Contacts vs LASIK

USMCmech

USMCmech

Well-Known Member
For everyone out there trying to decide wether or not to have their eyeballs fixed, I've found a good alternative.

Two months ago I went to my eye doctor for my yearly exam. He gave me some contacts that are for "day/night wear". You put them in and leave them in for a whole month . They take a couple of days to get used to, since they are a diffrent size than normal. First thing in the morning my eyes feel pretty dry, but it goes away after a few minutes. My wife got them too, and she hasn't had any problems either.

My doctor says that they aren't yet available for people with asitgmitisim (sp?).

They are a good bit more expensive than regular contacts, but it's worth it to not have to do the whole finger in eye routine every night. I've been wondering about LASIK for years now, but money and the worries about eye surgery have kept me from doing it. Now it seem I can have the best of both worlds.

Check it out.
 
Do they bother you at night after you have been wearing them a while? My daily wears keep almost coming out if I blink wrong after I have been wearing them for a while.
 
My eye doctor wasn't too thrilled with that style of contacts when we talked about options. I don't recall all the specifics of why she didn't like them, just remember that she didn't.
 
I have serious problems with contact lenses here in Arizona. The dry desert air sucks the moisture right out of them, so unless I constantly use eye drops, I can't keep contacts in for any more than about six hours. Never had a problem with that in New Jersey. Anyway, I imagine that those month-long contacts could be just as bad, depending on your location or climate....
 
I usually wear glasses and have a 20/70. When I use my glasses and take them off I can barely see. But I broke my glasses and it has been 3 days now since I don't wear them and I can see everything except for details like letters and signs and somewhat tv. I think I am now at about 20/50. You can't keep on giving in on that stuff as you only get worse if you do. My doctor wanted to give me a 20/100 after my last exam but I refused and stayed with my 20/70. Now I feel my vision is getting better. I know it probably won't go to 20/20 but if I can get new glasses with lower lenses it helps already.
 
I got the night and day 30 day lenses last week. I agree with USMCmech- until I can afford to get lasered eyeballs this is the next best thing. The icing on the cake? My eye doc measured my vision at 20/15 with the new lenses in. Probably a fluke, but I sure ain't complaining!
 
I have astigmatism as well, my eye doctor didn't seem too thrilled about any kind of laser procedure for me. He mentioned another patient who had it done and now the best he can get with contacts/glasses is 20/30 and he has some night vision trouble.

My current contacts are from Bausch & Lomb. 30 day wear disposables that need to be cleaned once a week (though I usually clean every 5 days or my eyes will start feeling quite stressed).

I'm waiting for the B&L daily toric disposable lenses to come along as I don't always wear the contact lenses. I forgot to ask my doctor about two week disposables.

While contacts are in the topic...Anyone with toric lenses have a problem with with the lense rotating leaving blurry vision? That is damn annoying. The best my doctor can suggest is carry eye drops around
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Ah, toric lenses. I had a quack eye doctor convince me I had astigmatism for five years. Had to go to another guy in an emergency, and he was like "uh, you don't HAVE astigmatism. Why are you wearing toric lenses?" Paid the high prices for the toric lenses (this was in the stone age before disposable torics, too). If I remember correctly, they have tiny weights in them to keep the aligned, right? My vision used to get blurry, too. Carried eye drops everywhere I went. Sadly, that's about all I can tell ya.
 
I've been thinking about a second opinion myself. I've been seeing the same doctor since I was around 10.

I think they do have small heavier parts, along with very tiny etchings that can be used to check their alignment. So I was told while the doctor used a scope the check them when I complained. Figures that the lenses would be perfectly inplace when I go to the guy
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He said that my prescription has a pretty big curve on my lenses and that was the reason they would rotate easily when they were dry. I've only had this problem with disposable lenses, which I've been wearing about a year.

Atleast the cost isn't so bad anymore, I pay $150(CDN) for a 6 month supply (2 boxes of 6 lenses). The same price I paid for 1 pair of 1 year lenses.
 
I know of a few people who have done the LASIK eye surgery. They went to Montreal for it because it is much cheaper there. They all came back with 20/20 vision, and extra money in their pockets because of the cost of it here in the USA. If my vision WERE that bad (I have 20/15), I personally would not get the surgery, but I thought I would suggest Canada as an alternative for getting it done if you would like to save some money. And actually, I know of a couple who flew from Florida up to Montreal, got the surgery and flew home. The total cost of this was cheaper than having it done in America!
 
I'd recommend LASIK due to the fact that it is now recognized by the FAA as an acceptable form of eye correction with proper documentation of course.

Dr. Lomas in Tacoma, Washington preforms this surgury and offers (or did) enhancements if you should have any problems for your lifetime.

I haven't had any negative effects except occationally dry eyes upon waking up, so I just keep drops by my bed. I am very happy to be rid of contacts and glasses. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/spin2.gif

My father had his done in Valley Forge, PA by a different doctor and is also extremely happy with his surgury. If interested in this doctors name, I can find out - just PM me.
 
I got sick of the whole "finger in the eye" routine, and just started wearing glasses 24/7. Much more simple and convenient. As for Brian saying he can't see anything with 20/70 vision: I have 20/400 without glasses. If I've misplaced my glasses, I literally have to ask my roomates to help me find them. And no, I can't read the "E" at the top of the Snellen chart. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I just started wearing contacts, and having said that they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. I wore glasses for about 7 years and finally said enough of those things.

I have the three-week style that you take out over night. They work great.

Only thing is, if you live in a dry, hot, or windy place make sure you have eyedrops with at all times. It sure is a pain when it gets real dry. Just drop in a few drops and all is clear again.

Hopefully I can get LASIK later on, but the eye Doc doesn't recommend it under the age of 20 or what not.
 
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Hopefully I can get LASIK later on, but the eye Doc doesn't recommend it under the age of 20 or what not.

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Yeah, I hear that you're not supposed to get LASIK until your eyes have stopped getting worse.
 
You will indeed need documentation. If you have had LASIK send in all documenation with your medical otherwise it will delay your medical. I did send in my records at first and my medical was delayed until they recieved my records for review. The backlog in OKC is long enough without any other delays.
 
I tend to be sensitive to a lot of elements, and my hair, skin, and eyes dry out easier than other people's. I'm about to try contact lenses for the first time, and I suppose it doesn't help my case in saying I recently moved out here to a DESERT. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

So, what are my options considering my sensitivities and climate? I have astigmatism, if that narrows it down at all.
 
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I have astigmatism, if that narrows it down at all.

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There are lenses out there for this (disposable ones, too I think), but they are a little on the expensive side. Personally, I don't want to risk my career on LASIK. To me it's worth the morning eye poke. But you're right about the drying out in the desert. Not looking forward to carrying drops with me wherever I go.
 
Back from the dead?! Are you trying to tell me my eyeballs are going to fall out?! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Kellwolf, it would be easier if you were a girl...then you would have a purse and could carry your eyedrops with you fashionably! hehehe

I learned how to read eyeglass prescriptions - fascinating stuff. My optometrist tried to make a big deal out of my astigmatism during my last visit, but after I learned how to read the chicken scratch I saw that the angular diversion isn't that bad at all!
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