Laser Eye Treatment

[thepheebster]

Hi. Is laser eye treatment any good, coz obviously the adverts are gonna say its fantastic

[Yinzer]

A guy my husband works with had the surgery and still has to wear glasses because they messed up on one eye. Too many bad possibilities for me. I'll stick to my centimeter thick glasses, thank you.

[Zen]

Try seaching on Google,heres one example I found.
Lasik surgery permanently changes the physiology and optics of the eye. When considering any form of non-urgent surgery, patients should always bear in mind the risk-benefit ratio. The benefits are obvious - no more glasses or contact lenses. However, the risk of permanent damage to vision can be greater than even many ophthamologists know.

According to the 'Review of Optometry' journal, up to one in six people who undergo laser surgery end up with complications that affect their eyesight. These include distortions of vision, such as irregular astigmatism, which cannot be corrected by glasses. Other patients simply experience a deterioration in their quality of vision or serious 'dry-eye' syndrome.

[Pinotage]

"Laser eye surgery to correct short or long sight is neither safe enough nor effective enough to be carried out in the NHS, and doctors who offer it privately must explain the dangers to their patients, an expert advisory body ruled yesterday." see full story at  http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1373783,00.ht ml

[Quizmonster]

Every time the question of having laser eye surgery done appears on AnswerBank, someone invariably says: "It's great!...You should have it done." Often, this answer also suggests that opticians will advise you against it because they have everything to gain financially from continuing to sell you spectacles or lenses.
Listen to NICE, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, Britain's watchdog for such procedures.  Their report  of 15/12/04 concludes that laser eye-treatment (quote) "does not justify its widespread use...because of concerns for its long-term safety for patients."
The Medical Defence Union, the major insurer for doctors, reports that the number of claims against laser eye-clinics has doubled in six years.  In addition, the American Journal of Ophthalmology claims the failure-rate is more like one in ten than one in a thousand, as its proponents suggest.  Even �Which', the Consumers Association magazine in Britain, warned people that they were literally (quote) "gambling with their sight."
The woman who formed the �Lasermyeye' pressure group now suffers from double vision and a loss of night vision...she can no longer drive.  Other people have suffered worsening of sight in other ways.
One thing none of those who say "Go ahead!" can guarantee - since the treatment has been available only for 15 years or so - is the true long-term effects. Experts are particularly concerned about the lasting results over a period of many years caused by the surgical thinning of the cornea.
Well, there you have it.  If you think the doubts expressed by NICE, the Medical Defence Union, the American Journal of Ophthalmology, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the Consumers' Association are just so much hot air, then go ahead and "gamble your sight".  I wish you luck if you go ahead!

[thepheebster]

Thanks for all your answers. My eyesight is perfect, I was just asking because the adverts say its the best thing since sliced bread, I just wanted to know if it was that good. Fingers crossed I never need to think about it.

[bonscot]

I had both eyes done in 2001(at same time) and must say i havent experienced any difficulties(touch wood!!) and as a regular gym and sports participant, i felt a great benefit there.I must say that not long after getting the surgery i began to take my good eyesight for granted(tut tut- us human beings eh!!!)  Good luck to everyone inluding those who go for freedom from glasses in 2005. x

[honkytonkman]

I asked one of the opticians at my local group practice and he won't entertain the idea of laser surgery. I guess I could be cynical (which I am by nature) and I could think it's because they want to prolong their source of income from those of us needing glasses and contact lenses...but in his words "I won't carry out any treatment that I wouldn't be happy to let my wife and children have". New technology is a real thrill for me but not if it may mean there is a generation of OAPs in about 30/40 years who lose their sight due to scarring of the cornea. Besides my contacts take only seconds to pop in every morning.

[undercovers]

It's great!...You should have it done