Laser surgery & shooting

[tuckerdog1]

Several years ago, I had laser surgery for vision correction. I'm sure over the years, the surgery has probably improved. But wanted to share my situation and ask how others that have had the surgery have fared.
My Dr. offered three options. Excellent vision up close, but I'd need glasses for distance. Option two was the opposite, Excellent at distance, lousy up close & needing glasses for that. Or option three a blended correction. One eye not quite perfect for close, and the other not quite perfect for distance. But an overall improvement for both situations. I went option three. It took some time to adjust, and it's much better than when I was wearing glasses. But, some things are not quite right. An example is when I open my gun safe. If I use reading glasses to see the dial, I line the digits up perfectly & the safe opens. If I do it without the glasses, the safe won't open. I've learned that if I position the combo to what appears to be a full digit off ( when not using glasses ), the safe opens. This same problem is magnified at the range. Because the correction was a compromise, the target is never in a clear focus. And I'm always having to adjust to what appears to be an on target aim, but is actually an aim that is off to one side.

Tuckerdog1

 

[atlctyslkr]

I think alot of it depends on what your vision was like before you had the procedure. This probably won't help you but for me it didn't really make a difference. I have never had an issue seeing up close. My eyes do tire after reading for a while or sitting infront of a computer but I think that is normal. I have known others in your situation and they opted not to have the surgery. I wouldn't have done had insurance not covered it. I would also have not done it had it not been possible to make it seem like I was "wearing contacts all the time". My night vision has been affected slightly. The halos are annoying sometimes. I generally wear sunglasses when outside for sun protection and wind protection. My left eye is slightly better than my right which can cause a few problems since I am right eye dominant. Well I could ramble on forever about the pro's and con's and my experiences. I'm 99% happy.

 

[carebear]

I had mine done several years ago. I was near-sighted which I was told tends to give one poorer night vision (which I found to be true) so the slight loss due to the surgery wasn't that big of a deal. The halos get old.

I can now still see crisply in both eyes at any distance, like I only could when the contacts were lined up "just so". The ability to wake up and see without putting anything on or in and not having to worry about keeping either kind of lenses clean made the remainder of my military service much easier.

I'm a big fan.

 

[BigV]

I had Laser surgery about 8 years ago to correct nearsightedness. It was a point in my life that I was going to need bifocals. The same options were presented to me. I opted to correct both eyes so I could see clearly at distances. Since I spend a great deal of time outdoors, the surgery has been a godsend. I still have 20/20 vision after 8 years. Reading is another story. In dim light I must wear reading glasses to read 10 pt type. In bright sunlight or florescent light I can read 8 pt type without glasses. Shooting at an indoor range with low lighting it’s difficult to line up the sites on some handguns. The ones with night sights seem to be easier for me to focus on. I have opted for laser sites (CT) on one of my Kimbers and it make a huge difference in accuracy. I hated wearing glasses outdoors and contacts were almost as bad. If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

 

[Para Bellum]

laser surgery almos made the most talented shooter I know blind. He still is in serious trouble but keeps his (bad) eyesight.
If you consider it - don't.

 

[tjhands]

Well that's bloody great. I'm getting LASIK done in a month. I'd be lying if I said I'm not worried about being able to shoot as well afterwards.

 

[Capt. Charlie]

Well that's bloody great. I'm getting LASIK done in a month. I'd be lying if I said I'm not worried about being able to shoot as well afterwords.

TJ, I seriously considered LASIK at one time, and I spent months looking for the best ophthalmologist in the business that did NOT offer LASIK. I wanted a professional, unbiased opinion. After all, it was my sight that was at risk, and short of my life, that's the most precious thing I have.

He was pretty evasive about the risks, but I pinned him down with this question: "Doc, would you have this done on your own kids?" Hesitation, and then "No."

I don't know how old you are, but I suspect you're no kid. Find a damned good doc and have a frank, heart to heart sit-down. It's a serious decision, and there ARE risks. Find out the risks for YOU personally.

As for me, the deciding factor not to have it done was in my age, and the fact that I'll probably have to deal with cataracts in a decade or so.

 

[carebear]

Consider the risks but don't be a prisoner of your fears. It's worked great for 10's of thousands and gets safer and more refined every year.

 

[parrothead2581]

I had LASIK done last year. Yes, the halos do get old, but I had those with contacts so it was nothing new. I'm 24 and very happy. It hasn't altered my shooting for the worse. In fact, it might be better.

 

[riverkeeper]

1000% Unhappy!

It blew out vision in every way - Snellen with glasses is about 20/60, extreme low contrast, massive flare-halos, multiple images, freq epithelial erosions, etc. Ruined a good career and lots of outdoor stuff and travel and reading etc.

You wouldn't believe me if I told you about the dufus doc, but since it's been in the courts for several years and still is, I shouldn't and won't.

Do it if it is what you want but be careful of dufus docs...they're out there and THE SYSTEM as it is really is doesn't weed them out.... at least not until after a few peoples' lives are ruined.

 

[carebear]

riverkeeper,

That's the kind of thing that makes Old Testament eye-for-an-eye seem like the height of moderation.

