Anyone have an opinion about LASIK?

[elcodfish]

I am thinking about having LASIK corrective surgery. I still have to go to be screened but if I am a candidate I think this is something I would really like to do. The problem is it can cost up to $2000, per eye, and it is not covered by insurance However getting new lens and contacts every year costs me a couple hundred anyways. So basically, I am asking if you liked it and are glad you had it done. My BIL had it done about 5 years ago, is really happy and now just has a little bit of dry eye in the spring with his allergies. I live 30 minutes from Canada, and I guess you can get it cheaper there, but it seems weird to me to go to another country for health care...

 

[Darcy03231]

I am thinking about having LASIK corrective surgery. I still have to go to be screened but if I am a candidate I think this is something I would really like to do. The problem is it can cost up to $2000, per eye, and it is not covered by insurance However getting new lens and contacts every year costs me a couple hundred anyways. So basically, I am asking if you liked it and are glad you had it done. My BIL had it done about 5 years ago, is really happy and now just has a little bit of dry eye in the spring with his allergies. I live 30 minutes from Canada, and I guess you can get it cheaper there, but it seems weird to me to go to another country for health care...

I'm currently researching it myself. While I live in NE and Canada isn't that far away, there is no way I'm going there for it. If there's an issue you'll need to keep returning there for treatment. One of DH's co-workers had it done in Canada and ended up having to make 6-7 trips there because of issues. It all ended up fine, but I'm going to stay local.

Everyone I know that's had it done only regrets they didn't do it sooner.

 

[SabMad]

I had it done about 7 years ago, wish I had done it 20 years ago! I love it. I had worn glasses since the 2nd grade. I cried the morning after I had it done, I couldn't ever remember seeing without putting glasses on/contacts in. Do it now don't waste another day! It is expensive but the place I had mine done offered 0% for 2 years. The payments were so reasonable I ended up paying mine off early.

 

[QVCshopper]

My brother in law and another friend had in done and love it. My father also had it done and went from wearing long distance glasses to wearing near sited glasses. I really think it depends on your age. I feel my dad was headed toward bifocals, but what's the point if you go from wearing one type of glasses to another?

As for myself, I wear glasses exclusively and have no plans of getting the surgery. It creeps me out. I know my brother in law couldn't see for a few minutes after the surgery, it must be weird being blind for a moment. But, like I said, he couldn't be happier.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm with you. I've been wearing glasses or contacts for the last 25 years. I'd love to get LASIK but the pricing is holding me back. Even if I spend $200 a year on contacts (I don't think I spend that much), that's still 20 years to make up the cost. Doesn't make financial sense to me. Which is too bad, I'd love to be able to wake up in the morning and read the clock without holding it 6" from my face.

 

[Marionnette]

I am thinking about having LASIK corrective surgery. I still have to go to be screened but if I am a candidate I think this is something I would really like to do. The problem is it can cost up to $2000, per eye, and it is not covered by insurance However getting new lens and contacts every year costs me a couple hundred anyways. So basically, I am asking if you liked it and are glad you had it done. My BIL had it done about 5 years ago, is really happy and now just has a little bit of dry eye in the spring with his allergies. I live 30 minutes from Canada, and I guess you can get it cheaper there, but it seems weird to me to go to another country for health care...

My sister had her eyes done in Canada several years ago. She's happy with not having to put on her glasses to see the clock in the morning. And she can swim without having to remove her contacts. But she's middle age now and becoming far-sighted. She needs "cheaters" to read a menu or a book. She is an OR nurse and can't be adjusting glasses if they slip down her nose. So now she is back to wearing contacts when she is at work. So the expense is still there.

I had the chance to get my eyes done but turned it down. I wear extended wear bifocal contact lenses instead. I can wear them without taking them out even sleeping in them for a month. I can't swim in them but I hate the water anyway so it's not a loss. At least I don't need to have reading glasses scattered around the house and in every pocketbook I own.

 

[mhconley]

I'm in my early 50's and have worn corrective lenses for myopia since junior high. I've had extended wear lenses since I was 18 and love them. I wear them 2-4 weeks at a time and sleep in them. (I know - NOT recommended.) I have never once had a problem with my lenses.

I use reading glasses now so I no longer even consider surgery...

Martin

 

[blessedby3]

I had it done about 8 years ago. I am glad I had it done, but also wish I had done it sooner. I was about 36 and they told me that around 40 you will start to lose your up close vision. The Lasik helps with distance, but not up close. I now need to use reading glasses for up close vision.
I also had a little "incident" with my surgery. I was very nervous about having it done--dont like the idea of having something coming at my eye, especially when I am awake
Anyway, I survived the surgery and when we were heading home, I told my dh that I thought my lens kept bunching up in my eye when I blinked
He looked at it and said yes it was. I was in full panic and kept my eye closed as we turned the car around. We placed a call to the office and told them, and they said--no, thats not possible. Well, when the doc checked it he said yes the flap was coming up when I blinked and I had to have that eye done AGAIN
He said that in all the years he had done this surgery, he had never had that happen. Of course I would have to be the one in a ________ that has something like this happen
Anyway, even with that I am still glad I had it done. Im thankful no permanant damage was done.

