OzBargainers' Experience with LASIK/Laser Eye Surgery

Ghost47 on 09/01/2022 - 16:57
Last edited 09/01/2022 - 17:04

So I was shopping for new frames the other day and as usual I took forever to decide on which frames to purchase, to the point where I just said to myself "maybe I should just get my eyes lasered so I don't have to spend time doing this".

Now I'm considering saving up over the next 1-3 years to get my eyes lasered and was wondering what experience other OzBargainers have had with getting their eyes lasered. I haven't really looked into the process before but my main concern would be if my eyes deteriorate again say, 5-6 years after surgery and I have to end up wearing glasses again.

If you could please format your answer as follows for the sake of readability that would be appreciated.

Age you had surgery (if you don't feel comfortable giving your age feel free to give a range or something, e.g. 30-35 or early 30's):
Years since surgery (as above feel free to give an approximate if not comfortable with people being able to calculate age):
Current vision:
Surgery cost:
Any lifestyle changes you made to maintain your vision as recommended by surgeon or optometrist (e.g. wearing sunglasses in high UV weather, eating certain foods, reducing screen time etc. I understand some of these things might not be scientifically proven to protect your vision and that genetics would play a large role, but still curious.):

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • AndyC1 on 09/01/2022 - 17:10

    Look into if your eye issue(s) are suitable for laser surgery and if it will fix the issue or just reduce the issue. Some eye issues are not suitable and some only reduce it and some fix it.

    • Ghost47 on 09/01/2022 - 17:13

      Yep I understand that I will need to see if I am a suitable candidate first off. Still curious to see what the experience has been like for some people here. Thanks for the reminder.

      • AndyC1 on 09/01/2022 - 17:26
        +1

        In the past people I know a few people who had it and they had no complications and did not need glasses (They were told that they may still need reading glasses later in life). They took a week of sick leave so they could ensure they were fully over it and had a break on company pay, but in reality they only needed memory 2 or 3 days in total and went to the beach or did other things for the other sick days.

        There are more people I know that laser would not work on than have had it and as such start with checking if it will work.

  • shrek4 on 09/01/2022 - 17:20
    +1

    I had mine done in my early 20s. Now in my early 40s and just started to need a slight correction for distance vision and have gone back to glasses. I have had to wear reading/computer work glasses for 10 odd years but that’s just a sign of age and job demands.

    Laser correction meant I no longer had to wear glasses 24/7. Very glad I had it done.
    From memory, it was about $4500 20 years ago.

  • The Value on 09/01/2022 - 17:24

    Teenagers and many young adults often experience changes in their contact lens prescription and glasses prescription from year to year. It's important for refractive errors to be stable for at least 12 months before undergoing LASIK or other refractive surgery.

    Usually it is near-sightedness that gradually becomes worse, but there may be other changes as well.

    Younger people are not good candidates until their eyes have "settled down" into one prescription. Your optometrist can tell you whether your prescription is stable.

  • p1 ama on 09/01/2022 - 17:26
    +2

    Probably not the perspective you're looking for, but I've worn glasses since I was a child and have considered LASIK many times. Worth keeping in mind the risks of the procedure, even if they are small, and that there is a pretty high probability that you will end up requiring glasses anyway.

    That being said, having been in your situation of:

    So I was shopping for new frames the other day and as usual I took forever to decide on which frames to purchase, to the point where I just said to myself "maybe I should just get my eyes lasered so I don't have to spend time doing this".

    in the past, the definite solution is to find a pair of frames you like and either keep re-buying them or just getting the lenses updated. I've had the same frame for over 5 years now, just had to replace the screws. I just get new lenses every year and am always happy with my frames :)

    • Ghost47 on 09/01/2022 - 17:40

      All good and I have just been reading about the risks actually and they certainly are somewhat scary to consider.

