Problems with Lasik Eye Correction

It's been seven years since I had Lasik surgery and I'm very happy with the results, but it wasn't the cake walk I expected- More on that later.

I'd been wearing really thick, coke-bottle glasses since my early teens and progressed to contact lenses only to suffer from allergies related to the cleaning solutions. So I spent a few years considering Lasik and, unfortunately, allowed many people to talk me out of it.

It was 2002 when I finally decided to just go for it. I talked to my local optometrist and was referred to a respected surgeon in Sydney. For the record, there was a slightly cheaper option in a closer city, but I wanted the best. Hey, you shop around for a good price on a new lawnmower, a new pair of shoes and maybe even a haircut, but when it comes to your eyes go to the best. When I got there I knew it was a classy place because they even had a coffee bar and gourmet cookies in the waiting room.

At the time, the procedure cost me around $4500 and made a lot of sense when you take into account the long term cost of glasses and contact lenses. I can remember at the time the company brochure said that I might experience some discomfort and that many people go straight back to work that day.

Well, that might be the case for some, but it certainly wasn't for me!

Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (Lasik to you and me) is performed all around the world and can correct most forms of near sightedness, far sightedness and astigmatism. The basic idea of the operation is that a thin flap is created on the surface of the eye (yes, you got that right, they cut a flap on your eye), and a laser then modifies the eye with the flap flipped back. Sorry, I can't think of a delicate way to put it

Anaesthetic eye drops are used to numb the eyes during surgery and for my procedure they were even handing out Valium. I was feeling a bit nervous so I thought I'd try one and it was amazing how those gourmet cookies started to look even tastier after one valium.

Risks Associated With Lasik

There are risks anyone considering Lasik should know about. Laser Sight is a team of Ophthalmic surgeons in Australia and their website www.lasik.com.au is a good place to seek out information about laser eye correction. They list nine common risks and complications associated with the surgery.

Undercorrection And Overcorrection

It's exactly what it sounds like and can correct itself as the cornea stabilises.

Regression

Basically your eyes try to return to their original state, or close to it, before the Lasik.

Decrease in Best Corrected Visual Acuity

A loss of sharpness can occur and is mostly temporary

Flap Complications

Ouch! You guessed it, the flap they cut to do the Lasik. Laser Sight says it's rare (about 1 in 800).

Glare

Night glare is the most common and may last a few months.

Dry Eye

If you already suffer from dry eye, Lasik can make the problem worse.

Post-Operative Discomfort

That's a medical term for pain after surgery. 1 in 500 experience severe discomfort.

Post-Operative Cornel Haze

Most people experience haze after the surgery. It's part of the healing process.

Infection

Infection is serious but rare.

So How Did I Go?

Well I was 1 in 500 that experience severe discomfort and it lasted for around nine hours after the procedure. The pain was quite bad and I couldn't open my eye until about 2am the next morning because of it. I also experienced a lot of haze and wasn't comfortable with my vision for a few days.

It's a good idea to take someone along when you go, just in case. Most modern surgeries have a video feed so those waiting can watch the procedure and maybe even have a gourmet cookie.

For me, being free of glasses was something that was very important. Looking back now I'd do it all over again.