Lasik when older

DebraL · 03-03-2005, 10:50 PM

About a year ago I saved up for Lasik. Dr said I was good candidate, but I would need reading glasses. I am nearsighted and didnt yet need reading glasses, so felt the change off not worthwhile. Anyone my age (52) have successful Lasik ?

PamBaseballMom · 03-04-2005, 02:31 AM

I had Lasik about a year and a half ago, when I was 46. My correction was 8.25. I couldn't even come close to reading the big "E" on the eye chart. After the initial surgery, my distance vision was excellent but had to wear reading glasses for almost everything closeup. About nine months later, my doctor did an adjustment to make my right eye for distance and my left eye for close-up reading. Now the only time I have to wear reading glasses is when I thread a needle. I am so glad I waited until I was older to do the Lasik and that I was brave enough to have them do my eyes differently. It would have been terrible to have the surgery before I turned 40 only to have my eyes change. Lasik was one of the best decisions I ever made. I now care so much more about my appearance. I've lost about 75 pounds, started wearing makeup and jewelry and really care about how I look. I highly recommend this surgery for numerous reasons!!!!!

DebraL · 03-04-2005, 05:40 PM

I dont understand. So they did the correction for distance on both eyes first?

PamBaseballMom · 03-04-2005, 09:32 PM

I think they naturally go for the best distance vision in the first place. Then he went in and "tweaked" it. He had me wear a contact in my left eye to see how much of an adjustment I would feel comfortable with to enable me to see closeup. He told me some people have trouble adjusting to having both eyes so drastically different. He said the bigger adjustment, the less probability of having to ear reading glasses in the future. I went for the biggest adjustment he would do and have no regrets. It was a brave thing to do, but after wearing the contact for awhile and talking to my doctor (who said our brains can eventually adapt to a certain amount of change), I went for it. I am so glad I did. My eyes are very different from each other, but it works for me. Good luck!

scarrietoo · 03-04-2005, 09:45 PM

i, too, had monovision correction. that's where they correct one eye for distance and one for close up. i still need tweaking, but i love it and i'm 47. the close up is great, i need an enhancement on the distance eye. in the meantime, i have a pair of glasses to use when i'm driving. but if i was stuck with this scenario, i would rather wear glasses just when i'm driving than every single time i try to read something in fine print. i would be putting them on and off every few minutes. with the "driving" glasses, i can put them on when i get in the car and take them off when i get out. simple as that. i can deal with that, but hopefully, won't have to after the enhancement surgery.