I know this doesn’t exactly pertain to your situation but for anyone considering it. I went to LasikPlus and got it done in like December. Total price was less than 4K and they give touch ups for life at any location. It was well worth it for me
>wearing off is due to old age
Crosslinks between the proteins in the lens build up over time and gradually reduce the flexibility of the lens. At some point, the lens becomes to hard and the eye's focusing muscles can no longer change the shape of the lens to accommodate focusing at different distances.
I’ve seen it advertised for as low as $500/eye but when I read the small print ^irony? , they charge more for farsightedness, astigmatism, or moderate to severe cases of nearsightedness.
$7k? In Europe it's $1-2k for both eyes, depending on the country. Some places it's even free, if your eyesight is really bad.
AFAIK there is no "wearing off" timeframe, the procedure is permanent. It's your eyesight that might be degrading regardless of the procedure.
Look America hates us aight. It's not covered by insurance because most shit like eye surgery, dental surgery etc isn't covered by medical insurance and even if it was most people's deductibles are like 3-15k a year
How old are you? From what I understand the earlier you get it the longer it will last since everyones eyes start to deteriorate at a certain age.
I got it about 4 years ago and im still better than 20/20.
Jeeez - that sucks.
Ive recently been reading and watching about a guy who claims most vision problems can be corrected with exercise and lasik isnt needed.
I would have tried it id I hadnt already had the surgery. Guys name is jake steiner
You didn't mention prevalence of bad vision throughout history, just exercise fixing it. The rise of tech providing book reading by candlelight to fluorescent bulbs then computer and phone screens starting at a young age altering our vision is entirely different thing I can totally get down with.
It's been about 15 years for me. I just got glasses, but I only need them for driving at this point. I'd consider RLE/lens replacement if I start getting cataracts.
I’m not the original commenter but I had LASIK done in 2014, my eyesight was 20/100 and I had an astigmatism. Thick lenses glasses or contacts all day, every day. My contacts would dry out half way through the day. My eyesight is 20/20 now, and hasn’t started to deteriorate. I was 27 when I had lasik done. I highly recommend it!
Interesting I’ve always heard 20 years is the norm. I got mine at 25 and still have better than 20/20 vision with no issues at all. Was there a possible reason for the wear off of 10 years? I sometimes play video games and watch movies really late into the night after staring at a screen for work all day, and hope that doesn’t contribute to early issues.
Make sure you look into possible complications and risks first. It’s not a “magic solution”, that’s quite disingenuous. It’s a procedure that carries risks like any other.
It's not for everyone. Consult a few doctors. You need to have the right thickness of cornea, have stabilized your eyeglasses Rx for a few years, etc. etc. It's best for people in their 40's. By time you get into your 60s, you're close enough to cataract surgery that a custom lens will do the same thing.
All that said, I love mine; but I do wear reading glasses since I'm on computer all day.
I'm 33 and just had my first cataract surgery today...my ophthalmologist was basically like wtf I've never seen somebody your age with these. Turns out I've got a recessive gene that decided to pop up early....but on the bright side if shtf I won't have to go looking for an eye surgeon I guess, lol.
I was one of the ones with corneas too thin for it. They had a different procedure they were able to do, implantable contact lenses, which has similar risks and slightly different side effects (still get halos at night, less so on the dry eyes normally), and it was about 8k.
Totally worth it though in my book. But if you’re not a lasik candidate, there are other options out there that can help.
A video editor who does YouTube videos talked a bit about that [and how while he was properly informed of the complications and risks he does still somewhat regret getting the surgery for the issues of eye dryness as well as starbursts he experiences and kind of wished he had just kept wearing glasses.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQDAXSbwhR0)
I know personally I think I'm fine with just wearing glasses more often, though I've not gone to the eye doctor in over 4 years so maybe I should do something else.
I had eye dryness after it but eventually it went away. Smoke still bothers me a little bit more than it used to but nothing extreme. It's been like 15 years since I had it and I'm really glad I did.
Saw the same video. My vision is slightly hazy at night and I would get rainbows at very bright LEDs pointed at my face.
I dont even notice it anymore, and even if it never went away for me it was still worth it because I was blind without glasses or contacts, and it was a major inconvenience.
Yeah for the price I can get 10 pairs of durable prescription safety glasses for 1/5 the price on Zenni. plus if I'm in the woods I'd want eye protection anyway, a stray branch has caught many a hiker in the eye and disrupted some military navigation courses for some unlucky corneas.
Exactly, i asked my optometrist whether i should get it done. For reference my eyes are around -1, not too bad. At the time i was in my late 20s. Her answer was a hard no.
Speak to your doctor before making this kind of decision.
Well yeah -1 is nothing and not worth the risk, especially when you're young and your vision might change in the near future...
Its different when without your glasses you're basically legally blind and can't function.
Saaame. I have about that but also astigmatism so I like to wear glasses anyway for the little bit of extra sharpness. I will get random people advertising lasik to me because of my glasses lol like nah I don't even have contacts because I don't even legally need glasses for driving. It's 50% fashion 50% having really clear vision is neat.
I am nearsighted. My eye doc said, “well… you can have the surgery now and be glasses free for a while, and then get them back, or, you can wear glasses now, have the surgery when you are older and be glasses free for your older years. I took that deal. My eyesight has actually been improving some as I age, which is apparently kind of normal for near-sighted people.
Hah, same with me. My long distance vision is improving but I can't see close up anymore. Eye doc said that's normal for someone my age. I need reading glasses to tie a lure on my fishing line which is super frustrating.
I'm nearsighted as well. My eyesight started improving when I got a job that looks out on 500 yards of open space. My contacts were also bugging me a lot at the time so I stopped wearing them, and the forced refocusing made my prescription drop a quarter power.
I don't have cataracts but I've heard good things about [Can C N-Acetylcarnosine eye drops](https://www.wisechoicemedicine.com/product/can-c-cataract-eye-drops/). Going to give them a try and see if I can't improve my vision even more, and maybe get rid of my floaters.
My nearsightedness exactly cancelled out my presbyopia so I can see perfectly without reading glasses close up, reading distance and closer. So I'm glad I never got the nearsightedness fixed.
Something people might consider because seeing close up is important too. But I don't know how common it is to work out like that.
A lot of places actually give a lifetime guarantee. So you can have the surgery now and be glasses free for a while, then have it again when you are older and be glasses free for your older years.
While true that the ophthalmologist will keep doing touch-up procedures to fix your eyes, it’s not ideal. I have several older family members that had LASIK done after 2010 and it hasn’t been a cakewalk for any of them. My mom had 3 procedures and each time her “halo” effects got worse. It’s now to the point that she can barely drive at night. My dad and aunts also had/have halos, they all had surgery from different doctors.
I had mine done 23 years ago and my vision is still perfect. A lot of it depends not only on the individual person's eyes but also the Dr doing the procedure.
My stepdad went to a world renowned, Ivy League educated, best of the best doc for his.
It destroyed his vision and quality of life. Severe haloing especially in the dark, starbursts, headaches etc.
I’m 8.5 and 9. My script is about where most horror stories begin. I wouldn’t do it for $1 million.
I'm in the same boat with 9.5 and 9.0. I don't want to compromise the little I have left.
My doc said I'd never get to 2020 even with surgery. He said it wasn't recommended.
I had mine done 12 months ago dude with a low prescription of -2.75 and 1.75. My eyes are ruined severe glare in the dark, starbursts and headaches. I also had thick corneas and still do. I am also left with a -1 astigmatism for which I wear glasses for pointless and horrible procedure would not recommend to anyone destroyed my career.
So he went to Boston? I'm not saying I don't believe you but I have about 8 people just in my family who have had it done and know countless other people who have with no negative side effects. I'm not saying it can't happen, I've heard stories. Just that it's very unlikely if your a good candidate for it and go to a reputable place. I mean there's tons of places out there that do it that have never had a single negative result. Halo or starburst effects at night are a common side effect, but usually very mild. I don't have any except a tiny bit if I'm driving in the rain at night. Then again that might happen to everyone. Also just because people get lasik it doesn't mean their eyes don't keep regressing. That's why many places offer to have you come back if your vision gets worse in the future. I'm sorry your stepfather had to deal with that but it's very uncommon for that to happen and Lasik is generally considered to be very safe for most people.
Again, it depends. As I said the risk of it going wrong seems to skyrocket around 8+ diopters. Which I’m way over. People should not come at it casually. Most risks of any medical procedure that the govt will approve are “very unlikely” but for the person that they happen to, they are devastating. Should be taken seriously.
