Catherinet, It is sad that we have to be so careful on line all the time. I was suspicious of both of these docs after reading the web sites. They toot their horns way to much for my liking. One would thing that if this procedure is so wonderful, far more opthamologists would be using it, and using it all the time. The costs are exhorbitant and though they claim that ins. pays for it, if you check with your ins. you will find that they don't. I checked with mine, just for fun today, and they don't pay for it with MA ins. I have BC/BS and have not restrictions on where I go for medical care in state or out, but it has to be a covered service. They told me that the Yag/NG laser is not only not covered by MA BC/BS, but no BC/BS anywhere in the country pays for it, and as far as they know, no ins does. This really peaked me, so called my sister, who lives in Florida and has BC/BS down there. No coverage, she checked with my niece who has different coverage and no coverage. My son in Kentucky doesn't have the coverage. By the time I was through checking with people I know in MA and other states, couldn't find an insurance co. that pays for it. Red flags again, as this isn't a life saving operation. One of the docs bragged that he new only 2 docs in the country that did this, and to me that was a red flag too. So unlike my spinal surgeon , who used a relatvely new method in doing my surgery. It was being done in Michigan only 5 years ago, by one doctor. This doc waited to have it perfected, then published the info in a medical journal with a request for other spinal surgeons to contact him for further info and offered to teach it. This doc divided the country into 25 sections and taught one leading spinal surgeon in each section the new procedure. He chose leading spinal surgeons who chould stay with him for 6 months to be perfected in it. My doc was the first doc to go from the new enland section. He has been doing this procedure for 4 years and is the leading teacher in the New England area for this new technique, which saves so much of the vertebrae in the spine instead of removing it. When you compare this attitude to these docs, you know for sure that something is really fishy with this laser stuff for floaters. I have always been of the thought that G-d gave us 2 eyes for a reason. If we lose the vision in one, we still have an eye to see with. Vision may not be perfect, but one can still see. Also of the thought that surgery is done as a last resort, and experimental and wacky idea surgery is only done when there is nothing else that can be done. Glasses are fine for me. Not having anything cut in my eye because of vanity not wanting to weaar glasses. I like being able to see, same for this laser stuff too. My doc told me the same thing about the floaters and also said that many times they can go back into the viscous fluid, which some of mine have done. The hydration thing really does work. I found myself with worse floaters early today and started pushing the fluids this afternoon and sure enough, they are better tonight. I had some of the vision things at night to and the extra fluids really made a difference. My eye is bloodshot some of the time and the doc told me to use refresh endura drops to help keep the eye moist, especially in the winter with the heat on. that has helped too. Give that a try and see if makes any difference. I use it 2-4 times a day and it really helps. it's not cheap, $15.99 a box. But it has individual doses in it. One thing if you start to use it, you won't use the full dose container at once, just one drop in the eye that needs it. Put the cap back on it and use the rest during the day. don't hold it overnight though. the company wants you to use it just once but the doc says no reason not to use up each individual container. Best place to buy it is Walgreens. If you buy it in quantity, I buy 10 boxes at a time, they will give you a discount on the price. Brought it down to $12.99 a box when I bought to boxes at once. Good luck and let me know if you try the refresh endura and it helps or not.

I found out yesterday I have a Vitreous Tear in my left eye. I have been nearsighted for 46 years. I am 57 now and myopic/stigmatism. I actually was scheduling a Lasik Surgery with a local opthamologist but now this floater/light flash thing is going on. Dr saw me and said I have a tear in my Vitreous and it is bleeding as well. Sent me home with instructions (no heavy lifting, no reading and the tear may relax and heal itself) I can watch TV. He wants to see me once a week to keep an eye on the tear. This Thursday I will be at another office he said with a lazer so I imagine he want to use it on me. Does someone have a idea what he will do to me with a lazer. Aside from the drops he put in my eyes when he put this thing in my eye that rolled all around my eyeball he did nothing yesterday. He said my retina is still attached so that is a good sign. I do not like TV but love the internet but he said I cannot read. So I made a patch like a pirate wears to cover the bad eye so I can read on the internet. Hope thats ok as I am lost w/o my net. I will ask him this Thursday if it will be okay to use it. Also now I do not know if I should risk getting Lasik surgery? Whats your thots? Anyone? BTW I love that this thread is here as I find very little online about this. Laura =)

Has anyone tried Hyaluronic eye drops for dry eye syndrome? Seems as if it might help. WebM.D. "Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body. It is found in the highest concentrations in fluids in the eyes and joints. The hyaluronic acid that is used as medicine is extracted from rooster combs or made by bacteria in the laboratory. People take hyaluronic acid for various joint disorders, including osteoarthritis. It can be taken by mouth or injected into the affected joint by a healthcare professional. The FDA has approved the use of hyaluronic acid during certain eye surgeries including cataract removal, corneal transplantation, and repair of a detached retina and other eye injuries. It is injected into the eye during the procedure to help replace natural fluids." A link that might be useful: www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1062-HYALURONIC%20ACID.aspx?activeIngredientId=1062&activeIngredientName=HYALURONIC%20ACID

Maybe a little OT, but vision and age related. Almost 2 years ago, I woke up with absolutely NO vision in my left eye... total blackness. No pain/discomfort, sudden lack of vision wasn't what woke me up that morning... regular morning alarm time. Have worn glasses since 2nd grade (MANY years) and consider myself "blind as a bat" without them. I took myself to ER, and sent literally across the street to Ophthalmologist. He dilated eye, looked inside, said first glance was something called a retinal occlusion... sent me back to ER. Was in hospital a day and a half, LOTS of poking/prodding/scanning/ultra-sounding etc. NOT a stroke, BP and cholesterol high (not surprising, but another story). Didn't even have a "primary care" physician at the time... no insurance and not quite old enough for Medicare. He said... BP and cholesterol can be controlled through diet and/or medication BUT... SMOKING had to stop! Vision in left eye has come back from nothing but black but is just a big blur... can't read anything out of that eye. If that hadn't happened, would still be a smoker... can't honestly say I don't MISS that, no matter how bad it is for me... but haven't had a cigarette in close to 2 years.