 968 said in an earlier message, it appears my only option is IOL. However, do I have to wait until the cataract is fully developed before having IOL? Would I get IOL in both eyes or just in the left with normal refractive surgery in the right? Am I allowed to ask 968 where he works and if it's possible to have an appointment? I was in London on Saturday..

In answer to your questions, refractive lens exchange would seem the best option for you, but no you don't need to wait for the cataract to develop further, you can have the lens removed and replaced whenever you want. You will need the other eye doing as well to balance.

You can ask where I work, but I don't think I am allowed to solicit for work here, and to be honest, it's better that I recommend colleagues who I'd be happy to operate on me!

[968]

paul_y3k said:

sorry for jumping in on the thread, but eye surgery is something that I keep considering.
I've not got my prescription with me, but around 10 years ago I was diagnosed with keratoconus in my right eye. Initially I was checked out every year at the local hospital but after 3 years of no change they discharged me, and when having my yearly checkup at boots - nothing is mentioned so I guess it's pretty stable.

However I'm 40 next year and just not happy with my vision. I have explained this to my optician, and to be honest I get the impession she's not too concerned and just nods;
I have the slight dbl vision thing when tired, and have to squint in bright locations. Reading from laptop screens isn't too bad if I'm close enough, and it's this that has me wondering if there's a better solution to glasses ? I'd love to be able to ditch glasses but find I can't get on with hard contact lenses.

Keratoconus at your age is likely to be stable. There are options which can be utilised to help manage keratoconus, and correct vision problems from it, but you need to be seen by a specialist corneal surgeon for this. If you want recommendations please pm me. BTW, I'm a retinal specialist not a corneal surgeon, so I won't be recommending myself!

[hindmoor]

thanks 968 again for your info. Do you have lens exchange in both eyes at the same time or are the eyes done one at a time with a gap in between? I am in the North Of England so if you could recommend a good surgeon I would be grateful. Thank you

[Grandad Gaz]

I'm mystified by Johnathan Edwards, the athletics BBC commentator.

He had laser eye surgery some years ago, and yet he is back wearing glasses?

Seems a bit odd to me.

[968]

hindmoor said:

thanks 968 again for your info. Do you have lens exchange in both eyes at the same time or are the eyes done one at a time with a gap in between? I am in the North Of England so if you could recommend a good surgeon I would be grateful. Thank you

Usually you have your eyes done separately, a week or so apart.

Look up Imran Rahman up in Manchester/Blackpool, or Khalid Ikram near Stockport, or Anil Pitalia in Manchester.

[968]

Grandad Gaz said:

I'm mystified by Johnathan Edwards, the athletics BBC commentator.

He had laser eye surgery some years ago, and yet he is back wearing glasses?

Seems a bit odd to me.

2 possible reasons. 1) he's now presbyopic and needs them for reading (Laser doesn't adequately correct this) or 2) he's had some regression of his original myopia, which can occur after surgery.

[Carrot]

Just my 2p, I had mine done at Accuvision at 34 years old (4 months ago) for +4.5 and +2.25 with amblyopia.

Vision is just incredible, I have never seen things as clearly even with glasses previously. My vision will never been 100% due to the amblyopia, however I saw my first 3d film the other day and although I could kind of see it before, it was utterly staggering to see something like that properly.

I don't wear glasses or contact lenses now and my vision is better than 20/20. I wish the technology had been easily available 10 years ago, sadly they have only just started tackling my level of prescription confidently in the last couple of years.

Still, better late than never I have also heard horror stories, however no operation is without an element of risk and this is what you will have to bear in mind when you make your choices on having your eyes done. Me? I took a big risk in having a problem with my 'good' eye during the op, happy I did.

[MrChips]

Having had some inheritance money come through last year, I'm also now considering surgery and would appreciate some advice...especially in terms of suggestions in the South East that I should be contacting for their opinion/options.

Contact lens Prescription is -3.75/-0.75x90 and -3.50/0.75x70 so there is some astigmatism to tackle as well. I'm 33 yes old, with glasses needed from age 10. It settled at uni at around -2.5 but since starting work 10yrs ago, it has steadily gone to the current prescription.
My main concern is going ahead and then needing glasses pretty soon after as they really don't suit me, hence the contacts are my preferred solution at the moment.

If that does happen.. Can I go back to contacts again or not? (I've read conflicting accounts)

And is there any surgery options that are more likely to stay stable in the long term?