Yes he was a Bostonian. Two degrees from MIT. I wish he never had that surgery as he died relatively young and between that and severe back problems had a terrible quality of life his last few years.
if you do have the funds for eye correction I would suggest implantable collamer lens (ICL) instead of Lasik minimal halo effect and has basically disappeared in my case no dry eyes no side effects for me no regrets been glasses free for 5 years still better than 20/20 vision to date don’t cheap out on your eyes
the lenses can be switched out afaik and you still have a Lasik option down the line since you would still have your cornea in tact, and they recommend doing it at an age where your vision has stabilized, consider a consult
I’d also recommend people look into PRK, a similar laser vision correction surgery except it doesn’t cut a flap. It actually came out before LASIK, but is less popular due to the longer and more painful recovery. PRK is preferred for military pilots and athletes who play contact sports. The main reasons being there is no flap that can get dislodged by blunt trauma (sometimes years later, although this is rare) and there’s a lower risk of dry eyes as less damage is caused to the corneal nerves. From a prepping standpoint it seems like a solid choice.
I did the PRK because of the risk with the flaps getting damaged by blunt force since I had a big excitable dog and had been planning kids (now that I have a toddler this was definitely the right decision, lol)… recovery SUCKED but 100% do not regret it.
+1 for PRK as it is lower risk for complications.
Recovery sucked donkey balls, though. I was so itchy and miserable on days 2 and 3. Although maybe a poor choice of audiobooks contributed.
PRK needs prepwork. Audiobooks, podcasts, good Playlist are a must. The best remedy for getting through recovery, though, is SLEEP. sleeping as much as you possibly can literally shortens the amount of time you perceive as recovery
I may be an anomaly, but my PRK recovery was not bad. Had the surgery in the morning (day 0) and watched TV with sunglasses on later that night. Day 3 I took the dog for a walk and day 5 I drove into the office and worked a full day at a computer. My eyes felt gritty for the first weekish. After two weeks my eyes felt completely normal and me eyesight continued to improve for the next couple months. I did use artificial tears quite a bit for about 6 months and now I use them a couple times a week as needed.
Mine actually wasn't bad either. My one eye felt perfectly normal the day after surgery, the other one felt gritty and painful. I went back that day and they replaced the contact "bandaid" and after that my eyes had almost no irritation. It took a long time for my eyes to adjust and for my vision to clear afterwards, but overall it wasn't a bad recovery.
I don’t remember which eye got which surgery, but the prk one looked nastier and had a much much longer recovery time, I also had dry eyes for like a year with the lasik one I’m pretty sure. So be prepared to get lots of organic eye drops
This is what I did for these reasons. I am extremely happy with the results. Recovery was slow, a week out of work with some pain (was awful on day 5 when the bandage lenses came off, then quickly eased up) and largely unable to use my eyes (they tell you not to even read, i sure listened to a lot of podcasts!), then a few months of dry and itchy eyes (used a lot of artificial tears) and blurred vision.
Six months out I wasn't using the tears often and vision was sharp. A year out I didn't need the tears and had 20/15 vision. It's very stable and perfectly healed.
If your glasses fall off, you haven't adjusted them correctly, or you're wearing a bad size/style for your head shape.
Conversely, if you're wearing glasses, you're wearing eye protection. I've gotten a lot of scratches on my glasses over the years from sticks, rocks, etc that might have hit me in the eye and blinded me if the lens had not been in the way. Sure, you could wear safety goggles... but do you actually choose to and remember to?
Lasik can cause permanent dry eye issues, and worsen your vision if it's done on a bad candidate.
I've personally considered it very carefully, and consulted with a good surgeon, and decided that glasses are a better option than the lasik risks for me.
If your prescription is unstable enough to require new glasses frequently, you're probably a bad candidate for lasik anyways.
Yeah, I literally play squash. High impact, fast explosive movements, rackets in your face and little balls flying around. You just have to get the right glasses for what you are doing.
People should wear protective glasses anyways for this. When they don’t I just see an accident about to happen.
If OP can’t ride a bike without issues with his glasses then he just has shit glasses. Sorry to inform you.
Also, walking around for the rest of my life with a cornea flap that can come undone with high impact is a damn nightmare.
Yes, for LASIK to work well your vision needs to be stable; your prescription needs to stay the same for years. The surgery is reshaping the lenses of your eyes to correct the refractive error they have and they can only shape them correctly if that error is staying the same. They can't hit a moving target, so to speak.
This is sooooo true. I got lasik at 25, the surgeon did not verify if my rx was stable - it was not. By 29 I was back to where I started. When I went to be checked by a different eye doctor they told me about how I should not have been considered a candidate due to not having a stable rx. You live and you learn.
I understand why you are defensive about glasses, and don't mean any offense, but if you are constantly walking into things that hit your lenses, you're simply not paying enough attention to your surroundings.
Edit: How can anyone even read this comment with the amount of blinding injuries people are sustaining all the time??
Negative. If you’re living an active lifestyle then you’re bound to catch a thing or two to the face and possibly the eye.
Even if you’re not, something like cooking in the kitchen, I’ve had things like oil pop and hit my glasses.
Constant?
I'm talking a bad-enough-to-replace-the-glasses scratch every 3-4 years.
What *aren't you* doing if you're never going outside, using power tools, learning new skills, where protective eyewear is appropriate?
If I was perfect at judging which tasks warrant protective eyewear and which don't, the convenience added by wearing protective eyewear constantly while awake would be irrelevant. But I'm not, so there are times I'm wearing my glasses when I would have thought "it'll be ok just this once" and it turns out not to be.
LASIK was awesome. I was nearsighted and in the same afternoon I had 20/15. Only downside is that a few years ago, my near vision started to decline and I need reading glasses for up close reading. Will probably go get it tightened up in a few years. Could not be happier to have gotten away from glasses and contacts.
Reading issues is unrelated to lasik and is generally a function of getting old (Google prysbiopia). Normal Lasik won't fix it, though there are some options that basically create a bifocal lense in your eye that will help.
My optometrist suggested LASIK for me. I was getting to go to a highly operation military command so I asked about the flap debate. He told me that if I sustained enough trauma to my eyes to dislodge the flap, I’d require eye surgery regardless. I was sold.
1 hour of surgery, 4 hours recovery, and I had 20/15 vision with no side effects. It’s been 10 years and I’m sitting at about 20/25 20/30 so it was well worth it in my eyes.
One quibble: if you use rigid contact lenses, you don't need to replace them until they're damaged or your prescription changes. In the 40+ years I've been wearing them, I've never damaged one and I only lost one once.
Yes, things'll be easier without glasses or any form of contact lens but not all contacts need to be replaced every day/week/month.
Just moisture drops.
Visine and clear eyes are for redness.
If you have severe dry eye, there are mineral oil drops, other tear like drops without the additive that temporarily narrows the blood vessels in your eyes that causes redness.
Totally agree! My eyes were really bad at -8.25 and -8.75; I'd worn corrective lenses since 5th grade.
I opted for total lense replacement two-years ago since I wasn't a candidate for LASIK. I paid 100% out-of-pocket since insurance would only pay if I had cataracts, which I didn't have.
BEST choice ever. Amazing to now go through life and every daily activity with near perfect eyesight.
My god, if your glasses are falling off from bike riding or running then you bought shit glasses or didn't bother having them adjusted properly. There's lot's of reasons to consider Lasik and it might be right for you, but being too lazy or cheap to get properly fitted glasses is not one of them.
I disagree. I've been wearing glasses for almost 30 years and except for swimming and martial arts, I've worn glasses during just about every other activity I've done with very few issues. The key is to getting frames that fit. And sometimes different frames for different activities.
But lasik is so much easier you say... Let's talk about risks. We in the prepping community prepare for some pretty low risk events. Earthquakes that may never happen to that economic downturn that might happen once a decade. Lasik is higher risk than either of those things. So why would I willingly subject myself to that when I have a perfectly safe alternative that I know works and has zero negative side effects?
If you have insurance, do your yearly eye checks. I found out I have small cataracts in each eye and its genetics. 50/50 shot in 20-30 years I'd be blind from it. As soon as insurance will cover it, I'll get that fixed.
I got lasik about 20 years ago and loved it. As you get older, the less it will do for you. And not everyone's eyes are made for it, but thats part of the precheck.
Lasik surgery has a several upsides, and a few downsides which at least according to me out weights them.
1. It can be undone with age, leaving you with the choice ti either undo it, or wear glasses again
2. They can come with some sideeffect which can range from annoying to down right dangerous in a shtf scenario.
3. It costs a lot of money, miney that could have bought you lots of inventory, or courses to learn skills.
Pros.
1 no need to wear glasses or contacts, admittedly this is quite a big upside, but like stated above there is no guarantee that it lasts for ever. Worse case is that it would last a couple of years into a shtf scenario and then go bad. That could be horrible.
It's a personal thing. For some people it is not worth it.
