Author of Be Ready for Anything and Bloom Where You’re Planted online course
In an everyday situation, poor vision is just an inconvenience. The modern world has provided us with lots of easy solutions: glasses and contact lenses are readily available. Personally, I have required vision correction since I was 7 years old. I can barely remember a time when reaching for my glasses was not the first thing I did each morning.
But what if you were at a hotel and smoke alarms were ringing and your glasses had slipped off the nightstand? How would you make your way out? What if someone broke into your home and you couldn’t grab your glasses? Would you feel confident firing a gun or would you be worried it might be a family member because you just can’t see clearly?
And then there’s the SHTF.
In a disaster scenario, bad vision could be an incredibly dangerous handicap. What if something happened to your glasses? What if you lost a contact lens or had no solution to rinse them? Would you be able to function without vision correction? Have you ever stopped to consider how impaired you’d be? Could you shoot, evade, hunt, or defend yourself? How would you ever replace these items?
Five years ago, my vision was awful. My prescription was -4 in one eye, and -5 in the other. 20/200 – legally blind without correction.
I coughed up the most money I’ve ever spent on a prep in 2014 and had Lasik surgery
. For the first time since kindergarten, my vision was better than 20/20. It’s the best money I’ve ever spent. I had been wearing vision correction since the age of 7 and it took me a full year after the surgery to stop feeling around for my glasses on the nightstand.
I first wrote this article a month after the surgery. It’s been five years now and I wanted to update to let you know how the eye repair has held up.
Choosing a Surgeon
The first step to having Lasik surgery is to choose an ophthalmologist.
I advise great caution here. This is your vision we’re talking about. It’s rare, but negative side effects can occur – things like dry eye, poor night vision, detached corneas, and even blindness. Don’t go to the cheapest doctor for this. Go to the best one. Seek a surgeon with a great reputation who does nothing but Lasik, day in and day out. Save up your money for a little while longer and go to the very best doctor you can find.
When you see advertisements touting bargain basement prices….”LASIK! Only $800 per eye! Why pay more?” look into the situation very, very carefully. I’ll tell you why you should pay more: the best doctors do not have surgery sales. They don’t need to – word of mouth referrals keep them quite busy enough.
My surgery cost $4500. That included 2 pre-op visits, the surgery itself, and 4 post-op visits. I know, that’s a lot of money but when you think about a lifetime of optometric appointments, contact lenses, and new glasses, it does work out to be not so outrageous.
How Does Lasik Surgery Work?
The first step is to find out whether or not you are a good candidate for the surgery. There are several different options in vision correction surgery:
LASIK: LASIK, an acronym for Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis, is a type of laser eye surgery that corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Using a computer controlled excimer laser to reshape your cornea and correct your vision, LASIK offers rapid recovery and minimal discomfort.
LASIK corrects the refractive errorsin your eye. During LASIK, a microkeratome is used to create a thin flap at the top of your cornea. The flap remains attached to the eye, similar to a hinge. By creating a flap, the procedure is virtually painless due to the fact that the epithelial layer is not removed as with PRK.
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): PRK is an alternative way of performing laser vision correction, and a good choice for many people who have been told they may not be an ideal candidate for LASIK. The PRK procedure uses the same type of excimer laser as LASIK. And, just like LASIK, PRK is able to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Unlike LASIK, PRK does not require our surgeons to create a flap on the corneal surface. In the LASIK procedure, an instrument called a microkeratome or IntraLase creates a surface flap on the cornea, which is gently lifted back by the surgeon to give access to the next layer of the cornea, the stroma.
The stroma must be accessed for the treatment since the stromal portion of the cornea does not regenerate, thus making your treatment permanent. Our surgeons then use the Visx Star S4-IR to apply your specific treatment plan to your cornea. Even though the microkeratome or IntraLase is a very precise instrument, some corneas are too thin to safely create an effective flap. In those cases, PRK may be a better option.
Since no flap is created in the PRK procedure, the surgeon uses a special instrument to remove the surface cells of the cornea to access the stromal layer where the treatment must be performed. The surgeon then uses the Visx Star S4-IR to apply your specific treatment to your cornea.
Monovision: Presbyopia is the medical term for the natural aging process that affects near vision in people around the age of 40. Most people who suffer from presbyopia use bifocals and reading glasses, which aid the eye in focusing on close objects. Monovision is another treatment for patients with presbyopia.
Monovision maximizes the versatility of your vision. For normal tasks that require near vision such as working on computers, glancing at your watch or looking at your dashboard, monovision is an excellent option. However, if you enjoy activities that require the use of near vision for an extended period of time such as reading a book for several hours, you may need glasses to help reduce eyestrain.
