Laser Eye Surgery

[subordinate]

Originally Posted by xxxrsxxx

Bumping an old thread. Did some research and will likely go with PRK instead of laser but I guess will have to wait for the actual consultations to advise which is more appropriate for me. Seen various reviews on coal harbour, pacific laser and london eye center. Has anyone done this recently and how did it go?

Just go with Pacific laser eye center.

/End thread.

Most individuals will agree with me and say best decision they ever made. The complicated stories usually involve they had other eye issues at hand and still took the chance.

[pinn3r]

Had it done June 2018 with Dr. David Lin @ Pacific Laser. Money well spent. Only minor complication is dry eyes. I'm pretty much 20/20. Used to be about -4.75 in both eyes.

The improvement in quality of life and peace of mind WAY outweighs the minor complications and money spent imo.

I wasn't able to see shit since I was around 8 y/o. Can you imagine waking up in the fucking morning and being able to see?! Thank jebus for science.

[whitev70r]

Watch this first

https://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/w5-investi...gery-1.4141117

[kr4l]

Originally Posted by whitev70r

Watch this first

https://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/w5-investi...gery-1.4141117

If you’re scared of the one in a million chance, then don’t bother getting it done. All you ever read online are horror stories of how things went wrong.

My wife and I have had it done for 9 years now. Best decision we ever made. Yes we get dry eyes, but the convenience of not having to wear glasses and contacts outweighs that. My wifes prescription was -10 prior to having it done (legally blind). We have 20/15 now.

[hotjoint]

Originally Posted by kr4l

If you’re scared of the one in a million chance, then don’t bother getting it done. All you ever read online are horror stories of how things went wrong.

My wife and I have had it done for 9 years now. Best decision we ever made. Yes we get dry eyes, but the convenience of not having to wear glasses and contacts outweighs that. My wifes prescription was -10 prior to having it done (legally blind). We have 20/15 now.

I was -8.50, 100% agreed, best decision ever

[Sentinel]

Did my prk at Coal Harbour Eye Centre at the end of January 2019. Was - 3.50 and - 3.75. Post surgery, I did not have such a hard time comparing to some ppl. Was not sensitive to sunlight nor much of dried eyes.

Did a consultation at PLEC too. But I just felt that they didn't really care about the potential patients. Just do the testing and leave. Whereas Coal Harbour staff took the time to answer any questions.

PLEC quoted me the surgery for $3100, everything else would be on my own. Coal Harbour was $3200 for everything(all follow up appts, eye drops, etc.) and will redo the surgery free of charge incase in 10-20yrs my vision goes bad again.

[nns]

Forgot to add my experience after going to Pacific Laser last summer.

The procedure itself was very quick, maybe 10 mins? It's the waiting to start and the post-op recovery in the waiting room that takes up the majority of the time while there.

I remember my vision being really hazy on the same day afterwards. I didn't feel any pain, but it did feel like something was in my eye. Something that I never read about in other people's accounts, but experienced for myself, is that my eyes would water up a lot, and I'd have a runny nose. It makes sense though, when your body thinks there's something in your eyes, it'll try to flush it out. It was as if I was crying, there were so many tears coming out, along with a heavy nasal drip. I'd be sitting in my living room, eyes closed, trying to sleep and all of a sudden my eyes would feel irritated, water up, with my nose being runny, and it'd last maybe 5-10 mins, then go away. That night I remember waking up, looking around a bit, blinked a few times, then boom, runny nose and tears. The day after the operation, part of the standard protocol is to return to the office for a post-op exam. They run a few vision tests, and I distinctly remember having to ask for tissue paper cause my nose was so runny and my eyes were so watery. This behavior stopped after I think 3 days post-op. So if anyone's reading this, consider having a box of tissue around or on you just in case.

