Corrective laser eye surgery (Lasik)

[buksida]

Posting this as Richard reminded me in another thread, have worn glasses for about 20 years and am about -4 in both eyes (which is pretty bad).

I am seriously considering the Lasik eye treatment to correct my vision but being all paranoid about medical things am basically looking for comments from people that have had it done or know others that have.

These are my options:
http://www.rutnin.com/eng/
http://www.lasikthai.com/
http://www.laservisionthai.com/eng/index.aspx

All look like they use the same technology and prices are all around 80-90k for the treatment. Any recommendations, advice and thoughts appreciated.

[VincentD]

A guy at work had his eyes done at Rutnin and is 100% pleased with the results. My brother also considered getting it done there, but changed his mind when he was told it wasn't permanent and there was a possibility it would have to be done again a couple of years down the line.

I've been wearing glasses (and contacts when younger and more of a 'hansum man') and getting older so am a bit set in my ways. Perhaps to be considered when I start to forget where I left the glasses, but by that time it'll be too late...

[Top Croc]

Hi Buksider,

I had the Lasik done about 15 years ago.

From a very young age through to my late 40's
wore coke bottle lenses.

I had both eyes done at the same time. Was warned of subsequent pain after the operation, didnt have any bad experience with pain.

It may be different now but at the time I was given the option of what type of sight I wanted to achieve. Having been a keen water skier and never really seeing the boat, my work being out doors etc I requested to be able to see palm fonds at 1000 mtr.

OK no problems with that and that's about how it worked out. I was warned that I would need reading glasses. Another person in the clinic suggested I read as much small type as possible which I did, do not have to use reading glasses.

Was advised that it can be done three times during later years to correct deficiency.

I have had trouble with glare since the op. Hate driving at night particularly with on coming traffic.

PM me with your email and I will be happy to answer any questions

[Nereus]

The advantage with Rutnin is that it is a Hospital, so you are only concerned with going to the one place.
Have not had Lasik done, but had good service from Rutnin, apart from the little
pr---k in the attached shop trying to tell me that my titanium frames were "too big" to make new lenses, until I pointed out to him that the existing ones were made in Bangkok.

[Hobiecat]

I had it done at Bumrungrad about two years ago with Dr. Ecachai. My results didn't turn out as good as he and I had hoped. He said I could expect a 110% increase in vision but it only came out at about 80% improvement. I think I may have twitched a little under the laser at the exact time he zapped me. Only had the one eye done. The eye was pretty sensitive after the operation but only when I touched the side of my head. Same as mentioned about glare at night driving is a killer and the eye does get dry at times so have to use eye drops from time to time. The main concern after the operation is infection. You have to pretty much stay at home for a week so you don't get any dust in your eyes. Any infection in your eye after the operation and any improvement you hoped for will completely vanish.

[petercr]

I had my eyes corrected at TRSC in Bangkok and can only say the results were perfect. I was offered correction for both long/short sight..........IE one eye each but opted for the long sight correction only so I still use reading glasses.

The Dusit hotel is just down the road and I stayed there overnight after the correction

[NOKYAI]

As an alternative...I have been using 'night and day' contact lenses which you sleep in and change monthly. It has worked well for me and works out about £20 monthly from the UK.

[sjpthsuk]

Went to Rutnin and did the tests but my lens was too flat which meant they need to scrape the eye film away so that was a non-starter.
While working in Singapore, went along to a guy there, no need to cut the lens or anything, each eye took around 15 seconds to do - in and out in around 5mins.
Long distance is great, but need glasses for the closeout reading if print too small as it's blurry, but this was explained at the time. I could have had one long / one near but opted for the two giving the same results.
Well worth doing...

[Top Croc]

Something I forgot to mention in my previous post.

The joy of being able to go to any Sunglasses Hut or similar and buy a pair of "SUNNIES" is something special after a life of clip-on's etc.

[London Boy]

My wife had the laser surgery 5 years ago in Dubai as she could not focus on anything further than 12 feet away. Had worn glasses / contact lens all her life and she has never regreted having it done.

[buksida]

Thanks for all the comments, I've been in touch with Rutnin Gimble and will make a pre-op appointment next month.

I get the glare and hate driving at night anyway so if that's the only major side effect no worries. Also no problem if I have to wear reading glasses later on.

Will find out about further corrective treatments if it is possible and the difference between Lasik and PRK which is another kind of treatment they offer.

[bcrglobal]

I did mine at Laser Vision about 8 years ago with Dr. Anun.

Fantastic result--my right eye was at 20/20 after the first operation, my left eye (Which had been at -9.5) was better than we had anticipated pre-operation, and they did a second operation to improve it even more at almost no cost.

When I went for my appointment, I was skeptical. They presented me with full and detailed information on the procedure, the risks, etc. and it almost came across as them trying to talk me OUT of the operation--an approach that I liked. I went back the next day for the procedure, and delighted in crumpling my glasses up shortly thereafter.

[JimmyGreaves]

Buksi, Let us know what the cost is and if they can sort my red/green colour blindness!

[Hobiecat]

Cost at Bumrungrad was about 39,000B if I remember correctly.

[wpcoe]

A suggestion about "mono vision" correction, where one eye is corrected for near vision and the other eye corrected to far vision:

Before committing to that method, try wearing glasses and/or contacts prescribed to that method, e.g. glasses with one lens for near and one lens for far sight.

Some people just don't adapt well to mono-vision, with headaches and dizziness as a result. I have been using the mono-vision method with contacts or glasses for many years with no such problems, but have read of many people who do.

Rather than commit to a major alteration such as Lasik mono-vision and find *afterward* it gives you headaches and/or makes you dizzy, why not "test" it first with glasses/contacts?