View Full Version : LASIK versus PRK eye surgery and martial arts
I am considering laser eye surgery to correct nearsightedness. I have been wearing glasses for 24 years.
When I have called various doctors most seem to push LASIK as it has faster healing times and less initial discomfort. PRK is only used for those people who can't get LASIK due to the shape of the eye or other reasons.
I have read but can not recall where that LASIK was bad for boxers or others that are subject to repeated blows to the head.
I have read PRK is chosen over LASIK by 80% of personnel in the military. Talking with someone in the military, he told me that was misleading, as the military (or at least the Air Force) is biased toward PRK and tends to push it more.
I would rather have LASIK I think as the healing time is quicker. But I do not want to have it done if there is a change I could be sparring and take a head shot and permanently damage my vision. I do not fight full contact and have no desire to do so, but I do enjoy point sparring and may wish to get back into competition.
Anyone had laser vision correction surgery? Did you have LASIK or PRK? Which one did you choose and why?
Do you spar and have you had any injuries to the eye after laser surgery?
Thanks for your inputs.
Blaine
ezzthetic
11-11-2005, 06:00
I had laser surgery recently. They called PRK Zyoptic surgery as I recall (or LASEK with an "E"). I can spar just fine. I sparred thousands of rounds with contact lenses before and there is no comparison!
This was the surgery recommended for me due to the fact that I did like contact sports. It has worked great so far (had it done in August).
EDIT: I'd actually be more worried about LASIK if you like point sparring. Full contact sparring is usually done with gloves, whereas in point sparring (in my own est. 50 match experience) I've had more instances of an accidental stray finger to the eye than I ever had boxing full contact. Get PRK.
sean_stonehart
11-11-2005, 06:31
I had LASIK in 03. Best decision I ever made.
I asked my doctor about contact & what not specifically before I had the procedure & he said the risk was no greater after the surgery than before.
My eyes stabilized at 20/14(L) & 20/18(R) two weeks after the surgery. They've been great since with no problems. The only thing I will say is in my case my eyes are a little photosensitive but that's cool cause I've always wanted to wear sunglasses! ;)
I'm an Army guy that got PRK compliments of the Air Force, because that was the only laser surgery they offered.
My healing time was very slow and painful, but my case was "unique." I am overjoyed with the results though.
PRK is safer, with a higher percentage of near-perfect results, but as you said the healing time is longer, with more discomfort. But LASIK is right up there too (as far as success rates); I think the differences in percentage are insignificant.
While healing, you run the risk of corneal flap displacement with LASIK. As PRK does not involve the cutting of a flap, you do not run that risk.
I am cleared for full contact, no restrictions whatsoever.
Jeff Cook
sean_stonehart
11-11-2005, 07:50
Jeff I asked the Dr about the whole flap thing & what he said to me was as long as I didn't wrinkle the flap during the first couple of weeks, I was good to go & it would heal pretty much back to normal. Since then I've been knocked almost completely out, choked out, jet skiing, skin diving, body surfing/boogie boarding, paint balling, etc... with no problems aside from the photo sensitivity.
One thing I forgot to mention is that he corrected my astigmatic eyes. He said I may have "Halo-ing" around lights & when I asked him what it was, he showed me an example of a "halo-ed" light & my response was "Oh I see that now". As long as your eyes aren't severely damaged or badly mishapen, LASIK is good to go.
Eye4NEye
11-11-2005, 08:53
I've had a similar experience to Sean when it comes to LASIK. I had mine done in 98 and to this day I still have 20/15 in both eyes. I've taken jabs to the eye, stray fingers, even a coat hook once, and my eyes have been fine. Rubbing and dislodging the flap is really only a concern during the first month or so and afteward you are fine. I experienced a few halos for the first 3-4 years, but now they are almost a non-issue. I'm also photo sensitive and pretty much wear sunglasses all the time outside during the day. Recovery was almost painless. The most pain I felt was similar to swimming all day and coming home with "chlorine eyes". The only negative side effect that I can comment on is an increased number of floaters in one eye. With LASIK (at least when I had it done), they raise the pressure in your eye tremendously so that they can get an even cut when they make the corneal flap. Sometimes this can cause minor ruptures inside the eye that lead to bleeding. In my case, this happened in one eye and caused a few extra floaters in there.
ezzthetic
11-11-2005, 10:55
20/20 baby!
Sean, that's great! If I had to do it over again, I would probably get LASIK. I had halos too, but they are almost completely gone now (2 years this coming January).
Jeff Cook
Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences.
Sounds like LASIK may be okay for martial artists. None of the doctors I have spoken with had any experience with patients with a martial arts background.