[lost in espace]

I am -8.0 both eyes, is laser surgery even possible for me?

[968]

MrChips said:

Having had some inheritance money come through last year, I'm also now considering surgery and would appreciate some advice...especially in terms of suggestions in the South East that I should be contacting for their opinion/options.

Contact lens Prescription is -3.75/-0.75x90 and -3.50/0.75x70 so there is some astigmatism to tackle as well. I'm 33 yes old, with glasses needed from age 10. It settled at uni at around -2.5 but since starting work 10yrs ago, it has steadily gone to the current prescription.
My main concern is going ahead and then needing glasses pretty soon after as they really don't suit me, hence the contacts are my preferred solution at the moment.

If that does happen.. Can I go back to contacts again or not? (I've read conflicting accounts)

And is there any surgery options that are more likely to stay stable in the long term?

No and yes.

I wouldn't go back to lenses and yes other surgical options may be more stable, such as lens replacement surgery, though that might be overkill in your level of prescription. Laser refractive surgery should correct your prescription very well with little regression. However, you will probably need reading glasses in another 10 years or so.

[968]

lost in espace said:

I am -8.0 both eyes, is laser surgery even possible for me?

Yes, but it might not be the best option depending on your age and other factors.

[filski666]

slight thread revival, but thought I would continue this one rather than start a new one!

I am thinking of getting my eyes done this year, I will be 40 by then and -4.25, -4.75.

I understand the point about at my age LASIK means I will need reading glasses, but is that the only problem? I have been wearing glasses for 30 years - I really couldn't give a stuff about wearing glasses for reading, using the computer - I will be no worse off than now - BUT and key for me - for activities like swimming, cycling, snowboarding, mountaineering I WON'T have to wear glasses, and that is the only reason I am doing this.

Well, maybe so can watch TV in bed without then falling asleep rolling over and impaling my face on my glasses


So, 968 - I would appreciate your advice if the reading glasses is the only issue with getting my eyes done at the sprightly youthful age of 40?

Also, I want to go to Moorfields for it, can anyone recommend any of the surgeons there, as they all seem top rate?


cheers

[amoeba]

I too would love some advice whether I am a good candidate for Lasering;

37 years old, prescription (admittedly taken about 6 years ago);
Right: SPH -0.50, CYL -0.75, Axis 90
Left: SPH -.25, CYL -2.00, Axis 25

[RobM77]

amoeba said:

I too would love some advice whether I am a good candidate for Lasering;

37 years old, prescription (admittedly taken about 6 years ago);
Right: SPH -0.50, CYL -0.75, Axis 90
Left: SPH -.25, CYL -2.00, Axis 25

Absolutely fine I would have thought. You're only very slightly myopic, with a fairly mild astigmatism mainly limited to one eye. Do consider the risks vs the benefits though, as from looking at your prescription I'm guessing you can function without glasses for a lot of things? I can't remember my prescription pre-lasering, but I think it was about SPH -6 and CYL -3 and even that was within limits for lasering.

In response to the OP, laser correction completely changed my life - utterly amazing.

[amoeba]

RobM77 said:

amoeba said:

I too would love some advice whether I am a good candidate for Lasering;

37 years old, prescription (admittedly taken about 6 years ago);
Right: SPH -0.50, CYL -0.75, Axis 90
Left: SPH -.25, CYL -2.00, Axis 25

Absolutely fine I would have thought. You're only very slightly myopic, with a fairly mild astigmatism mainly limited to one eye. Do consider the risks vs the benefits though, as from looking at your prescription I'm guessing you can function without glasses for a lot of things? I can't remember my prescription pre-lasering, but I think it was about SPH -6 and CYL -3 and even that was within limits for lasering.

In response to the OP, laser correction completely changed my life - utterly amazing.

I wear glasses all the time. Probably mainly because I am a computer programmer, so reading text all day long.

I was also wondering what TYPE of lasering would be best, and the rough cost.

[RobM77]

amoeba said:

RobM77 said:

amoeba said:

I too would love some advice whether I am a good candidate for Lasering;

37 years old, prescription (admittedly taken about 6 years ago);
Right: SPH -0.50, CYL -0.75, Axis 90
Left: SPH -.25, CYL -2.00, Axis 25

Absolutely fine I would have thought. You're only very slightly myopic, with a fairly mild astigmatism mainly limited to one eye. Do consider the risks vs the benefits though, as from looking at your prescription I'm guessing you can function without glasses for a lot of things? I can't remember my prescription pre-lasering, but I think it was about SPH -6 and CYL -3 and even that was within limits for lasering.

