My eyesight is causing me to enjoy running less (trail running, mostly). Don't run with glasses. Anyone here do lasik?

I had worn glasses and contacts since high school for driving, watching TV, attending class, sight-seeing, etc. I like to run early in the morning so it was a hastle putting contact lens in first thing. Plus, they seemed to get dirty more quickly if I put them in before I ran and took a shower - maybe the oils from my face, sweat, eye boogers, etc contaminated them.

Anyhow when I was about 30 my older brother, who had worse vision than me, got Lasik and was satisfied. I tried one of those eye-strengthening regimes for a year and it did help me improve from about 20/80 to 20/40 but that wasn't good enough for driving so I got Lasik about 6 years ago at age 37. Best $3,000 I ever spent. Other than my eyes are occasionally dry and sensitive to pollen I have had no issues. I don't need glasses for reading yet but it is getter harder to ready super tiny print. Last time my eyes were examined they said they are in the neighborhood of 20/15. I love it because I can go camping, running and all kinds of activities and not have to fiddle with lenses, cleaning solution and all that.

I personally know 4 people who got Lasik. 3 of them had issues with sensitivity to light and had to wear sunglasses for long periods of time afterwards.

Great, so now you don't have to wear glasses anymore, but you have to wear sunglasses.

Forgot to add: I had the dry eye problems for a few years, but then it seemed to go away.

dryeyes wrote:

Forgot to add: I had the dry eye problems for a few years, but then it seemed to go away.

How is this acceptable?

"I had bloody anal warts for 3 years but my teeth are two shades whiter"

I've run with glasses since I first got them, around age 10. I always use some sort of glass strap, have quite a few so I have a spare or dry one. Also have prescription sunglasses that I wear as well. Had a coworker go to Emory for Lasik maybe 10 years ago and they botched him so badly he is nearly blind now, had to go on disability, Another coworker had to have several followup surgeries and has great difficulty driving at night.

I am terribly nearsighted and I wouldn't do lasik ever, the vision I have is just too precious to take a chance on it. Glasses may be a bit inconvenient but I am not willing to roll the dice. I've tried contacts over the years without success, combination of astigmatism, dry eyes, and myopia seems to make wearing them even more trouble than glasses.

Why don't you do the INCREDIBLY OBVIOUS THING and get contacts?

I'm in a somewhat similar situation... aging, frequent trail runs, and glasses.

I'd suggest that you look into amber lenses and a visor cap. Amber makes leaves and rocks "pop" out at you on trails far better than clear or gray lenses. The visor eliminates glare off the lenses in sunlight so you never have to squint. The visor makes a huge difference! You could wear a cap instead, but visors are cooler in the summer... to me.

I wear Bolle Parole sunglasses with the amber lens and RX insert. On the road or on my bike (motorcycle and bicycle) I'll use the gray lens. They are interchangeable. Other companies make interchangeable lenses than Bolle. I just like the fit of the older Bolle Parole.

You bend back the earpiece to hold the glasses snug on your nose. Or you can wear a... what do they call it?... sunglass strap? I often wear a headband that doubles as a way to keep the sunglasses from moving. I can't remember the brand. It's popular with cyclists... ah! The Halo original headband. Hope that helps.

What was everyone's average healing time? Is it something that you can do on a Friday afternoon and be good to go by Monday, or does it require a little more downtime?

Also, anyone on here get PRK? or has everyone had Lasik?

I had PRK - this is lasik without the flap - they just reshape the surface of your cornea. Due to the shape of my corneas the ophthalmologist said this would be a better procedure for me. The post-operative period is much more painful (since they are creating a giant corneal ulcer) but they place a contact lens to help with the pain, and the severe pain subsided after a few days. I also had sensitivity to light and had to wear sunglasses indoors for about a month after the procedure. After that time, I was 100%.

I read the military requires people to have prk rather than lasik since there are no possibility of flap complications, so it's one advantage. PRK is also supposed to be slightly better at preventing dry eye.

