LASIK - Long-term updates?

[AIAW]

So I saw the older threads here (post before the initial Scout migration) related to LASIK and the post-op updates, etc. I can't reply to those otherwise I would.

I am seriously contemplating having this done very soon. I've just very tired of the whole glasses/contacts routine in general. It sucks wearing a helmet, it sucks getting sweaty, or just plain having them fall out/off when active. I am wondering mainly how it affected your shooting (eyebox, reticle focus, depth of field) versus contacts or glasses.

Overall observations, good or bad from non-marksmanship related activities are welcome as well! I already expect a degree of halo's at night time as that seems to be a common side-effect.

 

[264win]

My experience may differ from most because I never used glasses or contacts. My eyes were only a little near sighted I couldn't stand contacts or glasses. I had lasik just over a year ago, and could not be happier. The process was exactly like they told me it would be. The lasik takes seconds per eye and feels uncomfortable but no pain. My eyes were sore for a day and very dry for a week. For 3 months or so i noticed that my eyes would get dry easily from wind, etc. The halo effect at night was less than I expected and faded to almost nothing in 6 months. I could easily drive at night the day after.

I will say the obvious, carefully choose your doctor. I paid a little ( about 15 % ) more to go to one of the best doctors in the country. All the bad experiences I have heard of have been from little known and bargain bin facilities. Some people's eyes are only thick enough to do it once, so do it right the first time.

Most places don't charge anything to come in and have a consultation, so go to two or three of the best in your area and see what they have to say.
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[johnnycat]

Best decision I ever made - I wish I had done it sooner. I'm not sure if I posted in the previous thread but I was borderline for LASIK so we opted for PRK - the procedure they did before LASIK, I believe. Anyway - never looked back. It's awesome.

 

[1J04]

On the fence on doing this myself. AIAW and I recently had this discussion and I appreciate ya starting this thread up. I'm all ears. Been wearing glasses since I was a Junior in HS. Tried contacts 15 yrs ago or so and gave up on them inside of 30 days. Giving this great thought because as we know this glasses thing, as stated, is nothing more than a complete pain in the ass. Hate'm. For my remaining yrs I'd like to be glasses free, but I really don't wanna be that 1/1000 guy either.

 

[Slash0311]

I had mine done year and half ago. Still best decision I've made.

I shoot a lot of handgun and not had any issues with the sights. I do shoot hunting rifles with scopes and everything is perfect.

I've not had hardly any of the night halo effect that you mentioned. I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for. Mine cost upwards of $4800 total but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Plus I have a total of ten years to have an "adjustment" if my eyes change for no cost.

 

[Punisher29073]

This is something I toy with as well. I am legally blind and slightly color blind. I don't remember ever being able to see. I would be interested if there are any guys like that with reports.

Ryan

 

[Rthur]

This is something I toy with as well. I am legally blind and slightly color blind. I don't remember ever being able to see. I would be interested if there are any guys like that with reports.

Ryan

What is your diopter Punisher?
I went to the optometrist and they said my prescription was to great to do lasik eye surgery.
I'm at R 9.50 L 9.00

R

 

[2ndamendfan]

On the fence on doing this myself. AIAW and I recently had this discussion and I appreciate ya starting this thread up. I'm all ears. Been wearing glasses since I was a Junior in HS. Tried contacts 15 yrs ago or so and gave up on them inside of 30 days. Giving this great thought because as we know this glasses thing, as stated, is nothing more than a complete pain in the ass. Hate'm. For my remaining yrs I'd like to be glasses free, but I really don't wanna be that 1/1000 guy either.

That is all you need right now. More Dr's and more Surgery. What you need is a horse tranquilizer.

 

[1J04]

lmao thx buddy

 

[sirhrmechanic]

I had it done in 2002... so I have a very long-term view. I had mine done in Montreal as, at the time, it was much cheaper than doing in the U.S. and the clinic up there had more experience than most of the places in the U.S.

