Eye surgery asigmatism

[bomberbaz]

Not sure if this is the right place to put this but as the M1 eyeball is part of the whole setup, I stuck it here.

Query regarding vision corrective eye surgery.

My story in brief is I have terrible astigmatism, along with short and long sight problems. Basically my mark one eyeballs have seen better days, although they have never been up to much from an early age and I have worn glasses from the age of 8.

This plays hell with my viewing and there are times when I curse my poor vision. TV Dioptrix are used with some eyepieces, but although they are a reasonable solution, they are not perfect. 

All the time I am tied to considering eyepieces with good eye relief but other glasses wearers will already know where I am coming from.

So to the point, I am booked in to see a specialist with a view to corrective lens surgery and maybe laser treatment after.

Just so you know astronomy is not the only reason for considering this approach but it certainly has a bearing on my thinking.

Has anyone ever had such surgery and if so, what results did they have please?

I would be grateful for any feedback as it is both expensive and quite daunting to be considering this at the tender age of 58.

If anyone would prefer to message rather than post on here, I promise I would be discreet.

Thanks in advance to you all.

Steve

[Carbon Brush]

Hi Steve.

As someone who was also issued with 'less than 100%' optical gear, I know where you are coming from.
In my case I use contact lenses to fix both astig and distance correction. Though of course for astro use, the distance part is irrelevant, given a focus drawtube.
The lenses have proved very helpful when riding a motorbike, scuba diving, and when flying, by avoiding the off axis restrictions and distortions inherent in views through specs lenses.

The only 'aggravation' with contact lenses has been the shop front people pushing for daily disposable lenses. These are much softer and more awkward to handle with sausage fingers.
The tougher monthly disposable lenses being much easier to insert first time.

The contact lenses are very low cost (compared to surgery) and if you don't like the outcome, you can go back to the original installation in seconds.
Though I'm guessing you have already tried lenses.

Don't forget any lens surgery does not do anything for age related loss of accommodation. In other words the lens losing flexibilty.
Recognised by many as arms shortening and newsprint shrinking beyond age 40.
The 'near & far' lens treatment involves splitting the view rather like a fresnel lens, which I can't imagine being acceptable for some situations.

I'm watching with interest but can't imagine I would consider surgical intervention unless for cataract removal.

HTH, David.
 

 

 

 

[bomberbaz]

13 minutes ago, Carbon Brush said:

Hi Steve.

As someone who was also issued with 'less than 100%' optical gear, I know where you are coming from.
In my case I use contact lenses to fix both astig and distance correction. Though of course for astro use, the distance part is irrelevant, given a focus drawtube.
The lenses have proved very helpful when riding a motorbike, scuba diving, and when flying, by avoiding the off axis restrictions and distortions inherent in views through specs lenses.

The only 'aggravation' with contact lenses has been the shop front people pushing for daily disposable lenses. These are much softer and more awkward to handle with sausage fingers.
The tougher monthly disposable lenses being much easier to insert first time.

The contact lenses are very low cost (compared to surgery) and if you don't like the outcome, you can go back to the original installation in seconds.
Though I'm guessing you have already tried lenses.

Yes I have tried and don't get on with CL's

13 minutes ago, Carbon Brush said:

Don't forget any lens surgery does not do anything for age related loss of accommodation. In other words the lens losing flexibilty.
Recognised by many as arms shortening and newsprint shrinking beyond age 40.
The 'near & far' lens treatment involves splitting the view rather like a fresnel lens, which I can't imagine being acceptable for some situations.

This is the part that concerns me the most, along with a shifting eyeball shape. I am not sure about all the mechanics so before I go and have the assessment I will be asking for further detail.

[Felias]

My wife, who's a doctor, says she has never met any ophthalmologist who has undergone laser eye surgery, that they all rather would wear glasses. 😅 Although she may be joking/exaggerating, neither of us has ever considered the option, even though we could use it. That's why I prefer imaging to observing! 😇

[clarkpm4242]

Hi

I'm very short sighted (no jokes) with significant astigmatism, presbyopia and the first signs of cataracts.