They give you some notes on what expectations you should have after the operation. For instance, they'd quote after X days/weeks/months, each interval would have a set level of sharpness and stability in your vision. Stability meaning your vision will be clear, longer, throughout the day. Well for me those expectations didn't apply. Although physically speaking, the cornea opening healed very quickly based on Dr Lin and my own optometrists observations, the *quality* of my vision just wasn't there. I remember the days and weeks after my operation, I'd wake up in the morning and look out the window to the distance, to judge if my vision was clear. Even if it was clear in the morning, it would be inconsistent throughout the day, with it being sometimes very unclear. When it wasn't clear, squinting did very little to help. I'd recommend to others not to put too much faith in those expectations they put in writing. It'll take however long it takes to stabilize.

I think it was a week or so after my operation when I went to see my optometrist. After some vision tests, he said that I was clear to drive. Science said I was good enough to drive, but my vision clarity was still very inconsistent throughout the day, and it wasn't nearly as close to being as sharp as when I wore contacts before. It was a bit discouraging. I recall looking at license plates of the cars in front of me, and how blurry the plates would sometimes appear. Again, I think it's a matter of managing those expectations, and not placing too much faith in any generalized statements you read about.

So after a little over a year now, I occasionally have dry eyes when I wake up in the morning for a few minutes, or if I wake up in the middle of the night, but nothing that doesn't clear up on its own. I noticed that if I'm looking at my phone for 5-10 mins, then look at the TV 10 feet away, it takes some time for my eyes to focus on that object in the distance; maybe a few minutes? It's not as if it's completely blurry and I can't make out anything. Instead, it's more so that I notice the edges aren't crisp, and it's a bit fuzzy. If I go from having looked at the TV for an hour, then focus on something up close like my phone, it's no problem, I can see it clearly.

I don't suffer from ghosting or haloing at night, but headlights are brighter than they used to be. I think that's what they refer to as light sensitivity. For me, at night, oncoming cars more often appear as if they have their high-beams on. I just stick my hand up to shield it, or look to the side as they approach, which is a minor inconvenience.

Random, but I do remember having to increase the font size on my phone, and the computer at work. Lasted maybe around 2 weeks after the initial operation.

If it matters, I was near-sighted, -1.5 in both eyes prior to the operation. My prescription hadn't changed in maybe 7 yrs or so prior. Being almost 33 years old at the time of operation, I'd worn corrective lenses or contacts for maybe 20 yrs of my life.

[daval]

damn, sounds like you went thru a lot, glad the prescription hasnt' changed though.

[daval]

i did mine PRK at london eye center in 2008, like most ppl said in this thread, best decision ever. i had posted twice in this thread back in 2011. Maybe i will share my experience a little bit.

I am an avid sports person, been playing basketball, soccer competitively at the time. Always love snowboarding, golfing and been swimming with prescription goggles all my life prior to PRK. I tried wearing contacts at the time, but it didn't work out. Dry and red eyes all the time. So i just wear this band tied to my glasses at all time while playing sports. Anyhow, after consultations with london eye center and lasik at burrard at the time. I decided to go with London eye center with two simple facts. The consultant told me 1) basically most Policemen, Firefighters and contact sports players go with PRK. But has a longer heal time. 2) For lasik, flap might open up if you play contact sports, but heal right away. 3) London eye center had been doing it for so long, they said they have more advanced and better equipment at the time.

So it was a no brainer to go with london eye center. I have no idea how the corrective eye business works now. Back then the post surgery check up was the day after, 3 days, a week, a month, 6 months and annually. I am due for a vision test for sure, but i am very confidence that i am having a good vision. i was -8.0 before, so having the PRK is best thing ever especially small things like, looking into the mirror during haircut, i can still see at night with lights off, instead of "smelling" for directions. Anyone had the same feelings as me? And of course playing all sports without my glasses is the best thing ever, no one needs to stop in the middle of the game while my glasses flew off.

[subordinate]

Hmm reading these stories, It's strange how some people had operations where they had almost zero issues.

I was similar to nns, and my recovery was more delayed than others. I had it done at 27, with around -7.0 ish (@ London)

Whereas my sister, older, similar prescription, had a great recovery, little down time. @ Pacific.

I don't get it. As nns said, if you get it done, each recovery period is different.

[Hondaracer]

Anyone have it done recently? Any reviews?