 

[jackie101]

Had it done in Sep love it . Had it done in RI so worth the $ so more contacts/glasses

 

[rsschneck]

There are different types of laser eye surgery. Lasiks, Laseks and PRK. I had the PRK which is where they go through the cornea and do not flap. This takes a couple of weeks to heal and your eyes are very irritated feeling for the two weeks. It has been three years now and I am so glad I had it done. Best surgery ever! I wore contacts for 25 years and started having problems because I was allergic to the proteins that build up on contacts and would get conjunctivitis frequently. I am in my forties now and have my eyes checked annually because the eye doctor's say you will need reading glasses at some point in time but for now I see far away @ 20/20 or better (still a slight astigmatism in one eye) but no reading glasses needed yet. It took awhile to get used to the idea not purchasing contacts, solutions, daily maintenance, etc.

I did use care credit for my 0% financing and that helped a lot.

Go for it! I think it is worth every penny. I am still trying to convince DH to have it done but he would rather spend $600 pair for his glasses.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I went for a screening but was not eligible for Lasik because my corneas were too thin from years of wearing gas permeable lenses. They could have done more invasive surgery, but I opted to stick with my contacts. I'm glad I finally went for the consultation so I wouldn't always wonder "what if". Go for the consultation to see if you're eligible and decide from there.

 

[susianew]

I had it done 2 weeks ago yesterday, and I LOVE IT!

Obviously, I still have a lot of follow up appointments over the next year (all covered by the initial fee) but I was 20/20 at my 1 week check. I will need cheaters to read in the future but I am okay with that.

I actually made the choice to get it done last year at Blizzard Beach- if I wore my glasses on the slides, I might lose/damage them, and if I didn't, I might lose my kids

I did my initial consult in November (usually the screening is free) then elected to put enough money to cover the procedure in my Healthcare FSA, so it comes out of my paycheck pre-tax. (Plus I charged it on my credit card for the points, got reimbursed immediately from the FSA, and paid off the CC immediately, so it's like an interest free advance on my paychecks this year.)

I would also check and see if the Lasik place takes VSP. This is a vision insurance company; they don't pay a dime towards the surgery, but they do get you their negotiated price reduction. For me, that meant a savings of almost $700! (And I didn't actually have VSP- I signed up for their discount card a month in advance, and cancelled the day after surgery. I think I paid something like $20 total to be in their plan- well worth the $$)

Also, check around to different clinics and verify what is included. I've heard some places don't include the eyedrops in their price; Vigamox is often a 3rd tier drug with a high copay.

Good Luck!

 

[stacieps]

I'm currently researching it myself. While I live in NE and Canada isn't that far away, there is no way I'm going there for it. If there's an issue you'll need to keep returning there for treatment. One of DH's co-workers had it done in Canada and ended up having to make 6-7 trips there because of issues. It all ended up fine, but I'm going to stay local.

Everyone I know that's had it done only regrets they didn't do it sooner.

I am in NH. Had the survery at the Laservue Clinic in Montreal, Canada, about 5 years ago. So happy I did it. My eye doctor in NH actually partnered with Laservue in Montreal, so he did my initial exams, sent me to Laservue for the surgery (I had it in the afternoon, spent the night at a hotel, had a quick check in the morning before heading home), then all my follow-ups were with my doctor in NH (all included in the package price).

 

[jedijill]

I am a year out on my Lasik surgery and I haven't regretted it for a second. Mine ended up costing $3500 for all the bells and whistles and I used my FSA to pay for it--I have vision insurance through VSP and it gave me a discount. I basically had no downtime and could see extremely well right after the surgery and it got even better over the next month (night glare went away.)

Best money I ever spent.

Jill in CO

 

[mrsklamc]

Best money I ever spent besides my marriage license.

 

[DawnM]

I had it done 10 years ago this month.

I just went to the eye doc and I now I need driving glasses! ARGH! But your eyes do continue to change, so I knew it was possible.

I LOVE not wearing glasses or contacts.

Dawn

 

[SKINUT]

Had it done 5 years ago and have no regrets. My father had it done 6 months before and I figured I'd wait to see what his results were before making my decision. Outside of the anxiety of lying there with a laser and some discomfort thereafter, the rest is easy. I'm thankful every morning I wake up and don't have to put in contacts or wear glasses. I'm 45 now and don't need any type of glasses. I'd do it again.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I got lasik a few years ago and LOVED it!

 

[disneymama116]

Hi!!

I had my lasik surgery done in 2007. I love it! I worked for an opthamalogist office. The staff were able to have free lasik surgery if they wanted after working there for a year. I had a great doctor who did the surgery. When I went for my check up the next day I was able to see 20/20. Make sure you check the doctors credentials and see if you can talk to other lasik patients.
Good Luck!!

 

[sunshine74]

Love it, love it, love it. Hands down the best money I have ever spent. I'm going on 5 years now, and couldn't be happier.