Interesting Observation

[rackmsuckr]

I had Lasik done over a year ago, and it's the best money I've ever spent. I used to wear big dorky glasses for pool, then I switched to contacts, then switched back to the big dorky glasses, and finally just did the research and had the surgery. My vision is now 20/10 and I couldn't be happier.

I've seen some of you posting about a halo effect, but my night vision has gotten progressively better as time passes. The first few weeks of driving after the surgery were a little dodgy, but now I don't see any halos at all. That's pretty good, considering I had astigmatism in both eyes and I was used to seeing halos.

I'm not sure if it's because of the surgery or practice, but I'm definitely a better player today than I was before the surgery. If you're a viable candidate, I highly recommend the surgery.

-djb

How old are you (not being nosey, just wondering if you need readers yet) and could you see up close before with the contacts in? Can you see the edges of the balls from anywhere on the table now? When I have my eyes cranked too far out, I can't tell if the balls are frozen!

 

[rackmsuckr]

Before you go the surgical route, have you explored all the options that you may have with contact lenses, i.e., hard contacts vs. soft contacts, astigmatism correction, different brands of contact lenses?

Hard contacts are not an option because my eyes are dry anyway and need extra oxygen. I have gone through so many kinds of contacts over the years, so I think I have exhausted all possibilities there. I just want to be able to see the balls a table length away, read, and see the computer. That's it.

 

[GTeye]

I'm going in for a consultation on the 18th for lasik.

I went down to renew my license and they put in these new eye test machines where they test not only your eye sight but your left and right eyes independantly and man did that make me realize how much my right eye was adjusting for my left and even my right eye was a bit bad. I still managed to pass the test but it made me realize i better go see about this.

Went in and turns out i have astingmatism's in both my eyes and I guess I was so used to it that until I realized it I didn't really realize how bad it was.

I tell you though, while I do not like playing with the glasses, that's why I am going in to see if I can get lasik done, it made such a tremendous difference in seeing the angles and lining up my shots.

I guess if I am not a candidate I will look into contacts to see how that works out but hopefully things will work out.

They have some new things out recently too, like they can cut the flap in your eye now without using a blade, it's done with a laser as well now, supposed to be alot more accurate and also cause healing to take ALOT less time than if it was done with the blade. They also have wavefront method with I think bauch and lomb lasers that treat a larger portion of your eye to cut down on any possible halo effect. Both options of course add to the price but imo they will be well worth it if I get the go ahead for it. I've never had any issues with my eyes, no infections, no dry eye problems, etc so am hoping it goes okay.

I'll let you all know how it goes if I do wind up getting it done.

 

[BillyKoda]

I'm a chicken too!! Been thinking about the procedure for about 2 years and just can't make the appointment. No contacts for me, just ugly geek type glasses, they keep the girls from bothering me when I shoot! lol

BK

 

[DoomCue]

How old are you (not being nosey, just wondering if you need readers yet) and could you see up close before with the contacts in? Can you see the edges of the balls from anywhere on the table now? When I have my eyes cranked too far out, I can't tell if the balls are frozen!

I'm 33 (check my sig), turning 34 in two weeks' time. I didn't need reading glasses before the surgery as I was near-sighted. I can see the edges of the balls close and 9 ft. away - I couldn't really see the long shots before. Having better vision has probably increased my game by a ball or two. I'm beating players now that I never used to touch. I'm sure some of that is due to better focus, both visually and mentally. I'm more confident in my shots and shot-making now, and sometimes that confidence is all that separates one from shooting well and dogging it.

In any case, if you're interested in Lasik and its many variations, it's EXTREMELY important to get multiple opinions and to do the research. There's Lasik, PRK, custom wavefront, doctors who are more concerned with the almighty dollar than with results, varying degrees of after-care, sales, different financing packages if you need them, etc. It is surgery, after all, and should not be taken lightly. However, it is NOT painful (unless you do PRK), and most people have IMMEDIATE results. My favorite thing about the surgery was having a "glasses-destroying party" in my home room's parking lot!

