Up until my mid 40's I was blessed with very good eyesight. After reaching 45 ish, I started to notice my vision wasn't so great in lower light conditions (like reading a menu in a restaurant for example). A slow but steady slide towards having to wear glasses took hold and at first I only needed the £1 shop reading jobs, then I had to get some 'proper' bins for reading until I reached the point I am at now where I have to wear glasses virtually all the time. Even with glasses on, I struggle to see small items (read bike parts) in the garage at night. I have to have a gallery of lights around me, a bit like a Surgeon in an operating theatre, so I've decided enough is enough. I'm fortunate enough to have a few bob to spare, so I'm going to have lens replacement surgery as apparently the laser job doesn't work for long sighted people like me? Its not cheap, but I guess its a quality of life thing and my poor vision is really pissing me off. I have a friend who's in her 70's now and had it done a few years back, she swears its the best thing she's ever had done. Her endorsement certainly got me thinking. I'm sure somebody here must have had it done or (like me) is on the verge of taking the plunge. Your thoughts and experiences on this subject would be most welcome.
Bear in mind it doesnt work 100%, 100% of the time. I have worn glasses since i was 12 or 13 when i found i couldnt see anything at any distance. My eyes stopped getting worse at around 30 but as ive got older i can no longer see close up where that used to be fine. I have to feck about taking glasses on and off, moving them to the end of my nose and all sorts of other nonsense. I thought about it a lot but gave up on a few years ago when someone at work had it done and had to have two corrections done on one eye and she still has blurred vision in that eye. At the very least i would research it thoroughly and evaluate what they can guarantee you in the way of results.
Thanks, my ocular disfunction sounds similar to yours and that is informative. I'll stick to the several pairs of bins.
My eyes were brilliant when I was young. My father tells a tale of me as a toddler pointing out a ladybird to him that was on a rosebush way at the other end of the garden. Now I can't see past the end of my nose without a pair of glasses for driving and a pair for reading. Strangely I can see the world perfectly satisfactorily around me for everyday stuff except reading even fairly large lettering. My sight deteriorated quickly through a life of reading, oil painting, tattooing, modelmaking, working in semiconductor photolithography and graphic design. Now I wish I had never picked up a book or painted a picture, well actually no, I wouldn't change a thing apart from the semiconductor photolithography which was boring as hell and the Graphic design because most clients are boring and dull and want boring and dull things. I don't know that I would trust anyone to monkey around with my eyes as losing my sight altogether or making it significantly worse than it already is would kill me.
I have spent 35 years staring intensely at computer screens. Night vision is almost non existent, reading glasses a great help if I didn't eat at least two jalapenos a day, which worked well at 55, now at 60 I'm going to have to consider other options. Boss had laser lens corrections several years ago with great success, don't know exactly how many different types of laser surgery types there are or the long term effects. So looking forward to feedback. Eyesight surgery is scary to me. New GF used to suffer from very severe migraine headaches, now she gets 37 Botox injections into her face in one visit every few months and it's gone.
Thats the advice I was given by the laser eye surgeon in Manchester. Under 38 you've a good chance of it lasting 10 years, over 40, lucky if last two years.
I'm not taking about laser correction, that won't work for me, its actual replacement of the lens I'm looking at (if you'll excuse the pun) and like old dumb arse suggested, I'm not looking forward to the actual Op. A bit like going to the Dentist, no one wants to go, but hopefully they feel better after the event. I don't know when you spoke to the surgeon in Manchester, but I would imagine things have moved on since. My wife had the lens thing done in 2006 a couple of years before I met her and hasn't had any issues since. I mentioned my friend who's at least 10 years older than us, she has been problem free with her lens replacements for at least 3 years so far. We are both in our 60's now, so even if it only last ten years that will do for me although hopefully the lens job and me too, for that matter, might last a bit longer.
I suffer the same as you. I had to have regular eye tests as part of my medical examination for my job. It was made very clear that laser eye surgery to fix poor and ageing vision was not acceptable. This was apparently due to to the side effects of the scaring from the laser cuts. However there was great push to have this reviewed. The interesting thing was that the specialist medics who examined my eyes, who certainly didn’t have a dog I the fight, were sceptical about the performance of laser eye surgery because I asked just before retirement. In their opinion laser eye surgery can and will work but only for those with the appropriate eye shapes and vision problems. It is also not a cure all and it won’t last forever and may complicate eye problems in the future. It is also bloody expensive. If you do go ahead, do not be tempted to save by zipping off to the east (like many women do to get a set of rubber tits). Only ever deal with those whose lapels who can hang on to whilst you “explain” (I use the same principle on most things). The way forward? Speak to your GP, your optician and preferably an ophthalmic surgeon. As you do so remember that some things associated with age can be solved, some can not. My solution is to have a pair of readers and a pair of vari-focus lenses. The former for reading etc, the latter for driving. When dealing with small details (building models, very small print etc.) I use a head loupe or hands free illuminated magnifying glass. It’s not brilliant but its adaptable, changeable and very affordable. The money saved has been wisely invested in a beer rental programme. I hope this helps.
A buddy of mine had his lenses replaced two years ago - he has since had 20/20+ vision and is back flying again and on his bike - something he couldn't do or trust himself to do safely for over 15 years until he had his eyes done. It has literally been life changing. There are different types of lenses they can install, each has its pros and cons. Malcolm got ones that are designed like fresnel lenses and swears by them. All things are not equal, so do your research. Cheap is not your friend when investing in your body (think about a cheap tattoo compared to an expensive one - the picture may be the same the but end result will be vastly different!)
Thanks mate. I don't have any tattoos but I understand your analogy. I've got a couple of quotes already and as you say Cheap is not your friend at least cheap ain't even an option as far as I can tell. The 2 quotes I've had so far are in the £7.5 to £8.5k range what I'm trying to sort out at the moment are financial options, some providers offer finance others don't. I've decided to have it done its just a question of by whom and when. Thanks for everyone's responses, I'll stick my impressions/findings on here post Ops for anyone who might be considering going down the same route. Again I should stress this is lens replacement not laser correction.
I had mine done around 10 years ago, mainly for sport, riding, driving etc and still great!!! Slight downside is that close up vision will still deteriorate requiring glasses for reading and close distance stuff. Don't need them for anything longer than a few feet away, like watching the box!!!
A very interesting post. I wear glasses all the time for reading, watching the telly and riding/driving. I will be watching how you get on with your operation
My eyes started going when I was 50 -got glasses. I would never consider eye surgery unless that was the only option. Glasses are easy and cheap. To each his own, though. I know a few who have had eye surgery that went well and they are happy. Edit: I only need the glasses for close up but I got lineless trifocals and wear them full time. It’s just easier to wear them than carry them.