LASIK and training

**Craig Jenkins** · Posted On: 5/12/2010 2:55pm

I had PRK about a dozen years ago. No issues with contact other than the usual (getting poked in the eye sucks, etc.)

Wikipedia: "Unlike LASIK, PRK does not create the risk of dislocated corneal flaps which may occur (especially with trauma), at any time after LASIK."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photore...ve_keratectomy

Not asked, but FYI, I do have one of the more common side effects - a sort of halo/glare effect that makes driving at night, especially in the rain, irritating as hell. Never comes up in the dojo.

**Ming Loyalist** · Posted On: 5/12/2010 3:55pm

Originally Posted by Petter

Never heard of LASAK. Is it possible that the guy said (or meant) LASEK? —This is similar to PRK.

I guess PRK is better than either LASIK or LASEK if you expect trauma to the head. There are complications of all procedures, of course.

my bad on the spelling, i'm sure he meant LASEK, then, as this was a verbal conversation, not a written one.

**helmutlvx** · Posted On: 5/12/2010 9:44pm

I plan on having LASIK done at the end of this month (27th) and from what the doctor told me, I'd be down for about one to two weeks and after that I'm good.

After I get it done, I'll post up my experiences with training afterwards.

**crawford** · Posted On: 5/12/2010 9:57pm

I had PRK about 2 years ago. A friend and judoka had LASIK a few years before. His flap came undone in one eye while rolling around and wound up out for an additional 6 months. He's supposedly not supposed to do that stuff any more, but it hasn't stopped him.

PRK, no flap. The procedure is a quick thing and all the build up is much more than the actual procedure. You see great immediately after, and they put "bandage" contacts in and you get to wear them until your epithelial cells grow back over your eye. That's 1-2 weeks of really dreadful vision (not bad, considering where I was before the surgery, but still, you can't drive). I had an astigmatism in both eyes, so I got to put steroid drops in my eyes regularly. I went to the doc every few days and we'd adjust the number and types of drops as my vision improved. Next thing you know, I'm in the shower and I look down and I see that I actually have toes. I even have a belly button. Hadn't seen either since childhood, not without glasses anyway.

Took a month or so off, and after that? no problem. It's nice to go to shiai and actually see that my opponent has a face and she's facing me. It's nice to see the line that I'm supposed to walk up to, instead of dragging my feet to feel for the tape. Also, it's really nice not to have to walk around the dojo looking for my damned glasses.

Hope that helps.

**Craig Jenkins** · Posted On: 5/12/2010 10:19pm

@Crawford - yeah - sounds really familiar. Eerie. My prescription was over 10 in both eyes + astigmatism too. Hated my contacts, but slightly less than I hated my glasses. Much happier with this.

If it's any use for people to know, US military regs actually restrict specific training if you've had LASIK, but not if you've had PRK. So I suppose you can take that as 'official' in some way:

In the USA candidates who have had PRK can get a blanket waiver for the Special Forces Qualification, Combat Diving Qualification and Military Free Fall courses. PRK and LASIK are both waived for Airborne, Air Assault and Ranger schools. However, those who have had LASIK must enroll in an observational study, if a slot is available, to undergo training in Special Forces qualification. LASIK is disqualifying/non-waiverable for several United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) schools (HALO, SCUBA, SERE). Army Regulation 40-501

**FickleFingerOfFate** · Posted On: 5/16/2010 5:25pm

I had LASIK about 5 years ago. I was playing hockey as a goalie at the time, and told to take a month off. I went back to playing for a year before dropping it to take up martial arts (at least when I come to the dojo I'm expecting to fight).

I have been doing Karate for 4 years now. I participate regularly in sparring, with med. to aggressive contact levels. I have had my nose rearranged several times, and a couple of black eyes. None of this has effected my eyes.

I'm not claiming this as safe, and I have never consulted my surgeon about karate.

But If he had no problem with hockey...

**DSL** · Posted On: 5/16/2010 10:36pm

I had Lasik done like 5-6 years ago, did TKD as soon as I wasn't wearing the 'Pitch Black' goggles anymore.

I do boxing a few days per week, TKD sparring 1, MMA a couple, BJJ a couple, never had an issue. 4 cage fights, doc's never said anything.

It's my understanding that the flap, heals.. ie it goes back to friggin-gether and is done. In fact it heals fast. Link on flap healing (see also the cornea replacement surgeries): http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-flap-heal.htm

**Arcan** · Posted On: 5/18/2010 10:08am

The following website posts some case reports of late flap disruptions.

http://www.lasikcomplications.com/flapdislocation.htm

Of course, case reports don't give you an idea of the prevalence of flap disruptions for people in contact sports. I had LASIK 4 years ago at that time the opthamologist was cool with me playing hockey goalie after a month, but didn't really say anything long term (wasn't doing MA at the time). From reading, it seems like late disruptions do happen, but they're pretty rare.

**money** · Posted On: 5/18/2010 11:24am

Originally Posted by crawford

PRK, no flap. The procedure is a quick thing and all the build up is much more than the actual procedure. You see great immediately after, and they put "bandage" contacts in and you get to wear them until your epithelial cells grow back over your eye. That's 1-2 weeks of really dreadful vision (not bad, considering where I was before the surgery, but still, you can't drive). I had an astigmatism in both eyes, so I got to put steroid drops in my eyes regularly. I went to the doc every few days and we'd adjust the number and types of drops as my vision improved. Next thing you know, I'm in the shower and I look down and I see that I actually have toes. I even have a belly button. Hadn't seen either since childhood, not without glasses anyway.

I had PRK about 3 years ago and my experience was just about the same as above. The doctor suggested PRK because I do contact sports. My corneas were on the thin side but just thick enough to be able to have the procedure.

The first few days did suck ass (fucking hurt) and the improvement was more gradual, but it was totally worth it. I could see well enough to drive within a week and after a year my vision had just about stabilized.

I had an eye test last week and I am now at 20/15 (better than 20/20) when I had originally been something like 20/800+.

**Basagulero** · Posted On: 5/18/2010 11:47am

That's funny how everyone here has had an experience with a doctor assuming that "martial arts" was dancing with Pajamas.

When I had my intra LASIK surgery done (Where they cut the flap with a laser rather than the cookie cutter), I told my doctor that I do Martial Arts (FMA actually) and that I spar regularly. What he told me was "You cannot do boxing or kickboxing for 2 months with contact. After that get hit all you want, just be as careful as you were before". Even the other doctors working there said the same thing... And they specifically talked about Boxing and Kickboxing and one mentioned Krav Maga.