Lasik surgery

I didn't have laser eye surgery, but I wear mostly glasses and sometimes contacts. When I play pool wearing contacts, every time before I take a shot, I find myself trying to push my glasses up . It feels funny because the glasses aren't there. You might get this for a while after you do laser surgery.
 
did mine around 01 and it has been great. I recomend it to anyone who has bad vision if they are a candidate to get it done.
 
I had lasik about 3 years ago to correct nearsightedness. It was tough wearing glasses to play and as time marched on my contacts were getting more dry and at times I had to constantly put drops in my eyes when I played.

My exerience was excellent. Not that I haven't had some issues. A big one was my need for reading glasses increased, my vision close up to about 2 feet out got worse. I almost was a little farsighted! I now use one set of reading glasses when using a computer and a different set when I actually read! All that aside, I love the results. The first 2-3 months after the proceedure you will need to put special drops in a lot, as your eyes are still healing. Also always wear sunglasses when outside. That's a good idea though generally.

Now I hate to bring this up...but a word about Lasik and the age of the patient as was told to me by the doctor. If someone is considering Lasik and are in their late 30's it was recommended to wait a couple of years as human eyes start to change dramatically after age 40. I am now 45 and can attest this is very true. This helps to avoid having to pay to have an adjustment to the initial procedure in a relative short time.

It is not unusual for people who have had Lasik to evenually need to go back in for an adjustment (aka, redo the process but on a lighter note with the laser). But it is better if you can wait more than a couple of years. Most likley I will need to have it done, if I choose to, in about 6-8 years from now. Or I could choose at that time to go back to glasses part time. My mid and long range vision is still excellent and perfect from about my bridge hand out! :)

I highly recommend you do all the research you can, search as many well known centers and doctors in your area. Talk with them, compare their experience, number of proceedures their completed, full success rate, get recommendations. Prices are competative, but the price is also based on your perscription and may not be that increadible low price you see on the ads in the paper.

Best of luck,
Holly
 
I wear glasses and find it hard as well to look at shots while bent down.
SUGGESTION --- another buddy wears glasses ,but picked up a raquetball google strap that is velcro adjustable. The strap hooks onto his glasses and keeps the glasses snug against his face, so he can see.

I can see the benefits of Lasik, but also hear that the surgery does not put you "under" and requires that you stay awake during the whole procedure, yes? Does anyone have some information regarding that aspect of the procedure?
 
i had lasik in 2004. i'm still happy i did it, as now at least i can function without glasses, but far from perfect.

i have halos on lights, and many ghost images. my eyes get dry a lot more easily now, and lost some night vision.

i still need glasses to play pool. the first year or two after the surgery i had close to 20/20 vision, but it's been getting steadily worse.

i finally got glasses about 2 years ago, and that helped with my game. i recently had another check up, and my prescription went from -.5R/-.75L to -1R/-1.50L * 60. Astigmatism is coming back.

I will get a enhancement eventually, but i'm only 30 years old. you can only have the front of your eye cut so many times.

after lasik, you lose some correctibility, so glasses can't bring you back to 100%.

i am happy that i can see things somewhat clear, as before i couldn't see anything beyond a few feet, but it wasn't a miracle either. i still must use glasses to drive or shoot pool.
 
whatthehell said:
I can see the benefits of Lasik, but also hear that the surgery does not put you "under" and requires that you stay awake during the whole procedure, yes? Does anyone have some information regarding that aspect of the procedure?
Click to expand...

Yes... you do stay awake because you have to have your eye(s) open and you have to continue to focus on a red dot in order to keep your eye still during the procedure. The laser automatically adjusts for minor eye movement.

Had mine done in 1999... $950 for both eyes... 20/400 and 20/200 before... 20/20 after.

Get 'er done. :thumbup2:
 
I had Lasik surgery several years ago and am very happy with the results. It's great to not have to wear glasses any more.
 
whatthehell said:
I can see the benefits of Lasik, but also hear that the surgery does not put you "under" and requires that you stay awake during the whole procedure, yes? Does anyone have some information regarding that aspect of the procedure?
Click to expand...