I know you have dry eyes, so make sure your doctor knows that if you do decide to have a consultation. Even normal eyes become very dry in the first few months following surgery, and special care must be taken to ensure the eyes stay moist, particularly when you're sleeping. My left eye became extremely dry after the surgery, and I managed to tear the cornea when I woke up one morning because my eyelid was stuck to it. That increased the healing time for that eye (and it hurt like hell for a couple of days) and I had to wake up every two hours for a month to put these goopy drops in that eye. It was my own fault, though, as I didn't follow doctor's orders before I tore the cornea. I thought my eyes were all good and stopped doing drops at night before bedtime, even though I was supposed to do it for two more weeks. Luckily, there were no long-term effects, but I learned a lesson I'm more than willing to share. Do everything your doctor tells you.

OK, post is long, sorry. I'll stop here. If you decide to get checked out, I'd like to know how it goes for you, and good luck to you.

-djb

 

[Rod]

They can see up close on the bottom, and normal on the top part. I still need readers sometimes for closeup work. There are no visible lines or adjusting to go from one to the other. I am near-sighted, so I'm not sure how they would work for you. They are the best contacts for shooting pool though!

Thanks, I'll have to check them out. It would really be nice to see exactly where I'm hitting the cue ball again. I shy away from strong draw shots these days because I'm afraid I'll miscue.

Rod

 

[Rod]

Except your eyes must not be very bad to have not noticed it. I couldn't drive with 1 contact, because mine are mono-focused (1 for distance, 1 for close-up), plus I have to wear hard contacts. (which are way more comfortable than soft - no matter what they say). But, I lost a right contact, and had to go back to old contacts I kept around (not knowing how long I had them), and use a right lense from one of the old ones, which isn't the best thing to do.

To me they are very bad considering how perfect I could see before age 45. To many though I'm sure they would love to see as well as I do. Close up is terrible, far vision isn't real bad but bad enough for DMV to put a restriction on my license.

Rod

 

[Rod]

You can get checked out for free. (I did and found out I was not a candidate)

I have not been able to get used to the glasses thing.

I am back to messing with different contacts. I am going to try a toric lens in my left eye and a regular -75 or -1 in my right eye....(they can't seem to find a contact that does not feel like sand in my right eye)

Your inital post just confirms how beneficial good eyesight is for pool....and there are cetain people that have the ideal vison set up for pool.....(although they usually take it for granted and play it off)

At present mine are +50 left eye and +75 right eye. When I got my new glasses the doc said when I get new contacts they would both jump one number.

Yes it was really strange, I was shooting for Dallas and I hit Huston. LOL I mean I couldn't believe the cue ball went so far off line. My eyes used to be perfect for pool, heck I can still play pretty sporty without any help. It just takes more practice than I'm willing to put in at this point.

Rod

 

[MrLucky]

forgot your what?

Today decided to go hit a few balls. All is pretty much ok except early in my practice (playing 14-1) I over cut a longer shot, it missed a fair amount. Well ok, I must have had a brain fart. A little later at a run of 40 something I missed another one very similar. I'd managed my racks fairly well but once in a while I'd have to take a little longer shot.

It seemed a little strange because the balls were a bit fuzzy. I'm use to this because I need to wear contacts but today I actually took the time to put them in. I'll admit there not strong enough my prescription changed on my glasses and I never got a new one for contacts.

A fellow come along and asked to play and I said sure. We switched to 9 ball. During this time I missed a few cut shots and at one point I said, man I'm not seeing the angles right or something. Play continued when another one of those longer slight cut shots come up. At this point I made dead sure I was focused on the exact angle. Well what the hell, I missed the damn thing a couple of inches. I knew I was dead focused but at that point I didn't have an answer. What's odd is I shot the exact angle but the c/b went off on another direction. I wasn't going to analize my stance & swing while playing this fellow.

Late this afternoon at home I went in to take out my contacts. Guess what? The one in my right eye wasn't there. I found it on the counter all dried up. It's hell when you can't see well enough to put in your contacts. LOL

I play with my eyes centered and at times I have put one in just the right eye. That works fine since it is my dominant eye. Only having one in the left eye though must have changed my head position over to the right which explains those missed shots.

Have any of you experienced similar? I'll tell ya when whitey goes off on another direction other than where your aiming it's really weird.

Rod

Well as a near blind man I can't imagine not having both my contacts in ! I am diabetic and I have found that before a match if I do not eat for at least 2 hours before hand my vision is much clearer I like "Storm..." will not have anyone cutting or "burning" on my eyes as long as I can wear my contacts or glasses!

 

[RBLilly]

Lasik

For everyone in here that wants Lasik I will tell you that it worked wonders for me.

