I had Lasik surgery back in 2001; I went from needing a -3.75 x -4.25 eyeglass prescription to seeing better than 20/20 within a few days.  Today, seven years later, I still don't need glasses. I will certainly admit that my night vision was in fact impacted slightly; I can see at night, but it takes my eyes a ibt longer to adjust.  However, I am able play court sports, swim in the ocean, walk on the beach, and do so many other things without glasses.

I read a note from a prior poster that stated that not everything works for everyone.  I belive this is true. For instance, Lasik surgery was a MAJOR success for me (at least in my "eyes"); but, at the same time, it may not be right for someone else.

Honestly, I think a key reason so many people have issues with Lasik surgery is that unscrupulous doctors perform the surgery on those that are not good candidates. Actually - that's not just unscrupulous - it's borderline criminal.

My sister had the surgery done when it first came out.  She was glasses-free for the first time since she was 5 years old.  (She is now 46)  She has been very happy with the surgery.  This past year, however, she needed to resort to reading glasses.  Even at that, she feels it was worth it.  I think that with every "procedure" or decision you choose to take in life, it is not the choice for everyone, nor should everyone automatically assume that it's for them.  What works for one will not work for someone else.  I do agree that we should make non-invasive and natural choices for our healthcare, but still, it has worked well for many people.

I disagree as well.  My vision from astigmatism was off the chart bad.  I had suffered from years of glasses fogging up, falling off, alergy to metal frames, headaches from wearing something on my temples etc... Then, I went to contacts which caused pain, dry eyes, and infections.  I had the surgery and had 20/25 vision as soon as I came out of the operating room...

My Dr. is above the national average in his success rate, and explained fully that there may be side-effects and what my chances were.

I cried because for the first time in my life, I woke up the next morning and could see the alarm clock.  I can drive without my glasses fogging up or my contacts drying out.  I can swim and see.  I can ride a motorcycle.

Here go my negative points, but for some, this surgery is a miracle.

Well alm260, tell that to my sister.  They ruined her eyes.  Never could get them as good as before.  Now she has to live with it the rest of her life.  She has a pilot's license and now she can't use it.  Not worth it.  Couldn't sue the doctor either because she signed a waiver.  Found out he did some extra cuts from what wasplanned.  Couldn't find a doctor to confirm and go to court.  

Wasn't worth the gamble for her for sure.

Tusante, you said, "But seeing my eyes improve for the first time in my life naturally is seriously gratifying and once again make you wonder about the natural power of the body to heal once you remove the lenses that cause the eyestrain."

Your post was the only one that has really encouraged me to try the Bates method (I have pretty bad myopia, too). Like you said (in so many words), if one really believes that the power of the mind/spirit can heal the physical body, then one can overcome any chronic condition or malfunction. Learning about your experience is very encouraging to me. In the near future, I will give this method my best effort, being patient with myself that eyesight improvement won't happen overnight, but will happen over time. Thanks.

Having worked in Optometry I know most eye surgeons would not do lasik on their own children!  Long term outcome is unknown, also eye rupture due to impact injuries are greater.  Its all about quick fix-its for the quick buck.  Even traditional vision care is about creating a client for life rather than helping to address cause and eliminate need of corrective eye wear.

Going short sighted in the first place is an adaption to a near focus such as reading.  The Eskimos had zero myopia until schools were started and reading introduced.  For me the answer is behavioral optometrists who address the cause and not the symptom. Reading glasses (they do all the work of focus for the child) and exercises for children showing signs of going shortsighted. This has worked for my children.  Personally I have used good preservative free solutions and high quality contact lenses plus eye exercises to come down from -13.00 to -8.50.  

All alternative methods have common ingredients... positive affirmations, healing visualizations and relaxation. EFT and hypnotherapy can have dramatic results in releasing old tension holding patterns, old trauma, poor posture and poor self esteem issues to further reduce visual problems.  Its not the eyes.... there have been cases of people with split personality's where in one character they are shortsighted and in the other not!  

Another reason why people (like Eskimos) get short sighted is due to diet-namely the introduction of processed sugars and grains.