LASIK

[Dutch Dog]

My understanding regarding presbyopia is that it's something they are working on. Seems like I heard it had been tested with some good results, but the FDA ??? hadn't approved it yet. It's been a while since I read up on it though. Do a google search for presbyopia LASIK.

[rolo]

[donia]

we were told (my wife and i both had it done) that after the age of 40, most everybody will need reading glasses...lasik or not. she already got them, i haven't had to, yet...only a matter of time though.

[torch]

well I am 48 and starting to believe what the old timers told me. "That will make you go blind". Must be some truth to it.

[Dr. B]

Addressing Torch,

As rolo posted, there is really no way to correct presbyopia (blur at near that occurs with age) with surgery without giving up some distance vision. We do a ton of monovision LASIK at my office for people who are very happy with one eye seeing at distance and the other to focus up close. The folks that hunt, play golf, ect will often put in a contact lens in their "near" eye to see better at distance whenever they are doing an activity where they want crisp distance vision in both eyes.

CK has lost it's luster because the near vision did not last very long in a lot of people.

Clear lens exchange (pre-mature cataract surgery) with multifocal implants are tricky and my experience is that a lot of people are not happy with them because of the glare they get at night and the reduction in distance vision.

You may want to give the contact lens route a try. Depending on your distance vision, you may just need to wear a contact in one eye for close up. The set up sounds kinda wierd but 80% or more of the people I fit are successful. A lot of guys have some trouble initially with handling them but with pratice, it gets better. It sure beats having reading glasses strung out in every room, in the truck, ect.

Dr. B

[Chuckle12]

[ducksak]

I work with your brother paul in the cath lab. I hear some stories while we are scrubed in.

[mudsucker]

Can people with astigmatism in both eyes get the procedure down?

[bulldog ducker]

[Dr. B]

Astigmatism is correctable with LASIK but as bulldog ducker mentioned, it has it's limits. My experience is people with astigmatism get hung up on something that is usually not that big of an issue. The word gets people's attention. I can tell someone "I'm sorry but you have glaucoma, bleeding inside your eye from diabetes, a little astigmatism, and cataracts. We need to get your glaucoma and diabetes treated right away." Patient response: "Wait. Can you tell me about the astigmatism." Interesting what people focus on.

It's an anatomical irregularity on the cornea (or the human lens in the eye) that causes light to focus in 2 different places. This is what is so annoying to the patient. There is no area they see that is in clear focus.

We can treat up to 4 or so diopters of astigmatism in most cases. This covers probably 80% (or more) of all patients with astigmatism. As mentioned above, most offices that perform LASIK offer a free screening to see if your presription fits the parameters and also to insure that your expectations are realistic. Good luck!

Dr. B

[Drakeshead]

[mudsucker]

Fine Dr. B but I thought a persons astigmatism changes as they get older. So I wondered if corrected for that conditoin now, might it change with time?

[bulldog ducker]

There is always a chance that your Rx will change with time (astigmatism or none). If it does change an enhancment can be done to correct for that change.

[Dr. B]

It MAY change but it is usually very mildly if at all. If there are large changes, it would be related to cataracts, some other age related condition, or possbly trauma. If someone's Rx has been stable for several years, chances are that it will remain that way. Stability of a prescription is a must for anyone considering refractive surgery. If your glasses have been pretty stable over the years, there's a good chace that your are a candidate.

One must consider that LASIK doesn't permanetly fix every vision problem and certainly vison can change afterwards. Enhancements are often performed to correct vision changes over time. If one desires to become less dependant on glasses and contacts, LASIK is a great option.

Dr. B

[wap]

Best thing I have ever done. I would have it done every couple years if I had to. I was blind and my vision hasn't changed a bit since I had it done in 05