If you are thinking about Lasik, read this article in the NY Times first.
Little did I know when I chose Lasik surgery that I would not end up satisfied like the friends and acquaintances who raved about their post-glasses existence. Instead, my days are complicated, since I am dealing with side effects that are far more bothersome than being unfashionably four-eyed.
I explored getting Lasik. Fortunately, I went to a reputable doctor and clinic (at Stanford). My biggest requirement was that if I didn’t qualify for any reason, I wanted to know. And I got my wish.
I was told that my corneas are too thin. In fact, I don’t even qualify for the more conservative PRK procedure. Fabulous, at least I know.
I also learned that Indians are genetically predisposed to having thinner corneas. Apparently at the time they started to do the procedure in India, the corneal measurements weren’t as stringent. But they found that Indians had problems at a rate significantly higher than the rest of the world. That’s when they got stricter about the corneal thickness requirement.
And yes, like the woman in the article, I also know tons of friends who are ecstatic with the results of their procedures.