|
epsilon
Aug 5, 2006, 5:38 PM
Post #1 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 7, 2006
Posts: 28
|
Hey everyone,
I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of any research that has been done on the relationship between LASIK and other corrective eye surgeries and exposure to high altitude.
Hope this is an acceptable topic for this forum. If not please move it elsewhere.
|
|
|
|
|
norm1057
Aug 5, 2006, 6:53 PM
Post #2 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 104
|
I to would like info. Been considering but know no facts. Thanks for the post
|
|
|
|
|
catbird_seat
Aug 8, 2006, 12:35 AM
Post #3 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 7, 2004
Posts: 425
|
Via Internet Search of [lasik "high altitude"] found the following:
http://www.la-sight.com/LS_Climbing.asp
I should point out that Beck Weathers is very much alive.
"...radial keratotomy ("RK") can and did cause problems for one of the Everest climbers, Beck Weathers, that contributed to his demise in the terrible '96 season chronicled by John Krakauer's "Into Thin Air". "
|
|
|
|
|
clovissprout
Aug 8, 2006, 1:24 AM
Post #4 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 18, 2004
Posts: 36
|
I work for a leading surgeon and researcher in lasik and other developing procedures. There aren't any altitude side effects with lasik. There definitely were with RK because the cuts basically were open, and as accurate as your surgeon. The cuts expand with the decrease in pressure, changing the curve of the front of your eye which accounts for about 70% of your prescription/vision. With Lasik, the flap seals the treatment area and is accurate up to the micron level. There isn't anything there to expand and cause problems. Depending on your RX, there are some new procedures (phakic intraocular lens) on the horizon with very promising results that will have even less corneal interruption than Lasik
BTW, i had lasik 8 years ago and still see 20/20 with a previous CTL RX of -6.50. I just got back from whitney and didn't have any problems, or haven't ever for that matter.
Sprout
|
|
|
|
|
epsilon
Aug 8, 2006, 5:42 AM
Post #5 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 7, 2006
Posts: 28
|
Thanks a bunch for the fast, informative replies!
|
|
|
|
|
omegaprime
Aug 8, 2006, 6:16 AM
Post #6 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 2, 2004
Posts: 308
|
Just to put more on the table, I've heard about Photorefractive keratectomy used by the US navy. There is no incision made during the procedure.
The original article is not freely available anymore, but here's a link with excerpts in slashdot.
|
|
|
|
|
puerto
Aug 8, 2006, 6:19 AM
Post #7 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 22, 2005
Posts: 229
|
I had RK in 1990 and summited Aconcagua in 2001 with no problems..
I imagine with Lasik there would be even less chance of a problem..
|
|
|
|
|
majid_sabet
Aug 8, 2006, 7:46 AM
Post #8 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 13, 2002
Posts: 8390
|
I did RK in 1997 and climbed above 20,000 ft in 2002 with no problems
|
|
|
|
|
nonick
Aug 8, 2006, 8:34 AM
Post #9 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 28, 2001
Posts: 174
|
I know of atleast one british mountaineer with quite a few 6000 m peaks under his belt who has undergone lasik...
|
|
|
|
|
clovissprout
Aug 13, 2006, 5:12 PM
Post #10 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 18, 2004
Posts: 36
|
Photorefractive keratotomy (PRK) doesn't make any incisions. What they do have to do though is scrape the top most layer of cells off your eye, then do the laser treatment. When they are done, this leaves a rather large open sore. If you've ever had a corneal abrasion you know how much this hurts. Lasik is usually preferred over PRK just for this comfort reason. Lasik is also better because its easier to go back and do any touchups later - just lift the flap. With PRK it would heal over and be the same thing again, scrape off that layer of cells.
|
|
|
|
|
norm1057
Aug 13, 2006, 7:16 PM
Post #11 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 104
|
How much recovery time is needed to get back to normal strenuous activity? I worked with a feller who claimed to not be able to do a whole lot for about two weeks. I'm not sure if it was true or he was just getting out of work. Also, is it possible to cause injuries to your eyes if you were to overdo it?
|
|
|
|
|
musicman
Aug 13, 2006, 7:26 PM
Post #12 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 16, 2004
Posts: 828
|
Lasik and PRK won't have an effect because there aren't an incisions (or deep ones for that matter) but with RK (Radial Keratotomy) the incisions go 90% deep into the cornea, the incisions tend to swell even years after you've had it done. At a high altitude you could become extremely near-sighted. All vision would return when you returned to low altitude. Lasik ('96) and PRK ('95) haven't been around long enough for any extensive studies to be done. Beck Weathers had all of his problems on Everest (well, one of the problems) because he lost his visiondue to the RK he had done. It nearly cost him his life. Of course he was up above 26,000 feet and not many people make it up that high in there life. You could also get lucky like the guy who was on Aconcagua. There haven't been enough RK patients at very high-altitudes for a good study, it's hard to get 100's of patiens up there, not many people find mountaineering to be a pleasant experience. But, it is known to swell and cause extreme myopia (near-sightedness) at high altitude that then returns to normal vision at lower alititudes.
(all this info came from my Ophthalmologist (cornea specialist) father, so it's legit)
|
|
|
|
|
majid_sabet
Sep 1, 2006, 7:19 AM
Post #13 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 13, 2002
Posts: 8390
|
My Dr. told me that he under corrected my vision to about 85% of my true 20/20 vision, he said when I get older and most people get far sighted so my vision could recorrect itself over time to 20/20.
Not sure if that was a true statement but I am up for a study in Hi Alt.
|
|
|
|
|
musicman
Sep 4, 2006, 5:47 AM
Post #14 of 14
(6133 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 16, 2004
Posts: 828
|
most people develop a bit of near-sightedness when they get older, some people call it there "second sight" but this is just due to early cataract formation. everyone gets cataracts, no matter what when they get older. the cataracts evetually make your vision worse (duh!!), but while they are first forming they can cause near sightedness, which for most older people is a convienance because most of the work they're doing in life is up close things. they'll come into the clinic all excited because they're taking their glasses of to read, but it's bittersweet because it's just a sign of cataract formation. i worked in my dad's clinic over the summer so i picked up on a lot of stuff when i was assisting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
