Lasik with eye probs already

[cheeryble]

Hi

 

My wife has poor eyes, nearsightedness (I think) and some astigmatism.

She's been complaining about it for years and said she will get Lasik.

I've looked into PRK and Femto which can be done in CM.

Although it is half the price I thought PRK looked better, the only downside it takes a bit longer to heal, but no flap needed.

 

I should say i had Laser eye correction in CM many years ago and got a bad case if dry eye.These days I don't have to use drops in the daytime, but have to use them immediately I wake up.

I wasn't warned about possible dry eye and when I went back to ask for punctal plugs he took a look and said OK the nurse will organise for you.

A price was mentioned which i happened to know was several times the price at another clinic (Chang Puak Rd) so I said Hmmm bit of a rush now I'll come back.

I went straight to the other clinic and told the lady doctor i wanted punctual plugs.

Not so fast she said.

First she gave my eyes a very thorough inspection and fished out what looked like a deeply hidden tuft of carpet.....an hour after my previous "inspection"!

She tested my dry eye etc and said she didn't think plugs were appropriate I had a problem with the MEIbonian glands. Apparently the "cutting" of the flap cuts nerves which can mean less stimulation for glands.

 

Anyway I've mentioned my own experience for obvious trust reasons.

 

My wife last week had also done some asking around (she works in a hospital) and also preferred the cheaper PRK.......even after I said Id treat her to whatever.

 

After examination the doc said she disagreed with a previous diagnosis of a warning about possible future glaucoma for which she has an biennial inspection at her own hospital. However she said PRK could require longer application of steroid drops (than femto) which can promote glaucoma.

So she said if my wife wants to choose she should choose femto.

 

I told her about my experience with dry eye and mentioned my wife already has slight dry eye and is prescribed tears from her own hospital ophthalmologist.

I mentioned that the man in charge of the FDA acceptance of Lasik years ago (not a nutter, quit the opposite, his name Wexler, on Youtube) has since found he was fed with corrupt and incomplete data by the biggest company lobbying for it, Alcon, who also used big financial leverage for lobbying. HE said his own research led him to believe .....back then......htat rather than 1% complications he thought there were 20-25%.

The doc here said its now accepted as 5%. Who knows.......but I noticed their Lasik suite came from Alcon.

 

In conclusion, I'm not a Luddite, I know there's risk and reward, but I'm a bit concerned that my wife who already has the beginnings of dry  eye and possibly glaucoma had been given the OK for Lasik. 

 

Intelligent opinions welcome 

thanks

 

Edited July 29, 2019 by cheeryble

[soalbundy]

I asked my eye doc in Germany about lasik, he had all the gear in his surgery. I had known him for years and we went out drinking together on occasions. He shook his head and said it was up to me but he wouldn't do it for his wife who was also nearsighted, the long term effects aren't yet known. When I asked him why he had all the gear then, he shrugged and said it was his profession, it was a recognized procedure and the insurance paid for it but he always warned his patients first.

[phkauf]

My experience with LASIK - had it nearly 15 years ago and don't regret it for a minute. Still have better than 20/20 vision, no dry eye issues or any other problems. I had a very bad astigmatism so the area needed to be treated was larger than normal, but my Doctor would not treat me until the device was approved for my condition - otherwise I would have problems in the dark with light. The surgery was the flap and zap, took less than 20 minutes in total and the recovery was maybe 2 days to feel normal.

My Doctor (in NYC at the time) said that the key to this surgery is patient selection, meaning don't do it for people that would possibly experience problems based on their condition. He was the guy you would go to when the first doctor screwed you up. Also for the procedure, he said the only difficult part is putting the flap back without a wrinkle - the laser is all computer driven and a "monkey could it". 

Best advice for you - Don't Go Cheap!! Find a great doctor because it makes all the difference. It's an elective surgery that can impact your life both good and bad - make sure it's not bad.

[cheeryble]

My experience with LASIK - had it nearly 15 years ago and don't regret it for a minute. Still have better than 20/20 vision, no dry eye issues or any other problems. I had a very bad astigmatism so the area needed to be treated was larger than normal, but my Doctor would not treat me until the device was approved for my condition - otherwise I would have problems in the dark with light. The surgery was the flap and zap, took less than 20 minutes in total and the recovery was maybe 2 days to feel normal.
My Doctor (in NYC at the time) said that the key to this surgery is patient selection, meaning don't do it for people that would possibly experience problems based on their condition. He was the guy you would go to when the first doctor screwed you up. Also for the procedure, he said the only difficult part is putting the flap back without a wrinkle - the laser is all computer driven and a "monkey could it". 
Best advice for you - Don't Go Cheap!! Find a great doctor because it makes all the difference. It's an elective surgery that can impact your life both good and bad - make sure it's not bad.

Very glad yours worked out well.

Last night The wife told me she had had a visit to the ophthalmologist she’s been with for years at her own hospital. She told him about being told PRK was contra indicatedBecause of the longer or possibly longer use of steroid drops. The ophthalmologist certain no no no it’s fine if used for three months or less. So who's right?
I’m sure you’ll understand my concern. If one gets dry Eye...... and I’ve just run out of eyedrops which I’ve been using every day for 15 years…...Things may be OK in the future but who’s to know what happens with aging. Even use of a fan can cause dryness.

[brokenbone]

i did it almost 20 years ago back home,

we were 3 people, the eye specialist checked us all

but i was the only one he accepted to do the procedure on.

i think my friend got told his eye surface was too thin.

my eyes burned during the night after, burned like hell that is, but after i got some drops and he finally pulled out the protective lenses

he left me with over the night, the pain left completely

and i have never had an issue after that.

i strongly recommend have some eye drops handy after the operation until he remove the plastic lens, or it wont lubricate

Edited July 30, 2019 by brokenbone

[robblok]

I once wanted it too but my eyes hat too much pressure and I already have a problem with dry eyes when I wear contacts (not glasses) So i worry that if I do it it might mean more dry eye problems. I wish they had a solution for that.

[Sheryl]

I too had great results from Lasik but not everyone does and dry eye is one of several possible adverse effects.

 

Careful patient selection is important but even with it, there is an element of luck.

 

She needs to weigh how much wearing glasses/contacts bothers her vs the risks of the procedure.

 

In my case my vision was about -13, i.e. I was functionally blind without glasses and glasses had to be very thick....as did contacts making them very uncomfortable and impossible to wear more than say 8 hours at a stretch. I could not get from bed to the bathroom to put in my contacts without first putting on glasses and if my glasses fell off the nightstand I couldn't see to find them. Etc...in other words my low vision really did detract from my quality of life and Lasik once available was a no-brainer. But if I had been like most people, able to function to a degree without glasses and needing only normal thickness glasses and contacts, I might have made a different choice.

 

The best place for this surgery in Thailand is the Thai Refractive Surgery Center in Bangkok. Refractive surgery is all they do and they were the first to offer it in Thailand. They are very careful about patient selection and also about explaining all the possible risks so that it is a fully informed decision.

 

 

 

 

 

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[cheeryble]

Thanks Sheryl
My wife is pretty set on doing something but she has already spoken of getting a second opinion in BKK.......somewhere that can use four methods as appropriate.......guess she heard from a hospital friend or doc. I’ll tell her about e Refractive Surgery Centre.

Wow Lasik really was the thing for you.
Wife feels the same she’s not -13 but not good and wants to change her life.


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