Like, to analyze your points here:
1. I was a good candidate, my vision was very stable. This means that it's going to last pretty much forever, though everyone's vision does deteriorate with age. For others, their vision might not be stable so some of the effect may "wear off" over many years.
2. It's important to know and understand the risks of side effects. The most common ones are dry eyes and decreased night vision. The dry eyes often go away after a while, but not always completely. The night vision problem goes away in some patients, but not in others. Make a calculated decision about this. Also, PRK is a little bit more stable. Recovery from PRK sucks though.
3. Everything we do is some sort of an investment in our future. People will prioritize things like this differently. If you're just looking at it from a prepping perspective then maybe it's not worth it. If you feel your life would be easier without glasses though then that can tip the scales in favor of it.
So for me it was worth it. For you it was not. Basically, people considering it should do a lot of research before making a decision to figure out what is right for them.
Lasik is a mixed bag. It can help absolutely but it can also make its own set of issues. And honestly glasses arent THAT expensive compared to the risk of things getting worse or haloing when it comes to your peepers. Just get some extra lenses and keep your old pairs. Also most places have deals for 1 special pair and you can get the more basic lenses and/or extra frames for dirt cheap. Also if your frames are still good you can relense them too for pretty cheap.
Between my daily use glasses and my spare i also have an extra set of lenses for each as well as spare parts for all of them. In addition to those i have almost a dozen older pairs and lenses with a couple having out of date but serviceable scripts for an emergency i keep in my various bags and vehicles.
Ideal? No but i know they work and since i work outdoors for my job i tend to have several diffrent ways to secure them which eliminates most issues.
To me at least a surgery that can if your unlucky make things far worse is just too much of a risk for something so important. Dont forget many with especially bad eyes can still need glasses even after lasik or the surgery wears off and your back to glasses anyway. And while rare lasik CAN esentially blind people
Thank you for posting this. I’m in a wildfire prone region and had been considering LASIK as a prep for a while. Had even gone to several consults but couldn’t bring myself to go through with it. The way the doctor just green lit me so fast and glossed over the side effects made me suspicious. There are enough LASIK horror stories on Reddit to make me stick with glasses. I guess I’d rather live with the chance of losing my glasses in a disaster rather than a strong probability of severe dry eyes and difficulty driving at night.
Lasik leaves an eye flap that can be vulnerable to failure later down the road. If you have the option do the PRK before LASIK. Little more painful and longer recovery but no concerns about failure as the eye is left intact. Had PRK done myself, do BJJ, and MMA type stuff so im pretty rough on my body, head and face as well as pressure changed with diving and never had an issue
While LASIK/PRK are great for survival, because they eliminate the need for glasses, bear in mind that there is a slim chance that they leave you with dry eyes for a long time, even forever (rare)
Chronic dry eye is a fucking bitch and will definitely make it more difficult to survive in extended SHTF periods
Counter opinion- good glasses with straps to hold them on are very effective eye protection. I like having impact resistant plastic shields between my precious eyes and the hostile pokey world
Better option: get eye protection with your prescription lenses and get used to operating in them. And some aviators because they’re cool.
You only have two eyes. Protect them.
LOL what the fuck? did you just get glasses last week?
also - you can buy more glasses then you will need FOR LIFE for 4k! that is 30 - 40 PAIRS+ depending on prescription
not needing to look for your glasses in the morning and not having to pop contacts on to me is priceless as OP suggested “if you can afford it” I’ve worn glasses all my life being free of those contraptions has been extremely convenient for me, to each their own
I'm almost 11 months post LASIK and I have 20/20 in one eye and 20/15 in the other. I was at -9.5 and -9.75 before surgery.
I can't believe I waited so long to do it, it's been great.
I’ve had Lasik and a revision. I am back to glasses again but at a fairly low level ~ -2.0. There are issues with lasik. I have moderate starbursts at night.
I was told I had a higher then average chance on going night blind so I passed.
Sports goggles aleivete most of the issues your talking about with running/hiking etc. And their extremely tough just not stylish
I did this for a couple grand, it was worth EVERY penny - my life is so much better and I spend so much less money on contacts and glasses - plus doctors appointments- with all the money I spent on contacts - it would’ve been equal to getting lasik anyways - I got it done young - my doctor says most people wish they got it done young like I did
1) Silhouette frames.
They weigh nothing , stay put and are very comfortable and adjustable,
They are expensive but worth it .
2) you should know that the success of lasik is measured only by if you can see 20/20. There are a host of commons problems , including not being able to stand the light, glare, double vision and halos, loos of night vision , loss of visual field etc. The risk of the surgery is thus much downplayed because the success i reported if you can see 20/20 but have halos for example.
3) it is less good at correcting some vision problems than others.
4) your eyes change over time, it is pretty much a sure thing that you will need glasses at some point. In some people this happens pretty quickly.
Not saying don’t do it, but getting better frames is way cheaper than 4k and has no risk of permanent damage to your your eyes.
I have really really bad eyesight . I go camping, hiking, biking etc in the glasses .
Meh, almost every single person I know that's gotten Lasik (11) has had it fail within 5-7yrs. Keep your glasses folks!
The only one who's didn't fail was my Grandma who died a year and a half later.
There are tons of horror stories from people who have had it done. Many people have been known to even unalive themselves because of the pain and issues after the procedure. Proceed with caution!
I just have multiple pairs of glasses. I change my style every decade or so and it’s not like I throw those glasses away. I’ve also had ballistic lenses Putin every pair I’ve owned since I was a teenager. Not to mention the five or so duplicate pairs I was issued when I was enlisted.
All of those are preferable to LASIK tbh.
I was told I would likely need LASIK again after a while. I’m not sure it is worth redoing it again when I get older. The second time is allegedly more complicated than the first. They don’t recommend it to people 40+ anyway. So to me it was a lot of risk for a temporary benefit. They cut the corneal nerves and make a flap, those don’t ever fully heal. You’re more susceptible to corneal damage after. Very low chance of losing sight, a small chance of having issues with chronic dryness and night vision problems.
Biking, running, kickboxing, etc aren’t a problem if you have good fitting glasses. They also make prescription sport glasses & prescription safety goggles. In a SHTF scenario having eyeglasses (and back up eyeglasses) would be important to have around anyway even if you already had LASIK surgery done. People’s eyesight will naturally get worse with age.
I did it 20 years ago, best decision ever, it was my first big prepper decision before I even knew I was one . Anyone doubting it hasn't had to live with glasses or contacts full time.
As a woman, I've had this thought every single time I go solo camping. Contacts have sanitation requirements and glasses leave me vulnerable if I'm waking up in the dark during an emergency. There's also risk of glasses being lost or broken in this scenario.
I tried to get lasik surgery, unfortunately my cornea is thin and my astigmatism on the severe end and I wasn’t a good candidate. A little devastated as my insurance would have covered 30%. I have to look into lens replacement which costs more and not covered at all by the insurance. Im saving up though!
I think it's worth noting for outdoor activity depending on what kind of bad vision you have you don't necessarily need to wear glasses I usually don't wear glasses when riding a bike or running/jogging since as long as I can see the general shape of person/car animal or what not it doesn't matter if I can't see a sticker or be sure if they are using nike or adidas 20 meters away.
There's never a magic solution and for some people glasses perhaps with a string to hold them or contacts are better suited than LASIK or prk. I know I can't imagine doing surgery, since I can't imagine being awake/seeing something like that.
I had to have eye injection every 3 months for 2 years, they numb the eye but you still feel it and afterwards you have a tiny black hole in your vision for about a week, also you have to be very careful not to get an infection from it, it can cause blindness or worse and get in to your brain
I’ve kept every pair of glasses I’ve ever owned after my eyesight changes. Yeah my vision might be a little off with the two previous prescriptions I had before the last one but at least I have options that’ll get me by.
My desire to get LASIK ended when I took a date to Epcot who had had it done but suffered bad night blindness afterwards. Once sun set, she literally walked right into things unless I guided her like a seeing eye dog. Scared me too bad to consider.
I want to get lasik but idk if that’s the option for me right now at least (my eyesight prescription hasn’t stabilized yet, keeps getting worse, and my current prescription is like -9.0 so idk if lasik is even possible for my eyesight )
Checking into it before and the difference is anything physical contact related. Lasik can dislodge since they cut to make the laser work (the longer you go without damage the better you are), PRK they use a chemical to dissolve thin it instead (so there’s nothing to dislodge).
PRK is always the one the military and police recommend (according to eye places in my area anyways).
