Options
Has anyone here had LASIK performed?

If so, has it affected your ability to evaluate coins in any way?
0
Comments
As it is, I need glasses for distance but not for up close....
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
-Paul
rainbowroosie April 1, 2003
<< <i>I'm toooo chicken despite most people's good results --- I know I would be the 0.0001% >>
Ditto - I already have "dry eye" problems and from what I have heard, those that are in the minority and have issues with the procedure usually have the issue of extreme dry eyes.....and, let me tell you, it is PAINFUL already....to have it to an extreme? I have read about folks getting this done, having the extreme dry eyes issue, and wanting to kill themselves...literally!
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Telling.
<< <i>I'm toooo chicken despite most people's good results --- I know I would be the 0.0001% >>
You and me both. I'll just keep my glasses. I only wear them when driving, anyway.
Russ, NCNE
Not having to mess with glasses, or having to buy prescription sunglasses is fantastic. Sweating, or running in rain or snow is not an issue. No trouble viewing coins. And I have peripheral vision again!
The procedure is quite simple. One laser cuts a flap in the cornea, then they swing the table under another laser. the surgeon lifts up the flap with a suction cup and the second laser sculpts the cornea based on computerized data collected during the preop exam. The surgeon smooths out the flap with a little sponge, then they do the other eye. You sit up and you can already see well without glasses. You have to use antiinflammatory drops and antibiotic drops for a few days, and sleep with eye shields on for a few nights, but that's no big. deal. Practically no discomfort. The extensive pre op evaluation determines if your cornea is thick enough for the procedure and the right shape. they also test for dry eyes.
I find out I have high intraocular pressure, which was corrected separately, and did not affect the Lasik (or vice versa).
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
<< <i>How long is it supposed to last? A contractor who did some work for me told me his lasted 3 years and his eyesight was worse then before. Those kinds of stories keep me away. I had a customer in Scal who did this a long time ago. Told me he'd go in on a sat morning and make 10K. Almost like a coin dealer eh? Ha. >>
The best candidates for LASIK are myopes (those with near-sightedness). The laser procedure relaxes the shape of the cornea, thus correcting the myopia. It is less successful for hyperopia (far-sightedness) as the cornea shape must be made steeper, which although technically possible with a laser, is usually considered temporary as the cornea relaxes over a period of time after the surgery.
Some people also have a degree of astigamtism, which can be partially compensated for with LASIK. HOWEVER, some patients develop increased levels of astigmatism after LASIK.
Finally, LASIK does nothing for presbyopia, which affects almost everyone over 50. Some people elect for purposely creating myopia in one eye (monovision) for reading, but LASIK does not cure the underlying cause of a thickened and inelastic lens.
Oh and that .0001%, that was me
My vision is now good for distance but I lost the magnified close up vision. I have to use a loupe now... but I did with contacts anyway.
The only thing that still makes me cringe (other than the toe curling squeegie job) was how the doctor was able to go in a year later, re-lift the flap without cutting and re-lazer. Why did the flap not heal like a cut in the skin?
60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
Oh , that's kind of like "+1" , except it's the magnificaton of my readers.
edit to add:
I put my readers on to see I misspelled magnification
LOL
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
I told the doctor if he messed up my shooting eye, we were going to have problems.
It was by far the best 3 grand I have ever spent. I would do it again in a heart beat.
The laser part kinda sucks, well actually it is just that crazy clamp they use to make it
so your eye lids stay open. My left eye accept the cornea being flipped open with no
problems. The right eye on the other hand didn't. They actually ended up having to do
PRK on that eye. PRK is where they use a brush to scrap off your cornea. They put a
contact in that eye and you get it removed 7 days later. I was in surgery for 5 minutes
and 30 seconds......I know I was starting at the clock they put on the ceiling.
Hasn't change my grading abilities!!
hrh
Be aware that the recontouring of your cornea does make it into a flatter, more primitive lens (think frogs). There will be some tradeoffs. Against strong backlighting, like in an airport terminal I have a harder time making out fine detail in areas of shadow. It's difficult to describe but immediately noticable. I also had slightly scratchy, dry eyes for a year or so afterwords.
I had my surgery done during my last week of medical school. 11 years later I can still see well enough to do hand surgery without loupes. Someday that will probably change. I am developing a touch of presbyopia, but that's a normal age-related phenomenon and happens even to people who had perfect vision.
