>I am in the early decision making
>stage regarding laser surgery and would
>appreciate thoughts and concerns. Like many,
>the idea of having my eye
>"operated" on is daunting. The literature
>I have read about PRK's less
>invasive procedure (i.e., no incision) makes
>has me hoping that will be
>my best hope. I am very
>nearsighted and have a stigmatism in
>my left eye (I apologize for
>not having specific numbers at this
>point and recognize that it may
>be impossible for you to share
>specifics at this point).
>Is my first instinct correct about PRK
>over Lasik? Does the fact that
>I take prozac impact the decision
>(given prozacs effect on pupil size)?
>For how long must I discontinue
>the use of my gas permable
>lenses--I have wore hard contact lenses
>for 27 years.
>Thank you for any, and all responses,
>to my basic request!
>David (age 41)
Dave. I'm no eye doctor, just a guy who had eye surgery. Now perhaps mine wasn't the perfect success story but here's my opinion of different surgery procedures. First let me say that I had eye surgery four years ago and it was the greatest gift I've ever given myself.
My doctor said I could have the Lasik or the RKT so I asked him which one was better, he said both are good. I asked which he would do if it were his eyes, he said that although RKT was a more difficult procedure for him to perform, he'd choose that over Lasik as it should yeild better results.
I went with his suggestion. The Lasik is done, as I understand it, by pealing back the cornea and shaving the area beneath it with a laser. The cornea is then put back into place and acts essentially like a shield to protect the eye and you might go to work that same day with good vision.
The RKT however, as I understand it, uses the laser to actually shave off a portion of the cornea's outer surface. This is the procedure I went with. I was feeling fine afterwards, for about a half hour until the numbing from pre-op wore off. Then I was in so much pain I'd have strangled my doctor if I could've seen him. Of course bear in mind, it's probably not wise to go to prison over such a thing, and mine may not be the typical result of RKT eye surgery.
I was wearing bandages for over a week, missed a weeks work and it felt like sand was being thrown in my eyes constantly. Now I'd paid an extra $200 per eye for a 'lifetime warranty' that allowed future corrections at no charge. But I gotta tell you this, there is no way on Gods green earth that I'd go through RKT again. I'm a 6 foot plus 200 pound man who cried like a little girl.
In hindsight I wish I'd have chosen the Lasik - it would've saved me a lot of pain and money too. And I've always wondered if the Doc knew I bought the $400 insurance and wanted to be sure I'd never get into his chair again again after. Hmmm.
So the moral of this story is - ask about all the different surgeries available and the after effects or recovery time and very important here -inquire about the possible post-op pain involved or get a big box of tissues. Best of luck to you.
Ken in Central Florida
