Laser eye surgery

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Geektastic

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#233408 15-Apr-2018 09:42

Has anyone had their vision done?

I'm going to the Bowen Eye Clinic in Wellington next week for a consult. Based on my job and my eyesight, they have recommended Blended Vision where they correct one eye for long and one for reading and then your brain sorts them out into a single 'all distance' vision. I do this now anyway sometimes by wearing one contact lens.

Obviously it's a private procedure and will cost about $6500 so I thought I would see if anyone has any experiences of LASIK etc? Or Bowen Eye Clinic specifically.

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#1996334 15-Apr-2018 10:00

Gidday,

Prior to surgery I was - 2.5 in both eyes. I had LASIK in 2015 on both eyes, and have zero regrets. I had it done at the Auckland Eye institute with Tony Morris. Best decision I've made, resulting in no side effects and 6/6 vision. I went from 24/7 glasses or contacts, which were really interfering with my lifestyle, to perfect vision overnight.

The procedure itself was terrifying. I nearly pulled out after the first eye, when my vision disappeared and smelt the lase/eyeball combination (I work in aviation, so a muck up would've seen my career ruined). They slapped some patches on afterwards, taxied me to a hotel with a sleeping pill and instructions not to touch, then woke up the next morning with perfect vision.

In saying that my brother in law had an intra ocular lense inserted in one eye, with the intention of blended vision.
He regrets the decision immensely nd refuses to proceed with the other eye.

YMMV

SATTV

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#1996339 15-Apr-2018 10:06

I have not had this done but had the consult a few months ago, they said they could correct my short sight but not my long sight and it is not worth the money as we will not get the desired result. ( their words paraphrased ) and I will probably have glasses again in a few years as my short sightednes is age degeneration.

They have recommended a tri focal lens replacement, same procedure as a cataract, never need glasses or cataract surgery in the future - catch $13,000

I hate wearing glasses with a passion but dont have a spare 13K

Best of luck with the procedure.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

kryptonjohn

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#1996341 15-Apr-2018 10:12

Geektastic:

Has anyone had their vision done?

I'm going to the Bowen Eye Clinic in Wellington next week for a consult. Based on my job and my eyesight, they have recommended Blended Vision where they correct one eye for long and one for reading and then your brain sorts them out into a single 'all distance' vision. I do this now anyway sometimes by wearing one contact lens.

Obviously it's a private procedure and will cost about $6500 so I thought I would see if anyone has any experiences of LASIK etc? Or Bowen Eye Clinic specifically.

Not me. I'd get it done but can't justify the cost at the moment as glasses or contacts do the job. Several rellies, friends and acquaintances have had Lasik and are universally glad they had it. You need to listen to the speech about potential side-effects or negative outcomes at the consult and understand it.

Good luck!

mdf

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#1996352 15-Apr-2018 10:40

My mother in law had it done and says it is the best thing she ever did.

My vision is terrible, but the thought of anything cutting/zapping my eye terrifies me. Wearing glasses or contacts seems to be a small price to pay.

Would be interested to know how you get on if you proceed.

But I suspect until full blown bionic eyes are readily available (ideally with IR and UV detection, and user operated zoom) I will not be going anywhere near an eye surgeon. Yes, I do read science fiction.

Gurezaemon

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#1996370 15-Apr-2018 11:11

kryptonjohn:

Not me. I'd get it done but can't justify the cost at the moment as glasses or contacts do the job. Several rellies, friends and acquaintances have had Lasik and are universally glad they had it. You need to listen to the speech about potential side-effects or negative outcomes at the consult and understand it.

I had it done 13 years back, moving from coke-bottle glasses to better than 20/20. My vision stayed great for 7-8 years, and then has slowly started the inexorable drift back to short-sightedness requiring contacts or glasses for everyday life, combined with a gradual onset of presbyopia.

A friend who had LASIK done around the same time had one eye regress, and one stay the same. He loves it, as he now has one eye for long-distance, and one for close-up.

Very definitely, YMMV.

kein

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#1996371 15-Apr-2018 11:12

Planning to do this one: https://www.aucklandeye.co.nz/laser-eye-surgery/relex-smile/ later this year, it's the least invasive type there is afaik.

Not in NZ though, it's a bit on a pricey side in here, a lot cheaper to fly to Moscow, arrange accommodation for a few days and do it (especially since it's done by a German doctor who invented this procedure).

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Geektastic

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#1996374 15-Apr-2018 11:18

I'm hoping to be convinced when I see them next week. I am now wearing glasses or contacts all the time and to be honest the endless faffing with cleaning, repairing, changing prescriptions, not being able to buy non-prescription sunglasses and so forth is a royal PITA.

My wife is concerned; she feels that due to the cost, not enough Kiwis would pay for it so the practitioners would not get enough practice to be fully competent (yes she is a cynical person sometimes!). She thinks I should have it done in the USA or the UK. However, as I pointed out, they are both a bit out of the way in the event you need some follow up attention!

Gurezaemon

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#1996400 15-Apr-2018 11:43

kein:

Planning to do this one: https://www.aucklandeye.co.nz/laser-eye-surgery/relex-smile/ later this year, it's the least invasive type there is afaik.

Not in NZ though, it's a bit on a pricey side in here, a lot cheaper to fly to Moscow, arrange accommodation for a few days and do it (especially since it's done by a German doctor who invented this procedure).

Pricing is indeed a problem - I had mine done in Tokyo (when I lived in Japan) for around $1900 all up for both eyes, and the price has dropped slightly since 2005.
http://www.shinagawa-lasik.com/english/

Even combined with flights and a week in a cheap hotel in Tokyo, this would be dramatically cheaper.

kryptonjohn

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#1996438 15-Apr-2018 12:49

Needless to say the NZ opthalmologists amp up the scare stories. I wouldn't dream of geting eye or any other surgery in any marginal 3rd world country. People getting stuff done in Thailand or India are taking a big risk.

Very reasonable in Japan but I'd also be nervous as if anything went wrong (as it can anywhere including NZ) I would be a like fish out of water and outside of my control zone - in a place where language and customs are all different and not being able to see?

mudguard

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#1996470 15-Apr-2018 14:41

My eyes are -6.00 so no Lasik at this stage for me. And I've possibly left it too late. I'm getting close to 40 so there's a risk of age related change.

Still if you are wearing contacts and aren't using daily ones, it might be worth a try. I don't miss cleaning or storing them at all.

Tinkerisk

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#1996472 15-Apr-2018 14:45

It's not only one vision to be done - it doesn't last forever.

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#1996499 15-Apr-2018 15:40

I’ve had both eyes corrected with LASIK a couple of years ago. No regrets and perfect vision ever since. One thing I remember from the consult was that my prescription needed to have not changed for two years prior to the procedure.

The procedure itself was fine and is mostly done by machine (all the lasering is automated) so no issues with a lack of experience. In a few years I suspect it will be fully automated.

Jase2985

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#1996615 15-Apr-2018 20:57

Im going in for corneal cross-linking in a fortnight as i have keratoconus (thinning of the cornea and it starts to bulge out) and lasik would do nothing for me.

Geektastic

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#1996646 15-Apr-2018 21:43

Jase2985:

Im going in for corneal cross-linking in a fortnight as i have keratoconus (thinning of the cornea and it starts to bulge out) and lasik would do nothing for me.

That sounds like something from Star Trek...!

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#1996654 15-Apr-2018 21:59

Ho do they do this, do you have to be awake or sleep?

I tried getting contacts once, I couldnt bare the experience of trying to put them in, let alone someone else put them in.

Have been thinking of laser.

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