Well the surgery replaced my 'accommodating' lens with a bit of plastic which is always focused on a single (1 metre away) point so I can't train the fixed lens nor (I expect) refocus it by changing what the muscles in my eye do. But I will read up on those sources (thanks @jennypenny too) and see what I can do about making sure that I stay at the level I am now at.
Its interesting that the surgeon was of the opinion that my sight would stay stable (no change in prescription) from now on whereas the new optician (far better than my old one) was at pains to explain that my eye would carry on changing and persuade me to opt for varifocals as most convenient. (This would mean that I was always wearing glasses). I intend to wear glasses only when the implant lens does not give me good enough vision and my reading glasses are non-prescription in the upper part. My distance glasses are used for driving and some work/travel (when the dangle from a glasses chain so I can easily take them off). I will follow up and read this stuff with interest.
Its only now that I am RE that I have time to look into these things and not simply accept the advice of the experts.
I expect indigenous people are not exposed to industrial sounds which cause noise-induced hearing loss, which is often overlooked. Its advisable to protect your hearing whenever you're in a noisy environment like a music venue, for its long term retention.
Depends on the local environment. I live in the sticks, between the birds, bugs and frogs, my place is louder than the suburbs, or the city. It's peaceful, but not quiet.
Now the desert is quiet, but doesn't support many people.
Now, my wife is very nearsighted, and she has exceptional close up vision. In a pre technological society, that would be of value, pulling splinters, etc. But she would be a luxury. the tribe would need to be large and rich, to afford such specialists...
I got my eyes from 20/100 to 20/30 last I checked-- it took about a year or so!
I hope he's not serious about doing those eye exercises whilst driving.
Do any far-sighted people want to borrow an old pair of my glasses to use? They're about -11 diopters. All I have to do is go buy some cheap reading glasses. Or find 7wb5's!
For me, getting LASIK was an automatic 'yes' once I got my first bonus. No regrets. Myself, I had eyesight right on the edge of what is legal to drive without corrective lens (probably on the wrong side of the edge...) and contacts were really, really bothersome. Never had glasses as my eyesight was always on the edge of functional and never had an eye exam until university (to get the contacts) when I couldn't make out a lot of blackboard/projector writings, even with squinting. I would always forget to wear or bring my contacts because I didn't really need them except to be able to read things at a distance or enjoy being able to see well at a distance (like road signs, a movie, or telling if someone "far away" is looking at me).
I searched the ERE forums for LASIK knowing a thread had to be out there and I wasn't disappointing. We still have a health flexible spending account with our insurance with a bunch of money that will go away so that was the only reason why I considered LASIK. For what it is worth I decided against it for the following reasons.
My vision care has cost me ~$100 / year for the past 10 years and probably less per year before that going back to when I was a child. This is not very much money
The ~2-5% risk seems not necessary for my vision, which is bad but not terrible like some posters
No guarantee I won't have to wear glasses after the surgery. This is the only reason why I would do the surgery and if I can't get this guaranteed the $4000 spent seems like a silly investment.
Having LASIK will set me back ~$1000 in out of pocket expenses (not included health spending account) versus no out of pocket if I just get another pair of glasses + sun glasses.
I didn't want to drive the ~15-20 minutes for each appointment with the LASIK office
I also don't absolutely hate wearing my glasses. They are just annoying to wear all the time.
Hope this helps anybody if they are also considering LASIK but on an ERE-ish budget!
I would not do it. The range of your eye focus keeps getting smaller as you get older. The question is where do you want to be able to see without correction? I would find it terrifying to not see close without glasses or contacts.
Even if you get it done, it only works for a period of time, i.e. not even close to your whole life. Then you will be back to wearing glasses for distance, and also not be able to see up close.
Edit - @TopHatFox - holy cow, that article was cool. My last eye guy in CA kept dropping my Rx year after year. Wonder if that was what he was trying to do? Congrats on the results. Did you use the plus lenses for reading? The reduced minuses for far away? Both?
If you get by and don't get headache from it, I wouldn't do anything.
If you do get headache in particular context, I would get a cheap pair of glasses, and wear them in those context. I am longsighted, and I have glasses that I wear for long driving or screenstaring sessions. It nearly got rid of the migraines I used to have.
