Any hockey players who've had Lasik eye surgery?

[Crazy Otto 0]

I'm considering having the surgery to correct nearsightedness; right now I wear contacts but I'm just curious if anyone on the bored who plays and has had it done felt it improved their game.

[LegoDoom 0]

I wouldn't say it improved my game, but it's definitely a convenience. You don't have to worry about contacts falling out or goggles/glasses fogging up.

I had it done 4 years ago and have never regretted it.

[Juice_Slowjamz 0]

If you have no problems with wearing glasses or contacts, don't get Lasik. I was considering it, but I talked to a few doctors that said that the surgery is too new. No one knows the long term side effects. For all they know, your eyes can fall out at the 15 year mark.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

My old teammate is a lasik doctor and he came into the shop a couple of weeks ago. When he had to sign the credit card receipt he busted out the glasses and signed it. I was like "What, you wear glasses? Don't believe in your product?" and what he told me is he does have Lasik, however that once you reach 45, you will need reading glasses. THey have not been able to figure out how to reverse that yet.

[LegoDoom 0]

If you have no problems with wearing glasses or contacts, don't get Lasik. I was considering it, but I talked to a few doctors that said that the surgery is too new. No one knows the long term side effects. For all they know, your eyes can fall out at the 15 year mark.

Were these eye doctors you were talking to? The surgery used to be performed without lasers 25 years ago. 25 > 15.

And you will need reading glasses when most people do (sometime in your 40's).

[Juice_Slowjamz 0]

If you have no problems with wearing glasses or contacts, don't get Lasik. I was considering it, but I talked to a few doctors that said that the surgery is too new. No one knows the long term side effects. For all they know, your eyes can fall out at the 15 year mark.

Were these eye doctors you were talking to? The surgery used to be performed without lasers 25 years ago. 25 > 15.

And you will need reading glasses when most people do (sometime in your 40's).

You know it. According to Dr. Gupta on CNN, non laser and laser Lasik are two completely different procedures. He also brought out a great point, "If you don't mind wearing contacts/glasses, why take the risk?"

[biff44 0]

There was a good article this weekend in the Boston Globe about soldiers from Iraq getting free eye surgery to improve vision. This lets them use the nightvision goggles, and solves the problem of losing their glasses in the field. It sounded all good except for one thing. There is a distinction between two types of surgery. LASIK is where they cut a horshoe shaped slit into your eye, peal it back, have the laser sculpt the eye lens, put back the flap, and let it heal. The armed forces WILL NOT do lasik on pilots that fly over 14000 ft, or soldiers that have to run long distances, because they are afraid the flap will come lose. There is another type of surgery, I think it was called PRK, where they use a laser to sculpt the outside shape of the eyeball without cutting the cornea. I have heard elesewhere that this second type can not correct vision as much as the Lasik. So, I would look into it carefully. It sounds like the 2nd type is more rugged, and therefore more suited to hockey.

[biff44 0]

Also, unfortunately, the 2nd type takes up to a week to heal where the lasik gets you back to work in a day or two.

[LegoDoom 0]

They've been doing LASIK for 10 years. The PRK procedure has been done for almost 20. And the initial procedures are 25 years old. The only difference is that lasers are very precise.

No one has reported their eyes falling out yet.

As for contacts, they increase the chance of scratching the cornea and inducing infection. Not to mention that hassle of getting new ones, putting them in every day, losing them, scratching them, etc, etc....

Please do a little bit of homework before listening to one guy on CNN. There are plenty of reasons to get the surgery done. And many pro MLB players and golfers have said it's helped them with their game. You have constant vision, as opposed to a contact not sitting on the eye properly or falling out/scratching which would result in putting in new contacts before continuing to play. Glasses/goggles can results in refracted vision while on the ice which leads to an illusion of where the puck actually is.

[LegoDoom 0]

LASIK is where they cut a horshoe shaped slit into your eye, peal it back, have the laser sculpt the eye lens, put back the flap, and let it heal.

That's odd. The cut heals almost instantly as there's so much moisture in the eye and it suctions to the eye when it's placed back on top of the eye. And can understand the pressure argument, but the long distance run scenario seems a little far fetched (maybe too cautious).

