Laser Corrective Eye Surgery - WiiTalk

Caesar · 02-07-2008, 01:17 PM

Does anyone here have any experience with or know about Laser Eye Surgery? Is it very effective? Dangerous? Worth the hundreds of pounds spent on each eye?

I ask because today I had my eye test for the Royal Navy. I failed. With my lenses I meet the standard but with unaided vision I don't. Thus the job I was going for is no longer available to me. Unless I have laser eye surgery, but I'm not entirely sure that they'll allow that. I'll have to head back in and ask them if they do allow people who have had surgery to join. If they do, and if I have the surgery, then I'd still have to wait about a year, possibly two, before being allowed to apply again for the job I wanted.

So it's either that, or find another job. My choices within the Navy aren't all gone, just more limited. I can't serve in the Warfare Branch, or upper check jobs (I think) but lower deck, logistics, submariner etc are still open to me.

Anyway, just wanted to know if I could pick anyone's brains concerning eye surgery.

Ricksta7 · 02-07-2008, 01:26 PM

Hi Ceaser, Sorry to hear your crappy news mate, Thats a bugger!

Well I can't answer if they will accept you if you have the lazer eye correction or not, but I can't imagine it being a major problem? My best mate had laser eye surgery about a year or 2 ago (failed eye test for driving test) he said, he had slight blured vision after the tests for about a week or so.... Well he said it was on and off? Blury one min and fine the next? I assume this is normal ? Anyway, he swears by it now and said he feel like superman

so from the one person I know who has had it it's 100% good stuff!!! But I am sure other people will have other views?

I have thought about it also myself.... I have to wear glasses for driving (I'm not to vein so haven't bothered yet)

But think rather than buying glasses for the rest of my life, I might aswell

Good luck with everything and whatever you do anyways Ceaser

Venerable(ish)Bede · 02-07-2008, 01:33 PM

That is disappointing news mate - sorry to hear.

With regard to eye surgery you need to talk to you optician to find out exactly why your eyesight is poor (whether your eye itself is not the optimal shape - if you use toric lens this is the case - or it is a ‘simple’ focusing issue). After that, you'll have to make a decision about whether you want to take the risk of possibly having ‘repeated’ surgery on your eyes: the operation (as it has been explained to me) doesn't completely and permanently correct your vision – most people’s vision will change through their lives up to your 30s at which point most people stabilise and then deteriorate in their 40s – so you may/may not be back in this position of needing additional surgery dependant on natural eye fatigue over time. Something to bear in mind. Though I understand the surgery itself is quite safe (although as someone once said to me, once I never see a surgeon wearing glasses/lens I’ll know it’s safe).

Ricksta7 · 02-07-2008, 01:40 PM

Also I can't garuntee it as it's only something found whilst googleing lol, but this lad on here had the surgury and sounds like he was ok to go in...

The Royal Marines Net - Rum Ration › Forums › General › Newbies › Had laser eye surgery!

Sorry if im posting crap lol, trying to help

Hooblue · 02-07-2008, 01:44 PM

Sorry to hear about that Caesar, know how much you were looking forward to things!

In terms of lazer eye surgery, I don't have any personal experience with it. However, MissHoo's mum had it done a few years back and her vision is now great! Also one of my mates had it done too and he also swears by it, and said it was worth every penny. I'm sure you'll get a better and more informed opinion from other people but as far as I know it's worth it!

Hope things work out fella.

Caesar · 02-07-2008, 02:06 PM

Cheers for the info, guys. And Ricksta, that definitely isn't crap. It's good to know there's others in a similar position. However, the link you posted was of someone joining the Royal Marines. As it stands, my eye sight is good enough for the Marines, but not good enough for upper deck Navy Warfare duties. It's weird because my optician said that my right eye is weaker than my left; as the Marines, and anyone else handling a riffel, needs their right eye to look down the scope, having a stronger right eye is important. Not saying I want to join the Marines though. I have thought about it, and I certainly respect the job and the Marines themselves, but I don't think it's for me. The Royal Marines are our elite force (S.A.S. not included of course).

My parents said they can't stop me, but they are seriously against the Royal Marines as they are directly involved in front line combat in Afghanistan and Iraq as they operate with the Army; and I don't want to choose a career that I know my parents are against. I just wouldn't feel right.

But with regards to the surgery, it sounds promising. This is why I wanted people with first-hand experience of it, and not the advertising propaganda that tries to suck you in.

sherlockisback · 02-07-2008, 02:17 PM

Caesar,

I have done a little research on laser eye surgery since both manda and I have talked about it for the future. In the U.S. at least, laser eye surgery is only approved for near sighted conditions including astigmatisms. One of the first questions an optician will ask is about how dry your eyes are. If they are chronically dry, you may not be a candidate for the surgery, because that affects the healing process.

Also, you are a little young for the surgery. I understand that the key age is between 23-35. You also must have had the same prescription on your glasses for 12 months, if my memory services me correctly.

Hope that narrows your search a bit. I don't know if that applies across the pond but you can check into it. And if you really want to do it, I'd definitely talk to an optician and see if you're a candidate for the surgery and if they'd recommend it.

mandapanda · 08-07-2008, 06:55 PM

I will echo what Sherlock said. Your Rx has to have been steady, lest they correct and you're eyes just get worse. Reputable doctors won't even consider you if your vision has not leveled out.

Also, there is a bit of recovery time from it, so schedule for a time that you're not going to be doing ANYTHING (yes, that means taking a break from TV, video games, even reading).

In the states at least, since there is a lot of competition between the docs, most will do free touch-ups if the procedure doesn't work exactly right the first time, or for a specified period of time, so that may be something to look into.

I know once my Prescription levels out, I'm going to try hoping on the bandwagon, but until then, I will go progressly blinder with astigmatism :(

Caesar · 08-07-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandapanda

you're eyes

Are you calling me Eyes?!

Sharp Family · 08-07-2008, 07:47 PM

It also depends if you're short-sighted or long-sighted. Currently they only do laser surgery on short-sighted people. I know that because I was told at Christmas when my son went for his eyes tested. He's nowhere near old enough to have it done yet anyway, but maybe in 10-15 years time when he is, he'll be able to have it done.