[twitchyzero]

i did mine weeks before the pandemic (30 years, -5 to -5.5)
did my share of the homework beforehand, went to a handful of consults
finalized it down to london or pacific (true no-touch) for PRK

there were tons of people at pacific, and i'm sure he had the latest tool and most experience but i felt like i was herded through during the consult process

london took A LOTTTT longer to heal than they had lead on
they quoted 2 weeks return to work, it was still very challenging when i went back for maybe few more weeks
but during initial healing there was absolutely zero pain. possibly some dryness from the temp contact, that's it pretty incredible.
the last 10% of healing took about 6 months to probably a year (letting the overcorrection settle..they did not talk about the length of this period during consult). My 2nd last follow up they said they may have to do a touch-up, but last visit it's thankfully largely settled now

maybe unrealistic but i had the expectation my vision would have the clarity and acuity like rx glasses-- tack sharp like being able to see the fine strands of grass when looking out the window into the garden, but that wasn't the case

went back for way more follow-up than what was allocated, most of the staff is great. Except for the old guy, i don't even think he washes his hands lol. and I couldn't figure out how to call them directly, appointment booking always went through their stupid east coast call centre

long term: if i dont sleep well my vision isn't great. surprisingly very little if any halo-ing at night

would i do it again, absolutely and i wish i did it 10 years earlier..just have to adjust expectations

[SSM_DC5]

^what did your homework consist of? What's the chances of failure in the procedure? Scared to lose my vision, but the thought of not needing corrective lenses is desirable.

A coworker that recently got his eyes done said one thing he wasn't made aware until after the procedure was that he needed to wear sunglasses for a while even when it's cloudy out.

[twitchyzero]

i'll post the website if i find it again..it was pretty in-depth even had a set of questions to ask during consult ie. how fast the machines track your eyes, does it track it 3d etc. Lol

sure all surgeries have risks, i felt better telling the operator to err on the side of a more conservative correction

i was in pitch darkness day 1, day 2 was already healed a tons and i think i was out of sunglasses by 3-4 days..trying to comfortably read your computer/phone without struggling, just forget it for the first week or two haha

my last check-up 18mos after surgery was two letters off from 20/20, with slight astigmatism

[hotjoint]

Originally Posted by twitchyzero

surprisingly very little if any halo-ing at night

my halo's are pretty bad but I've just gotten used to them. They said that it would improve over time but I got my surgery in Jan 2019 and it hasn't gotten any better, just stayed the same. Still don't regret getting it done. Going from -8.50 in both eyes to basically 20/20 has been life changing

[twitchyzero]

had some dry eyes even a year in but my body adapted once i stopped putting in the tears

[6thGear.]

Originally Posted by twitchyzero

i did mine weeks before the pandemic (30 years, -5 to -5.5)
did my share of the homework beforehand, went to a handful of consults
finalized it down to london or pacific (true no-touch) for PRK

there were tons of people at pacific, and i'm sure he had the latest tool and most experience but i felt like i was herded through during the consult process

london took A LOTTTT longer to heal than they had lead on
they quoted 2 weeks return to work, it was still very challenging when i went back for maybe few more weeks
but during initial healing there was absolutely zero pain. possibly some dryness from the temp contact, that's it pretty incredible.
the last 10% of healing took about 6 months to probably a year (letting the overcorrection settle..they did not talk about the length of this period during consult). My 2nd last follow up they said they may have to do a touch-up, but last visit it's thankfully largely settled now

maybe unrealistic but i had the expectation my vision would have the clarity and acuity like rx glasses-- tack sharp like being able to see the fine strands of grass when looking out the window into the garden, but that wasn't the case

went back for way more follow-up than what was allocated, most of the staff is great. Except for the old guy, i don't even think he washes his hands lol. and I couldn't figure out how to call them directly, appointment booking always went through their stupid east coast call centre

long term: if i dont sleep well my vision isn't great. surprisingly very little if any halo-ing at night

would i do it again, absolutely and i wish i did it 10 years earlier..just have to adjust expectations

I also went to London Eye Care way back in 2007. I'd say this is about pretty bang on with me as well especially when I dont get enough sleep or I'm overtired at night