And it was, as a couple of folks have said above, one of the best decisions I ever made. Ended up with 20/15 vision... which is just luck. They don't 'promise' that. But some people get it to correct that well. About 2 years later, started to need reading glasses. But that was as like age as anything. I still use reading glasses on books and computer screen and for close-up work at the shop. I have shooting glasses with 'bifocal' type lenses in them for reading scope turret and databook. Those USO scope markings are really tiny....

15 years on and my right eye is still 20/20 to 20/15. My left eye has deteriorated a bit and I am not sure how far it's gone. Not much. Just enough to be a bit annoying, especially when driving. Sharp in one eye and just a tiny bit fuzzy in left. So I am looking at needing glasses again for left eye. I won't go back to contacts.

But I had no side effects. No "Haloing" which some people complained about at the time. I had one afternoon or mild pain... and 15 years of perfect fighter pilot vision. Great on the range! It was the best money I ever spent, too. At the time, it was about $3K. I saved that in contacts in... the first three years or so? Utterly a bargain.

That said (and I am glad this thread popped up!) I have heard that after a certain number of years, and with the new procedures, you can have it done again. And I figure if I do it again, it will get me into my 70's. Which would be a pretty good gig.

Anyone considered a second round? Or had it done a second time? For those of you considering it the first time... don't even debate it. Just get it done. You will be very, very happy.

Great topic!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[AIAW]

Damn at the overwhelming thumbs-up to green-light the procedure. Thanks for all of the information so far. Very good responses. I think I'll do some research on the local doctors in town and schedule a consultation. My prescription has stabilized over the last 6-8 years to -3.75 in each eye with no astigmatism (as far as I am aware).

It's time for new glasses as I have micro-scratched the lenses on these pretty bad over the years cleaning them with my shirt or a paper towel - or on my jeans. I didn't even know they were scratched that bad until about 2 months ago when I got behind my rifle and noticed a few artifacts in the scope glass. I started to investigate and turned out it was my damn glasses! I'd rather it be the glasses versus the scope.

Rather than waste the money on the glasses, I'd rather just get the LASIK done and out of the way. We will see if I am a candidate in the near future I suppose.

 

[jambau]

Great topic. I've been on the fence for a couple of years. Been wearing glasses since high school. Always worried about the longevity of the correction. Would be nice if I only had to do it once. Seems like a thumbs up.

 

[dogman]

I had mine done in 2007. Another "I regret not doing it sooner". I had minor night halo-ing for the first few months but that went away. My far vision is still great. My near vision started to go 5-6 years ago...age. I have learned to embrace point shooting for pistols

 

[MATADOR]

I couldn't see past 10 fucking feet without glasses, and even with them (glasses and contacts) it was never great, although I did not know it at the time. However, in 2002 when rumors of deployment starting circulating again in my unit I decided it was time. Mother of god why did I wait so long. I could see shit I had never seen before, and the shooting, oh the shooting was 10 times better. That was what, 15 years ago, and I still see great. I was told I would eventually need reading glasses but that time has not come yet. I am sure it is a lot cheaper now than it used to be, no reason to wait.

WORTH EVERY FUCKING PENNY

You will get a punch list of things not to do after the procedure. Follow every fucking word.

 

[Duc]

Had Lasik done in 2003.BEST MOVE EVER!
Now have developed a slight "Dry Eye Syndrome" Restasis (sp?) twice a day ....if I remember it.... seems to help. It's not a bad thing, just a slight pain in the ass. Doc says I don't blink enough. Maybe I shouldn't have stared into the Sun so long
Also now need +1 - +1.5 readers to do paperwork.
If you're an appropriate patient, I say go for it 100%

 

[07yzryder]

had it done in 2012 I think and t
the only issue I had was not listening to the go home and go to sleep post op lol.

20 20 right now no halos or other negative effects. not sure if it changes but when I went in there we're 2 types.

A slightly cheaper and would correct your eye as one prescription. think a contact lense.

b was a bit more but measure your eye in thousands of places and corrected each spot to its proper prescription.

I went with B if it matters.