I can swim without glasses, I can see the clock when I get up in the morning, I know when it's time to clean the bottom of the shower now, and I can ride a snowmobile without fogging up. It is 99% awesome, 1% trade-off.
I can still see coins and I can still shoot well at 400 yards.
The surgery works a bit better in the younger population who are dealing with a single problem (myopia). Once you get older the eye loses some of its ability to focus quickly. My dad had the procedure done in his 50s. He likes it fine, but not as much as I do.
<< <i>I've heard that a lot of people have problems with it 10-15 years down the road. >>
I know a guy that I used to work with. He got the surgery done in 1989 when it was in the trial stages.
I can still not believe he voluntered. He still has perfect vision.
<< <i>My wife had it done a little over a year ago. She would not go through it again. Having 3 kids was less painful she tells me. She also had dry eyes for a good 6 months. >>
LASIK can only be performed once in a life time. Any more cornea cut off and your eye will have some serious problems. One of my to-be doctor co-workers explained it like taking a balloon and peeling off a thin layer of latex off of it. Any more cut off and it'll burst.
I don't have horrible eyesight, but do need glasses most of the time...so at some point I'd like to look into it too
<< <i>I was told by my doctor not to do it. I am very near-sighted and apparently near-sighted people have extra magnification close up. Very good for coin grading!!!
hrh >>
It would be great to not have to wear glasses, but LASIK scares me. And what homerunhall said is pretty much the case for me; I have excellent close up vision. My wife is the other way around; God takes care of us.
<< <i>LASIK can only be performed once in a life time. Any more cornea cut off and your eye will have some serious problems. One of my to-be doctor co-workers explained it like taking a balloon and peeling off a thin layer of latex off of it. Any more cut off and it'll burst. >>
This is 100% false!!
<< <i>I had it done about 13 years ago and consider myself as having the toughest "cast iron" eye in the business and it was indeed one of the very best decisions I have ever made. >>
I had it done many years ago...I want to say almost 20, but to tell the truth I can't remember. It was just when they perfected it and I had the one after the initial procedure...RKT, if I remember correctly, which wasn't even laser surgery. Mine was before they perfected the flap, so they just scraped away at the outer coating to get to the eye.
A great decision and my eyesight has been great since.
Tom
Sure I can see coins better.
..and flowers...and birdies..and children's smiles...
Still use the loupe for the varieties, though.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
My eye doctor told me recently that if I ever need cataracts removed, I'll probably only need reading glasses after that - it's the same procedure. So how many in here have had cataract surgery?
I have been very happy with the surgery and am now starting to lose some vision and have surgery scheduled for March to get one of the
cataracts removed.
I never experienced dry eyes.
<< <i>They told me if I did do it, it would correct my distance vision but I would need glasses for up close.
As it is, I need glasses for distance but not for up close.... >>
You have what is called monovsion. Basically one of your eyes works for distance and the other one works for near. if you did surgery you would correct the distance but you would loose your near vision well not loose it but greatly diminish it)
Not really an advantage if you got surgery because you would need glasses for reading after surgery.
Best move EVER.
I did notice that up close viewing was a tiny bit MORE blurred than before, but I just have to hold the item about 6 inches farther
away than before.
Not having to full with glasses every day, 20/20 or better in both eyes...Priceless.
Loves me some shiny!
But I used to be quite nearsighted - now I need readers for the close work. So for me, a trade off.
Perhaps the next time in am in to my MD, I'll ask about the procedure. With the cost of glasses these days, it might be a good investment.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
I guess it comes down to a choice, do you want to drive w/o corrective lenses or read a newspaper without glasses.
Nobody is putting a laser on my eyeballs.
I had mine done in 2000 and have never regretted it. I was 20/400+ with a horrible astigmatism. Like a couple of the previous posters I couldn't see the big "E" at the top of the chart. Am (and have been since the surgery) reading the 20/20 and some of the 20/15 line.
It's priceless to be able to roll over in the morning and read the numbers on the alarm clock and not reach for glasses that might be on the nightstand or might be wadded up under your pillow. No more contact solution or replacement contacts to buy.
Since the surgery I have noticed a few constant "floaters", but you deal with them. Don't know if everyone experiences them afterwards but I had some recurrent floaters before having surgery.
As far as coin sight, really really close in with no loupe there is some blurriness, with a loupe it is as sharp as a tack.
My surgery cost $3500 and is worth a gazillion times that.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.