      I've worn the same frames for the past 10+ years although I have purchased other frames which I ended up disliking afterwards. Current problem is that my frames have broken down too much (bits of plastic coming off and cracking on the arms, they don't sit on my face well anymore etc.) Pretty happy with the new frames I got and excited to get new lenses put into them though.

      At this stage I'm just flirting with the idea of getting it done, will need to do more research and get consultations done to learn more if I do go ahead with it, just wanted to see how it went for others here.

  • LordSydney on 09/01/2022 - 17:30
    +1

    See an ophthalmologist. I saw one who said my vision wasn't bad enough to need it, in fact it's more difficult for them to laser when it's not bad.

    The way they explained it, it's similar to slicing slices off a block of cheese - difficult to slice a really thin slice off the end, but easy to accurately slice a larger slice in the right spot.

    I'd rather wait until it's bad enough, then it's just once and done, rather than having it done multiple times.

  • blindingshadowz on 09/01/2022 - 17:49
    +3

    Heya

    Age you had surgery: 29
    Years since surgery: I got it done during the Victoria lockdown; Sep 2021
    Current vision: 20/20 apparently lol I may have had a skewed idea of what that meant but I definitely see well without glasses
    Surgery cost:$4350 (had a referral, would've probably been closer to $4800 otherwise)
    Any lifestyle changes you made to maintain your vision as recommended by surgeon or optometrist: Yep the wearing sunglasses afterward was the only real solid advise I got. I was told to use them in high UV weather for about a year after. Was also told dry eyes would be fairly normal after the fact so keep those moisturising eyedrops handy.

    Context: I decided to get PRK over LASIK at the advise of my consultant as it was more suitable for me due to my playing sport on the weekends.The procedure was non-invasive because no cuts are made unlike in LASIK. The recovery between surgery and me getting my full vision back was about a month. They did advise that this surgery isn't going to fix my vision forever and that natural ageing may result in me requiring glasses again when I'm 40+.

    Happy to answer any further questions

    • puzzles2 on 09/01/2022 - 18:04

      Hey I'm in a pretty similar boat to you regarding the playing sports so PRK might be more suitable for me. Whereabouts did you get yours done? I've been recommended to New Vision Clinic which is about $5000 from what I've heard.

      • SnowDragon on 09/01/2022 - 19:03

        Not the guy you're responding to, but I got mine done by Dr Sebban at the Sydney Eye Clinic

        Had to fly to Sydney and get a hotel for 4 nights - so it ended up being around $4,000 in total - but the TransPRK was cheap at least!

      • blindingshadowz on 09/01/2022 - 23:24

        Hey! Yeah definitely a good consideration re: PRK! I got mine done at Medownick Laser Clinic in Richmond which I'm pretty sure is around the same price and got a referral from a family member so I got it down to the price I mentioned there. There may be cheaper options interstate per SnowDragon's comment below. I obviously didn't have as wide a variety of options last year so I'd take advantage of the travel :)

  • pharkurnell on 09/01/2022 - 18:10

    Is it something that needs to be redone after few years?
    Does private health help?
    After you have it done - how long till your back to normal ? EG:: recovery time?

  • Unorthodox on 09/01/2022 - 18:41
    +1

    There's actually new advancements since then including SMILE (essentially version 3) and implants.

    Implants are when they put "permanent contact lenses" in which will allow you to update them later on when you get older and naturally your vision diminishes.

    Best to get a consultation as your vision, shape of eyes etc will influence what options you have.

  • SnowDragon on 09/01/2022 - 19:01
    +1

    I did a write up of my TransPRK experience here

    Age I had it: 24
    Years since: 4 (Nov 2018)
    Current vision: right eye is a "smidge" far sighted (I assume around +0.25, but it was a full -0.75 ahead of my left eye prior to surgery)
    Cost: $1288 per eye + flights and accom in Sydney
    Lifestyle changes: None. Haven't had any downsides to surgery at all. I can't imagine going back to glasses, but it'll happen as I get older.

    my main concern would be if my eyes deteriorate again

    Pretty sure the guy I saw had some time where they would do touch ups and re-do the surgery if it went downhill quickly. But I think the earlier you do it, the more time you'll have before deterioration.