In response to the OP, laser correction completely changed my life - utterly amazing.

I wear glasses all the time. Probably mainly because I am a computer programmer, so reading text all day long.

I was also wondering what TYPE of lasering would be best, and the rough cost.

A web forum isn't really the place for such advice, but certainly when I had it done the three main types were PRK, LASEK and LASIK. Most people have LASIK done, although I had LASEK. PRK is still used, but has been largely superceded. As for costs, Google will show you that, but the costs in my opinion are very low for the benefits and life changing experience that it gives. The benefits are very individual, but personally for me glasses or contact lenses were such a hindrance in the sports I did, the sports I wanted to do, practical things like having showers or shaving and finally the day to day annoyance of having glasses on my face - that's why it changed my life so much. Contact lenses solved many of my problems, but I started getting problems with them and ended up unable to wear them. I now have 6/4 vision in both eyes unaided and as a result I now have a load of new hobbies, my existing sports got more enjoyable (and I got better at some of them) and I don't have letterbox vision from an annoying metal thing on my ears and nose all day, or bruises where I used to bang my knees and stub my toes trying to get in the shower blind every day!

[968]

filski666 said:

slight thread revival, but thought I would continue this one rather than start a new one!

I am thinking of getting my eyes done this year, I will be 40 by then and -4.25, -4.75.

I understand the point about at my age LASIK means I will need reading glasses, but is that the only problem? I have been wearing glasses for 30 years - I really couldn't give a stuff about wearing glasses for reading, using the computer - I will be no worse off than now - BUT and key for me - for activities like swimming, cycling, snowboarding, mountaineering I WON'T have to wear glasses, and that is the only reason I am doing this.

Well, maybe so can watch TV in bed without then falling asleep rolling over and impaling my face on my glasses


So, 968 - I would appreciate your advice if the reading glasses is the only issue with getting my eyes done at the sprightly youthful age of 40?

Also, I want to go to Moorfields for it, can anyone recommend any of the surgeons there, as they all seem top rate?


cheers

Yes, you'll probably need reading glasses in a few years, but that's not the only issue. Refractive surgery can cause some corneal issue, though quite rare and ultimately you will need cataract surgery in future, which is made slightly more unpredictable by having LASIK or LASEK, though not a huge deal. I'm sure you'd do very well if you had it done, with your prescription, it'd change your life.

If you want to go to Moorfields, I'd recommend Prof Gartry, Julian Stephens or Alex Ionides. All very good surgeons. There are plenty of other places you could go to, however, which are just as good.

[filski666]

968 said:

Yes, you'll probably need reading glasses in a few years, but that's not the only issue. Refractive surgery can cause some corneal issue, though quite rare and ultimately you will need cataract surgery in future, which is made slightly more unpredictable by having LASIK or LASEK, though not a huge deal. I'm sure you'd do very well if you had it done, with your prescription, it'd change your life.

If you want to go to Moorfields, I'd recommend Prof Gartry, Julian Stephens or Alex Ionides. All very good surgeons. There are plenty of other places you could go to, however, which are just as good.

Thank you, happy to hear alternate recommendations, I chose Moorfields as they are supposed to be one of the best in the country and I don't fancy trusting my eyes to one of these places offering special deals etc to try and drag you in - I feel they are more interested in the money than my health.

[RobM77]

filski666 said:

968 said:

Yes, you'll probably need reading glasses in a few years, but that's not the only issue. Refractive surgery can cause some corneal issue, though quite rare and ultimately you will need cataract surgery in future, which is made slightly more unpredictable by having LASIK or LASEK, though not a huge deal. I'm sure you'd do very well if you had it done, with your prescription, it'd change your life.

If you want to go to Moorfields, I'd recommend Prof Gartry, Julian Stephens or Alex Ionides. All very good surgeons. There are plenty of other places you could go to, however, which are just as good.

Thank you, happy to hear alternate recommendations, I chose Moorfields as they are supposed to be one of the best in the country and I don't fancy trusting my eyes to one of these places offering special deals etc to try and drag you in - I feel they are more interested in the money than my health.

If not just for the peace of mind, it's worth it, yes. Particularly for a layman like me, it's just nice to know one's most important sense is being operated on by someone very skilled. 968's right in that it is utterly life changing, at least it was for me. The quality of life improvement is enormous, I really can't stress that enough.