Laser Surgery for the Deaf

Jared opened an enlightening discussion on laser surgery for the eyes to improve vision. I had LASIK in 1999 while on maternity leave and I love it. The procedure was uncomfortable, but it went by fast though it didn’t feel like it while in the chair.
Eight years later, my eyes continue to see very well. However, I don’t see 20/20 as I did after surgery. I got a pair of glasses last year for use on occasion when driving at night. They sit in my glove compartment for those times.
It’s tricky to read captions or the cable guide on TV at times, but it was still worth going the procedure. Who wants to manage contacts, glasses AND hearing aids? It was enough.

2 comments

    • Gally '02 on May 9, 2007 at 12:19 pm

    In September of 2001, I had LASIK in VA while I was student at Gallaudet… At the first, I was not sure about laser surgery for my eyes because I had astigmatism both of my eyes but those were not really seriously. I also had problem with far sightendness. What does that means the astigmatism to you? Most people don’t know about it and me either until I learned from doctor of LASIK who did explain me and showed me some pictures of eye. Also, how did eye work and what did cause? Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is shaped more like an oblong football than a spherical baseball, which is the normal shape. In most astigmatic eyes, the oblong or oval shape causes light rays to focus on two points in the back of your eye, rather than on just one.
    You can search on website like go to “google” and type “Astigmatism” and will tell you about the story.
    So far, I have no problem with my eyes and I have no glasses yet. BUT doctor did warn me about the future when my eyes will decrease and difficult to read a book or tv like closed captions..
    Important to attend to see eyes doctor on every year to make sure with your eyes tests. So I do see my eyes doctor on every year so far and my eyes are still 20/20 so far. I am really happy with my eyes now..
    Yeah, it is true what Jared said.. Sometimes it is tricky to read captions or guide on tv, but yes, it was worth to have the procedure. Nobody knows and who wants it!

    • D on May 9, 2007 at 12:24 pm

    Hi Meryl
    Last year, I asked my optomertist (not the ophthalmologist – real eye doctor) about the lasik surgery. The question he asked is how I prefer to use my vision. Told him that I rely a lot on reading TV captions and on lipreading with hearing people AND sign language with deaf people. He thought I shouldn’t try the eye surgery because the surgery means you could see distant objects clearly. Not up close. I don’t mind wearing my eyeglasses which I have worn most of my life. I look better with them on! The other possible risk is seeing stars in lights in the dark. So, I prefer to keep my eyes the way they are at the moment. Eye lasik surgery is almost like cochlear implant surgery…
    D

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