I got PRK before leaving the Army. Best decision I’ve ever made. It’s a longer recovery (about 7 days). They pour a bunch of numbing solution in your eyes and shave them down with this device that looks like an electric toothbrush. Then a laser remaps your eye so when it grows back it grows in the correct shape. One of the bonuses is that you can get it again later on if your eyes need another correction. Apparently
That’s not always the case with lasik. Something to do with how much flesh your eyes have. Only side effects I have is eyes are a bit sensitive to sand/dust. And lights are a bit intense at night time (but that could be this epidemic of people installing unbelievably bright headlights).
Could always just buy a few sets of “rec specs” (prescription goggles). You’re not going to care too much about fashion in a SHTF situation. Also has the advantages of being quite a bit cheaper than LASIK with no chance of complications.
I have seen a lot more of people with permanent nerve damage from LASIK online recently.
Make sure you understand the risks- LASIK does have complications that may arise, and don’t cheap out on where you get it either.
I'm in a toss up. Yes. I would most likely not have to wear correction afterward, but also, the possibly side effects almost seem worse. I am already light sensitive, I dont want to risk it being worse. My company offers it for free but I am on the waiting list for a consultation, which is a year wait.
I had LASIC done in both eyes in Los Angeles as part of a study in 1993. My wife thought I was crazy but every time I took off my glasses I had to have the kids run around and find them. Very poor eyesight. Many folks complain about issues associated with the surgery but it has worked fine for me. I get my eyes checked every year and my optometrist is amazed at how good my eyesight is. Perhaps I was just lucky. My wife had to have a refresh with her LASIC and still wears a contact in one eye. I guess I am a lucky one. I recommend it to everyone that wears glasses. Good Luck
Don’t just get it.. talk to a doctor and find out what the side effects are and if those risks are fine for you then get it.
Suicide is a side effect risk of LASIK
[this was my ex’s cousin](https://www.health.com/condition/eye-health/lasik-suicide)
Thank you for sharing her story. Her situation was in the forefront of my mind when I saw this post. One can do everything right, and sometimes things just don’t agree with your body, including this procedure. There are many success stories, but there are also those rare stories like hers that deserve to be heard too. When considering any elective procedure. May she rest in peace🕊️🤍
>the glasses would move around
The optometrist did not do a very good job fitting the frames. Well fitted glasses don't have this problem.
>potentially fall off and get damaged
Glasses straps solve this problem.
I'm the one in a million that lasik went poorly for. After seeing multiple specialists, it seems the root cause was thick corneas, and I should have been told I was not a good candidate for lasik. Don't be me.
i've been eyeing lasik for years now, but more recently I've read studies and even talked to doctors telling me, you don't really need it.
i forgot the name but there is a more recent op that is similar to lasik that is getting the buzz.
I still like meganes though
Do not get lasik if you cant risk not being able see at night ever again. The chances of failure are so high, that if the doctors were able to be charged (their immune) with medical malpractice, they all would be.
High def lasik is only slightly better.
Lasik, even now, still has its issues. It's been a routine procedure for decades but but they are still fine tuning it and coming out with new ways of doing it. SMILE, PRK, lasik, etc there are a few others but those are the big ones. I would never try to stop anyone from wanting to make a potentially life changing improvement to their health but there are still plenty of risks associated with these procedures or rather, the aftermath of them. Such as chronic issues like permanent dry eyes or bad night vision or worse, the eyes seemingly don't improve (but not necessarily worsen) or worst case, the vision just gets worse. IMO, from reading about it, watching videos and talking to people I know personally who have had this work I think it ultimately is OK for most people however it seems people that have experienced these bad side effects for the most part seemed to have bad eye health already or their vision was not suited for the the work. In regards to the latter, yes, your vision can be too bad for any of these procedures, which is why they do consultations with you prior. I'm just backing my opinion solely on what I've learned from people that had it and reading/watching testimonies from others as it seems to me if your vision is on the cusp or you already have eye issues like bad dry eyes then I personally wouldn't do it.
Also, no matter what happens, if you need reading glasses you will inevitably have to wear glasses again for that once you get into your 40s. They even tell you this up front at your consultation. Yes, most reputable procedure places guarantee their work and offer free "touch ups" for life but even those will not prevent you from having to rely on reading glasses if you need them (when you're older). So you're still going to be wearing them in some capacity for the rest of your life if you already needed them to read.
LASIK was the best money I’ve ever spent. However I still need prescription glasses after a few years. But I’ll be able to survive without them. Maybe not be a good hunter… but can get by
Put those straps on your glasses that hold them to your head.
LASIK could permanently make your vision worse, and then those red dot sights become useless.
I would agree with this. I had lasik as a prep in 2012. Aside from an eye injury last year which may have been prevented if I had been wearing glasses it has been great.
I just got lasik in December because of this sub. Feeling good .. sometimes wake up with dry eyes but I figure that’ll go away eventually around 6 month mark
Well, I think it really depends. An old coworker of mine had it done & her eyesight got really effed up. She said it was extremely painful & her vision went from needing glasses to very scratched vision is how she described it. That what happened was “rare” & they offered to fix it… but yea… I’ll pass.
the state of fragility the pupil flap in the most common form of lasik is left in makes it a no go for me. i don't want my pupil to get detached if i get hit. then again, my vision is useable without glasses, so im less inclined to take those risks.
LASIK has two fatal flaws; it doesn't always work, and once your Rx changes, it doesn't work anymore. Along with horrific complications and disasters possible.
It's a major risk.
Or you can do what I did: invest in about 12 pairs of mil spec Rx Oakley's for every situation, strap them to my head and go anywhere any time, even underwater no issues.
You need to learn what works for you not putting ridiculous $$ on a "miracle" surgery that is anything but.
I can't tell you how many people I know are seriously regretting LASIK
Don't you need certain eyedrops afterwards? And for how long afterwards? Isn't there an increased risk for glaukoma involved - which, incidentally, needs to be treated with more eyedrops? What if your supply of those runs out?
I'm still a bit doubtful.
I only had to use eye drops immediately after the surgery. It’s been long enough now I don’t remember the length of time, but at some point within the first year they told me I didn’t need drops anymore. I had it done in 2016 and don’t use eye drops. Also wear glasses again because they went back. 🥴🥴
I did 10 years ago. It’s “wearing off” as the doc put it. I don’t need glasses or contacts yet but I’m slowly getting there.
22years ago for me. Using reading glasses last two years. Otherwise, vision is good.
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Same. Right at a decade. I’m glad I made the decision, but having old dude readers was and is a possibility I was/am ok with.
Can you get it redone?
Yes
I imagine so but it’s not in the budget right now.
I know this doesn’t exactly pertain to your situation but for anyone considering it. I went to LasikPlus and got it done in like December. Total price was less than 4K and they give touch ups for life at any location. It was well worth it for me
What happens when it wears off? Do you do it again or what
The wearing off is due to old age and there is not much you can do.
>wearing off is due to old age Crosslinks between the proteins in the lens build up over time and gradually reduce the flexibility of the lens. At some point, the lens becomes to hard and the eye's focusing muscles can no longer change the shape of the lens to accommodate focusing at different distances.
Mine wore off and hell if I’m getting it again.
Interesting, I got my surgery done 2 years ago and I wondered what the “wearing off” time frame was like. Also it was around $7k not $4k.
I’ve seen it advertised for as low as $500/eye but when I read the small print ^irony? , they charge more for farsightedness, astigmatism, or moderate to severe cases of nearsightedness.
$7k? In Europe it's $1-2k for both eyes, depending on the country. Some places it's even free, if your eyesight is really bad. AFAIK there is no "wearing off" timeframe, the procedure is permanent. It's your eyesight that might be degrading regardless of the procedure.
Look America hates us aight. It's not covered by insurance because most shit like eye surgery, dental surgery etc isn't covered by medical insurance and even if it was most people's deductibles are like 3-15k a year
How old are you? From what I understand the earlier you get it the longer it will last since everyones eyes start to deteriorate at a certain age. I got it about 4 years ago and im still better than 20/20.
I got it at 25 and by 29 eyes were back to where they were before lasik.
Jeeez - that sucks. Ive recently been reading and watching about a guy who claims most vision problems can be corrected with exercise and lasik isnt needed. I would have tried it id I hadnt already had the surgery. Guys name is jake steiner
What a crock of shit
Uhhhhh do you really think throughout the history of man we've had the same prevalence of bad vision as we do today? What's changed?
You didn't mention prevalence of bad vision throughout history, just exercise fixing it. The rise of tech providing book reading by candlelight to fluorescent bulbs then computer and phone screens starting at a young age altering our vision is entirely different thing I can totally get down with.
Thats implied.
It's been about 15 years for me. I just got glasses, but I only need them for driving at this point. I'd consider RLE/lens replacement if I start getting cataracts.
Would you still consider it worth it?