I'm leary about posting what the actual operation is like, for those that don't like details about medical procedures. but here you go. those with queezy stomachs may not want to read further...


they cut open the front of your eye (you don't see this part, as they block blood flow, making you temporarily blind with pressure and pulling on the eye), it doesn't hurt, but you still feel it.

they peel back the front of your eye (you can kinda see this part). You stare at a red laser dot and they use it to shape your cornea. You have to be still, and you can smell something like burning hair. be careful if the chair is too small. I'm 6'3" and it was difficult to keep my legs up on the thing to stay still. they then cover your eye and do the other one.

the put down the flap, and rinse it with saline. you basically have to keep your eyes closed all day, and wear goggles at night for awhile.

even if it sounds bad, it really isn't too horrible.
 
gets my vote

I also had TLC here in Georgia do mine .I had the custom lasik
where they cut the flap and all using a laser (blade free) .It has
to be one of the best things I have done in a long time. The only
thing I get as far as a side effect is if I read a sign that has alot of
light around it or behind it ,it seems I get a little haze or I cant
read it as well as one with normal light .
Worst part of the ordeal was when they wipe the flap shut and
your eye is cocked open with a device . I think the numbing drops
were wearing off and I could feel it and wanted to rip the seat in
half .Oh, and they tell you to go home and go to sleep afterwards
DO IT !! I did and woke up and could for the 1st time in years read
the 9 on the ball at the end of the table .Amazing !!
 
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I had Lasik surgery done about 4 years ago, and I couldn't be happier with the results. I too was very skeptical, at first. But since so many people I knew had it done with great results, I went for it.

The procedure it self took like 5 minutes, and was totally painless. A little uncomfortable, but no real pain.

The only side effect Ive had, are the occasional floaters. Not a big deal tho.
I'd recommend Lasik to anyone, who can have it done.

Good luck!
 
Lasik Surgery

I considered having Lasik Surgery but didn't because I was told that at 55 years old my close up vision could become a little blurred. My vision up close is still good but around 7 feet the object balls become a little blurred. I would rather have a clear cue ball than having a clear object ball with a blurred cue ball.

Any comments on close up blurred vision on the cue ball after Lasik Surgery?

Also my left eye is still good for pool but my right eye is terrible. Should I consider Lasik Surgery on just my right eye?
 
Just so you know, here is a website with the potential side effects.

they really explain what happened to me, albeit exaggerated. The starburst images are especially exaggerated, but it does show what i see, even with my correcting lenses.

http://www.lasikcomplications.com/simulations.htm

Understand that if you have the surgery, you are taking a risk, no matter how much the doctor downplays it. You will see the 20/20 thing explained on that site.

that being said, I'm still happy I had it done, even though I see like the things on that site.
 
I had it and never regretted it. There was one time however, I did fold the cornea like 5 years after Lasik. That was my fault because slits are left under the cornea and I was rubbing my eyes like you are told not to do.
 
I had LASEK done about 3 years ago and have never looked back. My cornea's were too thin for normal LASIK (LASEK is kind of a combination of PRK and LASIK). I went with the top of the line lasers (and top of the line cost....) but was well worth it. Had it done at LASIKPlus in Minneapolis by Dr. David Whiting (who at the time had done over 75,000 procedures...). IMHO it makes a big difference to not go the cheap route and to find a doctor who has done tens of thousands of procedures. It's your vision so it's best to search around and find the best doctor you possibly can...

Oh, and if you go to a doctor and they tell you that you aren't a good canidate DON'T go to another doctor to see if they think you are a good canidate... But, if a doctor tells you that you are a good canidate, DO go see if another doctor agrees...

Brian
 
I wear contacts while playing too. I wear glasses just about all the rest of the time to give my eyes a rest. In the last few years I've only heard good things about Lasik. Outside of the last decade I've heard some bad stories, so they've obviously gotten a lot better at this.

The bad stories I've heard are that some have gotten Lasik only to be wearing glasses a few years later, one that came out worse than before and one that had one good eye and one worse than before. These are from when Lasik first came out about 18 years ago though.
 
The old operation was called Radial Keratotomy and was a completely different operation. Slits are cut in the cornea to change its shape. A friend of mine had RK done in the ninetys and they made a mess of his eyes. Lasik surgery has the top of the cornea pealed back and the laser flattens the cornea underneath. Then the flap is laid over the reshaped surface. I spoke to my eye doctor a wile back about lasik and he said if he didnt know it had been done to a patient it was hard for him to detect.

On a side note, every doctor I have seen that preforms these operations wears glasses.... hmmmmm
 
I was legally blind at 20/400 with astigmatism and Lasik is the best investment I've ever made. Not only do I not have to worry about putting in contacts every morning and taking them out at night, I don't have to buy new contacts or glasses because they're old, torn, lost, broken, or need a new prescription. Not to mention the time to clean them and the cleaning solutions themselves.

Anyone in Georgia or Alabama, I can recommend a great ophthalmologist, Dr Joseph Ceravolo!

www.northcolumbuseye.com

Check out the FAQ :)
 
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Freddie O said:
I was just wondering if anyone has had Lasik surgery and if so, any success stories? Disaster stories?

I play pool and am pretty badly nearsighted. I'm satisfied with wearing contact lenses while playing. I get down low while shooting, so normal framed glasses obviously get in the way. I've never considered getting the "high framed" pool glasses because errrrr, I just don't.
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SUCCESS. I had it done, and I've got better than 20/20 vision.
 
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