Post: #1

I'm thinking about getting LASIK, and wondering if there's any long term effect in having to stop doing martial arts or contact sports. Can anyone share their experiences?

Post: #2

For those in active sports and on active duty military service lasik is not allowed. Instead they get a different procedure done where I think a new lens gets implanted

Post: #3

I think PRK..the FDA version is allowed.

Post: #4

(11-22-2014 04:11 PM)Virtus Wrote:  For those in active sports and on active duty military service lasik is not allowed. Instead they get a different procedure done where I think a new lens gets implanted

Yeah, it's PRK.

Basically same thing but takes a couple days longer to heel. The difference is PRK they make a slit to laser/reshape your cornea. PRK they laser away the top layers, so the top layers have to regrow back which takes a few days. You're pretty blind those few days and if you're prone to anxiety you could think "shit! I may never get my vision back!" but don't worry, you'll get it back.

Anyway, one of the best investments of my life.

Post: #5

I had LASIK 10 years ago...It has been a great investment HOWEVER one has to remember that you still need to take care of your eyes as the changes are not necessarily permanent. After getting LASIK I was actually seeing even better than perfect, i.e., 20/15...after 5 years my vision was 20/20. Now it is 20/25 and sometimes the road signs are a tad blurry at night.

You have to take care of your eyes, use eye drops if they feel tired (especially for several months after Lasik and for the dreaded "halo" effect when looking at lights at night), and minimize stress, such as long hours spent in front of the computer screen. Unfortunately since I am in the IT field I did not always heed those warnings so now my vision has deteriorated just a bit. Who knows, in another 10 years I might have to start wearing glasses again

Post: #6

One side effect I've had is that my pupils dilate a lot more than they did. This has caused people to ask if I'm on coke more often than you'd think. A few times I was speaking with cops - once I had asked for directions, and 2nd I had witnessed an accident - and they asked me if I was high and during one of these situations I was even detained while the fucker did sobriety tests on me due to my dilated pupils. It never affected my sensitivity to light though oddly enough.

Post: #7

PRK if you're an athlete. FYI - Canada doesn't allow medical price gouging for these kinds of procedures, and you can do a Montreal trip and STILL spend less money than getting it done in the US.

Post: #8

Had mine done 4 years ago, no side effects, perfect vision. Best $5000 ever spent.

Post: #9

I got PRK a year and a half ago, it is one of the best things I've ever done. I had a minor "halo effect" at night when viewing lights but it went away after a few months. Occasionally my eyes feel dry in the mornings but a couple of eye drops alleviates it no problem.

Post: #10

I look back on LASIK so thankful that nothing went wrong. It has been amazing. No contacts bs, no glasses (except sometimes I may wear fake ones out at night lol).

DO NOT CHEAP OUT. These are your eyes we're talking about. If the best doctor in town is too expensive, save up then do it. Not worth risking your sight over saving a couple thousand bucks.

Post: #11

Root causes of poor eyesight:
#1. Too much upclose work vs distance vision
#2. Staying indoors all day/artificial lights
#3. Not getting enough carotenoids/retinoids in your diet
#4. Having a high glucose level
#5. Having bad habits such as squinting, rubbing eyes w/ knuckles, staring and not blinking etc

For what the surgery would cost, you could fix things at a fraction of the cost.

Post: #12

I'm very seriously considering doing Lasik in the very near future. However, I'd rather do it overseas than in Canada. I have a buddy who did in Colombia a few years ago for peanuts and it's been great for him. I also know of many people who did it in Manila for 2k and it has been fine. Same in BKK.

Anyone in here has had Lasik done overseas? Preferably in SEA?

Post: #13

I got mine done a few years ago. LASEK it was called, not LASIK, and it sounded like what you guys called PRK. Went to a top clinic in my country, didn't want to risk my eyes in some dodgy SEA op, because there were lots of checkups afterwards.

Best $5K I've ever spent.

Some cases are very easy though and you can get it done overseas for cheaper. The initial checkup (free) will tell you which category you're in. I'm in a difficult one.

I was blind as a bat before the op. Far vision improved to 20/20 after 2-3 days. Near vision took 2 weeks. Took a year of checkups and some special eye drops for a complete recovery. Now I have perfect eyesight.

Post: #14

(11-23-2014 11:39 PM)Low Status Beta Wrote:  Root causes of poor eyesight:
#1. Too much upclose work vs distance vision
#2. Staying indoors all day/artificial lights
#3. Not getting enough carotenoids/retinoids in your diet
#4. Having a high glucose level
#5. Having bad habits such as squinting, rubbing eyes w/ knuckles, staring and not blinking etc

For what the surgery would cost, you could fix things at a fraction of the cost.

