Ok - I'm one of those people sort of forced into this surgery - I've been told recently that my eyes are becoming contact lense intollerant - which means surgery for me. Or a DRASTIC change in my lifestyle to go back to glasses..

that said - I've got LOTS of questions and this is just one of them. I hear lots about night vision problems & wonder does everyone go through them - or is this something only some people go through and only a very few end up having as 'permanent' problems?

Thanks!

Also any recommendations for a surgeon in the WA State area (preferably Seattle or south of there) would be GREATLY appreciated.

You would be surprised how easy to deal with haloes actually are. If you wear lenses, the effect is meant to be the same as wearing your contacts at night. For me they lasted barely 3 weeks, untill my night vision was actually better than with glasses. Everybody is different and it depends a lot of your pupil size. The most importanty decision you will make is your choice of surgeon. I live in Ireland so I'm afraid I can't help. Good luck.

You will probably experience some minor temporary halos as your eyes heal.

Permanent halos are most commonly associated with large pupils that were not fully corrected over the entire pupil. Some pupils can be 7 to 8 mm or more in dark conditions; some lasers treat 6 mm or less. You need to ensure that your doctor can provide a treatment zone large enough for your pupil.

Some lasers can handle large pupils up to about 8 mm (plus or minus depending on your other eye parameters). Probably the top lasers for handling large pupils are the Bausch & Lomb Technolas 217 and the LADARVision. There are limits to what any laser can do. You want to educate yourself to make sure that you fall within those limits.

You must NEVER be forced in to something like surgery UNLESS it is a life threatening emergency.

LASIK is a 100% elective surgery. It IS SURGERY.

If you are CL intolerant now, probably related to dry eyes, it'll be MUCH WORSE after LASIK. Dry eyes is a huge, life-altering side effect (or complication depending on whether it happens to your friend or to you). The CL intolerance is a BIG FAT RED FLAG for you. See surgicaleyes.com.

What's wrong with glasses? I'd pay a million bucks to have them back. My post-LASIK vision, along with 18 months worth of painful dry eyes and debilitating night vision problems, cannot be corrected with CL's or glasses now.

Neat, huh? Think twice about your priorities.

Actually my CL intollerant problem is related to lack of oxygen getting to my eyes over the 20 years I've been wearing them.. (I took them out at night but that was just to sleep - I had virtually NO waking hours without them)

I've never had a problem - never been uncomfortable - never even had dry or itchy eyes.. that's part of the reason that this came as a shock to me.

I hear what you're saying - that things could be worse.. but right now I have a VERY active lifestyle and I can't wear glasses when I exercise - which I do twice a day, can't wear them skiing - taking my life in my hands b/c they could end up a permanent part of my face, ski diving, etc.. So - I guess it's either give up those things or look for an answer..

My doc is willing to try some new contacts on me after a couple of weeks without - but I can tell that glasses are limmiting and I guess I have to decide if the rewards out weigh the risks - which isn't easy for me..

I have a couple of screenings scheduled & after that I'll make my decision.

I'm truely sorry for your situation and appreciate the warning..

sorry - just a bit bummed at having my wings clipped..

CELIA, WHAT HAPPENED THAT YOU EXPERIENCED A
PROBLEM WITH YOUR LENSES? WERE YOUR EYES BURNING,
ITCHING OR DRY? I HAVE BEEN WEARING MINE FOR 20
YEARS TOO AND I SLEEP WITH MINE AND HAVE NO OXYGEN
PROBLEM. DO YOU THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
EVENTUALLY HAPPENS TO ALL LENSE WEARERS? ANYWAY
I'M LOOKING INTO SURGERY TOO. GOOD LUCK.

to all lense wearers but if you don't in my doc's words have a few hours every day (waking hours) that it will happen eventually.. and for me - I had no waking hours..

that's why I'm looking into this..

and - to answer your question - I had NO idea this was happening - never felt a problem with my contacts.. that's why this caught me completely by suprise. I had been seeing an optometrist rather than opthamologist - on a regular basis but this time went to another doc recommended by my opt office since he was on an extended vacation.. and this is the news I got..

ugh - anyway back to more research for me too.

Good luck to you!!

Celia,
I was in your shoes not to long ago. I was becoming intolerant of my lenses because I work in a dry environment, and I had issues with getting enough oxygen to my eyes. Contacts became painful and I did not want to wear glasses. I had the surgery done about a month ago and things are great. My eyes were intolerant of contacts, but I have no problems with dry eyes post-surgery (that's not to say that no one will though). About the haloes--I do have them. They do not prevent me from driving at night, but my night driving is worse because the starbursts and haloes can make it difficult to see fine detail. It's more a distraction than anything. The docs say it can take 3 months for the eyes to heal and the haloes should go away during that healing time. Again, that's my personal situation though. You should carefully weight the options and research as much as you can. I can say having the surgery is the best thing I've ever done--I have 20/15 vision and can see very clear during the day. But I do have haloes at night. Other people I've talked to have them as well. It's seems to be pretty common, and for those I know, temporary.

Best of luck to you!

>Ok - I'm one of those people
>sort of forced into this surgery
>- I've been told recently that
>my eyes are becoming contact lense
>intollerant - which means surgery for
>me. Or a DRASTIC change
>in my lifestyle to go back
>to glasses..

>that said - I've got LOTS of
>questions and this is just one
>of them. I hear lots
>about night vision problems & wonder
>does everyone go through them -
>or is this something only some
>people go through and only a
>very few end up having as
>'permanent' problems?

>Thanks!

>Also any recommendations for a surgeon in
>the WA State area (preferably Seattle
>or south of there) would be
>GREATLY appreciated.

Much appreciated!

It's funny - I haven't had any pain from the contacts at all - but I guess they are being cautious re wearing them..

I do appreciate your perspective!! Thanks - I'm still researching & will continue to do so until I'm comfortable with things..

C.