Skating After LASIK or PRK Eye Surgery

[RajeevWins]

Has anybody here had LASIK or PRK? If so how did you skate afterwards? Did wearing sunglasses mess with you if you wore them? Did people say "look there goes that asshole who always wears sunglasses to skate even when its cloudy, fucking coolguy" haha

I just had PRK last week and the surgeon told me I'll have to wear sunglasses anytime I'm outside for the next 12 months. Right now my eyes get tired and dry if I'm doing too much, and everything overall just seems way too bright (those symptoms should dissipate over the next month). I'm thinking of just coppin a few pairs of cheap wayfarers and skating in those. But I've never skated in shades and I'm also wondering if the constant wind against my face will fuck with my eyes too.

Might just have to fuck around and get a tinted set of these bad boys haha


Thanks for any feedback, advice!

[somethingmustbreaknow]

i've had a lasek eye correction surgery 3 years ago. my doctors didn't say anything about wearing sunglasses when being outside for the next 12 months. the week immediatly after the surgery i couldn't even go outside because of brightness, or at least my personal perception of it. but afterwards after the healing process was done skating was cool and i had no problem with wind dust, dirt, brightness and stuff like that. but you gotta be careful the first timeperiod after the surgery, avoiding an infection and shit at all costs. that would be dangerous. but ya, just listen to your doctors i'd say.

[RajeevWins]

Damn did you wear sunglasses after the first few weeks at all? I know with LASIK they just fold the flap back over your eye, and that's how come it heals so much faster. For PRK the surgeon actually scrubbed off the front of my cornea so I have to wait for it to grow back properly. Having to put eye drops in every 5-10 minutes is the most annoying part right now. I suppose if Nick Mullins can skate blind, I should eventually be able to figure something out.

[layzieyez]

I had PRK done for free while was in the navy by the same guys that perform that procedure on SEALs and combat pilots. That was in 2009 and I still wear sunglasses even on cloudy/rainy days. Seriously, fuck anybody else when you're skating that has a problem with you protecting your eyes. I do take them off when I'm sitting and bullshitting with my dudes or if I'm introducing myself out of mutual respect.

Buy the best most protective pair you can afford. I used to skate in raybans but now I'm wearing oakleys.

Your new eyes are a gift. Treat them like it. There are tons of people that would kill to have them.

[20matar]

I'm talking out of my ass as usual, but definitely take it easy for a while. Dad had laser surgery back when it was new, his only issue after the healing period was to drive at night, and even then it was just a minor hurdle for him, especially compared to wearing the giant glasses he used to wear before.

Do make a habit of wearing sunglasses to keep yourself comfortable after the healing. Find something you like. I personally am not a huge fan of skating with sunglasses, but it's necessary when it's too bright. I like my wayfarers but maybe you should get something that fits a little better. I back the Vov look. It convinced my brother to wear the prescription glasses he needed as a kid.

[somethingmustbreaknow]

Damn did you wear sunglasses after the first few weeks at all? I know with LASIK they just fold the flap back over your eye, and that's how come it heals so much faster. For PRK the surgeon actually scrubbed off the front of my cornea so I have to wait for it to grow back properly. Having to put eye drops in every 5-10 minutes is the most annoying part right now. I suppose if Nick Mullins can skate blind, I should eventually be able to figure something out.

yeah the eye drops were annoying but that time will eventually end. i didnt really wear sunglasses. the doctors also didn't tell me to. i did have contact lenses in for eye protection for one week or two i think. i also had some kind of protective goggles for sleeping. they were cool haha. also, so what, i also skate a lot with sunglasses in summer since our local spot is made up out of white marblegranitestone that gets quite bright in the sun. so just don't care what others think haha.

[RajeevWins]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll definitely err on the side of caution. Today was the first time I woke up and didnt need my glasses to see the tv. I was dumb excited. Driving at sunset/night/sunrise still feels like a horrible dice roll. But I feel like I haven't skated in forever so, this weekend I'll probably look into various types/styles of sunglasses I can be active with.

[Silky Johnson]

How much does that surgery run for? You think an insurance company would help out?

