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Paula in MN
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 3:14pm | IP Logged
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Would any of you consider lasik surgery? At my last eye appointment, my doctor said I was a *good candidate* for it. I can't help but think that even if I got the surgery, I would still need to wear glasses for reading!
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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lilac hill
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 3:31pm | IP Logged
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I had lasik a few years ago to correct my severe astigmatism.
Glasses could no longer correct my vision and the FDA approved the software to work for my particular needs.
What a wonder! No glasses after so many years with.
No expensive replacements every year.
AND I can buy my sunglasses in Walmart or anywhere. No more $$$$ for new lenses.
BUT--Lasik will not correct for 40+ reading glasses need.
DH and I are currently sharing a few multi packs of reading glasses from Sam's club.
Supposedly, if needed ,I can wear contacts now that the lasik has reshaped my eye, but no need yet.
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Viv
Wife to Rick (7/83), Mom to dd#1(6/87), dd#2(1/90), and dd#3(6/94) in central PA.
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Tami
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 3:39pm | IP Logged
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PaulaL wrote:
| Would any of you consider lasik surgery? At my last eye appointment, my doctor said I was a *good candidate* for it. I can't help but think that even if I got the surgery, I would still need to wear glasses for reading! |
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My cousin had this done a few years ago. She still needs glasses for reading. 
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God bless,
Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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ALmom
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 4:24pm | IP Logged
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Ok, this is a major problem with me. I just want to see right and be comfortable. Even if I look like a little old granny, I'm over worrying about that!
I started wearing glasses when I was in 8th grade - but could never feel comfortable to read with them. Also they never fit my face right so they either always fell off or gave me a major headache and hurt behind the ears. My solution was to take them in my purse and only pull them out when I needed to see distances, ie read the chalkboard.
When I turned 16 and had to drive, well I went to contacts even though these would not correct my astigmatism (which was slight). The eye doc figured what the heck, I wasn't wearing my glasses anyways. I lived with this and actually no longer had trouble with reading. Funny thing - my eyes were stable all through the time I never wore glasses. I had some increase in prescription when I started wearing contacts, but only once or twice. I stayed at about a -3 all through high school, college and through the first children
Now after I hit 40, I noticed my nearsightedness getting worse (I think it has more to do with the reading demands again - trying to keep up with reading all that my dc were in high school, etc. - like I was back in high school and college). I also noticed that I seem to see fine when I leave the docs office with a new prescription, but by the end of the week, I can no longer focus on or read street signs. (I can do the charts when I am sitting still but it takes me so long to focus and things can go in and out of focus for me). But at least I could generally read.
My fil cautioned me that this was a sign of glaucoma - so I made sure that they carefully looked at that, no glaucoma, thankfully.
I finally went to the same doc who has been treating my dc with the vision problems - and he told me I had several things going on, one being the age related inability to focus (probably more severe or coming faster in my case simply because I never did this well) and other things and we'd have to tackle it one at a time. He gave me prescription for bifocals with astigmatism correction. I really, really tried to get used to them. I cannot, no matter what I do. I end up sick to my stomach and with a major migraine if I wear them. I stopped. Then I tried picking up reading glasses at the Wal-Mart. Those made everything look like it was curved. Well, the eye doc explained that one to me - there is a standard distance between pupils that all/most of the Wal -Mart glasses are made for. If your eye distance (and mine is significantly smaller) is different, then those will not work for you. If I want reading glasses, I'll have to pay megabucks for a prescription.
Anyways, as soon as we can get back to Chattanooga, I'm going to tell the doc my newest difficulties. I cannot use the bifocals, even with the adjusted astigmatism correction and the weaker reading prescription. I'm going nuts and the only way I can read without significant strain is to take everything off and out (no contacts, no astigmatism correction, etc.)
