Laser eye surgury and tree care

[Dadatwins]

Posted this here even though it might be off topic, but I wanted to see if anyone has had the procedure and how their work was affected. I have worn glasses for 30 years and am scheduled to have the surgury done Wednesday.
Dr. says should be fine after a few days to return to work and wear safety glasses, I do this anyway. My biggest concern is dust and avoiding rubbing my eyes to remove it. No eye rubbing for 6 months, have to use saline drops and wash them out. Anyone had the procedure and care to post the results, good or bad? Thanks.

 

[TreeGrrl]

Greatest thing since sliced bread!

I say go for it! I had been a contact lense wearer for over 20 years so I was in the habit of NOT rubbing my eyes. I had the surgery 5 years ago and recommend it highly. I cannot tell you the changes it made in all aspects of my life, especially tree climbing/care. I always wear PPE, and yes fine dust can be a problem, especially when chipping dead material, see if you can find a closed type of eye pro. Otherwise, I had no other problems. I did have a fine tuning surgery on my left eye 4 years ago, which given my high astigmatism, was expected. I can't say enough great things about it. Do your research and have confidence in your Dr. Let me know what your decision is.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Lasers make my eyeballs nervous.

 

[Dadatwins]

I can't say enough great things about it. Do your research and have confidence in your Dr. Let me know what your decision is.

Thanks for response and welcome to site, decision is to go for it, I am just wondering how it will affect my work. Having worn glasses for 30 years it will take some adjustments I am sure. I have done lot of research and going to one of the top specialists in my area, price is higher than most but I feel better after tour of facility and actually sitting down and talking to Dr. that will do procedure. I am scheduled to go this wednessday morning.

As for scary factor, I had made 2 appointments in the last 5 years and cancelled them in the parking lot. This time I will do it though, wish me luck.

 

[TreeGrrl]

I too had worn glasses/contacts for over 30 years when I decided to do this. I was always so jealous of the unfettered eyes of the perfect vision types. As soon as the software for the laser allowed for high cylinder astigmatism, I sought out the best too, in my area. Yes, it was twice as much, but I had great confidence in him. I can't tell you how amazing it was to be able to see well the next day! In fact it took me a week or so before it sank in that I was free of glasses and contacts, I kept up the old habit of feeling the bedside table for the glasses. I donated them to the Lions shortly thereafter! Do not back out! It is such an amazing thing! I never looked back. The eye drop thing is no big deal, just use them and keep on hand at all times, it helps the healing. YOU WILL BE SO HAPPY! Good luck. PS The Laser makes a funny noise! I had mine video taped for all posterity!

 

[Tree Machine]

That's inspiring, Treegrrl, and did I say?,
Welcome to the site!

 

[RedlineIt]

TreeGrrl,

I was told some years ago that Laser techniques could not help my astigmatism. Time to check again.


Dadatwins,

Those wee tiny bottles of eyedrops have no place in my kit. There are a couple of products out there like "Eye-Lo" and "Optrex" that come with an eye-cup. It's a little plastic doodad shaped to fit over your eye. You fill the cup with saline solution, clamp it on your eye, tilt your head back and roll your eyeball around, washing out the dust, tilt head forward, repeat for other eye. Feels real good after a dusty job.

"Eye-Lo" and "Optrex" are pharmacuetical products at pharmacy prices, but after I empty that pricey bottle I keep the eye-cup and use basic saline solution that I buy at a local safety supply shop at 1/5th the cost. The safety supply eye wash doesn't have some of the fancy lubicants and additives of the pharmacy stuff, but it is still 100% sterile and safe.

And it feels so good to wash that grit out.


RedlineIt

 

[Dadatwins]

Thanks for luck GRRL, I will not be video taping any of this, I would prefer to be put out but it not possible. Thanks for tip of cleaner Redline, I will check with Dr. and find out if this ok, I have mild astigimitism and also enlarged corneas, but Dr. says procedure has come a long way from years ago and a lot of people that were not eligible are today. Dr. did a three hour pre - exam 2 weeks ago to see if I was eligible and to get settings and go over procedure. I have never had an eye exam like that in my life.