[Smith 0]

If you get it done do not go to one of those $99 a eye places. Ask around to find the best place. See if you know of any eye doctors who had it done. My doctor did it because he did not feel right telling people to get it done unless he had it done.

[LegoDoom 0]

What do they run now anyway? Mine was $5k back in '00.

[Smith 0]

Don't know, my brother had his done a couple of years ago for about $3,000. Last time I checked for myself it was about $2500 to $3000

[Lightning 0]

Best thing that ever happened to me. You know what I mean when I say that I smile everytime I wake up at night and can see the alarm clock without having to pick it up and move it to about an inch away from my face. Or in the morning, I dont have to shift through the bed to find where my glasses fell off when I fell asleep. I had my eyes done by the same company that did Tiger Woods. Its called THE LASER COMPANY or TLC for short. Look them up, they work on alot of athletes. I have had no problems and I am going on 4 years now myself. Eyes go get old and will age as you do, so yes you may need glasses later on in life, but so might the next guy. Ill I can say is that I believe that it is worth every penny, but do your research before finding the doctor(helps when your mom works with different doctors like mine) as these are our only set of eyes, so its no joke issue. But I say go for it if you have the cash..

[Juice_Slowjamz 0]

They've been doing LASIK for 10 years. The PRK procedure has been done for almost 20. And the initial procedures are 25 years old. The only difference is that lasers are very precise.

No one has reported their eyes falling out yet.

As for contacts, they increase the chance of scratching the cornea and inducing infection. Not to mention that hassle of getting new ones, putting them in every day, losing them, scratching them, etc, etc....

Please do a little bit of homework before listening to one guy on CNN. There are plenty of reasons to get the surgery done. And many pro MLB players and golfers have said it's helped them with their game. You have constant vision, as opposed to a contact not sitting on the eye properly or falling out/scratching which would result in putting in new contacts before continuing to play. Glasses/goggles can results in refracted vision while on the ice which leads to an illusion of where the puck actually is.

Easy up, dumb dumb.

I didn't "listen to one guy" before deciding on what to do. It's too much risk for me, in the 10 years I've be wearing contacts I've never had problems with them. So, there's no reason to mess with a good thing.

[Crazy Otto 0]

Thanks for the input guys. I don't have any problems wearing contacts when I play hockey, but I get the feeling that I don't "see the puck" as well as I could and it contributes to delayed reactions, poorer puckhandling, etc. So I'm really considering having it done, just want to know the pros and cons.

[LegoDoom 0]

Just because you don't want to risk it doesn't mean it's not for everybody. I never had problems with contacts either, but considered them a hassle more often than not. These weren't by chance eye doctors that would be losing your business, would they? Fact is, some of these procedures have been happening for 25 years and the newer ones are still 10 years old.

I also had mine done by TLC. No complaints at all.

[Smith 0]

I don't think it can make you a better hockey player, but it could help you see better. Rember that how bad your eyes are might make it more risky. I would have it done in a heartbeat, if I had the money. Maybe in a year or two.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

I don't think I will ever do this. My uncle did it and although they thought his eyesight had stableized it dropped a little and now he has spent money on this surgery and he still has sight problems and needs glasses/contacts. Just thinking about stuff like that scares me.

[LegoDoom 0]

blurring is a risk, but it's a low one and it usually only happens with night time vision. how old was your uncle? like stated before, glasses will most likely be needed in a persons 40's.

[LegoDoom 0]

I don't think it can make you a better hockey player, but it could help you see better. Rember that how bad your eyes are might make it more risky. I would have it done in a heartbeat, if I had the money. Maybe in a year or two.

It won't make you a better hockey player, but it might improve your game.

Have you even gone to a doctor about this? There's a chance you might not be a candidate for the surgery anyways.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

He's 31, and had it done at 28. That is the weird part, still though it si enough to scare me away.

[Smith 0]

I am a perfect one. My eye sight is right in the range, and my eyes have been the same for the last 10 years. I am 32 so if I want it I should get it soon. Although my bro had his done at 38

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Also, I heard that you get a "halo" effect at night...is this true?

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

Yeah, that also happened to my uncle...from what I understand it's like seeing a rainbow around lights and stuff.