One of the options we investigate for prospective laser vision correction surgery patients wearing reading glasses is monovision: The use of one eye corrected for distance and the other for near vision. This procedure is performed on people over 40 to lessen the need for reading glasses. We find that 90% of our patients can accommodate monovision and most love it when it is done appropriately. It is important to note that if you choose monovision and are unable to adapt, monovision can be reversed by performing an enhancement procedure. Once the enhancement is performed, both eyes will be corrected for distance vision and reading glasses will be required for near vision.
(The above descriptions are courtesy of Griffin and Reed Eye Care)
Your surgeon will advise you about which options will be the best in your situation.
Here are the risks of Lasik surgery.
With any type of procedure, there are risks
. The risks involved in Lasik surgery include:
- The greatest risk a patient will face is rubbing their eyes soon after surgery and dislodging the corneal flap
- An infection by not using the prescribed eye drops
- Perforation of the eye caused by failure to insert the “spacer” properly.
- Creation of a washboard corneal surface with intractable irregular astigmatism caused by variations in vacuum pressure during the microkeratome operation.
- Creation of a free, thick, foreshortened, or bisected corneal flap.
- Binding of the microkeratome in the middle of the operation due to entrapment of cilia or conjunctiva in the gear mechanism or misalignment of the gears and gear tracks.
Afterward, some patients may suffer the following side effects:
- Glare
- Seeing halos around images
- Difficulty driving at night
- Fluctuating vision
- Dry eyes
These occur to varying degrees. If you have these issues after surgery, consult with your ophthalmologist to find solutions.
My experience with Lasik
After a great deal of research, I opted for a surgeon about an hour and a half from my home. I found a clinic that specialized in LASIK surgery, had great reviews, and had no complaints lodged against them.
During the initial consultation, the assistant took all sorts of measurements and different types of computer photos showing the topography of my eyes.
Photo Credit: Griffin and Reed
After approximately an hour of different tests, I met with the surgeon. Dr. Maboudi was wonderful. I couldn’t have chosen a better surgeon. Not only did she answer questions, she encouraged them. She took a great deal of time, explaining the procedure thoroughly. I was delighted when she said I was a good candidate for the most basic version of the surgery – nothing fancy required.
Upon the surgeon’s recommendation, I opted for monovision. Because most of my work is online or with my nose in a book, this means that at least for the time being, I don’t require correction for reading or computer work. I do have a pair of pharmacy reading glasses for those marathon days at the computer to reduce eyestrain, but I rarely have to wear them. With monovision, the dominant eye is set for distance (since I always close one eye when shooting, this doesn’t affect my aim at all) and the other eye is set for close work. Miraculously, the human brain adjusts to focus the optimal eye for the task at hand. The adjustment took about 2 weeks, during which I was lukewarm about the decision. At some point, I’ll probably need reading glasses again, but for now, I’m still correction free.
Once I said yes to the surgery, a date was set. I chose a time when my oldest daughter would be home from college so she could drive. One more doctor’s visit was necessary before the surgery, during which my eyes were dilated with very strong drops – much stronger than the normal optometric dilation drops. Measurements were again taken, microscopes were used, and calculations were done to ensure the best possible results. (The phrase “Measure twice, cut once” comes to mind.)
The day before the surgery, I started to get really nervous. Just a hint: if you decide to go for this, don’t read stuff from websites with names like “Lasik Horror Stories” the night before the surgery. Just don’t.
The next morning, we made our way to the clinic. Ner. Vous. You don’t have any kind of restrictions with regard to eating and drinking before this type of surgery, but I kept it light in honor of my jitters. Once we arrived at the clinic, I was given a mild sedative. Trust me, no one wants to watch lasers coming towards their eyeballs without a sedative.
When they deemed me sufficiently mellow, I was led to the surgery room. It looked like something you’d see if you were abducted by aliens – lots of sleek, modern machinery with computer screens attached surrounded this huge padded chaise lounge-type chair. The chair was similar to one you’d see at the dentist’s office, with the exception of a cushion that fits snugly around your head to help you stay still during the surgery.
My oldest girl, she of the cast-iron stomach, opted to go into the observation area and watch the entire thing. My eyeballs were broadcast on a giant tv screen for her viewing pleasure. Here’s a picture she took of my humongous peeled eyeball:
My youngest chose to stay in the waiting room and read a book, blissfully oblivious to the cornea being peeled off of my eye.
Here’s what they do during Lasik surgery.
The LASIK surgeon first creates a thin corneal flap by using an instrument called a microkeratome or IntraLase. Due to safety concerns with many microkeratomes, we use the Hansatome Microkeratome or IntraLase. The flap remains attached to the eye, similar to a hinge. This portion of the operation is fully automated and takes about 12 seconds. The flap is then temporarily lifted back and computer-controlled pulses of cool laser light gently reshape the inner cornea. During this part of the procedure, the computer controls the laser and directs the reshaping of the cornea, based on the patient’s unique corneal map.
The flap is then placed back into its original position. After the LASIK procedure, light rays focus more precisely on the retina, improving vision.
