It's also just not necessary for most of us four-eyes. The costs of the surgery appear to be about what I would pay for 40 years worth of glasses (I buy a new pair once every four years or so), so it won't safe me money — or not a lot.

I'm so used to glasses that I might not even be more comfortable or live a more convenient life (and glasses are simply part of my identity after nearly 30 years of wearing them).

So there is very little (to no) incentive to actually get surgery to correct my eyesight. But the surgery is not without risks, as small as they may be, so there is a disincentive.

I can imagine that this is different for people who wear lenses because they are slightly more cumbersome.

The complication risk of modern LASIK is actually nearly identical to wearing contacts every day.

Sure. But halos seem pretty common - every person I know who got LASIK done in the past 10 years experiences got them to some extent, my dad almost had a nervous breakdown because for the first year after the surgery the halos were so bad he couldn't really drive at night - they sort of faded away with time but he said they were always there and in hindsight, he wouldn't have selected surgery.

Certainly a risk. This is one of those areas where watching the latest tech development is worthwhile, as it's moving rapidly.

I got a laser-only procedure done about 5 years ago now, and it's been the best decision of my life. I had halos for about 6-12mo, but I also had minor halos before the surgery too - so I really haven't noticed much of a difference.

One thing you should either really really do, or really really don't do (I still can't decide) is walk the Vegas strip at night the day after surgery like I did. You will have major halos/starbursts at that point, and it's the closest to a random private laser show as I've ever gotten in life. I suppose drugs may be less risky and cheaper though...

> every person I know who got LASIK done in the past 10 years experiences got them to some extent

Were they all treated at the same local clinic perchance? The problem might be with the clinic or doctor.

Nope - in fact, they weren't even done in the same country.

Was is a particular technique or doctor? Just wondering re the quality of treatment.

This was on HN some months ago.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13024352

Either of you have sources on these frequencies?

I would be a bit difficult to give source on my personal friends and my dad, it's an anecdote :P Treat it like everything on the internet said by a random person - with caution. Just because everyone I know who got LASIK done has halos doesn't mean it's commonplace - could be just a coincidence.

Findings from the Casey Eye Institute:

http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/casey-eye/clinical-se...

It's also worth noting that LASIK has improved drastically over the past 10 years. Bladeless procedures, wavefront imaging, femtosecond lasers, etc.

http://ophthalmologytimes.modernmedicine.com/ophthalmologyti...

And that's why I wear glasses.