Hello all, I am new to this site! found it in a search engine and since it relates to me, I registered. I did a little reading first and I am perfectly aware of its risks and by being allowed the previlage to post here, I can be fully made aware of the benefits and risks. I understand lasik is a success for the majority but some still are unhappy with its outcomes.
The main thing I want to do is just get a free eye test, I am very curious about my conerea thickness and its topography for high order abberviations. If you read down, youll see why.
1. What is the minimum conerea thickness one would need considering a diopter of about -6 with less than +1 astigmatism with an ablation zone of 8mm for my large pupils? I think 550 is safe and enough for enhancements too but what is the safe minimum? I want 300um left.
2. Do pupil size make much of a difference? Many doctors say it has no revelence, others say itll slightly affect night vision but it wont make you a poor lasik candidate. Probably not a major requirement in itself?
3. Does being both myoptic(about -6) and astigmatism(about +1) complicate the procedure? Is the lasik able to correct both concurrently without complications?
4. What price estimates could I be looking at?
5. What is the best type of lasik? I hear good things about 3-D VISX Star S4 ‘Active Trak’ Excimer Laser. Are there any other good types? I may respond to a different type better.
6. Can the flap be cut with a laser instead of a microkeratome? The laser cut would be 100% sterile of course, safer and avoids the risk of debris that could reside on the microkeratome. I did read that the Bausch & LOMB Hansatome™ Microkeratome, which is an automated machine that makes a consistently uniform flap is the way to go. The laser in the INTRALASE does not cut as precisely as the automated blade used in the Hansatome process. Do you feel that the microkeratome's benefits outweigh its risks?
7. What are the odds of better than 20/10? 20/13? 20/15? 20/20? 20/25? 20/30? 20/40? I understand perfectly that lasik is a science designed to improve your current vision and may eliminate the need for glasses or other corrective devices. I am not expecting super vision or any miracles but it would be nice to know how favorable my odds are and what percentage of people achieve the following results. This of course is different for each person depending on many factors but will help aid my decision.
8. I dont wish to dwell on the negetives but I wish to be perfectly clear of risks. How common are complications, including overall? Overcorrection, undercorrection, centered islands, hazing, ghosting, prolonged pain, infection, doubled vision, contrast loss, night vision loss(halos, starbursts) etc? Are any of the above correctable in part of full?
9. Is the age of 23 old enough? I know the minimum age is 21 but I have heard of some doctors saying to wait even longer. My vision has been stable for many years save for 1/4 diopter several months ago.
10. I see 20/30 in OS(left dorminiant eye) and 20/50 in OD(right eye) but when my eyes get tired, it regresses to 20/40 and 20/70. I believe I may have major high order abberviations, especially in my right eye. I do notice theres some very slight doubling on the upper right field with my right eye. irregular asigisim(sp) and/or a major abberivation located percisly there?
11. Is there any reasons to wait even if I am an acceptable candidate? Any new wavefront technologies comming out "soon"? I am young and in no real hurry and if impending technologies offer even better results and less complications than what is out now, I will gladly wait. I have heard about the new MEL 80 which is the 5th generation laser. It is very fast with all the technology of Carl Zeiss Meditec involved in this refractive laser system. The new MEL 80 has a very small spot of only 0.7mm with Gaussian beam profile.(compare with Visx 4.5mm average spot size and Bausch & Lomb 217 laser 2.0 mm) When will it be available in USA?
Ok thats all the questions I can think of now. Anything else I should ask when I go to the doctor to get an eye test to determine if im eligable for lasik? Also It would be nice if any of you can answer some or all my questions I have now
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