 

[ZiaHunter]

What is your diopter Punisher?
I went to the optometrist and they said my prescription was to great to do lasik eye surgery.
I'm at R 9.50 L 9.00

R

I would check with another doctor. My daughter had similar vision and slightly worse in one eye. She had 20/20 vision in both eyes after the procedure. She was 16 at the time she had it done.

I had mine in 2004 at age 49 and wish I had done it sooner. 13 years later still have excellent vision, 20/15 and 20/20 for the right and left eye, respectively. Can read without glasses most of the time but generally use reading glasses so not to strain my eyes. No regrets.

 

[Numb_Skull]

Got mine done in 2010 by one of the best in Michigan. Dr. just happened to be a Christian Iraqi and after finding out I was working in Iraq he gave me a substantial discount. Still 20/20 7 years later.

 

[davere]

Had it done in 2009, primarily because I was having problems finding a contact lens that would give me sharp vision that I could wear on the range for longer than 4-6 hours (RGPs would go about that long before my eyes just decided they were done - but man, were they sharp). My prescription was relatively mild (-2.25 diopters in both). I got much more comfortable with the procedure once they developed Intralase (they use a laser to cut the flat rather than a blade). It was either LASIK, or buy 3 or so pairs of custom shooting glasses to cover all the conditions I needed them for.

It was a little uncomfortable that afternoon. I followed the aftercare direction to go home and lay down. Took a nap. Kept my eyes closed as much as possible for the rest of the day. One thing that helped - get a book on tape or something to listen to, so there's no need or temptation to open your eyes (like listening to TV or something). I was able to get the corrective lens restriction removed from my drivers' license the next day, and could get around no problem. Went to see a movie that night. My vision was a little fuzzy and I had some halos around street lights and such for a little while. Those symptoms cleared up within a week or so. It took about 6 months for my prescription to stabilize, but the bulk of that happened over the first couple months.

Net result - 20/20 in the left, and 20/15 in the right. But... (assuming you're currently near sighted / myopic) your natural offset to presbyopia will be gone, and you won't be able to focus as close anymore. Just one of the tradeoffs to reshaping your lenses to "normal".

You actually have access to some world class surgeons there in Austin. Dr. Steven Dell is literally "the man" when it comes to LASIK (yes, that Dell family). If you have a problematic case or something, he's the guy to go to, for sure. Dr. Tom Walters is the guy all the eye doctors in central Texas use for themselves and their families. He's who did mine. I interviewed both of these guys offices and got a better feel from Walters' people (you won't meet the doc until the day of surgery), so that's how I decided.

Needless to say, don't use a Groupon for this shit... ha ha.

 

[101stinfantry]

I haven't needed it, but my Uncle, Cousin, and Best Bud, all had it done, and loved the results. After their experience, and reading the opinions here, I'd definitely do it.

 

[Briggs]

Had mine done about 12 years or so. I agree that it was the best decision I have made. No issues and still don't need readers. I am pretty sensitive to bright sunlight but not sure if that has anything to do with the surgery. If you are eligible then do your research and pay extra for the best Dr. if necessary. This is not an area where you want to cut your budget.

 

[fastarget]

16 years on my Lazik. mono vision, dominant eye still 20/20, left eye regressed a bit, so I am wearing driving glasses(for distance). The only real negative is the dry eyes. Would do again If given the choice.

 

[Tnc]

Had my LASIK done in 2007. One of the best decisions I've made. At the 1 week checkup I had 20/10 in one eye and 20/15 in the other. I've noticed no deterioration at all in 10 years. Waking up and being able to see without grabbing my glasses or putting in contacts is still a great feeling.

 

[WYO09]

Had mine done in 2000 or so best decision I ever made. Couldn't see the alarm clock in the am without contacts or glasses it was aamazing to be able to see the individual leaves on tress. Wish I would have done it earlier, wouldn't have had to deal with contacts flying out after hitting someone and having to have the trainer scramble for a replacement and try to get the slippery sob's back in on the sidelines. The salty sweat was great trapped under those sob's........I'm glad I got it.