What do you think of lasik eye surgery?

Friday 31st July, 07:30 AM JST

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 36 Total Comments Show All

Sarge at 05:42 AM JST - 1st August

Cleo, I'm glad you have eagle eyes now.

Are you going to get Lasik surgery again when your prescription changes?
Badsey at 06:12 AM JST - 1st August

The more of the cornea they shave off the less of an outcome you will have. Plus your eyes will tend to bulge at the weaker (thinner cornea) = your visual acuity will change thru the day if they take off too much.

Look into the Internet under "LASIK disaster" , "LASIK problems" , "Lasik glare"

Reality: For most ~90+% LASIK works well, but you only get two eyes for life.
sfjp330 at 06:29 AM JST - 1st August

I had lasic surgery while back ago and it was successful. If your eyes sight have been stable for about 5 years without alot of changes, you might be a good candidate. If your vision is still changing, I would not recommended. If you are a in teens or in early to mid 20's, you might have to wait until your eyesight has been same for a while. Best is to find a good reputable doctor with excellent history and referrals. Cost is a secondary on this type of surgery.
Badsey at 06:51 AM JST - 1st August

6 diopters of correction is alot for Lasik. The FDA approval of these machines has % success in diopters.
Mz at 08:17 AM JST - 1st August

My friend had it done 10 years ago - still perfect vision. I had my done 15 months ago, still perfect.
WMD at 08:48 AM JST - 1st August

Well this is all academic for me at the moment as my eyesight is naturally good. But I seem to see stuff everywhere about EYE EXERCISES for which the claim is that your eyesight can be greatly improved. Is this for real or is it a scam I wonder??
Tahoochi at 09:13 AM JST - 1st August

I did it 11 years ago in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and haven't had a problem since. As far as I know, the procedure started out of California? so I figured it would be safe to have it done within North America... I wouldn't feel safe having it done in any other continent. But like many others have already mentioned here, definitely research historic success/failure of any lasik clinic you are considering, and DEFINITELY pay very close attention to the consultation before AND after, do everything exactly as they tell you, and don't do it if they don't recommend it to you because it is not for everyone. Tiger Woods did it, that kind of put my worries at ease because who else relies so much on vision more than Tiger Woods?
Azrael at 06:20 PM JST - 1st August

Do any of the opponents to Lasik actually have myopia, astigmatism or the like? Such conditions of deficient vision are caused by progressive deformation of the eye lens.

In the case of myopia, for example. Myopia progresses for a number of decades, then stabilizes - meaning that the prescription does not change significantly anymore, if it changes at all. Note that all eye lens afflictions follow the same mechanics. Once the prescription stabilizes, that is the best time to have Lasik surgery. No decent doctor will recommend Lasik to a person of any eye condition whose prescription has not yet stabilized. The reason is simple: Lasik -polishes- the natural eye lens to achieve 20/20 (or the closest possible) prescription. Lasik is merely a physical correction. If the patient's condition was not yet stationary, it will continue its natural progress and the person will need glasses again, in time.

If the patient's prescription was stationary pre-surgery, the condition though will never -return- to pre-Lasik state. At most, it will require reading glasses or very mild prescription ones. If the patient's prescription was far from being stationary well yes, the lens will be deformed again, because it was not the proper time for surgery. You have to wait till your prescription stops changing significantly or your money will be wasted.

My prescription hasn't changed in a decade. I would like to have Lasik done because my myopia is significant. I like wearing eyeglasses so I am not particularly urged, if not for the safety factor. Losing my eyeglasses would leave me unable to see three feet away clearly, let alone cross a street safely. I'd like to have Lasik surgery but maybe in a few years more.
bdaniel08 at 08:55 AM JST - 2nd August

cleo

A pair of SP glasses cost 33600 yen just for the frames. If you need any kind of special lenses - bifocals, or extra-slim - you can easily add another 70000 to 90000 yen to that price.

2 months ago, i bought a pair of SP glasses, extra thin, flat (not bifocals) for ...less than 20 000 yens. In Shibuya or Shinjuku there are a lot of these "New fashion Optician shop"...not in Ginza and Hiroo !
noborito at 09:19 AM JST - 2nd August

Kanagawa Eye Clinic. Awesome place. Doctors speak English and several have US licenses as well. Just do it.
Tahoochi at 11:51 AM JST - 2nd August

Noborito:

Just do it.

The question is "what do you think of lasik?" not "would you recommend it?"
notimpressed at 12:03 PM JST - 2nd August

Excuse me movieguy: I did not leave any links, get it right.
cleo at 12:49 PM JST - 2nd August

a pair of SP glasses, extra thin, flat (not bifocals) for ...less than 20 000 yens. In Shibuya or Shinjuku there are a lot of these "New fashion Optician shop"...not in Ginza and Hiroo !

A lot depends on the prescription. I was never able to get lenses for less than 50,000, unless I was happy to have what looked like the bottom of a cheap jam jar on one eye. (I wasn't).

And I don't shop in Tokyo.
TokyoHustla at 01:27 AM JST - 3rd August

The disaster stories are too scary. People who lost vision, couldn't work, lost their jobs and ended up homeless on the streets, hooked on drugs and bleeding from their eyes. That is way too much of a risk for me.
notimpressed at 01:34 AM JST - 3rd August

either way, you only get one pair of eyes, and if you want to gamble with them via elective surgery its up to you. All surgery carries inherent risks, but most of the time its out of necessity. I can see pretty well without my glasses, and use them only for night driving or watching a movie here and there. I calculated the risk and it wasn't worth it for me, maybe when they get a better record. You don't have to travel far to hear a horror story, or a success story, but we all know which one we would prefer for ourselves. I don't see why people are trying to sell someone on the idea when we are only asked what we think of it. Good for you if it worked for you. Sucks to be the people who got the short end of the stick and then are not covered by insurance because it was voluntary.