Damage was done a long time ago thanks to an unnatural schooling environment This is the only solution left.

Post: #15

Astigmatism can cause squinting which is a corneal shape problem. Also diet won't fix an overall eye shape issue which effects refraction of light. Sometimes your just born with it.

Post: #16

Eye surgury shouldn't be done after a certain age because you will probably need reading classes. On that note almost 100% that get lasik will need reading classes in the future. Only soloution is to only get 1 eye done.

Being that I am 42(in 2 months) I will not get it done.

Post: #17

I had it done 10 years or so ago and it was the best money I've ever spent. One thing - make sure you get intralase Lasik - google it - it is safer in how the flap is cut - there is no blade so the chances of error are much lower.

Post: #18

(11-24-2014 03:47 PM)jimukr104 Wrote:  Eye surgury shouldn't be done after a certain age because you will probably need reading classes. On that note almost 100% that get lasik will need reading classes in the future. Only soloution is to only get 1 eye done.

Being that I am 42(in 2 months) I will not get it done.

Just about everyone needs reading glasses anyway eventually

Post: #19

Anyone have problem with dry eyes or irritated eyes? I really cant wear contacts for this reason, and have put off the surgery forever. I am now 40 and wondering if I should even go through with it. I really hate wearing glasses though, even if the surgery lasts 10+ years before I have to wear reading glasses.

Post: #20

(11-24-2014 09:22 PM)monster Wrote:  

(11-24-2014 03:47 PM)jimukr104 Wrote:  Eye surgury shouldn't be done after a certain age because you will probably need reading classes. On that note almost 100% that get lasik will need reading classes in the future. Only soloution is to only get 1 eye done.

Being that I am 42(in 2 months) I will not get it done.

Just about everyone needs reading glasses anyway eventually

Not if one is nearsighted. My doctor told me that I will probably NEVER need reading glasses since I need for far.

Quote:I am now 40 and wondering if I should even go through with it.

Ask a doctor what he thinks.

Post: #21

I got my operation in July of 2013, I went from a pair of glasses with -6.25 on the left and -4.50 on the right to a 20/25 left and 20/20 right vision. Overall it cost me around 5000$ Canadian Dollars but it's definitely the best investment in my life. However, I quickly discovered my eyes are slightly affected by presbyopia, but I can live without glasses.

Post: #22

(11-24-2014 12:14 AM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  I'm very seriously considering doing Lasik in the very near future. However, I'd rather do it overseas than in Canada. I have a buddy who did in Colombia a few years ago for peanuts and it's been great for him. I also know of many people who did it in Manila for 2k and it has been fine. Same in BKK.

Anyone in here has had Lasik done overseas? Preferably in SEA?

@VP

I got my LASIK (all laser with a new bad ass USA built machine) done in Cebu last January for 90,000 Pesos ($2000 USD).

It was a great experience, top notch staff, and my vision is now 20/10.

I've had zero problems with it. You will get halo effect for about 2 months and some dryness for about 3-4 months in my experience, but after that it's all good.

This is the place I went in Cebu: http://larrazabaleye.com/index.html

There are also comparable places here in Manila.

As others have said, this was the best $2000 I've spent. I always hated glasses/contacts and didn't start wearing them until late in life.

Post: #23

I had PRK done in late July of this year at supposedly one of the best machines in the nation (US Air Force Academy) and it cost me nothing due to active duty military status. Best decision I ever made. There was a ton of pain for maybe 2 days and 2 nights, and then it dropped off considerably. I got a week off work, listened to audiobooks for much of that time and received conjugal visits to my place.

There were quite a few people in my "queue" that did LASiK instead of PRK. I recall the morning of my surgery they went first and evidently 7 out of 9 of them had some complication or other. I'm told this is pretty rare but hey, take it as it is.

One thing they tell you to do is take a lot of vitamin C afterward. What they should tell you is take ZMA and Omega 3s for months beforehand--I don't have hard evidence to support it, but I'm pretty sure it was the reason for my significantly better recovery than I've seen for other guys and gals my age. Be real careful about direct sunlight or brightness for a few months afterward. I couldn't walk outside without sunglasses for at least a month because it was like that first time in Fallout 3 when your character steps out of the vault--even on cloudy days.

Post: #24

I've been told I can't get it done the normal way. My prescription is at least -10 and I wear hard lenses because they work better.

Post: #25

(11-26-2014 10:03 PM)DJ-Matt Wrote:  I've been told I can't get it done the normal way. My prescription is at least -10 and I wear hard lenses because they work better.

Definitely the omega 3s. They're anti inflammatory which would help healing. I could have sworn I saw somewhere that said fish oil helps eye surgery heal.