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

dantheman2010

Perhaps my prescription isnt that because I can see everyone and everything clearly - if I cover up my left eye I cant see everything so well, but if I cover up my right its pretty much the same as with both eyes, pretty much crystal clear. I can go to the cinema, watch TV, read, look at people at work, drive etc all with no issues and no struggling.

The only thing I struggle with is seeing road signs until I am approx 1-3 cars in front of it, at night.

tidus

Yes, maybe you got the prescription wrong? If its definitely R -1.25 and L -0.75, you may be "within" the legal driving standard but not by much. I would prescribe that every time.

The legal standard is a number plate at 20.5 metres in daylight. Measure it ASAP and check. If its not possible, or difficult, or only possible if you squint, get some specs.

bitemebankers

Sounds borderline to me too, tidus. When you weigh in the adverse effects laser surgery has on visual accuity, it wouldn't surprise me of the OP was unable to meet the driving standard in practice.

As to whether to get the surgery done again, you have to consider the fact that, if you wish to continue avoiding specs or contact lenses, this won't be your last surgery. Your eyes change constantly throughout your life and surgery can only ever correct what you've got right now - just like a new pair of specs.

Also, by the time you reach middle age, you'll require glasses for viewing any nearby objects anyway - laser surgery cannot correct this problem.

I'd think long and hard about it if I were the OP.

ali-t

dantheman2010 wrote: »

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.

TBH I wouldn't bother. Having had lasek and lasik my corneas are now too unstable for any other surgery other than an implant and that requires cutting the eye open and putting a lens like a contact lens in behind the cornea. For me that was a step too far and I have just resigned myself to wearing glasses.

dantheman2010

Did you have retreatment?

ali-t

dantheman2010 wrote: »

Did you have retreatment?

yes, see post 3 but now I can't get any more as my corneas are not stable enough for further surgery.

dantheman2010

Would you have had it done just to improve some regression? I am in two minds - i dont want to be worse off side effect wise and also dont want to go through the lasek recovery again. But on the otherhand would be nice to have crystal clear vision again without the need for glasses and then again the left eye could then deteriorate and i would be in the same boat all over again. What was the lasek retreatment like? Painwise during recovery. Thanks

dantheman2010

Double checked its L -0.50 R -1.00. I may get some glasses for night time driving, like i say i dont need them for tv and general day to day use so my question is if i do get some just for driving and only wear them for that will my eyesight deterioate from the use of the glasses that i will need to wear them more frequently and for things that i dont need them for now? I dont wanna make them worse by wearing glasses and needing them more often. Thanks.

ali-t

dantheman2010 wrote: »

What was the lasek retreatment like? Painwise during recovery. Thanks

Absolute agony, the recovery pain seemed to get worse with each op. I was left with very light sensitive eyes, I still have problems with haloes and my night vision has deteriorated to the point that I really struggle to drive at night and avoid it wherever possible. My vision is particularly bad at dusk.

Despite that I don't regret getting the surgery as my sight was really bad prior to the ops but if I was in your position I would bite the bullet and get glasses for driving and not consider retreatment unless it deteriorated significantly. Good luck whatever your decision.

dantheman2010

Thank you for that response. Very little out there on retreatments so its so hard to make an informed decision. It grates me thinking of going back to glasses after having the surgery. Im probably going to give retreatment a miss.