Too much aniseikonia??

[Spicylemon]

3 Years ago I had LASIK on my right eye. Initially it was terrible and for 3 months I couldn't even see the 1st letter on the Snellen chart, everything was a distorted blur. I was lucky, and in 2nd attempt my eyesight was restored, except I still have many floaters. However, after this experience I'm too scared to have other eye done. Now I wear both a contact lens -6.50 in left eye as well as glasses. Glasses prescription is: L: -1.00  0.25 x 180,  R: -1.00  0.50 x 180.
However, if for some reason I have to take out my contact lens I am left very disfuntional. Is there any way I can have "normal" glasses without the need to wear a contact lens?  I was told the difference between the two eyes is too large to make it work. Is this so?

[Spicylemon]

Seems like the general concensus is that I should have other eye done as well. It´s such a big decision though, since that is my `good` eye! I think I rather postpone a little longer. However, if I have LASIK on my left eye, would you recommend that I have it corrected to =1 also, so that both eyes will be the same. What should I do.  Thanks!

[Spicylemon]

Hi Jodie! I will have to do more research on best LASIK surgeons. However, I did this last time but the surgeon who saw me had his `assistant` do the actual surgery!!
I will call the optometry college today and see what they say. Thanks for the tip!

[Joan M Pernoud, MD]

If the prescription difference is more than 3 diopters, it is very hard to tolerate the difference. I agree that having the second eye done is a good idea.

FYI....Castle Connolly places doctors names in a book for a price to the doctor! I have declined that "privelege" many times. Please take that list with a grain of salt.

[JodieJ]

By manipulating the curvature and thickness of the lens, it is possible to reduce the image size difference between the eyes (at least to some extent) with glasses only.  Unfortunately, the glasses might be a little strange-looking, with one thin lens and one very thick lens.  You might also have to do some research to find a place that prescribes such glasses.  (An optometry school might be a good place to start looking.)

I can understand your reluctance to have more LASIK , but in your place I'd probably go for it.  But I'd want to see the very best LASIK surgeon in town.  Who would your general ophthalmologist see if s/he wanted LASIK herself/himself?  Is there a good teaching hospital in town that does LASIK?  (Of course, you'd want to see the senior staff ONLY.)  If you live in a major city, you could check out the list of "best doctors" in Castle-Connolly.

[Spicylemon]

I know, I really should have other eye done, but very reluctant, and very aware of the risks now. I tried -7.5 contact lens for 6 months or so, but I often felt so tired at the end of the day. So this works better for me, except it's a bit of a pain of course... Especially now, coz I'm home with a case of conjucitivitus and can't wear my contact. So that's why I wanted to know if glasses were a viable option at all?? Guess, answer is no? Thx for your response, much appreciated!

[walkietalkie]

I had lasik done years ago, a year apart between the two eyes. So I had to use a –8 contact in one eye for a year. Glasses is useless b/c of the big difference.

Curious why you need glasses over your contact and not just get a –7.5 contact? At –1. its pretty low power and your ‘contact’ eye should be dominant enough. You should consider getting the other eye done as well. Three years is really long time to be dysfunctional.