    • mizx on 09/01/2022 - 20:47
      +1

      Isn't this cheap compared to other prices mentioned? Did you ask why was it so cheap?

      • SnowDragon on 09/01/2022 - 21:39
        +1

        Isn't this cheap compared to other prices mentioned?

        Yes it is cheap - this is OzBargain! But I wouldn't go down to the local alley and get it done for $500 a pop.

        I did my due diligence and there were a lot of recommendations on Whirlpool at the time about Dr Sebban and it was a good experience.

        Did you ask why was it so cheap?

        I didn't, but their website mentions they want great eye sight for all, which is nice.

        • mizx on 11/01/2022 - 12:52

          Think they realised that it was cheap and have raised the price per eye by $200. It is still cheaper but damn that was a bargain for you.

          Thanks for posting.

    • Ghost47 on 11/01/2022 - 16:55

      Thanks for the link. I'm surprised that you got it at age 24, did your prescription stabilise by then?

      • SnowDragon on 11/01/2022 - 17:43
        +1

        It had been around -3.50 and -4.75 for a while at that point.
        I had been wearing glasses since I has 10 though - not sure if that makes a difference.

  • Kramo on 09/01/2022 - 20:12
    +1

    Had it done about 6 years ago. Went from -5.0/-4.5 to better than 20/20 in both eyes (right slightly worse than left, but still above). Was wearing glasses (or contacts for sport) 24/7 unless sleeping. I'd been waiting since 12 years ago for my eyes to settle, and to get the 'all clear' from my optometrist.

    Had it done at Caulfield Eye Clinic, but I don't believe Dr Cherny still practices. Cost about $5k for both eyes if memory serves. Surgery was a few months of the Dr going through all the potential risks, really making sure I was wanting to have it done. Actual procedure was about 10 minutes, then after 24 hours of rest, my vision was perfect, and I haven't had to think about it since.

    I'm expecting to need reading glasses in another 15+ years maybe, but my parents (who otherwise don't need glasses) have already started with that, so it was going to happen anyways, and this gave me 20+ years of no glasses, which I am very happy about.

    • Ghost47 on 11/01/2022 - 17:12

      Thanks for the reply. That's interesting your folks don't need glasses but you were shortsighted. Do you remember what exactly it was in terms of "settling" that you were waiting for? Dioptre or was it more than that?

      • Kramo on 11/01/2022 - 17:28
        +1

        In my case it was just dioptre being stable (or within 0.25) over roughly a 18-24 month period. I haven't had issues with astigmatism, so that might play into the suitability if you did.

  • SomeRandom on 10/01/2022 - 01:04
    +1

    Age I had it: Late 20's.
    Years since: 8 years
    Current Vision: 20/10 (i.e. 2 rows down from 20/20 on an eye test chart)
    Cost: $5500

    No real lifestyle changes were recommended… other than for the few months after the surgery (to avoid any risks of impact to the eyes - i.e. no playing squash, etc.)

    I went from -6.0 in both eyes to better than 20/20
    I waited for my prescription to be stable for 3 years before getting the LASIK done.

    I also expect to need reading glasses one day… that tends to happen to us as we age due to aging of the lens (i.e. loss of flexibility required to focus the lens on close objects)

    I had always worn glasses (never Contact Lens') & I remember shortly after having the surgery, a number of people were shocked by my "big" eyes. One friend was completely incapable of making eye contact with me for days before she got used to them.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/01/2022 - 09:29

    Maybe wait for those new eye drops which apparently improve vision to be approved in Australia đŸ¤”