And here’s a picture for those of you who are more visual:
Numbing drops are administered once you’re in the chair. Despite this, I felt initially panicky and really wished for a better sedative. The staff was calming, however, and the surgery began
They put a little gadget in around your eyeball that keeps you from blinking or moving your eye. I watched the laser coming towards the first eye to make the corneal flap. There’s a slight burning sensation like you’ve had something splash into your eye. When the flap is made, they peel it back – you can’t feel this at all. You are supposed to fix your gaze on a red dot.
First, your vision is like a kaleidoscope, then, it goes completely dark and you know what it must be like to be blind. You can see a little bit of light and some shadows, but you can’t make out anything distinguishable. The correction on the first eye took 18 seconds of a loud pulsing laser. I could feel some slight pressure, but that was it. Then the doctor replaced the cornea and did something that felt like a tiny little squeegee was going across my eyeball to get the bubbles out from under the cornea. The entire process was repeated on the other eye.
I was moved to a recovery room and sat there for a few minutes with my eyes closed – I’m not sure how long. The surgeon came in and checked my vision. It was blurry but still…unbelievably within a half hour of surgery – 20/20 in both eyes!
The recovery from Lasik surgery
They taped some big round shields over both eyes, gave me enormous sunglasses to cover them, and sent me home, where I slept nearly constantly until the next morning.
In the morning when I took off the shields, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Literally. My vision was perfect, aside from some on and off blurriness. We had to make a post-op drive to allow the doctor to perform a check-up on the corneal flaps. The surgeon was pleased that things were healing nicely and sent me on my way. I had 3 types of prescription drops and some saline drops to use over the next week.
My eyes felt scratchy for a few days afterward, sort of like they do when you’re coming down with a cold. For a week, I had to sleep in these odd-looking ski-goggle type glasses
so that I didn’t inadvertently rub my eyes in my sleep, potentially dislodging the corneal flap before it had time to heal.
During the first week, I slept a little more than usual and was more sensitive to light. My eyes weren’t quite adjusted yet to the monovision, which caused some minor headaches. You must use drops from single-use containers without preservatives
to treat the dryness without the risk of infection.
But I felt perfectly fine. So fine, in fact, that I was able to go on the vacation I’d had planned with my daughters to see the Redwoods up near Eureka, California.
After the first week, you no longer have to use the prescription drops multiple times per day and you have the pleasure of getting used to the new normal – you, with perfect vision!
If there’s been any downside at all, it’s driving at night. The headlights from cars coming at me have sort of “halos” around them. However, before, the glare from my glasses made it hard to drive at night, so it’s really not that much different.
Are You Medically Prepared?
I feel like this surgery was one of the most crucial preparedness investments I’ve made and I strongly recommend it to those who have seriously impaired vision.
It’s important to take care of your medical, optical, and dental health while these services are readily accessible.
Are there any procedures you should undergo? Have you opted to have any preventative or corrective work done to make your life easier should the SHTF? Please share your stories and advice in the comments section below.
Learn More about Lasik Surgery:
Lasik: The Eye Laser Miracle: The Complete Guide to Better Vision
I’m blind as a bat, and I did consider eye surgery recently, but two words made me cancel my consultation: corneal neuralgia.
I don’t want to take the chance of being the lucky 1 in 10 who has the surgery and ends up with a lifetime of constant, unfixable eye pain.
My wife has undergone 4 different eye surgeries in her life and one eye is permanently damaged. While she retains most of her vision, I pray that one day she will be able to see ALL the beauty this world has to offer. Thank you, Daisy, I will share this with my wife and maybe we will, once again, explore this option.
Please don’t ever do Lasik! Research the permanent long-term damage that it will do to EVERYONE!!! People have committed suicide after this procedure due to pain that won’t go away. Your corneal flap NEVER heals or closes. It can open up any time. Drs will tell you that you will still have to wear glasses at some point. The risk is NOT worth it! Look up youtube videos … some 60 % of patients are PERMANENTLY dibilitated from this and the FDA covers it up. Dr OZ covers this on youtube as well.
Stacy:
There are risks with every procedure, as I mentioned in the article. I do think that extreme side effects like the ones you are mentioning are the exception, rather than the norm. I spoke to many people before undergoing the surgery and nearly all of them were delighted with their results. I honestly think the 60% statistic is incorrect. Could you cite a source for that number?
Thank you for your input. I appreciate you offering an alternative side to the information presented.
Best wishes 🙂
Daisy
I had my Lasik done in 2003. I’m still better than 20/20 and like you was 20/200 in one eye and very slightly better in the other. Best thing ever!
I wore contact lens, both hard and soft, for 30 years prior and was experienced with monovision. The hard lens gave me the best vision but age and drying eyes pushed me into the soft lens. Fot the Lasik I decided not to do monovision as I was over 50 years old and figured my near vision would continue to degrade and reading glasses was a cheap, easy fix.
