To all:Thank you so much for your expertise and willingness to participate! My experience has probably taken place and my questions answered a million times over but I am unable to read well and long enough to read all of the messages. I am 53 yo female;using corrective lenses since age 5.In current confused state do not recall exact prescription but as per Docs was highly myopic w/ significant astigmatism; due to age
also presbyopic. Was considered excellent candidate for Custom Vue LASIK. Did not choose Monovision because it sounded more complicated and did not mind reading glasses. I am exactly 2 weeks post-op and realize that it will be many months before vision is stable. Vision 20/40
day after surgery and no change since. I am thrilled w/ 20/40 but the QUALITY of the acuity is very blurry, i.e., cannot see my fingertips or details of my face. My doctor insists that I am perfectly able to drive at 20/40 but I know that I can see no details near or far. Everything is ghostly, depth perception is off and contrast is such that I cannot identfy objects until right up on them. My surgeon is unsympathetic to my concerns. He will only say "You are perfectly legal to drive you just won't accept it." "It will either get better or it won't." "You knew there were no guarantees." When I ask about close to near vision i.e., will I be able to see my fingertips, eyes, e.t.c. he says that I should have chosen Monovision. This frightens me that I have lost my near vision forever. He is apparently only pleasant when you experience great results. Since I have some concerns/questions and ask to discuss options he becomes defensive, irritated and has no time for me. I specifically asked if glasses might enable to me drive while we are waiting for the vison to settle and he states they will not. I did seek a second opinion yesterday and this doctor said that although the surgery was healing well I had alot of astigmatism and prescbribed glasses that may help me to drive. She also suggested trying a drop that would cause the pupil to pinpoint. She did agree that my 20/40 vision is too blurry to attempt driving. She feels that some retreatment may be necessary but I realize that we will not know for 2-3 months. I am able to barely read w/ reading glasses but really need to be able to drive and take care of myself. I still use moisture drops 6-8 times/day although neither doc seems to think that excessive dryness is a problem. Thanks for reading. Any feedback appreciated. Newbie

You have done the right thing seeking a second opinion and getting temp glasses. 20/40 is a big step from where you were. The blur is likley to be a residual pescription as well as high order aberrations. Make sure you have enough residual cornea before thinking of enhancement for your cylindar and aberrations.

Faye,
Is the CustomVue done with all Laser instead of a blade? Your symtoms sound like what many of the Intralase patients are having. I'm also curious as to what the drops are that make your pupils focus to pinpoint. My doctor has never mentioned them.

>Faye,Is the CustomVue done with all Laser
>instead of a blade? Your
>symtoms sound like what many of
>the Intralase patients are having.
>I'm also curious as to what
>the drops are that make your
>pupils focus to pinpoint. My
>doctor has never mentioned them.

You have done the right thing seeking a second opinion and getting temp glasses. 20/40 is a big step from where you were. The blur is likley to be a residual pescription as well as high order aberrations. Make sure you have enough residual cornea before thinking of enhancement for your cylindar and aberrations.