 

[Koa Man]

I had the procedure done in Feb. 2004 and couldn't be happier. I scheduled my surgery on a Friday so I could rest up on the weekend. The following Monday I was back to work full on. I had one eye set for distance and one for reading (monovision), which the doctor said 80% of his patients over 40 chose. If I did not like it, he could redo the other eye for distance. I am very happy with it. On my one year check up, I could read type 2 print, which is smaller than normal vision can read and my distance was 20/15. I could also read half of the letters on the 20/12.5 line. My 16 year old daughter can read all the letters on the 20/12.5 line with no surgery. Made me jealous.

Chose a good surgeon, one that has done a lot of procedures and has the latest machines. My surgeon was about $750 more per eye than another reputable clinic, but he was also the only one that has done laser surgery for other eye surgeons. I figured it they trusted him, he's gotta be good, plus he had a new machine that was less than 4 months old.

 

[TreeGrrl]

RedlineIt

Please check again, my astigmatism was 4.75 diopters, very high. And you are right, I had to wait a long time before technology caught up so I could have it done.

Dadatwins,

The eye cup saline rinse is great but may prove too vigorous immediately for healing cornea's. Let me know what he says. I am interested in knowing for my own use.

Koa Man

Glad to hear that you are thrilled and it is working out for you. I am undercorrected in one eye also. My vision sounds comparable to yours, amazing stuff! Technology and modern medicine!

 

[TreeGrrl]

Tree Machine

Thanks for the welcome. I have been viewing this site since it's creation but just now signed up to post. Thanks for the email, will write you back ASAP. Thanks for being so nice.

 

[Jumper]

I have a friend who had it done some years ago with absolutely no regrets, as she was an international caliber parachutist who for obvious reasons, found it really inconvenient to wear glasses. Go for it...I am fortunate in that I never have really needed glasses, but safety ones can be enough of a pain, especially when fogged up.

 

[Chris J.]

Which exact procedures did you folks have done? Here we get bombarded with print & radio ads, and it almost seems like everyone has their 'own special name' for the procedure. After 36 years of glasses (could never get used to contacts, also torric lenses for astigmatism are $$) I love to be able to ditch them. Also in the heat I sweat more than Hugh Hefner's sauna. Aw ra best...Chris J.

 

[Dadatwins]

Which exact procedures did you folks have done?

I am scheduled for the custom procedure in the link below, there are many different names and I have to agree it is confusing.

http://www.vaeye.com/lasik.html

 

[Davidsinatree]

I had lasik in both eyes aug 2004. I wore glasses about 25 years. I now have 20/15 vision. I was told not to rub my eyes for about 3 weeks. The procedure was not painful at all, however there was alittle discomfort when the procedure is done. NO BIG DEAL.
I went to Discover-O eye centers here in KC. They are great.
1450.00 per eye. Good money spent. Has a lifetime adjustment guarantee if I need a tune up at a later date.
You will be reaching to remove your glasses before bed time........and nothing is there to remove. I did that for some time.
Go for it!!!

The worst part for me of the whole ordeal was the anticipation leading up to the surgery.

 

[Koa Man]

The worst part for me of the whole ordeal was the anticipation leading up to the surgery.

I could hardly wait for mine. I was chomping at the bit to get it done.

 

[Dadatwins]

Thanks for replies, 24 hours after surgury and just finished follow up with Dr. who says everything went well. Still a little blurry and some dizziness but dr says all normal and should clear up in a few days. First time in 30 years waking up and seeing the alarm clock with out glasses was definitly weird. This will definitly be an adjustment that I am looking forward to.

 

[Koa Man]

I went to the movies the night after my surgery and enjoyed it with clear vision.

 

[NYCHA FORESTER]

Tell me if you pay check looks any better

 

[Koa Man]

I don't get a pay check (wages). I am self employed.
One customer just told me (this week) I get better looking every time she sees me.
I do her trees once a year.