I was near sided bad enough that without my glasses I couldn't see the end of an 8' table (clearly that is.).

I was 20/400 prior to the surgery. After the surgery I was 20/10. Only about 15% of the population has better than 20/20, and they were able to achieve this with me.

I noticed a week after the surgery my pool game improved dramatically. Also everything that I looked at was much more vivid and had much more depth to it.

I had been wearing glasses and contacts since I was in 3rd grade, and here I was at 26 without anything. I am 30 now.

I will tell you what I noticed most about glasses. You loose some depth perseption. With pool that is one thing you don't want to loose. It is a major aiming factor.

So anyone that wants to get Lasik I would recommend it. However people in their 40's or older will have to ask their doctor if it is right for them.

My aunt would have just switched from being near sided to far sided. So it really wasn't a good option for her.

Another surgery was approved about 2 years ago and it is starting to see promising results. They are putting a permanent contact under the clear portion of your eye, that way if your perscription ever changes then they can take it out and put a new one in.

This way if your perscription ever changes you don't have to go under a laser again.

Just a thought for anyone thinking about Lasik. Like I said, I had it done back in 2002, and I wouldn't change it. I wish I would have done it a long time ago.

 

[acedotcom]

I had a somewhat similar experience. When I was 16 I could shoot the eyes out of the balls. Then someone convinced my parents that I needed glasses and fine parents that they were they got them for me. Well, after wearing the specs for a while, I went into the pool room one day and couldn't make a shot. Whereas I once could see the contact point on an o/b that was 5 tables away, now I couldn't see it on a simple cut 2 feet in front of me. All of a sudden, chumps who wouldn't have played me on a dare, were giving me a hard time. I had no choice but to quit. I took the game up again a few years ago. I still couldn't see the balls in relation to the pocket, so I had lasik. Didn't help, though I no longer have to worry about frames getting in the way. But all is not lost - I am getting better. I have a few eye exercises I do and they seem to help. Who knows, maybe one day I'll recapture my boyhood glory.

 

[rackmsuckr]

I'm 33 (check my sig), turning 34 in two weeks' time. I didn't need reading glasses before the surgery as I was near-sighted. I can see the edges of the balls close and 9 ft. away - I couldn't really see the long shots before. Having better vision has probably increased my game by a ball or two. I'm beating players now that I never used to touch. I'm sure some of that is due to better focus, both visually and mentally. I'm more confident in my shots and shot-making now, and sometimes that confidence is all that separates one from shooting well and dogging it.

In any case, if you're interested in Lasik and its many variations, it's EXTREMELY important to get multiple opinions and to do the research. There's Lasik, PRK, custom wavefront, doctors who are more concerned with the almighty dollar than with results, varying degrees of after-care, sales, different financing packages if you need them, etc. It is surgery, after all, and should not be taken lightly. However, it is NOT painful (unless you do PRK), and most people have IMMEDIATE results. My favorite thing about the surgery was having a "glasses-destroying party" in my home room's parking lot!

I know you have dry eyes, so make sure your doctor knows that if you do decide to have a consultation. Even normal eyes become very dry in the first few months following surgery, and special care must be taken to ensure the eyes stay moist, particularly when you're sleeping. My left eye became extremely dry after the surgery, and I managed to tear the cornea when I woke up one morning because my eyelid was stuck to it. That increased the healing time for that eye (and it hurt like hell for a couple of days) and I had to wake up every two hours for a month to put these goopy drops in that eye. It was my own fault, though, as I didn't follow doctor's orders before I tore the cornea. I thought my eyes were all good and stopped doing drops at night before bedtime, even though I was supposed to do it for two more weeks. Luckily, there were no long-term effects, but I learned a lesson I'm more than willing to share. Do everything your doctor tells you.

OK, post is long, sorry. I'll stop here. If you decide to get checked out, I'd like to know how it goes for you, and good luck to you.

-djb

Sorry, I rarely look at people's sigs. I am near-sighted too, but with contacts, even the bi-focals, I still need glasses to see clearly close-up. Are you saying then that if I get cranked to at least 20-20 that my near vision will still be there as well?

And now your dry eye thing is scaring me even worse!

 

[RBLilly]

20/20

Yes if you get cranked to 20/20 you will have what most people consider to be perfect vision.

You have to check, cause it depends on your eyes. Like I said I wound up with 20/10 which is even better than 20/20.