I don’t trust any doctors, but Daisy is correct in making sure you pick the right doctor. However, even if it is 1 in 100, those odds are too close for comfort. That’s exactly why I don’t vaccinate my children, because one, they cause autism and child cancers. And two, doctors are the biggest killers in the world, besides government. Broken bone? No problem. Anything else? do your own research. I have horrible vision, and like everything else, have multiple sets of glasses. That being said, I loved your story, Daisy. You’re always so thorough.
I do not mind wearing glasses. They are the first thing I grab in the morning; I cannot drive without them. I am myopic, and wear vanity bifocals, but I am comfortable doing close work such as reading, writing and artwork without them. I tried contact lenses years ago, but over a ten year period I was unable to find a contact lens that I could wear for even eight hours!
My son and DIL are optometrists. If I wished to prep eyeglasses, I would work with them first. They currently have a second pair of frames waiting for me.
I have no interest in Lasik surgery, and neither does my son and his wife.
Surgery or contacts may restore vision, but presbyopia has a way of creeping up on everyone. There are some really interesting solutions to this problem, but not everyone adjusts to them.
I never really gave vision prepping a thought. I have always liked the idea of having at least two pairs of glasses, and when I make an appointment for my prescription, I will.
I hope the best for you with your decision!
My father was an optometrist. It’s a wonderful profession filled with generous people, isn’t it? 🙂
Thank you for your good wishes!
D
I’ve considered doing the same a few times, and even talked to a LASIK center once, but my night vision is already bad. If there wasn’t a good chance it would get even worse, I’d do this in a heart beat!
I definitely agree that this is an excellent prep and I’m glad to see you bringing it to people’s attention.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6WH_hoNO0A – The truth about Lasik
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buf5ReMswTk – Lasik flap NEVER heals
There’s all sorts of Dr’s petitioning the FDA to stop this procedure due to the side affects that will happen to most people. If not immediately, it WILL happen sometime.
The Former top FDA physician has blown the whistle and says that he regrets ever approving this procedure. This is a major coverup and the FDA won’t release the real reports. No one is getting the true information on this procedure. Many whistleblowers are coming forward and this is sure to hit headlines soon!
Over the years I have learned to say, “No thank you,” to doctors for all sorts of “medical” wonders. For disclosure, my decisions have nothing to do with life and death situations, although it was with my mother. No matter, it would behoove people to really look into having any procedure without a tremendous amount of **real research,** not only about the outcomes, but the doctor, the hospital, and the medication the Dr. uses. My one adult child is an OR nurse. I have been well informed.
I have read that one of the ways to extend one’s life is to stay away from doctors, big pharma (the less medication, the better), and to stay out of the hospital–I would add any “medical” facility. This may sound severe, but there is a lot of truth in it. When Drs. go on strike, hospital deaths plummet.
My experiences: The head of a team of doctors told me that my mother had 3days to 3 weeks to live and wanted to withhold food and water. This woman was alert enough to answer questions, and after “discussions,” this dispicable human said, not more than five minutes after it was all over, that my mother would be coming home. Not more than five minutes! She lived for 13 months and had a quality life.
I had no less than four doctors who wanted to do surgery on me. I just said, “No.” It was not life threatening, and I preferred a non surgical option. The procedure that the last doctor wanted to use has a number of law suits. The procedure, not the Dr.
My point is not that Daisy is wrong, and I really wish her the best of eye health and success with the procedure, but the reality is that, overall, not specifically, non surgical options are better than surgical, non pharma options are better than pharma, and it is best to be a skeptic with “medical” advice, as most doctors are forced to make decisions based on the control of big pharma and other entities that dictate to them. In addition, **any** surgery has a life threatening risk.
I wish the best health to everyone to reads this, but please be informed and take control of your medical.
Please tell me, what non Pharma options are available for my myopia? If something other than glasses, contacts or surgery would correct my 20/600 vision to 20/20 I would love to hear about it.
Myopia: A Modern Yet Reversible Disease — Todd Becker, M.S. (AHS14) -Youtube
Aug. 11, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5Efg42-Qn0
Main lecture: 13:50
Summary 28:32
Basically to start find your ‘blur threshold’ and habitually read at that distance until you can move back a little further and further to train eyes. Some pharma is still involved as you then use inexpensive glasses to train your eyes towards the 20/20 goal.
20/600 is fairly steep, tho.
agree wholeheartedly with what you’ve said! husband’s grandmother felt that way, stayed away as much as possible from doctors, medicines, she lived almost 100!!!!! mean old lady too, lol….anyway, went other day to doc to get refill presc for bp, (insisted on seeing me), took bp, high (have white coat syndrome and dont like drs offices), had a fit, she did ekg, wanted to send me for ecg/stress, said no, not right now. proceeded to scare me with what happens if I dont, still said not right now. later got a call from cardio office to setup appt, told them nope not now, sent doc msg that I will make my own appts, dont like them doing it! got a ltr back week later, kicking me OUT, she and her office would not longer be my doctors!!!!! THAT PISSES ME OFF!!! I believe in being your own advocate if possible, if docs are gonna be like that, then I DONT NEED THEM, my Lord has control over my life anyway……now gotta get this crap outa my brain….causing me STRESS! DONT TRUST DOCTORS, BIG PHARMA, GOVT….they have been out to kill you since you were born!
ok ok I’ll get it done. I laughed at the looking for the glasses in the morning. I am pretty sure I am blind without mine. Great post!