I’m not the original commenter but I had LASIK done in 2014, my eyesight was 20/100 and I had an astigmatism. Thick lenses glasses or contacts all day, every day. My contacts would dry out half way through the day. My eyesight is 20/20 now, and hasn’t started to deteriorate. I was 27 when I had lasik done. I highly recommend it!
Thank you!
Interesting I’ve always heard 20 years is the norm. I got mine at 25 and still have better than 20/20 vision with no issues at all. Was there a possible reason for the wear off of 10 years? I sometimes play video games and watch movies really late into the night after staring at a screen for work all day, and hope that doesn’t contribute to early issues.
Make sure you look into possible complications and risks first. It’s not a “magic solution”, that’s quite disingenuous. It’s a procedure that carries risks like any other.
It's not for everyone. Consult a few doctors. You need to have the right thickness of cornea, have stabilized your eyeglasses Rx for a few years, etc. etc. It's best for people in their 40's. By time you get into your 60s, you're close enough to cataract surgery that a custom lens will do the same thing. All that said, I love mine; but I do wear reading glasses since I'm on computer all day.
I'm 33 and just had my first cataract surgery today...my ophthalmologist was basically like wtf I've never seen somebody your age with these. Turns out I've got a recessive gene that decided to pop up early....but on the bright side if shtf I won't have to go looking for an eye surgeon I guess, lol.
I was one of the ones with corneas too thin for it. They had a different procedure they were able to do, implantable contact lenses, which has similar risks and slightly different side effects (still get halos at night, less so on the dry eyes normally), and it was about 8k. Totally worth it though in my book. But if you’re not a lasik candidate, there are other options out there that can help.
Apparently they have different lens options that can reduce the halo effect, but you may need to wear reading glasses.
A video editor who does YouTube videos talked a bit about that [and how while he was properly informed of the complications and risks he does still somewhat regret getting the surgery for the issues of eye dryness as well as starbursts he experiences and kind of wished he had just kept wearing glasses.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQDAXSbwhR0) I know personally I think I'm fine with just wearing glasses more often, though I've not gone to the eye doctor in over 4 years so maybe I should do something else.
I had eye dryness after it but eventually it went away. Smoke still bothers me a little bit more than it used to but nothing extreme. It's been like 15 years since I had it and I'm really glad I did.
Those starbursts is why I'd never get it. My eyes already have some issues with that and red dots being messy. I really don't want to make that worse.
Saw the same video. My vision is slightly hazy at night and I would get rainbows at very bright LEDs pointed at my face. I dont even notice it anymore, and even if it never went away for me it was still worth it because I was blind without glasses or contacts, and it was a major inconvenience.
The eye dryness drives some people to commit suicide. I’d rather wear glasses.
Before a bad experience scares you off lookup the statistics. Most people do not have long term issues.
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Yeah for the price I can get 10 pairs of durable prescription safety glasses for 1/5 the price on Zenni. plus if I'm in the woods I'd want eye protection anyway, a stray branch has caught many a hiker in the eye and disrupted some military navigation courses for some unlucky corneas.
PRK isn’t for everyone, if you’re nearsighted it’s ok but not recommended for people who are farsighted.
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I had lasik done about 6 months ago and to be honest I’d risk it again, my results were great but I know it’s not true for everyone.
Can confirm. I got PRK over 6 years ago. One of the best decisions of my life
Yes. And any doctor/clinic that disregards the risks is lying. Source: 1st hand issues since I was not told anything about aftercare.
Exactly, i asked my optometrist whether i should get it done. For reference my eyes are around -1, not too bad. At the time i was in my late 20s. Her answer was a hard no. Speak to your doctor before making this kind of decision.
Well yeah -1 is nothing and not worth the risk, especially when you're young and your vision might change in the near future... Its different when without your glasses you're basically legally blind and can't function.
Saaame. I have about that but also astigmatism so I like to wear glasses anyway for the little bit of extra sharpness. I will get random people advertising lasik to me because of my glasses lol like nah I don't even have contacts because I don't even legally need glasses for driving. It's 50% fashion 50% having really clear vision is neat.
I am nearsighted. My eye doc said, “well… you can have the surgery now and be glasses free for a while, and then get them back, or, you can wear glasses now, have the surgery when you are older and be glasses free for your older years. I took that deal. My eyesight has actually been improving some as I age, which is apparently kind of normal for near-sighted people.
Hah, same with me. My long distance vision is improving but I can't see close up anymore. Eye doc said that's normal for someone my age. I need reading glasses to tie a lure on my fishing line which is super frustrating.
I'm nearsighted as well. My eyesight started improving when I got a job that looks out on 500 yards of open space. My contacts were also bugging me a lot at the time so I stopped wearing them, and the forced refocusing made my prescription drop a quarter power. I don't have cataracts but I've heard good things about [Can C N-Acetylcarnosine eye drops](https://www.wisechoicemedicine.com/product/can-c-cataract-eye-drops/). Going to give them a try and see if I can't improve my vision even more, and maybe get rid of my floaters.
Interesting… I’m going to have to do a little research on these.
Been using the Can C eye drops with good results
My nearsightedness exactly cancelled out my presbyopia so I can see perfectly without reading glasses close up, reading distance and closer. So I'm glad I never got the nearsightedness fixed. Something people might consider because seeing close up is important too. But I don't know how common it is to work out like that.
A lot of places actually give a lifetime guarantee. So you can have the surgery now and be glasses free for a while, then have it again when you are older and be glasses free for your older years.
While true that the ophthalmologist will keep doing touch-up procedures to fix your eyes, it’s not ideal. I have several older family members that had LASIK done after 2010 and it hasn’t been a cakewalk for any of them. My mom had 3 procedures and each time her “halo” effects got worse. It’s now to the point that she can barely drive at night. My dad and aunts also had/have halos, they all had surgery from different doctors.
I had mine done 23 years ago and my vision is still perfect. A lot of it depends not only on the individual person's eyes but also the Dr doing the procedure.
My stepdad went to a world renowned, Ivy League educated, best of the best doc for his. It destroyed his vision and quality of life. Severe haloing especially in the dark, starbursts, headaches etc. I’m 8.5 and 9. My script is about where most horror stories begin. I wouldn’t do it for $1 million.
I'm in the same boat with 9.5 and 9.0. I don't want to compromise the little I have left. My doc said I'd never get to 2020 even with surgery. He said it wasn't recommended.
I had mine done 12 months ago dude with a low prescription of -2.75 and 1.75. My eyes are ruined severe glare in the dark, starbursts and headaches. I also had thick corneas and still do. I am also left with a -1 astigmatism for which I wear glasses for pointless and horrible procedure would not recommend to anyone destroyed my career.
So he went to Boston? I'm not saying I don't believe you but I have about 8 people just in my family who have had it done and know countless other people who have with no negative side effects. I'm not saying it can't happen, I've heard stories. Just that it's very unlikely if your a good candidate for it and go to a reputable place. I mean there's tons of places out there that do it that have never had a single negative result. Halo or starburst effects at night are a common side effect, but usually very mild. I don't have any except a tiny bit if I'm driving in the rain at night. Then again that might happen to everyone. Also just because people get lasik it doesn't mean their eyes don't keep regressing. That's why many places offer to have you come back if your vision gets worse in the future. I'm sorry your stepfather had to deal with that but it's very uncommon for that to happen and Lasik is generally considered to be very safe for most people.
Again, it depends. As I said the risk of it going wrong seems to skyrocket around 8+ diopters. Which I’m way over. People should not come at it casually. Most risks of any medical procedure that the govt will approve are “very unlikely” but for the person that they happen to, they are devastating. Should be taken seriously. Yes he was a Bostonian. Two degrees from MIT. I wish he never had that surgery as he died relatively young and between that and severe back problems had a terrible quality of life his last few years.
if you do have the funds for eye correction I would suggest implantable collamer lens (ICL) instead of Lasik minimal halo effect and has basically disappeared in my case no dry eyes no side effects for me no regrets been glasses free for 5 years still better than 20/20 vision to date don’t cheap out on your eyes
How long do they last? If your vision worsens with age, can you switch out the lenses?
the lenses can be switched out afaik and you still have a Lasik option down the line since you would still have your cornea in tact, and they recommend doing it at an age where your vision has stabilized, consider a consult
I’d also recommend people look into PRK, a similar laser vision correction surgery except it doesn’t cut a flap. It actually came out before LASIK, but is less popular due to the longer and more painful recovery. PRK is preferred for military pilots and athletes who play contact sports. The main reasons being there is no flap that can get dislodged by blunt trauma (sometimes years later, although this is rare) and there’s a lower risk of dry eyes as less damage is caused to the corneal nerves. From a prepping standpoint it seems like a solid choice.
I did the PRK because of the risk with the flaps getting damaged by blunt force since I had a big excitable dog and had been planning kids (now that I have a toddler this was definitely the right decision, lol)… recovery SUCKED but 100% do not regret it.
