After all these years of wearing glasses or contacts, I'm seriously considering eye surgery to correct my (extreme) myopia.
I looked into it years ago, but the technology wasn't up to the challenge so I wasn't considered a good candidate.
I've recently booked an appointment for the preliminary exams with the hope that I may be, now. Still, it's a huge cost, and technically, it's rather unnecessary...I can make do with contacts and glasses for the rest of my life, but it would be such a treat not to have to worry about them any longer.
(And the costs for those add up over the years!)
My eyesight has steadily declined over the years since I was eight years old. In fact, I rather believed I'd be blind by the time I was 25 but fortunately, that wasn't the case. (Though I have to say, my prescription now is way beyond the 'norm'. I think most people with myopia have approximately -1.5 to - 4 on average and anything above that is high. I'm at -9.5 in one eye and -10 in the other. And that was from an eye exam 3 years ago. I'll bet it's even worse, now.)
I'm not nervous at all about the actual surgery, things like that don't bother me. It's the cost! It's a rather substantial amount...when all is said and done it'll be just over $3000 (this, of course, includes hotel accommodation, travel expenses and the like. The initial exam is done in Victoria but the surgery is done in Vancouver.)
Well, we'll 'see' how it goes. It may be that I'm not a candidate at all; there are some clinics that can't accommodate that degree of myopia. It won't bother me if it can't be done, then I won't have to agonize over spending that much money.
But one day, I'd really like to be able to open my eyes in the morning and just see.
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Me and S talk about this all the time, normally when we wake up and we're both blind as bats. If I had the money, would I do it? Let's be honest, probably not, (woo hoo let's go back to France!)but I'd spend a long time considering the possibility.
It certainly would be tempting if I had such a large correction as you do. But I don't like to think of anything going wrong with my eyes. At least it's not a new operation. That said tomorrow is my first cataract op. I'm even nervous about that.
But would you still have to wear glasses later as most people do or is it for life?
When my kids were small I thought they'd be blind at 25 too. They needed glasses every year and stronger. But it settled down about -5 to -6. Both wear glasses, my son doesn't care, but my daughter tried contacts however she could not see as well so went back to glasses.
Good luck with your decision Tai. The cost might be worth it in the long run, glasses and contacts are expensive too.
Well good luck which ever way it goes. :o)
I have two friends that have had Lasik surgery and they say it was the best thing they ever did. And exactly how you ended this post - they say how amazing it is to wake up and be able to see. Plus the fact that you are an avid reader, well, it just seems like the thing to do. I hope it all works out, but being all selfish, I hope it doesn't interfere with our meeting in June!
"But one day, I'd really like to be able to open my eyes in the morning and just see."
After rambling through the rooms of your house Tai, seems to me you already do.
Vision *shrug* I am blind in one eye yet don't jealously guard the sight of the other. Glasses never needed them 'til 13 yrs ago and have run through about two pair a year by sitting on them or losing them and such BUT once my wife threatened to staple them to my head in my sleep I am a little more cautious for them. She is Italian mean and makes no idle threat.
3K is not a vast sum if it gives you more room in your own head to see with.
Peace
mark
I know two people who've done that, although I don't know if it was myopia. One had great results and has no regrets. The other is now happy with the results, but for several months after had issues with dry eyes. Myself, I'm going to stick with glasses. Even as a vasectomy veteran, when someone says "cut" and "your eyeball" in the same sentence, I look, myopically, around for an exit.
I wouldn't trust any eye place that can't see well enough to spell "center" correctly.
And, you do look awfully cute in glasses.But, I can understand your motivation considering the vision issues you are dealing with. But, women should never think they don't look hot in glasses -- they do.
Ooh I know what you mean.
I have one surgery planned but
the eye things is veeeery tempting.
Of all things I value my sight the most.
After 40 odd years of wearing very thick eye glasses my mom had laser eye surgery. She is very glad she spend the dough to get it done. She loves waking up in the morning and being able to see. She had forgotten what that was like. Good luck with the eye exams.
3G isn't that large when you look at the life-long benefits. But I bet the joy of "seeing" when you wake up will be short lived as you become used to it and come to take it for granted - as we all take our health for granted at times. I say go to France with wolfgrrrl with the 3G and learn to look imperious over horned rims. Very powerful are those looks.
But the wonderfully dramatic use you can ~ and do, I'm sure ~ put glasses to. Somehow, I think that flair of yours comes out in frames, glances, etc. Of course, there's always that whole seeing-thing. Hmmm...I wish you luck with the dilemma!
I wish you luck whatever you decide.
I'm near-sighted too and often considered this surgery but in the end have not yet done it. I considered it because I'm not allowed contacts because of allergies - perhaps some day I still will do it.
Having watched you grumble over your irritated contact lenses and stress over getting nice frames that don't break the bank, I think the $3G is pretty reasonable -- if it can happen. I know people that have done it, and they said it was the best money they ever spent on their quality of life. PERIOD. (kimber, wouldn't France be even better without lense glare?)
I know the feeling, Tai. My eye problems are pretty mild, but to wake up with the world already in focus...
Good luck with that. I'm still a little freaked out about messing surgically with the eyes, but I guess it's been around long enough that the risks are minimal. Maybe one day I will be lucky enough that my vision gets so bad that it'll be worth it. :)
I wish you the best with that. I guess I take that whole seeing thing for granted, and I shouldn't. At least Vancouver is an okay place to spend a day or two recovering...at one of those sidewalk restaruants having a few beers.
I hate vision problems. I have been 20/200 in my right eye... both my parents were carrier of the gene which affected the vision of me and of my sister. My sis passed away, but my own vision headaches still remain, and my right eye is a hard=sell... I can make out all colrs and forms, but small details are impossible. I consider myself lucky though - I can still HEAR (music), and I can still see (birds flying) and I can still touch (my Sweetheart in every way) and boy oh boy can I still smell... which allows me to eat anything & everyting in sight.. HA HA HA HA... :)
Very cool post.
That's always been a dream for me...but I'd need to be sedate for sure to keep my eyes open and stay calm during an eye surgery. Plus, my eye problems aren't of the right kind for that surgery. But I really, really hope it can happen for you someday!
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