Any chance a good doctor can repair it somehow?

 

[dallasconundrum]

I agree with some of the above posts that you have to weigh your options carefully. Age, current vision, etc. Also, be sure to find the best doc that you can. I had mine done about 3 years ago now. Overall I am quite happy with mine.

Before I had it done, my vision was pretty horrible. I had astigmatism very bad which complicates the surgery, and my uncorrected vision was 20/400. Which is the big E at the top of the charts I believe. Also, my vision had been in a fairly steady state of decline over the years requiring me to upgrade my prescription every few years. Corrected, I can't recall but it wasn't 20/20, probably 20/40 or so. They told me that I would be very lucky to come out with perfect vision considering my (then) current state. So, I knew that going in. I was also well aware of the risks and horror stories. Ultimately though, I decided to go ahead with the procedure. I was just tired of wearing glasses and still not be able to see that well, and with my astigmatism being so bad, contacts were tricky.

So, I went ahead with it. They told me that they were going to have to laser me longer than normal and that my recovery time would likely be slow. Indeed it was. At the regular post-op check-ups I saw people that had it done the same day as me who were almost fully recovered. Me? It looked to me like I was underwater, everything was horribly blurry and I couldn't focus nor did I have much depth perception. As time went on, I started to really worry. It took me about three weeks to start seeing significant improvement. However, I did. Now, my uncorrected vision is 20/30 out of one eye and 20/35-40 out of the other. Corrected I am 20/20 perhaps even better. I rarely wear glasses now however, as I see better now than I ever did with them before.

I too experience the halos at night, and sometimes they can be annoying, but I knew going in that they were likely and for most part it isn't a big deal to me. I have also invested in several pairs of high quality sunglasses as bright lights can give me headaches. This problem has went away considerably though, and I find myself not wearing the shades as much as I (and everyone really) should anymore. Another problem that I've had which has lessened some over time is that if I go on VERY little sleep (which I'm prone to doing from time to time) that my vision begins to blur. This too is a problem that people generally experience anyway, but especially at first, after the surgery it was more prenounced.

For me, I am happy I did it. I like not having to worry with glasses and having to wear them from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed. Would I do it again? Yes. Will I get a "touch up" if I need it down the road? Probably. However, it is a very, very difficult decision to make. As I am sure you're aware of. Again, my advice to anyone who is considering it is: look at your particular situation and find a doctor you trust to talk it over with. It is a bit of a gamble though no matter what I would say, but the odds are better now than they were in the past with the newer technology.

 

[schutzen]

Choose Wisely

I too asked myself many of the questions posted here, but two years ago I chose to have Lasik Surgery. Without a doubt it was a wise choice for me. I see better, drive better (particularly at night), and shoot well. The single most important choice in this matter is your choice of doctor. I paid over twice what I could have had it done for in one of the "Lasik Clinic's", but mine was done by the most reputable ophthalmology group in the region. I also had my eyes "laser mapped " for a more accurate adjustment of the cornea. I am very satisfied with my surgery. The only issue is I have to wear reading glasses. This issue was fully explained to me before my surgery and I opted for the single, long distance vision because my doctor advised it as "better" for shooting. Like most things, you get what you pay for. Don't scrimp on your eyesight, do it right or don't do it.

 

[riverkeeper]

Carebear--

Recall I said you will not believe me.

The doc identified a preexisting contra indication condition which he said was not a problem WHEN I ASKED ABOUT IT!!!!! He did not mention or even know that it was it appears.

That condition precludes another attempt by lasix -- would only make it even worse. No to contacts too--many tries. New Wave technology we thought for a while might improve (not fix) it even tho it would be done 'off line' -- that is done outside the normal parameters for the technology. Bad luck there too - can't do it.

Only option left is bilateral cornea transplants(both eyes) --- scary stuff cuz failure there = being blind.
.

 

[woodland]

I had mine done about six years ago, and it was one of the best things I have ever done. I did a LOT of looking around and studying and research before doing it. I was near sighted. Not really really bad, but enough to be required to wear glasses for driving, etc. And I could not shoot beyond anything at indoor range worth a darn. Now my vision is 20/15. I have no night vision problems, or halos.

It is a risk, but for me it paid off, and I would do it again. Just do your home work and make sure you look into all the factors.

 

[Anthony2]

Better Solution to Laser Surgery.

I had been legally blind in my right eye, to the extent that I could not see my hand in front of my face for the then 19 years of my life. My left had degraded over time to the extent where my left was expected to reach the degree of difficulty of my right. By my 20TH BIRTHDAY, I was told I would be for all self-reliant and independant purposes blind . I.E....No driving...No walking across the street...no walking down stairs...basically I was about to become a 20 yr. old Stevie Wonder, without the piano. (Doctor's words, not mine.)

That was until I had a procedure called the Versieye performed...(Yaldo Eye Center) Now one year later I can do everything...although a life time of only using one eye has it's downside...my mind never developed the ability to use both eyes...so now I have to think about it before I can use both...

Long story short: 20/25 vision in both eyes!
Not bad at all considering at the beginning my right didn't even register on the for lack of the correct term "eye scale" and my left was one year from the same fate.