I had Lasik about…15 years ago? I was -7 so REALLY blind. I hated the fact that I couldn’t see a face across the room. It was so freaking amazing to see after the surgery!!! Then I got into my 40’s, had a child and the vision in my right eye went pffffttttt! It’s not as bad as before, but, I have to have a contact in that eye (not my left however :o). But you know, I’m happy, because now in my 50’s I don’t need bifocals, I can read with my eyes and see far. In fact, I got a pair of “driving glasses” that only have prescription in one eye, to see great when driving. I do see slight halos around car lights at night. But am I glad I did the surgery? HECK YEAH!!!
Ella, sometimes people want to use both eyes to see up close and both eyes to see distance. Also , using one eye for distance for driving long distances is tiresome as is using one eye for reading .
My wife and i had lasik correction in 2007. We both had severe myopia with a heavy prescription for eyeglasses and it worked perfect for both of us. In 2015 i still have 20/20 vision, no side effects.
My wife has pretty terrible vision and we have been thinking about some kind of laser correction for a long time. Since a lot of operations have gone down in price compared to when they were originally introduced, it seems to be more affordable for our budget. Congratulations on the success of your operation and I really hope that my wife will be able to say “I can’t believe my eyes!” like you were able to! Thanks for the post.
My son, Max Cronin, age 27 years old, committed suicide 1-14-16, as a direct result of complications he experienced from Lasik/PRK. He left suicide letters stating this and kept details of his complications. He experienced vision loss, constant eye pain, dry eyes, haze, and loss of quality of life resulting in depression and his suicide. He was unable to work or continue his life goals due to his eye complications.
As a medical physician, I can definitely state that refractory surgery of the eyes, as an elective procedure, complications can lead to suicide.
Make sure you understand the complications.
For an elective procedure, the risks and long term complications are understated.
The resultant complications and negative quality of life issues increase the risks of depression, attemtpted suicide, and suicide.
Nancy L. Burleson MD FACOG
Texas
I’m so sorry for your loss, Dr. Burleson. My heart breaks for you.
Well, Daisy Luther, My wife & I read everything we see that you write and you have helped us get prepared more than you could imagine. God bless you for helping us & so very many others. Now, in regard to taking care of one’s health before anything happens…I’ve torn both Rotator cuffs in my shoulders and I’ve now been told that I have to go to an Oral Surgeon to have an infected tooth cut out,
-but- on a fixed/retired income, can’t afford either of these needs,
-however-
because of your article I’ve decided to save what I can each month (about $50 to $60) to have both problems fixed instead of accepting all the discomfort for what ever time I have left!
Just wanted to let you now that there are lots of us out here that really appreciate your advice & we’re following all of it that we can manage!!!
!
I’m so glad I can help, Jake. Thank you for your kind words.
I would definitely look into dealing with that tooth before anything else. Is there a dental college nearby? They often have excellent and well-supervised care for a fraction of the price.
I’d definitely get your tooth fixed first, and promptly. You don’t want any inflammation in your mouth to be influencing cardiovascular issues. I’d had the molar looked at by 3 dentists and then moved so a 4th dentist looked at it, detected a cracked root and recommended a guy who did the whole job for $700 in 90 minute single session when just a root canal had taken 5 or was it 6 sessions 4 decades before.
I had Lasik surgery 20 years ago. I went to the best doctor I could identify. I was considered a complicated case and I was charged $6,000 (20 years ago!). It was the best money I have ever spent in my life. I had 20/300 vision, was legally blind, wore coke bottle glasses since childhood. After the surgery I had 20/30 vision. It was amazing. I had a splitting headache for 2 days as my brain adjusted to the change. Over the years, my eyesight has gone to 20/50, and in time I needed reading glasses. So that’s my report, 20 years post-op. I do have poor night vision and I avoid driving at night. At night, I do see halos around lights. But I am still a completely happy and satisfied customer.
You need to identify the very best doctor in your region or travel to another region, and pay whatever the very best doctor wants. 10 years after my surgery, another doctor told me i sure got my money’s worth because it was a perfect job and he himself would never have accepted me as a patient, nor could he think of any other doctor who would have accepted me as a patient.
Also, you really need to take a week off work and just stay home and not do anything. Dont listen to people telling you how they went mountain-climbing the next day.