[chilllyboy]

Has anybody here had LASIK or PRK? If so how did you skate afterwards? Did wearing sunglasses mess with you if you wore them? Did people say "look there goes that asshole who always wears sunglasses to skate even when its cloudy, fucking coolguy" haha

I just had PRK last week and the surgeon told me I'll have to wear sunglasses anytime I'm outside for the next 12 months. Right now my eyes get tired and dry if I'm doing too much, and everything overall just seems way too bright (those symptoms should dissipate over the next month). I'm thinking of just coppin a few pairs of cheap wayfarers and skating in those. But I've never skated in shades and I'm also wondering if the constant wind against my face will fuck with my eyes too.

Might just have to fuck around and get a tinted set of these bad boys haha


Thanks for any feedback, advice!

Reading this made me think "Holy fuck, contact lenses that block UV light, I'll make $$trillions$$" Only to realize that I'm a completely unoriginal piece of shit and have never had a novel idea in my life.

[layzieyez]

Not needing a prescription for sunglasses and being able to get a good focus taking photos was the best for me. Also, night skating improved.

[Righteous Victim]

So is Lasik better than PRK? Might get it someday. My eyes are shit but I hate wearing glasses so I just stay blind.

[layzieyez]

PRK is longer healing time. I couldn't get LASIK because there were issues with my eyes that the specialist wouldn't risk. That flap shit scared me anyway so I probably would have asked for PRK regardless.

[RajeevWins]

Haha I feel you, the thought of having to watch the blade cut your eye just sounds wild. But they have new technology now where a separate laser actually zaps you at a frequency that creates an air bubble in your cornea. Then the doc just moves that before hitting you with the LASIK laser.

I had the option for either one, but since I wanna get into BJJ the doc went with PRK. No risk of an accidental eye poke lifting up that flap later in life and needing emergency surgery.

Healing times apart, I was told you can't tell a difference in vision results between PRK or LASIK after 6 months. They both use the same laser just different methodss of getting your cornea out the way.

As far as cost, you really gotta do your due diligence. I didn't have to pay because I'm in the military. I've  seen ads all around town for different places talking about "Each eye only $500!!!" But I hear that's the price if you need only the minimum amount of work. If you got really shitty vision, astigmatism, or anything else unique, I'm sure the price jumps up. I'm not sure if insurance would help because idk whether it's considered a cosmetic procedure or not. That would probably make a difference.

[20matar]

I had the option for either one, but since I wanna get into BJJ the doc went with PRK. No risk of an accidental eye poke lifting up that flap later in life and needing emergency surgery.

I'd joke (in bad taste [which is the best taste]) and say that you don't really need eyesight on BJJ, but then I remembered how the coach taught us to ALWAYS stare at the ref when doing the knee on belly position so he'd give you the two points. So there's that.

Eyepokes will mess anyone up, surgery or no surgery. The real issue, as far as I know, is about impact. There are obviously no kicks or punches in jiu jitsu, but accidental blows do happen, especially headbutts and the pressure of some positions. My eye rubbed against gi lapels more than once. So it's good that you pick up the safest type of surgery if you want to be a grappler. I haven't stepped into the mat since 2012, I miss jiu jitsu but I don't want to go back to my old team. It's a great martial art and a sport, very cerebral but also lots of fun!

[layzieyez]

Haha I feel you, the thought of having to watch the blade cut your eye just sounds wild. But they have new technology now where a separate laser actually zaps you at a frequency that creates an air bubble in your cornea. Then the doc just moves that before hitting you with the LASIK laser.

I had the option for either one, but since I wanna get into BJJ the doc went with PRK. No risk of an accidental eye poke lifting up that flap later in life and needing emergency surgery.

Healing times apart, I was told you can't tell a difference in vision results between PRK or LASIK after 6 months. They both use the same laser just different methodss of getting your cornea out the way.

As far as cost, you really gotta do your due diligence. I didn't have to pay because I'm in the military. I've  seen ads all around town for different places talking about "Each eye only $500!!!" But I hear that's the price if you need only the minimum amount of work. If you got really shitty vision, astigmatism, or anything else unique, I'm sure the price jumps up. I'm not sure if insurance would help because idk whether it's considered a cosmetic procedure or not. That would probably make a difference.

I got mine done in SD. One of the best things I got out of being in the military for sure.  I think I remember them telling me that if I were to get someone with their level of expertise in the civilian sector, it could easily run me $2,000 to $5,000 for the procedure especially with the issue I had.  The only negative I experience is that my eyes dry out in the winter from the drier air from indoor heating.  Regular sterile drops during the day and some of the thicker drops when I sleep help keep that from happening.