At first I was leaning toward PRK as I thought based on limited readings it might be better. But after talking to someone that had it done, I am leaning more toward LASIK as I really don't want to be popping pain pills for 3-4 days.
Cliff Hargrave
11-12-2005, 07:40
I had LASIK, no problems training. I took 4 weeks off from sparring afterwards.
Blaine, I had to take pain pills for about one month, and I was functionally blind for at least two weeks, so bad that not only could I not even see the TV clearly from three feet away, but the light from the TV was extremely painful. I had wondered what the hell I had allowed the military to do to my vision! But again, my case was unique, but in spite of that, my results now are near-perfect.
Jeff Cook
AndrewSimonsen
11-12-2005, 11:12
I have not had either surgery, but my father has. He was not to pleasent to be around for the first two weeks after his surgery. One note though if you do decide to get either surgery, do EXACTLY as the doctor sais during recovery. A friend of the family forgot one set of drops and the contacts the doctor had him wearing dried to the eye. Needless to say alot more pain was involved than neccessary. So TAKE YOUR DROPS!!!
Jango007
11-14-2005, 14:04
What a good topic!
I'm an Army guy that got PRK compliments of the Air Force, because that was the only laser surgery they offered.
Am not sure but are you saying the US Air Force allows Laser eye? If so that is so cool man. In the UK's Air force you cannot have Laser eye surgery because they don't know the long term effects of it. My potential future career aswell is stopping me from having laser eye surgery although my eyes are not bad at all thank God but it would be nice to have back near perfect vision.
The USAF recently (in the last few years) became the first service to pay for lazer eye surgery for its members. This was a HUGE turn around from their previous position which was an immediate DQ for joining.
Im not sure if the air force is allowing it for pilots, but Im fairly sure that even pilots are authorized eye surgery now.
Joe, additionally they are allowing US Army personnel to get it too (obviously, as I was able to get it :)) I was lucky in that I was stationed briefly at Macdill AFB, which has a huge number of Army personnel due to CENTCOM, SOCOM, and SOCCENT. Unfortunately they discontinued doing it through Macdill; fortunately I slipped into the program a few months before it terminated. I know the US Navy also does it, as we had to travel to Naval Air Station Jacksonville to use their laser. I believe it is still done there.
One of my biggest concerns was the type and age of the laser. I was told that the DOD leases their lasers from a company that provides them with the latest models as they become available, as part of their lease agreement.
I feel very fortunate, and thankful, that I was able to get it done on their dime.
Jeff Cook
The Air Force allows members to get either LASIK or PRK. I think the AF prefers PRK for whatever reason.
I am not sure if they will allow someone with laser surgery to enter pilot training or not. Perhaps PRK is preferred for those on flying status I don't know.
The Air Force (I am a former active duty guy and now in the AF reserve) waives the rules for all kinds of things depending on how bad they need to fill positions or how many applicants they have.
Some years they will take people with less than 20/20 for pilot training, some years anything less than 20/20 and they will not even take the application. Same goes for age, number of previous flying hours if any, etc.
The Air Force (I am a former active duty guy and now in the AF reserve) waives the rules for all kinds of things depending on how bad they need to fill positions or how many applicants they have.
But not "asthma", even if its Army quackery that diagnosed it.
Jango007
11-20-2005, 14:50
Some years they will take people with less than 20/20 for pilot training, some years anything less than 20/20 and they will not even take the application.
Very interesting indeed. In the UK it's too strict for the RAF pilots. Mine me asking whats PRK? I know LASIK but am not sure about PRK.
Photoreactive keratectomy, I believe. You can read tons about it if you google it. Basically, they both use the same laser to reshape the cornea. In LASIK a corneal flap is cut and peeled back, the reshaping is done with the laser, and the flap is laid back in place. With PRK, the epithelium is scraped off the surface, the laser does it's work on the surface, and the epithelium grows back.
Jeff Cook
Jango007
11-22-2005, 10:58
Ok thank you for the information Jeff C.
Fjolnirsson
11-25-2005, 18:20
I had lasik surgery in 2000. I was legally blind without glasses, and correctable to 20/40. Fifteen minutes after surgery, my vision was 20/35. Within 6 months, it was 20/18. The only trouble I've had is dry eyes when exposed to too much AC or heating. I carry eye drops with me, but rarely use them. Best decision I ever made for myself. In the years following the surgery, I worked as a bouncer in addition to martial arts. I've been puched, kicked, choked, and stabbed, as well as knocked out. No troubles. :D
Bob Hubbard
11-26-2005, 15:08
My My Laser Eye Surgery Horror Story. (http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1618&highlight=lasik)
Short version, 4 years of blurry vision, lots n lots of drops, halos, loss of night vision, a higher chance of injury, dry eye and some other issues.