I had lasik done 20 yrs ago. I had also worn glasses since I was 7 yrs old. Yes it was nice. But first of I want cover the mental changes you should consider. Like waking up at night and being able to see. Sounds like it shouldn’t be a problem but I wasn’t used to seeing clearly so I wasn’t sure if I was awake or not. It was very confusing. I also had trouble seeing at twilight. Lack of strong lighting is still an issue to this day. The surgery increase the glare and halos I got from headlights. I’m now to the point where I only drive in familiar places at night.
And don’t believe you won’t have to go back to glasses. I’m now in progressives, namely trifocals, to be able to read, see the computer and see distance. I also have to have the eye dr yearly to track the little growths now growing into the part that was lifted to correct the cornea.
I have found that in using a scope on my rifle I don’t need my glasses to hunt. That’s provided it’s a bright day. Just be aware of all the risks. Not just when you get it done, but as your eyes age. I also have a major issue with dry eyes.
In 1994, at age 43, well into bifocal age, I decided that I needed to be totally free of glasses. I work(ed) with horses and other large animals on a daily basis. I found myself in too many situations where I absolutely HAD to be able to see without corrective lenses. Contacts were out of the question due to my inability to tolerate them, and the amount of dust that is typical in barns and arenas. Glasses did not work well because on too many occasions I was tossed and the glasses went too – disappearing into the straw or arena shavings. If you can’t see, you can’t find the glasses. I also needed to be able to see upclose and detailed work for giving injections or other medications. Bifocals, with “tie-downs” to keep them on my head, were not working out well.
I had LASIK surgery done by my mucho-trusted ophthalmologist in his specialty clinic. Cost $2500 for both eyes. Like Daisy, I had 20-15 vision in both eyes after about 30 minutes. It was a miracle and I don’t regret having it done at all.
That said, there are very typical downsides – I am almost totally night-blind (not the result of LASIK, but not improved either). I see haloes regularly, but again, not the result of LASIK. I developed a herpes infection in both eyes about 3 years ago. Just because you have LASIK done, it doesn’t mean that you won’t get other diseases as you get older. Macular degeneration is one. Glaucoma is another. Fortunately, I haven’t had these occur, but I get checked regularly. I am also experiencing age-related changes in my retina and have to keep a close check on that to prevent retinal detachment.
My vision has deteriorated to the point where I do need glasses for reading. My doctor told me to expect that to occur because I was over 40 when the surgery was done. The problem is that my vision varies from day-to-day, in different lights, what meds I’m taking etc., so it is virtually impossible to get Rx lenses. I have about a dozen different strength reading glasses that I have to switch off, and I use the Text Size option on my computer to make things easier to read.
In my case, LASIK was absolutely worthwhile. The US Military routinely uses it for eyeglass-wearing recruits – it can literally save their lives and saves a lot of money in the long run. I strongly recommend that people give it serious consideration, and definitely use the best doctor(s) you can find.
Our son had Smart PRK done in Vancouver, BC about 18 months ago. He went from 20/200 to 20/20. No ill effects except some minor halos. The only thing is use the drops religiously exactly as directed. They laser your prescription directly onto the cornea. You must have thick enough corneas for the surgery.
It is not approved in the US and probably will not be. Plenty of business in Canada and China.
I really appreciate this article. I tend to agree with those people posting here who avoid the medical industrial complex at all costs.
I would never make a permanent change to my eyeballs unless i was suffering from cataracts. I am perfectly fine with glasses.
I went through the ordeal of caring for my (retired physician) stepdad as he was diagnosed and treated for bile duct cancer by the local gigantor medical university mainframe.
He was 81 when diagnosed, and suffered from a plethora of other maladies. His case was complicated. This led to many misapplications of care during his post-surgical recovery. If my wife and I had not been maintaining a vigil on a daily basis, he would have died within weeks of his surgery.
We constantly had to call attention to details of his condition (allergic / other reactions to medications which were potentially fatal if unaddressed) which were overlooked by the staff.
After all, to them he was just another dying old man in a hospital bed. An endless series of single-serving medical friends drifted in and out of his life right up until the end.
As it was, he suffered greatly trapped in hospitals fighting post-surgical infections for five months, before being discharged. He had a great summer, but the cancer returned with a vengeance in the fall, and killed him within weeks.
Had he opted for palliative care instead of a whipple procedure, he would have lived just as long, with a substantially greater quality of life.
The oncologists should never have offered him surgery for his condition: it only accelerated the spread of the cancer. The fact that they gave hope to a dying man with no chance of survival (it’s 95% fatal within a year; he lived 13 months after the diagnosis) was unethical and predatory.
The operation was a success (the cancer was removed, along with his gall bladder, parts of his stomach, parts of his intestines and parts of his pancreas) but the patient suffered in recovery, and died an agonizing death in hospice care.
If I am bitten by a bat or dog, I will get the rabies vaccine. If I step on a nail, I’m gonna have tetanus vaccine. If i break an arm or a leg, But I will never have a flu shot. If I was diagnosed with fatal cancer, there is no way I would submit to the rigors of modern oncological treatment.