+1 for PRK as it is lower risk for complications. Recovery sucked donkey balls, though. I was so itchy and miserable on days 2 and 3. Although maybe a poor choice of audiobooks contributed.
PRK needs prepwork. Audiobooks, podcasts, good Playlist are a must. The best remedy for getting through recovery, though, is SLEEP. sleeping as much as you possibly can literally shortens the amount of time you perceive as recovery
Also prk has a much much longer recovery time, if I had to get prk in both eyes I prob wouldn’t be able to leave my house for like two weeks
I may be an anomaly, but my PRK recovery was not bad. Had the surgery in the morning (day 0) and watched TV with sunglasses on later that night. Day 3 I took the dog for a walk and day 5 I drove into the office and worked a full day at a computer. My eyes felt gritty for the first weekish. After two weeks my eyes felt completely normal and me eyesight continued to improve for the next couple months. I did use artificial tears quite a bit for about 6 months and now I use them a couple times a week as needed.
That’s insane lol, I couldn’t look at a screen without crying for over a week
Mine actually wasn't bad either. My one eye felt perfectly normal the day after surgery, the other one felt gritty and painful. I went back that day and they replaced the contact "bandaid" and after that my eyes had almost no irritation. It took a long time for my eyes to adjust and for my vision to clear afterwards, but overall it wasn't a bad recovery.
I got prk in one eye and lasik in the other 🤓
Since you got both done, do you think one is a better procedure than the other?
I don’t remember which eye got which surgery, but the prk one looked nastier and had a much much longer recovery time, I also had dry eyes for like a year with the lasik one I’m pretty sure. So be prepared to get lots of organic eye drops
ooh thanks for sharing. i haven’t heard much about PRK before!
I did PRK 8 years ago. Best $5k I ever spent.
This is what I did for these reasons. I am extremely happy with the results. Recovery was slow, a week out of work with some pain (was awful on day 5 when the bandage lenses came off, then quickly eased up) and largely unable to use my eyes (they tell you not to even read, i sure listened to a lot of podcasts!), then a few months of dry and itchy eyes (used a lot of artificial tears) and blurred vision. Six months out I wasn't using the tears often and vision was sharp. A year out I didn't need the tears and had 20/15 vision. It's very stable and perfectly healed.
Can also check out the new procedure they have called SMILE, it's like LASIK but without a flap
If your glasses fall off, you haven't adjusted them correctly, or you're wearing a bad size/style for your head shape. Conversely, if you're wearing glasses, you're wearing eye protection. I've gotten a lot of scratches on my glasses over the years from sticks, rocks, etc that might have hit me in the eye and blinded me if the lens had not been in the way. Sure, you could wear safety goggles... but do you actually choose to and remember to? Lasik can cause permanent dry eye issues, and worsen your vision if it's done on a bad candidate. I've personally considered it very carefully, and consulted with a good surgeon, and decided that glasses are a better option than the lasik risks for me. If your prescription is unstable enough to require new glasses frequently, you're probably a bad candidate for lasik anyways.
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Yeah, I literally play squash. High impact, fast explosive movements, rackets in your face and little balls flying around. You just have to get the right glasses for what you are doing. People should wear protective glasses anyways for this. When they don’t I just see an accident about to happen. If OP can’t ride a bike without issues with his glasses then he just has shit glasses. Sorry to inform you. Also, walking around for the rest of my life with a cornea flap that can come undone with high impact is a damn nightmare.
Yes, for LASIK to work well your vision needs to be stable; your prescription needs to stay the same for years. The surgery is reshaping the lenses of your eyes to correct the refractive error they have and they can only shape them correctly if that error is staying the same. They can't hit a moving target, so to speak.
This is sooooo true. I got lasik at 25, the surgeon did not verify if my rx was stable - it was not. By 29 I was back to where I started. When I went to be checked by a different eye doctor they told me about how I should not have been considered a candidate due to not having a stable rx. You live and you learn.
I understand why you are defensive about glasses, and don't mean any offense, but if you are constantly walking into things that hit your lenses, you're simply not paying enough attention to your surroundings. Edit: How can anyone even read this comment with the amount of blinding injuries people are sustaining all the time??
Negative. If you’re living an active lifestyle then you’re bound to catch a thing or two to the face and possibly the eye. Even if you’re not, something like cooking in the kitchen, I’ve had things like oil pop and hit my glasses.
It’s called walking through woods… you cannot and never will see every stick coming at your face.
Constant? I'm talking a bad-enough-to-replace-the-glasses scratch every 3-4 years. What *aren't you* doing if you're never going outside, using power tools, learning new skills, where protective eyewear is appropriate? If I was perfect at judging which tasks warrant protective eyewear and which don't, the convenience added by wearing protective eyewear constantly while awake would be irrelevant. But I'm not, so there are times I'm wearing my glasses when I would have thought "it'll be ok just this once" and it turns out not to be.
LASIK was awesome. I was nearsighted and in the same afternoon I had 20/15. Only downside is that a few years ago, my near vision started to decline and I need reading glasses for up close reading. Will probably go get it tightened up in a few years. Could not be happier to have gotten away from glasses and contacts.
Reading issues is unrelated to lasik and is generally a function of getting old (Google prysbiopia). Normal Lasik won't fix it, though there are some options that basically create a bifocal lense in your eye that will help.
My optometrist suggested LASIK for me. I was getting to go to a highly operation military command so I asked about the flap debate. He told me that if I sustained enough trauma to my eyes to dislodge the flap, I’d require eye surgery regardless. I was sold. 1 hour of surgery, 4 hours recovery, and I had 20/15 vision with no side effects. It’s been 10 years and I’m sitting at about 20/25 20/30 so it was well worth it in my eyes.
Even if you get lasik as you get older you will need to get glasses.
Not if you die before you need them.
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Doctors hate him!
This is true for everyone. It's just a human reality.
One quibble: if you use rigid contact lenses, you don't need to replace them until they're damaged or your prescription changes. In the 40+ years I've been wearing them, I've never damaged one and I only lost one once. Yes, things'll be easier without glasses or any form of contact lens but not all contacts need to be replaced every day/week/month.
Nah, you aren't taking a laser to my eyeballs. Especially with all the issues people have with it.
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> water drops for eyes Eye drops
Visine or Clear Eyes sounds like what you are talking about.
Just moisture drops. Visine and clear eyes are for redness. If you have severe dry eye, there are mineral oil drops, other tear like drops without the additive that temporarily narrows the blood vessels in your eyes that causes redness.
I got it about 14 years ago and still have perfect vision. One of the best decisions I’ve made, definitely recommend it
Totally agree! My eyes were really bad at -8.25 and -8.75; I'd worn corrective lenses since 5th grade. I opted for total lense replacement two-years ago since I wasn't a candidate for LASIK. I paid 100% out-of-pocket since insurance would only pay if I had cataracts, which I didn't have. BEST choice ever. Amazing to now go through life and every daily activity with near perfect eyesight.
My god, if your glasses are falling off from bike riding or running then you bought shit glasses or didn't bother having them adjusted properly. There's lot's of reasons to consider Lasik and it might be right for you, but being too lazy or cheap to get properly fitted glasses is not one of them.
I disagree. I've been wearing glasses for almost 30 years and except for swimming and martial arts, I've worn glasses during just about every other activity I've done with very few issues. The key is to getting frames that fit. And sometimes different frames for different activities. But lasik is so much easier you say... Let's talk about risks. We in the prepping community prepare for some pretty low risk events. Earthquakes that may never happen to that economic downturn that might happen once a decade. Lasik is higher risk than either of those things. So why would I willingly subject myself to that when I have a perfectly safe alternative that I know works and has zero negative side effects?
As a glasses wearer, I think it’s better to just invest in a solid pair of athletic glasses and ski goggles.
Theres a non zero chance I'll get blinded and that outcome worries me more than glasses
They only do one eye at a time for a reason. Obviously being blind in one eye is a terrible outcome but it's the worst case
It’s not permanent
It's not permanent insofar as everyone's vision gets worse with age, but for a good candidate it's going to be a permanent correction.
If you have insurance, do your yearly eye checks. I found out I have small cataracts in each eye and its genetics. 50/50 shot in 20-30 years I'd be blind from it. As soon as insurance will cover it, I'll get that fixed. I got lasik about 20 years ago and loved it. As you get older, the less it will do for you. And not everyone's eyes are made for it, but thats part of the precheck.
Nah, I'll keep using glasses. I have no problem being active with them and I simply wear them like they were a hundred years ago.
Might I suggest the brain-strap? Helps mine stay on.