I am going to ask about progressives (I tried on my sis's and these seemed more comfortable to me - but they are a lot more expensive than bifocals and do all the focusing adjustment for you so probably hasten the deterioration of those muscles since you're not using them) as I think one of my problems is that I have a habit of tilting my head (been common for so many years, that I'm hardly aware of it)so I'm always looking through the distorted line somewhere. I also went ahead and did upstairs testing on me like we did with the kids - and surprise, surprise - I suppress (use one eye at a time) and do not cross the center line. I'm not sure how much of my problems are vision issues from childhood but they are certainly being exaggerated with age and whatever I did as a young person to compensate, is no longer working. I have also noticed that one eye gets tireder, that my left eye is fuzzy with reading no matter what and my right eye is pretty clear with close up. I should probably be doing the therapy along with my kids, but I'm so old it is kind of hard to think it is really worthwhile (I'm not paying for it - just trying certain things to maybe get my eyes working together)
Not sure what I will do - but I am frustrated not seeing as the only thing I was good at as a kid was reading and it is still my favorite thing to relax. I certainly cannot play sports - most of the time, I don't even see the ball because it is too hard to focus on a moving object. My dh learned this quickly the first time we played tennis on a date and I didn't return a single ball!! - I'm just glad it wasn't our first date as that got rained out and we talked instead! Then he tried to teach me how to play table tennis and got me returning smashes so he kept encouraging me to follow the markings of the ball to determine spin and return his curve balls. Finally, in exasperation, I looked at him and said, there is no way I'm going to see that tiny yellow dot, yet alone which way its going - I don't even see the ball once you've hit it. Then he was baffled, then how do you return my slams. I grin - well, its called physics - the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of return - and you stand far enough back to anticipate. I see the ball when you first hit it and then when it hits my paddle  .
Janet
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 8:03pm | IP Logged
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Hmmm. Lasik surgery.... I'm just too scared something would go wrong and I'd end up blind.. I know that's ridiculous but it freaks me out. Another thing that makes me nervous is that I hear commercials on the radio about this or that eye doctor offering special deals and long term financing for lasik patients. NO WAY would I trust a doctor whose services were *on sale*.
Just call me "fraidy cat"...
Peace,
Nancy
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Rachel May
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 8:56pm | IP Logged
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From my years working in an optometrist practice:
Presbyopia happens to everyone about age 40. It means "old eyes". The lens of your eye slowly becomes more rigid as it ages causing it to change shape more slowly and with less ablility to change its overall shape when it is trying to focus.
Here are ideas for treatment:
Taking off your glasses and changing your reading distance
My optometrist recommended this for people just barely needing bifocals. It's the cheapest way to go. The math of it is that 0.00 would be perfect vision. If you are near sighted your rx is a negative number like -2.50. A bifocal is a positive number like +0.50. So if you have a -2.50 and take off your glasses, have just given yourself a +2.50 bifocal. Isn't that cool? Sometimes you will have to adjust the reading distance to tweak that extra strong bifocal you've given yourself so you hold the paper as far away as you can, say 21"? Anyway, you can do it and it will not hurt your eyes.
Bifocals/Trifocals/Progressive:
Bifocals are available in RGP and soft contact lenses and in specs. The bifocal in contacts is a ring around the outside that gets pushed up over your cornea by your bottom lid when you look down. The way these were made when I was dispensing them would make them less helpful for people who use the computer often.  But you could put on a pair of computer specs over them.
In specs you can get Bi/Tri/Progressives in a dizzying array of sizes and combinations. Progressives wearers usually say they need a little time to get used to tilting their head correctly and walking, but most adapt well within 2 weeks. They can be less sucessful when you lie down in bed and watch TV.
Monovision
This is using one eye to see distance and one eye to see near. You would rely more on your dominant eye when seeing things at a distance like when you drive a car. You can do it with contacts (RGP or soft) or with corrective surgery. When we used to send patients for surgery, the surgeon usually would modify the near eye for free or a nominal amount as necessary. You could ask about that. Also, it will take about 2 weeks to adjust fully to monovision.
LASIK We had only one less than sucessful LASIK surgery when I worked there. A lady had one eye that was not done correctly and was only correctable to 20/40 after that. To put that in perspective, you may legally drive a car with 20/40 vision. You might not even notice that your vision is fuzzy. Most LASIK patients have perfect vision the first day. Bill took a whole week and a novena to St. Lucy to get it. Also, LASIK is not the only surgery available and others may be better if your eyes are dry.
Dryness You can use OTC lubircating drops or you can ask your optometrist to plug your lower tear duct with a punctal plug so that the tears stay on your eye longer. I've had that done. It's painless and quick.
OK, I hope that was helpful. I'm going to skulk back to the forums I'm supposed to be on now.
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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stacykay
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 9:25pm | IP Logged
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I would like to have lasik, but two things are holding me back, $$$$ and concern/not quite fear . I would like to see how the lasiks work, longterm, so I wouldn't have to worry about something coming up years later, due to the surgery.
I do have a friend who had it done. She no longer requires glasses for her "far" vision. She uses them for reading. I would love not to wear glasses, although my current pair are probably the most comfortable ones I have ever had.
And Janet, keep us updated on how you fare. We should have done a St. Lucy novena for you in Dec.!
God Bless,
Stacy
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4Real Forums : St. Anne's Tearoom: Growing in Wisdom over 40
Topic: Over 40 specs