A former NHS doctor.  Had many discussions re. corrective surgery.  Something I would never have.  Just like with camera and scope lenses, astronomy is very critical of problems.

The results are okay for everyday vision but may not satisfy astro viewing.  You may also still require glasses.

I will have cataract surgery in the future.

Paul

 

 

[AstroKeith]

The biggest side effects, affect night vision. So not good for astronomers!

This is a natural impact of the iris opening as we dark adapt. The surgery is done around the edge and so when dark adapted problems often occur.

How often? Well everyone I know who has had laser surgery admits that driving at night is worse, and they watch tv etc with the lights on brighter.

Edited December 1, 2021 by AstroKeith

[bomberbaz]

Thanks for the responses people, some very useful information on here.

I have been onto the Royal College of Ophthalmologists website and downloaded some data from there to arm myself prior to the assessment which I will still attend.

Whether or not I decide to go ahead or seek alternative solutions is still very much up in the air.

I did read on there some additional information regarding possible daily soft lens which although expensive may be something more attractive and obviously non invasive, unlike the surgery.

[bomberbaz]

LATEST:

Cancelled my appointment. I am not prepared to risk making things worse having read some reviews on an NHS website Ratings and reviews - Optical Express - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

I get that some people get great results but there were a lot of negatives on there and it has put me right off. 

I have seen another optician and they have advised me Toric contact lens (these cure the astigmatism) could be the solution I am looking for, £15 for a consultation and a free trial to see if they work for me.

[Carbon Brush]

Hope all goes well with the lens trial.
I remember my first trial with toric lenses. These are lens type I still use.
The optician stood behind me and put them in before I knew what was going on. No discomfort at all.
The views.....Being able to see clearly without specs for the first time. A definite wow! moment.

[bomberbaz]

5 hours ago, Carbon Brush said:

Hope all goes well with the lens trial.
I remember my first trial with toric lenses. These are lens type I still use.
The optician stood behind me and put them in before I knew what was going on. No discomfort at all.
The views.....Being able to see clearly without specs for the first time. A definite wow! moment.

pretty much what i am hoping for but not getting my hopes up just yet, cheers

[Merlin]

Astronomy teaches us just how precious our eyesight is. My problem is double-vision due to pressing a binocular with rubber eyecups too hard against my eyes. There was a suction effect that caused a muscle to relax in the right eye. 

Fortunately, the double-vision can be corrected with specs. 

 

[garryblueboy]

I had mine done 5 years ago best money I ever spent I had very high ASTIGMATISM in both eyes this was corrected and now I view with out those dreaded glasses and it’s so much more pleasurable 

[bomberbaz]

10 minutes ago, garryblueboy said:

I had mine done 5 years ago best money I ever spent I had very high ASTIGMATISM in both eyes this was corrected and now I view with out those dreaded glasses and it’s so much more pleasurable 

who did you use for the procedure

[garryblueboy]

Vision express in Cambridge really good from start to finish 

[Louis D]

On 01/12/2021 at 12:38, bomberbaz said:

Cancelled my appointment. I am not prepared to risk making things worse having read some reviews on an NHS website Ratings and reviews - Optical Express - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Based on those reviews, it appears this isn't 100% covered by NHS?

[Carbon Brush]

For @Louis D.

In England, the optical service is not really in the NHS.
You can get a free eye test if you belong to certain qualifying groups. These include retirement age, children, family history of certain conditions. Almost forgot, also a prisoner on leave from prison.
Basically if you are a working age adult, you pay. But it is not that much money. Typically £25.

If after test, you just need glasses with long/short/astig correction, you have to reach for your wallet.
For most of us these specs or contact lenses get things up to the mark, so we pay.
Whether we buy basic plastic frames or posh designer frames, basic single vision lenses, multicoated varifocal, etc is our choice.

We do have to pay for laser and other treatments if the problems can be solved well enough by specs.

If the optician is not happy about any aspect of your eyes, he will refer you to an NHS specialist. Which costs you nothing.

If your vision problems require anything more than just glasses to correct, the NHS steps in 100%.
An example of NHS optical care being cataract removal and lens replacement.
Nothing to pay. Just as the NHS does on all health issues from a sprained little finger to multiple organ transplant.