I am very glad that your surgery went well Daisy, and I appreciate the respect you are showing to those who feel it is an unsafe and undesirable option for them.
Thanks again for this article.
If i break an arm or a leg I am going to the hospital. (got cut off).
Dear Daisy, I enjoyed your story about getting eye surgery because you needed it, and also thinking about SHTF. Three years ago my teeth were really getting bad. I was one of those kids with the silver caps that looked like Frankenstein. At 61 they were done. I wanted to get the best dentist for dentures because I wanted to get this done before SHTF and they weren’t talking about Implants that much back then. I wanted to get the best but all I could afford was Affordable Dentures. I got the best, most expensive set they had at a total price of a little over $2200. Long story short it was awful. They don’t fit, and now I’m paying off a loan for $7,000. I even bought their insurance because I wanted to do everything right. Three months after getting my Final dentures I fell and hit my face on a concrete porch. Shattered the top dentures. But wait! I bought the insurance! Then they told me the insurance was for in case the manufacturer had done something wrong. Good grief! I was diagnosed with scoliosis at 14 but the doctors didn’t do anything because my shoulders and hips were level. Now at 61 I’m in constant, aching pain. What was I going to be able to do if SHTF? I couldn’t walk very far or stand very long. The pain has gotten so bad that God is moving mountains and I’m having back surgery October 25. I hope after this surgery I can do things again that will let me be more independent and take care of myself and others when SHTF. You inspire me so much.
Alas, it’s not “forever”, but it was nice while it lasted. As you age, your eyes change and your near vision pretty much evaporates, lasik or no lasik. So even though my distance vision is still pretty good after having lasik in my late 30’s, since my mid-40’s I have had to wear reading glasses for anything within about 3-4 feet, and I expect it could get worse before it stabilizes.
Mind you, having clear vision without contact lenses was great while it lasted. I just wish there was something I could do now to not have to wear glasses—even contacts won’t work at this point—but the doc explained there really aren’t any more options at this point. I can’t remember if they said my current options are limited because of the Lasik I already had done, or if it was just something that was bound to happen anyway, but it’s a moot point. The simple fact is that I started out life needing corrective lenses for distance vision, and it looks like I’ll finish up with life needing glasses for seeing things “close up”.
A middle-aged or elderly person’s need to wear reading glasses is called presbyopia. It is just part of the aging process and there’s no fix. Getting Lasik as a young person won’t prevent you from getting presbyopia as a middle-aged or elderly person. So, yes, even after Lasik, you may still need reading glasses. This can depress people who thought they would be free of glasses forever after Lasik.
I had Lasik surgery 13 years ago and have absolutely NO regrets. No more contact lenses (rarely wore glasses during the 30+ years I wore contacts). As with immunizations, there are always the *rare* minority who have issues. There are no 100% positive choices in life. Good article Daisy.
But I will also bring up a topic that is near and dear to me – macular degeneration. Those who spend time viewing computer screens (or heaven forbid, cell phone screen!) need to be cognizant as to the damage to his/her eyes. Eating right probably prevented my eyes from damage. I now take a supplement and ponied up the money for blue block lenses in my reading glasses (Lasik does *not* prevent “old age eyes”, aka the need for reading glasses). Might be an idea for another article. Generations of of those with vision issues is not good for the country.
I got glasses for distance (driving mostly) about 7 years ago. In the past year, I’ve started using ‘readers’ for up close (reading). I’ve finally decided it’s time to buckle and get bifocals. (I’m 55) I’ve thought about LASIK. Thing is, I don’t handle eye issues well. I worked for an opthalmologist a gazillion years ago, and just ick! I could never wear contacts. As an ER nurse, I absolutely could not handle eye injuries, and my coworkers knew it, they would always cover them for me, LOL! I have a hard enough time with a regular eye exam….they’d have to knock me out completely to do this procedure!
It’s been interesting to read Daisy’s experience, as well as all of the replies. I had heard that once you’d had the procedure done, you would end up having to have it done again 10-15 years later, but based on all the comments I see now that is not necessarily true.
I think I’ll take my chances with bifocals, and keep stocking up on dollar store readers. I don’t get rid of my old eye glasses. I know they won’t be as effective as my eyes continue to change, but it’s better than nothing. I may change my mind down the road, but as I don’t have any of the other side effects now (like the halos, my night vision is just fine as long as I have my glasses).
Check back with me in 10-20 years, LOL…
I have had prk now 7 years ago I found my doctor by asking laskic providers which they would use. One clear winner ironically did most of the pro athletes.
Managed to trade him for the 4000 for the procedure so it was way less in actual cost.
I still have better than 20/20 it took time to relearn shooting as glasses depth perception is different. I had -9 and -7.5 with astigmatism and thin corneas. So was worse case scenario.
