LASIK Misconceptions

Having had LASIK myself, I try to bring up this option for vision correction with any and all patients who seem like good candidates.  After many such LASIK conversations, I’ve become aware of several widely held misconceptions or misunderstandings about the procedure.

1) Current-technology LASIK is completely blade free!  Many people are walking around swearing they’ll never have LASIK, simply because they saw a video ten years ago showing a little blade creating the flap for the procedure.  It’s all done with a laser now.

2) Not all LASIK is created equal.  Notice how above I said “current-technology” LASIK.  You know that radio commercial that advertised LASIK for $299 per eye?  I can almost assure you that’s for outdated technology – old lasers, still using the blade for the flap, etc.  These discount centers also often have many hidden costs, charging more for higher prescriptions than lower, charging more to upgrade to current technology, etc.  When comparing similar procedures and benefits between centers, the “discount” LASIK often doesn’t save much if any money.

3) 20/20 guarantees may do more harm than good.  We all want to feel like we “got our money’s worth” and have the best possible vision from our LASIK, but keep in mind that the possibility of developing complications increases every time you have another surgery.  If your surgery center has made a legally binding guarantee for 20/20 vision, they will be more likely to perform additional surgery where it is not truly warranted, thereby putting you at unnecessary risk.  Everyone heals differently, so even though statistics show that quality LASIK centers are able to give 20/20 vision to probably 95% of their patients, guarantees don’t really make sense.  Go with a great surgeon using the latest technology, and you’ll have the best chance of a fantastic outcome.

4) LASIK is designed to give great far vision, not so much close vision.  If you already have fantastic far vision and need help up close, you’re a better candidate for glasses or contacts.

That’s about it for now – feel free to post with any questions you may have about LASIK, or check out my prior post about refractive surgery.

Review of Costco Eye Drops

Periodically, I like to browse the eye care section here at Costco so I know what products are available to the members.  I assume there may be some variability among different locations, but currently the Thornton Costco stocks four different brands of eye drops.  Following are my thoughts on each brand.

Systane Ultra and Refresh Tears

I have these two listed together because they are in the same class of drops – namely, traditional preserved artificial tears without any added pharmaceutical agents.  My personal preference from a comfort standpoint is Refresh, but everyone’s eyes are different, and some people will prefer Systane.  I believe Systane is a slightly thicker drop.  Either one can safely be used up to four times per day as needed for dry eyes or irritation.  Beyond four times per day usage, preservatives from the drops may start to irritate the eyes. 

Refresh Plus Non-Preserved Tears

These are the same general formulation as Refresh Tears, but without the preservatives.  Refresh Plus is indicated for people whose eyes are very sensitive to preservatives in standard drops, as well as individuals who need to use drops more than four times per day.  Instead of a traditional multi-use bottle, these drops come in separate tear-away vials that each contain about 6-8 drops.  The package calls them “single-use” vials, but in reality they are usually ok for multiple applications within the same day (any unused drops should be discarded at the end of the day because they are not preserved against contamination. Of course, open vials should be stored in sanitary conditions to avoid contamination as well). This is what I used after my LASIK, and they were fantastic.  The Costco pack is definitely the way to go – amazingly economical compared to what you would expect to find at a drugstore, for example.

Visine Advanced Redness Relief

I was actually somewhat sad to see this appear on the shelf in recent months, especially considering that here at Costco it comes in a three pack!  Visine should be using sparingly to not at all, given its potentially detrimental effects with long-term use.  Along with any sort of lubricants included, the active ingredient in Visine is a drug that shrinks blood vessels (hence the redness relief – smaller vessels mean whiter eyes!).  After extended use, your eye’s blood vessels may reach a point where they cannot regulate their size properly, and you end up rather dependent on the drug to keep from having red eyes.  Ok to use once in a blue moon to look your best for a job interview?  Sure.  Good to buy in a 3-pack so you are tempted to use it all the time?  Not so much.  Avoid.

My LASIK Experience

Dr. Oster, LASIK surgeon extraordinaire

I was horrified just now to realize that my last blog post was before Thanksgiving!  As it so happens, it was also before I went “under the laser,” as it were, for my LASIK procedure.   

As an eye doctor, I have co-managed a few dozen patients for LASIK and PRK (defined and compared in my page on laser vision correction).  I have also visited several laser vision surgery centers and observed surgeries, and I really thought I knew what the LASIK experience entailed for my patients. 

Turns out, I was wrong.  Which is not to say that I think I was an awful doctor to my patients before, or that doctors who haven’t had LASIK shouldn’t be trusted with LASIK patients.  However, I do feel that going through LASIK myself made me a 100% better resource for patients who are wondering what to expect with the procedure.

I suppose since the post is entitled “My LASIK Experience,” I should at least comment on  my personal LASIK journey.  I am not one of those people who spent years pining for LASIK before they could actually have it done.  By nature, I’m somewhat conservative; and the idea of having elective surgery that could in any way impair my vision if gone amiss was unappealing to me for a long time.  Finally, after seeing so many perfect patients and so many amazing advances in the surgical technology, my stance on the issue softened somewhat. 

The final straw for me was my absolute inability to wear contact lenses consistently and comfortably here in the dry, thin air of Colorado.  If I ever got greedy and wore my contacts two days in a row (gasp!), or even just for an entire day (the nerve!), I paid for it with red and irritated eyes the next day.  I convinced myself I didn’t mind wearing glasses all the time, and I tried to embrace my new reality by building up a collection of four or five cool frames that I mixed and matched with the day’s outfit.  Eventually, my nose got tired of supporting glasses 24/7, and I was pushed even closer to my LASIK.

My surgery was performed at TLC Laser Eye Center in Denver, and I have nothing but good things to say about them.  My consult was great and actually a lot of fun with the cool instruments, the people there were and are great, and the surgery went off without a hitch.  They tell you exactly what to expect, and they are right on.  There are certainly some mildly uncomfortable or inconvenient aspects of laser eye surgery and its recovery, but the trade-off of a few mildly uncomfortable days for years and years of great vision is a no-brainer for me. 

 

Of course, hindsight is 20/20 – or in my case, 20/15 😉