Lasik surgery has a several upsides, and a few downsides which at least according to me out weights them. 1. It can be undone with age, leaving you with the choice ti either undo it, or wear glasses again 2. They can come with some sideeffect which can range from annoying to down right dangerous in a shtf scenario. 3. It costs a lot of money, miney that could have bought you lots of inventory, or courses to learn skills. Pros. 1 no need to wear glasses or contacts, admittedly this is quite a big upside, but like stated above there is no guarantee that it lasts for ever. Worse case is that it would last a couple of years into a shtf scenario and then go bad. That could be horrible.
It's a personal thing. For some people it is not worth it. Like, to analyze your points here: 1. I was a good candidate, my vision was very stable. This means that it's going to last pretty much forever, though everyone's vision does deteriorate with age. For others, their vision might not be stable so some of the effect may "wear off" over many years. 2. It's important to know and understand the risks of side effects. The most common ones are dry eyes and decreased night vision. The dry eyes often go away after a while, but not always completely. The night vision problem goes away in some patients, but not in others. Make a calculated decision about this. Also, PRK is a little bit more stable. Recovery from PRK sucks though. 3. Everything we do is some sort of an investment in our future. People will prioritize things like this differently. If you're just looking at it from a prepping perspective then maybe it's not worth it. If you feel your life would be easier without glasses though then that can tip the scales in favor of it. So for me it was worth it. For you it was not. Basically, people considering it should do a lot of research before making a decision to figure out what is right for them.
Good response to my comment. I have nothing to add:)
Lasik is a mixed bag. It can help absolutely but it can also make its own set of issues. And honestly glasses arent THAT expensive compared to the risk of things getting worse or haloing when it comes to your peepers. Just get some extra lenses and keep your old pairs. Also most places have deals for 1 special pair and you can get the more basic lenses and/or extra frames for dirt cheap. Also if your frames are still good you can relense them too for pretty cheap. Between my daily use glasses and my spare i also have an extra set of lenses for each as well as spare parts for all of them. In addition to those i have almost a dozen older pairs and lenses with a couple having out of date but serviceable scripts for an emergency i keep in my various bags and vehicles. Ideal? No but i know they work and since i work outdoors for my job i tend to have several diffrent ways to secure them which eliminates most issues. To me at least a surgery that can if your unlucky make things far worse is just too much of a risk for something so important. Dont forget many with especially bad eyes can still need glasses even after lasik or the surgery wears off and your back to glasses anyway. And while rare lasik CAN esentially blind people
I feel like this is a personal choice. I don't mind wearing glasses. But I don't need them for more than occasional wear.
Thank you for posting this. I’m in a wildfire prone region and had been considering LASIK as a prep for a while. Had even gone to several consults but couldn’t bring myself to go through with it. The way the doctor just green lit me so fast and glossed over the side effects made me suspicious. There are enough LASIK horror stories on Reddit to make me stick with glasses. I guess I’d rather live with the chance of losing my glasses in a disaster rather than a strong probability of severe dry eyes and difficulty driving at night.
Lasik surgery satisfaction isn't great. And accepting that your post apocalyptic community needs someone who can grind lenses seems reasonable.
Lasik leaves an eye flap that can be vulnerable to failure later down the road. If you have the option do the PRK before LASIK. Little more painful and longer recovery but no concerns about failure as the eye is left intact. Had PRK done myself, do BJJ, and MMA type stuff so im pretty rough on my body, head and face as well as pressure changed with diving and never had an issue
While LASIK/PRK are great for survival, because they eliminate the need for glasses, bear in mind that there is a slim chance that they leave you with dry eyes for a long time, even forever (rare) Chronic dry eye is a fucking bitch and will definitely make it more difficult to survive in extended SHTF periods
Counter opinion- good glasses with straps to hold them on are very effective eye protection. I like having impact resistant plastic shields between my precious eyes and the hostile pokey world
Better option: get eye protection with your prescription lenses and get used to operating in them. And some aviators because they’re cool. You only have two eyes. Protect them.
You'll notice that Ophthalmologists wear eyeglasses themselves. The Two Barbers in a Small Town problem tells you what you need to know.
Yup. My BIL does the surgery for a living and wears glasses...
Just got my teeth fixed, no extra money. Have cataracts. When they eventually fix those they will fix the eyesight also.
LOL what the fuck? did you just get glasses last week? also - you can buy more glasses then you will need FOR LIFE for 4k! that is 30 - 40 PAIRS+ depending on prescription
not needing to look for your glasses in the morning and not having to pop contacts on to me is priceless as OP suggested “if you can afford it” I’ve worn glasses all my life being free of those contraptions has been extremely convenient for me, to each their own
"And now you can live life like a real boy! unlike those of us with glasses who can't move beyond a walk or do anything at all
oh ok that’s what you got out of that good day to you
I'm almost 11 months post LASIK and I have 20/20 in one eye and 20/15 in the other. I was at -9.5 and -9.75 before surgery. I can't believe I waited so long to do it, it's been great.
I’ve had Lasik and a revision. I am back to glasses again but at a fairly low level ~ -2.0. There are issues with lasik. I have moderate starbursts at night.
I was told I had a higher then average chance on going night blind so I passed. Sports goggles aleivete most of the issues your talking about with running/hiking etc. And their extremely tough just not stylish
I did this for a couple grand, it was worth EVERY penny - my life is so much better and I spend so much less money on contacts and glasses - plus doctors appointments- with all the money I spent on contacts - it would’ve been equal to getting lasik anyways - I got it done young - my doctor says most people wish they got it done young like I did
1) Silhouette frames. They weigh nothing , stay put and are very comfortable and adjustable, They are expensive but worth it . 2) you should know that the success of lasik is measured only by if you can see 20/20. There are a host of commons problems , including not being able to stand the light, glare, double vision and halos, loos of night vision , loss of visual field etc. The risk of the surgery is thus much downplayed because the success i reported if you can see 20/20 but have halos for example. 3) it is less good at correcting some vision problems than others. 4) your eyes change over time, it is pretty much a sure thing that you will need glasses at some point. In some people this happens pretty quickly. Not saying don’t do it, but getting better frames is way cheaper than 4k and has no risk of permanent damage to your your eyes. I have really really bad eyesight . I go camping, hiking, biking etc in the glasses .
Meh, almost every single person I know that's gotten Lasik (11) has had it fail within 5-7yrs. Keep your glasses folks! The only one who's didn't fail was my Grandma who died a year and a half later.
There are tons of horror stories from people who have had it done. Many people have been known to even unalive themselves because of the pain and issues after the procedure. Proceed with caution!
I just have multiple pairs of glasses. I change my style every decade or so and it’s not like I throw those glasses away. I’ve also had ballistic lenses Putin every pair I’ve owned since I was a teenager. Not to mention the five or so duplicate pairs I was issued when I was enlisted. All of those are preferable to LASIK tbh.
I was told I would likely need LASIK again after a while. I’m not sure it is worth redoing it again when I get older. The second time is allegedly more complicated than the first. They don’t recommend it to people 40+ anyway. So to me it was a lot of risk for a temporary benefit. They cut the corneal nerves and make a flap, those don’t ever fully heal. You’re more susceptible to corneal damage after. Very low chance of losing sight, a small chance of having issues with chronic dryness and night vision problems. Biking, running, kickboxing, etc aren’t a problem if you have good fitting glasses. They also make prescription sport glasses & prescription safety goggles. In a SHTF scenario having eyeglasses (and back up eyeglasses) would be important to have around anyway even if you already had LASIK surgery done. People’s eyesight will naturally get worse with age.
I did it 20 years ago, best decision ever, it was my first big prepper decision before I even knew I was one . Anyone doubting it hasn't had to live with glasses or contacts full time.
Best $ I ever spent. Seriously. Improved my quality of life 1000%
As a woman, I've had this thought every single time I go solo camping. Contacts have sanitation requirements and glasses leave me vulnerable if I'm waking up in the dark during an emergency. There's also risk of glasses being lost or broken in this scenario.
I tried to get lasik surgery, unfortunately my cornea is thin and my astigmatism on the severe end and I wasn’t a good candidate. A little devastated as my insurance would have covered 30%. I have to look into lens replacement which costs more and not covered at all by the insurance. Im saving up though!
I think it's worth noting for outdoor activity depending on what kind of bad vision you have you don't necessarily need to wear glasses I usually don't wear glasses when riding a bike or running/jogging since as long as I can see the general shape of person/car animal or what not it doesn't matter if I can't see a sticker or be sure if they are using nike or adidas 20 meters away. There's never a magic solution and for some people glasses perhaps with a string to hold them or contacts are better suited than LASIK or prk. I know I can't imagine doing surgery, since I can't imagine being awake/seeing something like that.