Get audio books and rest for atleast 5 to 7 days not using sight is possible for best results. You can get away with less but chances of issues increase as it is a fresh wound and putting stress on it right away will increase chances of a bad result.
Now at 50s I am looking at reading glasses for the stupid fine print bit that no one can read but the super young. doc eye test bottom line form well back from the line. It’s how I pass my eye exams for commercial drivers just get them to show smallest and read it.
I too did it for shft purpose with no glasses. For night vision I still use amber lenses to help with glare from driver who drive with constant brights on.
My sister went to cheap guy and went right back to work in 48 hours now has issues dry eye and itching.
I truely believe allowing extra rest in dark helps make it more successful.
For those opting to stick with glasses as an option (smart choice in my book) invest in a pair of Cablz, or something similar for your glasses. I’ve lost so many pairs of expensive sunglasses over the years that when I got prescription glasses I knew I had to come up with a plan.
When I hunt, I wear my glasses. When I’m ready to take a shot with a scoped rifle, those glasses are in the way. The Cablz allow me to remove them quickly and discreetly, leaving them hanging around my neck. And they are adjustable, so you can take up the slack with ease and secure your glasses to your face like goggles when the situation calls for it…like haulin’ ass through the brush in a bugout or a running firefight. God forbid we’re ever in one of those situations, but suddenly losing your glasses in the middle of one of them would almost certainly prove fatal.
Why chance it when an investment of less than 20 dollars will greatly improve your odds of it not happening?
You can find these in the sporting goods section of Walmart like I did, or you can probably find them in any good sporting goods store in the country.
And for those of you who may still be vanity minded, they are removable. That means you only need to use them when you think it necessary. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll but an extra set for my bugout bag! I’ll stow them right beside my Life Straw.
“buy”…typo. How fortunate I am that we haven’t been infiltrated by the grammar Nazis yet!
:o)
It’s funny you bring this up. I had LASIK on my right eye this past January for the exact reasons you discussed in your article. I’m 54 years old and have worn glasses/contacts since I was 15. I have not regretted it for one second! Being able to see across the room without reaching for my glasses has been so wonderful! I still wear a contact in my left eye for partial correction for reading and computer. I like the idea of your correction for reading. I’ve been contemplating what to do for my left eye and, I think you just gave me the answer. I also went to the best surgeon in our area. My eye doc sent me to the surgeons who operate on the other docs. I used my flexible spending account to pay for it so basically paid for it throughout the course of the year. Great article!
This type of eye surgery is a piece of cake to do. Upon waking, vision is near perfect. HOWEVER, it is not lasting. The correction will last about 10 years. After that the eye returns to its original shape and glasses will be needed again. I am not the only person to experience this. The other person I know had the surgery again. It was a good 10 years without glasses.
I have worn eye glasses since 3rd grade. Have astigmatism and very strong prescription contacts & glasses. My contacts are for monovision and I had no problem adjusting. I have developed cataracts in both eyes and have a consult next month for surgery. Hoping for much improved eyesight. I might opt for monovision.
Daisy, regarding monovision. You said they have the dominant eye be the one for close up. My ignorance of guns will show here, but If you are right handed and shooting a firearm, which eye would you want for near vision and which one for far vision?
Amy,
I know you didn’t ask me, but since I know about this topic I thought I’d help out. The answer to your question is more complicated than you might think. It depends quite a bit on what type of firearm you’re talking about, as well as what purpose you intend to use it for.
I’ll assume you are right hand AND right eye dominant. This is not always the case, but it usually is.
Having the dominant eye for close vision will give you a crisp view of either iron sights or a scope picture when aligning your target. This is especially critical when making longer shots…usually, but not always with a rifle.
Pistols and shotguns are typically used for shorter ranges and are commonly used with both eyes open. For example, pistols used for self defense are statistically employed at a range of less than 20 feet. That allows for a pretty generous margin of error on a man sized target. Both eyes open. However, if you are attempting longer shots with that pistol, you’ll get more accuracy with only the dominant eye open.
Shotguns used for self defense offer a pattern spread that increases with distance which is very forgiving out to a certain range…say 75 feet or so. Again, both eyes open.
As a general rule of thumb, the farther away the target is, the more critical the role your dominant eye vision becomes.
If you want to know which eye is your dominant eye, hold out your arm and put your thumb up with both eyes open. Focus on holding your thumb on one specific object (like a word on your computer screen). Then close one eye…then the other. Do this a few times in succession. You’ll notice that your thumb appears to shift positions with one eye but not the other. Whichever eye holds the same apparent position as with both eyes open is your dominant eye.
I hope this helps.
I had cataracts and I coughed up more money than imaginable to get multifocal lenses so I would be done with glasses. It works. It isn’t absolutely perfect, but for all intents and purposes I have good vision and can see far off, but sometimes have to wear reading glasses and especially in bad light. In good light, no problem. If a person has lasik surgery, can they then get cataracts and have to have something else done? Just a consideration question.