Tool Belt
Contributor
To lindenbruce.....yep, same thing. Thanks. Been waiting for a totally accommodating lens and some courage to get it done.
Refractive Lens Exchange or LASIK vision correction?
- Thread starter lindenbruce
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OP
lindenbruce
Contributor
Yep, I am looking at the accomodating lens if I go the RLE way. Looks like we are having the same thoughts. You guys done ice fishing yet? B
A friend of mine who retired from opthalmology is near-sighted and still wears glasses. He is among the minority of doctors who believe it's not worth the risk. He's mentioned there is especially a dearth of data on what happens when people who have had these procedures become elderly, since it has "only" been in the last 20 or so years that these procedures have become commonplace.
I wear soft (hydrophilic) disposables for diving. I keep a spare with me on the boat, but I've never had one fall out yet.
Tool Belt
Contributor
Yeah, why in the hell do I live in a place where frozen water sits on the ground for 4 or 5 months........geesh.
flots am
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One of my friends is an ophthalmic surgeon and he still wears glasses.
I'll get my eyes lasered right after he gets his done.
flots.
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I am nearsighted too. I wear glasses, and dive with contacts.
Disposable contacts are a great option. Yes, keep a few spares in your gear box. If you lose one on a dive, no big deal, go get another. I can't remember if I ever lost one on a dive either, but it doesn't usually happen.
Also looked into LASIK as my eye doc tends to push it. I have extremely sharp uncorrected (close focus) vision and asked for a guarantee that the procedure would not compromise this. -The answer I got was unacceptable to me.
Disposable contacts are a great option. Yes, keep a few spares in your gear box. If you lose one on a dive, no big deal, go get another. I can't remember if I ever lost one on a dive either, but it doesn't usually happen.
Also looked into LASIK as my eye doc tends to push it. I have extremely sharp uncorrected (close focus) vision and asked for a guarantee that the procedure would not compromise this. -The answer I got was unacceptable to me.
Tool Belt
Contributor
Last time I asked about LASIK my doc dialed in the phoropter to what my near vision would be. While it is marginal even with my contacts (I can get by without readers at times) that view through the phoropter would have had me in readers all....the.....time. Had tried monovision contact correction years ago but it didn't feel right, maybe I'll have to try that again.
Only have 200 dives, but never have lost a contact either.
Only have 200 dives, but never have lost a contact either.
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lindenbruce
Contributor
That's okay. My brother-in-law is from Wisconsin as well and we share the same first name too. Kinda weird actually as we look enough alike to have pulled one over on more than one waitress in a bar too.
I can't get in to see my RGP contact doc for two weeks. I'm going to grill him about my options.
Flots Am, it funny you say that. Because the first doc I went to go see was also wearing glasses, but for close-up only. He did have LASIK done years ago though so he wasn't being a hypocrite. It's interesting that some are wearing contacts while diving with no issues, but the gist I get is you are not supposed to be wearing them during diving because of the gas exchange process during ascents. Or maybe it's because if you slip a lens during diving you can't do anything about it?
Hum..... B
I can't get in to see my RGP contact doc for two weeks. I'm going to grill him about my options.
Flots Am, it funny you say that. Because the first doc I went to go see was also wearing glasses, but for close-up only. He did have LASIK done years ago though so he wasn't being a hypocrite. It's interesting that some are wearing contacts while diving with no issues, but the gist I get is you are not supposed to be wearing them during diving because of the gas exchange process during ascents. Or maybe it's because if you slip a lens during diving you can't do anything about it?
Hum..... B
I think it's the latter. Gas-permeable lenses might have some gas exchange issue--I'm not familiar with them, but it sounds plausible. Hydrophilic ("soft"/"hydrogel") lenses, on the other hand, are saturated with liquid, so I would think there should be no problem. At least I've never heard of anyone having a problem.
OP
lindenbruce
Contributor
Okay, finally got to see my Rigid Gas Permeable doctor yesterday. We talked about LASIK and Refractive Lens Exchange. Come to find out he had RLE a few years ago and loved it. He no longer wears contacts or glasses for his vision at distance and close up. My Doc went with the accommodating clear HD lens and said it has been great. We also talked about cataracts. He said there is a very good chance I will have cataracts as I get older, but genetics does weigh in on this to a certain extent. My Doc said that 70% of 70 year-olds have cataracts. I have done some web based research and the incidence of cataracts in older age groups is quite high really. So I don't think his estimate is that far off. So, I will be making an appointment with my eye Doc's Doc (funny huh) in the next few weeks to get going in the direction for RLE. B
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