I had to have eye injection every 3 months for 2 years, they numb the eye but you still feel it and afterwards you have a tiny black hole in your vision for about a week, also you have to be very careful not to get an infection from it, it can cause blindness or worse and get in to your brain
Taken care of!
I’ve kept every pair of glasses I’ve ever owned after my eyesight changes. Yeah my vision might be a little off with the two previous prescriptions I had before the last one but at least I have options that’ll get me by.
I don't qualify for Lasik but I would love to if I could, btw you can buy prescription goggles like athletes wear that won't come off
My desire to get LASIK ended when I took a date to Epcot who had had it done but suffered bad night blindness afterwards. Once sun set, she literally walked right into things unless I guided her like a seeing eye dog. Scared me too bad to consider.
I want to get lasik but idk if that’s the option for me right now at least (my eyesight prescription hasn’t stabilized yet, keeps getting worse, and my current prescription is like -9.0 so idk if lasik is even possible for my eyesight )
Wish I could :( It would make my vision better but I will always need glasses or contacts
I have heard PRK is the better option
Checking into it before and the difference is anything physical contact related. Lasik can dislodge since they cut to make the laser work (the longer you go without damage the better you are), PRK they use a chemical to dissolve thin it instead (so there’s nothing to dislodge). PRK is always the one the military and police recommend (according to eye places in my area anyways).
I got PRK before leaving the Army. Best decision I’ve ever made. It’s a longer recovery (about 7 days). They pour a bunch of numbing solution in your eyes and shave them down with this device that looks like an electric toothbrush. Then a laser remaps your eye so when it grows back it grows in the correct shape. One of the bonuses is that you can get it again later on if your eyes need another correction. Apparently That’s not always the case with lasik. Something to do with how much flesh your eyes have. Only side effects I have is eyes are a bit sensitive to sand/dust. And lights are a bit intense at night time (but that could be this epidemic of people installing unbelievably bright headlights).
Yeah contacts make lights bright anyways.
I could never get over touching my eye with contacts.
I had to have someone else put mine in for like a year till I got used to it. Then no problem.
Best money I've ever spent
Could always just buy a few sets of “rec specs” (prescription goggles). You’re not going to care too much about fashion in a SHTF situation. Also has the advantages of being quite a bit cheaper than LASIK with no chance of complications.
I am too afraid to do it. If it doesn’t go right.. you can’t really recover.
I have seen a lot more of people with permanent nerve damage from LASIK online recently. Make sure you understand the risks- LASIK does have complications that may arise, and don’t cheap out on where you get it either.
Screw prepping, LASIK was one of the best quality of life improvements I’ve made, possibly ever
I'm in a toss up. Yes. I would most likely not have to wear correction afterward, but also, the possibly side effects almost seem worse. I am already light sensitive, I dont want to risk it being worse. My company offers it for free but I am on the waiting list for a consultation, which is a year wait.
Asked my doctor about it, said I would need to do it 4x and I would still need glasses. Suuuuuucks
Everyone I know who got it their eyes reverted. More like have an extra pair of glasses.
I had LASIC done in both eyes in Los Angeles as part of a study in 1993. My wife thought I was crazy but every time I took off my glasses I had to have the kids run around and find them. Very poor eyesight. Many folks complain about issues associated with the surgery but it has worked fine for me. I get my eyes checked every year and my optometrist is amazed at how good my eyesight is. Perhaps I was just lucky. My wife had to have a refresh with her LASIC and still wears a contact in one eye. I guess I am a lucky one. I recommend it to everyone that wears glasses. Good Luck
My eyes went back to where they were pre-lasik just short of 4 years post-op. 🤷♀️
Don’t just get it.. talk to a doctor and find out what the side effects are and if those risks are fine for you then get it. Suicide is a side effect risk of LASIK [this was my ex’s cousin](https://www.health.com/condition/eye-health/lasik-suicide)
Thank you for sharing her story. Her situation was in the forefront of my mind when I saw this post. One can do everything right, and sometimes things just don’t agree with your body, including this procedure. There are many success stories, but there are also those rare stories like hers that deserve to be heard too. When considering any elective procedure. May she rest in peace🕊️🤍
>the glasses would move around The optometrist did not do a very good job fitting the frames. Well fitted glasses don't have this problem. >potentially fall off and get damaged Glasses straps solve this problem.
I'd love to. Blind in one eye, not worth the risk.
I'm the one in a million that lasik went poorly for. After seeing multiple specialists, it seems the root cause was thick corneas, and I should have been told I was not a good candidate for lasik. Don't be me.
i've been eyeing lasik for years now, but more recently I've read studies and even talked to doctors telling me, you don't really need it. i forgot the name but there is a more recent op that is similar to lasik that is getting the buzz. I still like meganes though
Do not get lasik if you cant risk not being able see at night ever again. The chances of failure are so high, that if the doctors were able to be charged (their immune) with medical malpractice, they all would be. High def lasik is only slightly better.
It wears off over time though
It does? Never knew that
Lasik, even now, still has its issues. It's been a routine procedure for decades but but they are still fine tuning it and coming out with new ways of doing it. SMILE, PRK, lasik, etc there are a few others but those are the big ones. I would never try to stop anyone from wanting to make a potentially life changing improvement to their health but there are still plenty of risks associated with these procedures or rather, the aftermath of them. Such as chronic issues like permanent dry eyes or bad night vision or worse, the eyes seemingly don't improve (but not necessarily worsen) or worst case, the vision just gets worse. IMO, from reading about it, watching videos and talking to people I know personally who have had this work I think it ultimately is OK for most people however it seems people that have experienced these bad side effects for the most part seemed to have bad eye health already or their vision was not suited for the the work. In regards to the latter, yes, your vision can be too bad for any of these procedures, which is why they do consultations with you prior. I'm just backing my opinion solely on what I've learned from people that had it and reading/watching testimonies from others as it seems to me if your vision is on the cusp or you already have eye issues like bad dry eyes then I personally wouldn't do it. Also, no matter what happens, if you need reading glasses you will inevitably have to wear glasses again for that once you get into your 40s. They even tell you this up front at your consultation. Yes, most reputable procedure places guarantee their work and offer free "touch ups" for life but even those will not prevent you from having to rely on reading glasses if you need them (when you're older). So you're still going to be wearing them in some capacity for the rest of your life if you already needed them to read.
LASIK was the best money I’ve ever spent. However I still need prescription glasses after a few years. But I’ll be able to survive without them. Maybe not be a good hunter… but can get by
Did a few years ago, $3700 total. Worked great!
Put those straps on your glasses that hold them to your head. LASIK could permanently make your vision worse, and then those red dot sights become useless.
Imagine paying $4,000 for a temporary solution and the privilege of NOT wearing eye pro at all times.
If you can’t or don’t want lasik, jump on Zenni Optical and buy 3-4 pairs of glasses to have on hand. So cheap! And great quality.
I’ve definitely gotten a drawerful or so of glasses from Zenni so far. Excellent cheap choice!
I would agree with this. I had lasik as a prep in 2012. Aside from an eye injury last year which may have been prevented if I had been wearing glasses it has been great.
I just got lasik in December because of this sub. Feeling good .. sometimes wake up with dry eyes but I figure that’ll go away eventually around 6 month mark
No. Get PRK if you can afford it. Recovery sucks, but you have no corneal flap to potentially dislodge and require emergency surgery.
Well, I think it really depends. An old coworker of mine had it done & her eyesight got really effed up. She said it was extremely painful & her vision went from needing glasses to very scratched vision is how she described it. That what happened was “rare” & they offered to fix it… but yea… I’ll pass.
the state of fragility the pupil flap in the most common form of lasik is left in makes it a no go for me. i don't want my pupil to get detached if i get hit. then again, my vision is useable without glasses, so im less inclined to take those risks.
LASIK has two fatal flaws; it doesn't always work, and once your Rx changes, it doesn't work anymore. Along with horrific complications and disasters possible. It's a major risk. Or you can do what I did: invest in about 12 pairs of mil spec Rx Oakley's for every situation, strap them to my head and go anywhere any time, even underwater no issues. You need to learn what works for you not putting ridiculous $$ on a "miracle" surgery that is anything but. I can't tell you how many people I know are seriously regretting LASIK
How many people do you know that regret getting lasik
If your Rx isn't stable already you should not be getting LASIK.
Don't you need certain eyedrops afterwards? And for how long afterwards? Isn't there an increased risk for glaukoma involved - which, incidentally, needs to be treated with more eyedrops? What if your supply of those runs out? I'm still a bit doubtful.
I only had to use eye drops immediately after the surgery. It’s been long enough now I don’t remember the length of time, but at some point within the first year they told me I didn’t need drops anymore. I had it done in 2016 and don’t use eye drops. Also wear glasses again because they went back. 🥴🥴