Laser eye surgery - retreatment in one eye - would you bother??

dantheman2010

Hi all

In October 2004 I had epi-lasek (no wavefront) in both eyes. I was 21 at the time, I am now 28.

I had perfect 20/20 vision for years following the treatment however in the last year or so I have noticed my vision has deteriorated somewhat, especially in my right eye. My prescription is approx -0.75 in my left and -1.25 in my right.

I have been told I am suitable for retreatment on my right eye, and I am scheduled in to have it done in 3 weeks but I am very worried about having it done again - one for going through the pain and discomfort and two because there is little out there in relation to retreatment experiences.

I dont need to wear glasses or contact lenses, I can see my computer screen and colleagues perfectly fine at work, I can watch TV at home - the only time I would say I slightly struggle is with reading sign posts when driving at night until I am about 1-2 cars away from it. I am unsure whether this is normal with night driving for most people?

I am being charged for having the treatment done - so really my question is - would you have it done again, going through all of that and paying to have your eye sight in one eye slightly improved? First time round we all get major benefits making it worth doing - going from aided to unaided vision. I still have unaided vision, just not 100% perfect.

It would be nice to have perfect 20/20 vision again - but I am sure there are lots of people who wear glasses would be delighted to have the eyesight I currently have. Is it worth the risk of ending up with problems such as poor(er) night vision, an overcorrection or even star bursts and halo problems none of which I have at the moment.

I am 50/50 as whether to have it done or not. If it was pain free (recovery wise) there would be not a lot stopping me other than the possible side effects.

It is Lasek I will need, not Lasik, so longer and more painful recovery.

Would love some feedback from anyone who has had it done, who has had retreatment or just have some positive feedback for me before actually committing myself to this.

Thanks ladies and gents.

adelight

Not had it myself but my housemate just had his eyes retreated and he said it wasn't too bad. He holed himself up in his room in the dark with music and audio tapes as much as he could, had meals ready in the fridge and no commitments planned. He avoided using the drops for pain as they make recovery slower but used them once going to the pub two days after.

ali-t

I have had laser eye surgery 3 times and it is awful. The first time I had both eyes done and my vision was undercorrected so had to get retreated twice and still can't see perfectly. One of my eyes was overcorrected so now I have one shortsighted and one longsighted and tend to still wear glasses a lot.

Just bear in mind it could end up worse rather than better.

dantheman2010

Thanks for the reply. So if you were me you wouldnt bother. If you were able to drive, watch tv etc without glasses you wouldnt get one eye redone? Majority of my friends and family dont think i should bother. Just interested in getting various views from others.

Anyone else with an opinion on the matter? Even if u havent had it done.

minimoneysaver

Honestly, I would be so happy with the vision that you currently have. Is it really worth the risk of things not being right. You're lucky to have no issues like the halo etc. It could happen. I would take that chance as I am in glasses from the minute I get up to the minute I go to bed. Any freedom from them would be nice.

tidus

"I don't need to wear glasses and contact lenses"
At -0.75/-1.25 you need glasses for driving. I doubt there is an optometrist in the country that wouldn't advise that.

Personally I wouldn't have further surgery at that level. Low levels of myopia are actually useful in later life - it delays the need for reading glasses. At this level you'll probably be able to manage most tasks at most distances for a long time, but you should have glasses for driving. The big bonus is you probably won't need reading glasses until quite late in life, rather than at 45 like most people.

That all assumes things stay stable, of course, but they probably will now if you're 28.

dantheman2010

Thank you, that seems to be the thinking of the majority of people I have asked an opinion from.

Its just for the last 6/7 years I have had crystal clear vision from the treatment and now its not so clear - clear enough, but not what it was. I know that will come with age even if I had it done again, but the difference having the right eye corrected would make (if it went smoothly) would be quite noticeable.

Thats my dilemma.

dantheman2010

tidus wrote: »

"I don't need to wear glasses and contact lenses"
At -0.75/-1.25 you need glasses for driving. I doubt there is an optometrist in the country that wouldn't advise that.

Had my eyes tested last month before booking the appointment, both the opticians and the laser eye clinic said that is within the legal requirements.

Considering I can see perfectly well with my left eye - some people have no vision at all in one eye and are still able to drive based on the vision with their other eye.

londonsurrey

I had my eyes lasered (once) over a year ago. It was done by a top London surgeon, Julian Stevens, at Moorfields Eye Hospital for just over £3k (the girl sitting beside me had it done for £3.8k - it seems to vary according to treatment).

If you look him up, he does athletes and fighting personnel who need better night vision too, as well as corneal transplants. What swung it for me is that he does corrective surgery on laser surgery that has gone wrong - why go to a chop shop and risk problems with your eyes when you can go to the guy who stands the best chance of you having no problems?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?gcx=c&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=julian+stevens+eye

Anyhow, this is my way of leading up to saying that a year ago, a consultation cost £115 (deducted from the cost of surgery if you go ahead) and this way, you get an opinion from a top flight surgeon, one who would fix problems.

I had my eyes done at age 39, and he said that I could consider them being done in maybe a decade when I would probably start to get long sighted. I hope this helps.

dantheman2010

tidus wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't have further surgery at that level. Low levels of myopia are actually useful in later life - it delays the need for reading glasses. At this level you'll probably be able to manage most tasks at most distances for a long time, but you should have glasses for driving. The big bonus is you probably won't need reading glasses until quite late in life, rather than at 45 like most people.

That all assumes things stay stable, of course, but they probably will now if you're 28.

Very good point. Thanks.....

Hmmm its all so confusing, so tied between whether to do it or not.

If I dont have it done I will probably always be thinking about it and comparing the two. If I do have it done and it goes wrong or I have a side effect which I dont have now then I would be gutted. If I do have it done and it works perfectly then I will be happy.....unless it deterioates again.

I suppose the question is, would I feel more gutted if it went wrong than how happy I would feel if it went right?

Elle7

dantheman2010 wrote: »

Had my eyes tested last month before booking the appointment, both the opticians and the laser eye clinic said that is within the legal requirements.

Considering I can see perfectly well with my left eye - some people have no vision at all in one eye and are still able to drive based on the vision with their other eye.

Hmmm...I'd be very careful with this!

This is the level my eyes are at, and I have to wear glasses to drive. Initially I was told I didn't, as it was within limits, but the driver before me when I took my test had reversed into something and broken the back light. We got pulled over, and I got told off for not wearing glasses when my eyes were so 'borderline', and told I'd get fined or points if it happened again.

I usually did take my glasses, but I forgot in my nervousness...I'd just keep an eye on it. I certainly wear mine all the time!

Equally, do you not need glasses now anyway? I wear them all the time with your prescription, and can really tell the difference if I'm not wearing them. I presumed everyone with this prescription would need them?

As for your question...yes, I would have it corrected, I think. As my prescription is the same as yours, and I'd love to be able to see properly without glasses.