My surgeon was willing to do contact lens implants, but was very adamant that lasik was a more appropriate course of action. Despite being more than willing to pay the price premium. So I went with lasik, as recommended.
Unfortunately, that left me with all of the negative side effects (halos at night, dry eyes) I was hoping to avoid by choosing an implanted lens. While I don't regret getting lasik, hearing someone who had a successful ICL surgery makes me wish I had taken that route instead.
Who knows what your doc was thinking but I figure they knew more about you and your personal situation than a random hacker news commentor. Medicine often times has trade offs so there's a chance you'd regret lens implants in one way or another if anything financially. Anyways, hope your vision is good now.
I have ICLs and suffered from those too, along with other internal reflections at night. It will get better with age as your pupils get smaller, but it takes years.
As for ICLs don't be fooled by the marketing too much. I've read countless medical studies since having them and I'm reading about all sorts of increases in risks for eye issues. Btw dry eyes are a possibility too, as with any cut into the eye. Long-term studies are rare too, as 5 or 10 years is already considered long. I expect to live a lot longer than that.
Not to mention that while "reversible" is true, the procedure is not as easy as putting them in and you really don't want to take them out it unless you absolutely have to. It's a rather substantial cut they have to make to take the unfolded ICL out again.
Unfortunately, that left me with all of the negative side effects (halos at night, dry eyes) I was hoping to avoid by choosing an implanted lens. While I don't regret getting lasik, hearing someone who had a successful ICL surgery makes me wish I had taken that route instead.