  • steviekfc on 10/01/2022 - 10:31
    +1

    I had PRK in both eyes in March last year. Cost $5,000.
    Was 32 years old.
    My vision is probably the best it has ever been.
    They dont touch your eyes at all. Just drops and the laser does the operation. All of 5 - 10 seconds per eye. In and out of the operation room in maybe 3 minutes.
    10/10 would recommend.
    Recovery wasn't too bad either, but a lot longer than normal Lasek.
    I was so nervous before the operation but going home I realised I was over thinking everything a lot - it was really really easy.
    Let me know if you want more details.
    Cheers

    • Ghost47 on 11/01/2022 - 17:14

      Thanks for the info. In terms of your prescription how long was it stable for, and I guess your optometrist said that you were a suitable candidate for PRK?

  • preferredusername on 10/01/2022 - 16:29
    +1

    I had PRK and would 100% recommend!
    31 years old, had it done 6 months ago, vision is now 20/20. Cost will vary depending on your prescription, usually around $2,000-2,500 per eye.
    Now I am more vigilant about wearing sunglasses and having breaks during screen time. I consider them overall improvements as they are probably things I should be doing for my eye health anyway.
    As a starting point you can always speak to your optometrist and they will advise if your prescription is stable enough and if you are a good candidate for laser.
    Happy to share more details if you like so let me know if you have any questions :)

  • cwongtech on 11/01/2022 - 23:40

    You can also consider Orthokeratology lenses which are contact lenses you wear at night (as an alternative)

    Cost is around $1000-1500 for the first year, then every two years or so you need replacement lenses ($250-$300 each eye)
    Ongoing cost: cleaning solutions I suppose, around $300 a year (estimate)
    Not suitable for every type of eye but just a suggestion

  • yummypinacolada on 21/02/2022 - 16:39
    +1

    I guess I'm one of the unlucky ones. I did ReLex Smile which is supposed to be the latest technological advancement for eye laser surgery. I just did the surgery last Dec(3months ago). The surgery was successful however I didn't manage to regain my perfect vision. Right after the surgery, I do feel my vision significantly better. I was hoping as the day goes by it'll keep getting better until I have my 20/20 vision, however it wasn't the case for me. After the 4th day, I don't feel like my vision get better anymore.

    I am 28 years old

    I went from -7D with 1 CYL to -1D in both eyes, even though its a huge improvement but I do still require glasses to see far away text. My doctor keep telling me that I should be fine without glasses, but having to squint my eyes just to see the road sign is not a good feeling. I was upset because the doctor told me that I'd get a perfect vision during the initial consultation, but after the surgery he told me that its common to have some residue around -0.5D to -1.5D because my myopia power are above -5D. I wish the doctor told me that before I decided to do the surgery.

    I was considering to do another surgery, but my doctor are against it because the risk of having 2nd surgery is way higher and my myopia is not bad enough to require another surgery. Also I'd be pissed if I have to spend another $4500.

    My advise is to do your own research first and try to compare PRK, Lasik, and ReLex to find what's best for you. Make sure that its worth the risk. Also try to look for 2nd opinion from another doctor before deciding on the surgery.

    Now I'm still wearing glasses on daily basis, but I'm using an under-corrected lenses with -0.5D in hoping that my eyes would still get better over the time.

    • Ghost47 on 23/02/2022 - 16:28

      Damn, sorry to hear about that, that’s absolutely (profanity). Would the results have been different with LASIK or PRK?

      Which doctor did you use? Seems like they should be avoided.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/02/2022 - 16:47

    my father had it done and around 10 - 15 years later he has to wear glasses to read small text, his long sight is good.

    afraid i don't know more than that

  • Clarky77 on 17/04/2022 - 23:34

    I only recently found out I need glasses for distance vision and also enquired about getting laser surgery but after being told the surgery would fix my distance vision but I'd then need to wear glasses for normal close vision (reading, using my phone ect ect) I quickly ruled that option out lol
    Who knows maybe they'll invent multi focal laser surgery in a few years lol

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