The biggest thing I'd say is spend the money to go to a nice practice. The most important things are an experienced surgeon and the most modern equipment. These surgeries have come a long way in the past 10-15 years and the newer equipment can improve vision even better (mine's 20/15 now) and have fewer side effects such as halos and things like that. I went to a place that also guaranteed that if my vision ever deteriorated they would repeat the procedure free of charge down.

I love my perfect vision and it's one of the best $4000 I ever spent.

Jessica

I wore contacts for about 25 years until for some reason my eyes couldn't tolerate them anymore. Asked about Lasik and though I'm a candidate, doc said I'd have to wear reading glasses. So I'm wearing glasses either way. Decided to pass..

Had Lasik done 12 years ago. Would do it again tomorrow. Worth every penny. Contacts always irritated my eyes no matter how much I irrigated, blinked, or changed them. Save up and just do it.

another vote for prescription sunglasses. I have a pair of Tifosis that I paid about $375 for. Between those and my regular glasses I'm pretty set.

can you name any eye doctors that have had lasik?

Happy to sell it to you, but wont go near it themselves.

I'm stuck with glasses anyway - I am almost totally blind in my right eye. There's no way I'd let a lasik quack go near my left eye. If they screwed it up I would be blind.

to the OP who says that running with glasses is a pain, there are two explanations:

1) your eyesight isn't that bad if you can run without glasses

2) there are plenty of types of glasses that are great for running - you don't own a pair, that's all

DaCloner wrote:

What was everyone's average healing time? Is it something that you can do on a Friday afternoon and be good to go by Monday, or does it require a little more downtime?

Also, anyone on here get PRK? or has everyone had Lasik?

To a big degree, you're good to go within 3 or so hours. I'm assuming it's common practice, but your immediate recovery is 2-3 hours with your eyes closed (i.e., take a nap). When I woke, my wife and I went out for a couple of beers. To be honest, I don't remember how long it took before I was seeing normal, but you improve at a rapid rate.

Ole Timer wrote:

I wore contacts for about 25 years until for some reason my eyes couldn't tolerate them anymore. Asked about Lasik and though I'm a candidate, doc said I'd have to wear reading glasses. So I'm wearing glasses either way. Decided to pass..

Did you consider mono vision (or blended vision)? I'm 51 and was starting to need reading glasses. I opted for mono vision (weaker eye is adjusted for near vision, while dominant eye is adjusted for distance). As others have said about Lasik, in general, it's been worth every penny. After 40 years of having bad vision, it's indescribable. I don't regret waiting, but I'm very happy with the results.

As Jessica, others, and I have pointed out… do your research and find a good doctor and the risks are very minimal. I wonder if the majority of those who have experienced problems, chose a doctor based on price, not on reputation and experience.

Had Lasik a long time ago. 1995. Vision improved to 20-15. With aging it has degraded to 20-25 and I need reading glasses for presbyopia but I would have needed reading glasses whether or not I had Lasik, that's just what happens as you get older.

My problem was astigmatism in both eyes, which is more difficult to correct than near or far sightedness.

I have no problem at all functioning without glasses. Before Lasik I was blind as a bat.

Technology has improved A LOT since I had my eyes done. Do your research, find a reputable surgeon who has done the procedure thousands of times so you can assess the complication rate of his patients.

Based on published statistics rather than anecdotes, it's clear you have to be pretty unlucky to have a bad outcome or serious side effects. If you are willing to accept the small risk of complications, go for it. One of the best things I've ever done for myself.

Also, I decided not to do the mono vision because one of the things that really bothered my about my astigmatism was that it was asymmetric.

Needing reading glasses is a pain but live long enough and you're going to need them no matter what.

DaCloner wrote:

What was everyone's average healing time? Is it something that you can do on a Friday afternoon and be good to go by Monday, or does it require a little more downtime?

Also, anyone on here get PRK? or has everyone had Lasik?

You have to be careful not to rub or scratch your eyes for a week or so, but your vision will be perfect the moment you get up from the table and walk out the door of the clinic.

I've heard some people say that were really creeped out by the procedure but for me, it was no worse than a teeth cleaning at the dentist.

I read it was much cheaper in Canada?