Webmaster
11-26-2005, 16:03
My My Laser Eye Surgery Horror Story. (http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1618&highlight=lasik)
Short version, 4 years of blurry vision, lots n lots of drops, halos, loss of night vision, a higher chance of injury, dry eye and some other issues.
Both me and my wife have had Lasik. We both have had successful sugeries and both see better then 20/20. Best investiments of our money that we have made.
Sorry to hear about your horror story Bob, but luckly outcomes like yours are rare. However, they should serve to everyone as a reminder that with surgery of any type comes risks and they complications DO in fact happen.
I don't know what they call it but a former co-worker of mine had surgery done where they insert a lens into the cornea of the eye with no laser at all. Reportedly it is un-doable and even re-doable if one's perscription should change. At least that is what he told me at the time.
His results were wholly to his satisfaction. This was about five years (and one job) ago. They did one eye at a time, about two weeks apart. He healed quickly and without much complaint. But I can't say how he is doing now.
Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. I bit the bullet, wrote a check and had Lasik done yesterday.
I go back this afternoon for my follow-up appointment. I am not 20/20 yet but hopefully I will get there.
After being 20/400 or worse and wearing glasses for almost 25 years, it was an odd feeling not to reach for glasses first thing this morning.
Very cool, Blaine. I had it done last spring and had an enhancement in November. I'm still occasionally stunned by how well I see now. And I so don't miss the contact/glasses thing - definitely a worthwhile investment, IMO.
Two weeks since I had LASIK. Still a little blurry compared to with glasses, but vastly better than before without glasses.
For those of you who had LASIK how long did it take for your eyes to reach their end result? What about night vision? I have some issues with night vision and halos.
My doctor has told me that can be normal especially with people with larger than normal pupils and the problem may correct itself.
Anyone else experience night vision problems in the first 3 months? Did it go away?
Here is an article on the various types of eye surgery in case anyone wants to do a little reading...
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20011001/1183.html
Webmaster
03-13-2006, 18:31
Two weeks since I had LASIK. Still a little blurry compared to with glasses, but vastly better than before without glasses.
For those of you who had LASIK how long did it take for your eyes to reach their end result? What about night vision? I have some issues with night vision and halos.
My doctor has told me that can be normal especially with people with larger than normal pupils and the problem may correct itself.
Anyone else experience night vision problems in the first 3 months? Did it go away?
My wife and I both had very good initial results. Your vision will fluctuate a little over the next couple of months and within three it had pretty much settled on where it will be. I had a slight halo effect in my right eye that was noticeable at first. However, as your eyes heal and as you get used to it, the halos will fade (or at least you will not noticed them as easily!).
Pardon me for bringing back an old thread but I have finally followed through with getting the procedure (PRK) done through the military.
Going through the screening process yesterday and counseling today, it was interesting to remember this thread and the information everyone shared with what the doctors gave to us. (Thanks to some for the heads up. :) )
I'm totally cleared and am waiting a surgery date which will probably be in May. This will be done through the Navy who has completed over 3400 of these surgeries with only 2 that had any type of problems and 11 that have had enhancements. If those aren't good odds I don't know what is.
From the way it was explained - the military leans towards PRK because of the many problems that could arise from cutting the flap for LASIK. It would seem that if there was a chance of problems arising that LASIK's had the chance to be more severe than PRK.
They also told us about their laser (which is owned) and it's capabilities. It's really awesome how far technology has come. From the laser stopping on it's own if you happen to look away to not even working if your not the correct person getting under it. Too cool!
Sorry to have rambled but am excited over the prospect. I'm starting to understand where you all are coming from. :bow:
Way cool! Kara, you know where you are getting it done is the exact same place I had mine done? They are very nice and efficient in that office. Good luck!
Jeff Cook
Way cool! Kara, you know where you are getting it done is the exact same place I had mine done? They are very nice and efficient in that office. Good luck!
Jeff Cook
I need to run your name by them, they may know it. My boss had it done a couple of years ago and they do remember him.
My surgery has otherwise been scheduled for 11 May 2006. A lot faster (and sooner) than I expected actually. And it would have even been earlier had I not been currently wearing my contacts.
Not likely that they will remember me; it was a Macdill AFB doctor who did the surgery, and they have a real assembly line going through that office. Plus it's been about two years, hasn't it? As you know, I am VERY happy with my results.
Jeff Cook
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