Lasik and observation

Fuzzball · Post by **Fuzzball** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:55 am

Hi all

What do you think about Lasik? Does it affect observations? Someone told me that when you do Lasik it affect your observation eg night blindness, comas etc.

Anybody, can comment?

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:35 pm

There was an article in Sky & Telescope last year (?) on this issue. It seems that after undergoing Lasik surgery, some amatuer astronomers do find it has negatively affected their night vision and astronomical observation. There are always some small risk involved; I have a friend who went for the operation but his vision is still slightly under-corrected.

kayheem · Post by **kayheem** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:24 pm

Look around you.... Eye specialists are still wearing glasses! :-)

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:25 pm

I do not think Lasik will solve the eye problems totally. It may create more astigmatism in the process which is bad for astronomy. Also, spherical, short sightedness may not be fully corrected too and night contrast etc can become worse.

My friend went through the op, but it does not help in astronomy. Recently, I pointed Saturn which was near to Venus and my friend could not see it. Unless your eyesight is really bad and it is a big hassle to wear contacts/glasses, then prob lasik is an option.

kingkong · Post by **kingkong** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:46 pm

kayheem wrote:Look around you.... Eye specialists are still wearing glasses! :-)

yup. my family optometrist is still wearing glasses/contacts. he does sell lasik but he's not pushing it. i told him i'll only do lasik after him...

Post by **weixing** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:32 pm

Hi,
Although some people in cloudynight forum do have positive feedback, but everyone is different and there are always risk involve. So unless you really need it, I think it's better stay away from it... just in case you are on the wrong side of the statistics...

Have a nice day.

Clifford60 · Post by **Clifford60** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:49 pm

Statistics is how they slice and dice the data, they normally will pick data or conditional data to make them look good. Today, they claim that the successful rate is > 95%, but under a certain condition, something like 6/12 and nothing else as successful. So don't trust statistics too much.

kayheem · Post by **kayheem** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:37 pm

The reason why 'success' is pegged at 6/12 or better is that 6/12 is the legal limit where you can drive without glasses.

There is a 1% chance that something bad may happen such that you cannot achieve 6/6 vision again even if you wore glasses e.g. infection, scarring etc. Both PRK and LASIK can cause halos and glare post-op.

Bottom line:
If you treasure your vision or depend on it for a living, don't risk the 1%.
However, if you can't tolerate glasses or contact lenses and definitely want the convenience, go for it.

IMHO: if you still want it, go for PRK instead of LASIK. LASIK has the risk of flap complications.

mrngbss · Post by **mrngbss** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:49 pm

What does PRK stand for?

kayheem · Post by **kayheem** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:01 pm

PRK = Photorefractive Keratectomy

Take a look at: http://www.prk.com/

Any local experience by our Singastro members?