If anyone wants more detailed information, just contact me...I will be more than happy to help.
Kind Regards,

 

[pickpocket]

The stories I hear are all over the map. I've heard horror stories and I've heard stories of disbelief. Before I deployed to Iraq, I decided that I wasn't going with contacts or glasses...so I went to get my eyes fixed!

Personally, I spent over a month with the opthamologist that did my eyes. I went through a battery of tests that determined whether I was a good candidate, what kind of surgery I could have, and a ball-park figure of the eyesight I would have post-surgery.

My mom had gotten Lasik done about 5 years ago and she loved it - with the exception of her decreased night-vision. Halos and star patterns (I forget the technical term) coming off of light sources after dark...headlights, streetlights, etc...

The doc I went to explained that there was a procedure (he called it CustomView) that would help smooth out the imperfections in my eye that caused halos and stars. This was done in addition to the Lasik procedure and required that I took even more tests. They took like a hundred pictures of my eyes to determine whether I was even a candidate for the customeview procedure, and once that was established they used the crazy computers they have to create a 3-D view of my eyes to feed the laser computer for surgery.

The doc gave me the standard "risks" talk, but didn't hesitate when I asked him if he would put his friends or family through it..so that helped. They told me that I'd be lucky if I got 20/20, but that was much better than I had...so off we went.

The surgery was quick and painless...and for you wierdos out there (like me) who always want to watch what's going on....well you see the whole show.

I went in and couldn't see...and by the time I stood up 5 minutes later I could see. The doc said to sleep it off the rest of the day to give the incisions in my eyes time to seal back up...so I slept.

For my one day checkup I was sitting at around 20/20 - SWEET! At my one week checkup I was at 20/15 - even SWEETER!
The awesome part is that by my one month checkup - I was 20/10!!!! And that's where I've been for two years. It was - by FAR - the best money I've ever spent. Oh, and I have minimal halos and zero star patterns at night. The extra procedure cost about $500, but was totally worth it.

This guy's in Houston, so won't be much use to many of you - but he's AWESOME. And, the website has tons of useful info.

http://www.doclipsky.com

He does military at cost, too...so even better! Every little bit helps!

 

[Dyaus]

I've very recently had my surgery. A little under 2 months ago. So far my vision is 20/16 or better. I go back for another eye check up next week and hopefully everything is still good then.

I did however do research for about a year and finally decided on a doctor. Picking a doctor is probably the most important part of deciding. You don't want to get the walmart special for your eyes. The doctor I went to was one of the top docs in the country and as a result I'm extremley happy with my better than 20/20 vision. LASIK may not be for everyone, but it's awesome that i no longer have to rely on contacts to see. I love it.

 

[guntotin_fool]

best thing i ever did.

I did for a selfish reason. My wife hated to be with me when i was wearing glasses. But without I could not see her even when she was just a foot or two away... glasses get hooked in her long hair etc. anyway. I did it for that. BUT i did some major research. I went to three docs and asked them. then I called in some favors and asked some people who were involved with pro sports teams who did the eyes of they players. Found out a guy near me had done something like 240 pro ballplayers, seeral pro tour golfers and some others. Went to see him, three visits of tests, and then he said yup you will do nicely.


third day post op i was tested at 20/15 and got about half way thru the 20 10 line. prior to that I had been a 7.5/9.0 diopter correction. the Big E on the wall was just a lighter grey square. never mind the E i just saw the light.

now four years post, i have receded a little to needed readers to correct a little astigmatism that has crept back but only for low light or fine type situations. i can read the newspaper on the kitchen table in daylight just fine. At night i have a pair of glasses for driving that just correct the astigmatism and really cut down on the glare. this really kills all the halos.

The biggest one is research. see how many cases the doc has. what is his complication rate. A good one will tell you up front they are proud of that number. If you live in a university town or a pro sports town, ask the medical director of the sport for a recommendation. MAKE SURE HE IS BOARD CERTIFIED.

Do not buy on price. mine cost double what the going rate seemed to be, but itwas all up, no cost for followups ever. I paid more but I got a good job. My daughter had it done, same guy did hers, no contacts, no glasses, can see the pixels on the tv Doc says she is now 20/5 says that will recede a bit as she matures, but she went from hitting .240 in high school softball to hitting .375 I think the sight makes it better

for the first time ever i get to see my wife at night, (and yes that is a good thing) I can walk to the door at night and not fumble for glasses.

I have not missed a deer since the operation with fogged up lenses.

 

[tanksoldier]

The Army is providing laser vision correction to Soldiers now, completely free of charge. I've know at least 8 Soldiers who've had it, they ranged from moderately bad to one Lieutenant with cokebottle glasses.

In those cases where a choice has to be made, like the orig poster, the Army opts for distance vision, but I've only known one guy... LT Cokebottle, who's eyes were so bad they had to do that.

Every single Soldier said that the surgery was the best thing ever. After 3-5 days in quarters for their eyes to recover every single one said that there was vast improvement.

It's kinda funny because a few yearfs ago the military wouldn't take people who had LASIK, now they're beating the bushes to find people who need it. Iraq and Afghanistan are tough on glasses, and contacts are impossible.