Has anyone had Lasik surgery?

[wdwnut2]

I'm seriously considering having lasik surgery, wondering if anyone else has had it. My eye doctor said I am a good candidate from what he can tell ( I haven't had any in-depth testing yet) and is urging me to schedule an appointment for an exam. The idea of not wearing contacts and glasses anymore is wonderful, but I am also terrified at the idea that something will go wrong. Has anyone had this surgery? What were your results? Are you glad you did it?

 

[AspiringCindy]

For years, I toyed with the idea, and finally had enough cash to do it 2 years ago. The Physician who performed my surgery is very well known in my area and has a great reputation...so I had no fears or doubts. The surgery itself, only takes a few minutes, and you really don't feel anything! The bad thing about it is the smell of the lasers, but like I said, it only lasted for minutes. The day after the surgery, I could NOT open my eyes! It was much too painful(light sensitive etc.). But, the following day, I awoke to see my bedroom IN FOCUS! All pain(which was more like discomfort and frustration) was gone. That day, all my contacts, solutions etc. went right in the trash! I am so happy I had the surgery, and highly recommend it!

 

[SOBDOSNV]

I had it done about 4yrs ago. Would do it again in a heartbeat!!
I had worn contacts about 7yrs before but had not been able to wear them due to a scratch on my eye. I was kinda nervous about the surgery as well, but it went without a hitch. Had it done at night, the doctor gave me sleeping pill and mild pain pills. Slept thru the night and woke up and haven't wore glasses since. Went to doctor that morning and was 20/20. Never had any discomfort or anything. Good luck.

 

[adamak]

I was also toying with the idea. How do you research for doctors? Are there websites that rates them?

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I didnt but I had it done for my husband last month for his early Christmas gift.
He loves it !
He went to a Dr. who is very well known in our area and he also gave him a discount for being a Firefighter

good luck
Wishing you a tagged night
Mishell

 

[txpixie]

I had Lasik surgery about 4 years ago and would not hesitate to do it again. I was nervous, but the actual procedure only takes a minute and you can SEE! I picked the surgeon by asking my eye doctor who he would use if he was having the surgery. The freedom of no longer having to wear glasses or contacts is a wonderful thing. I highly recommend it.

Happy Halloween

 

[wdwnut2]

I'm liking these responses! My doctor did recommend a particular surgeon, I went on his website and it looks like he has done thousands of procedures and is considered highly regarded, which of course makes me feel much better.

Adamak-surprisingly I haven't been able to find a whole lot about lasik surgery on the web. I've found sites for particular clinics/surgeons, but not general sites that rate the doctors. Maybe I'm not looking in the right spots though. My suggestion is to ask your dr for recommendations and then check their websites. They'll be a little biased obviously, but at least you'll have an idea of their credentials.

Wow, I'm feeling much better about this now! I think I may get up the nerve to make an exam appointment!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I did this in April. I love it! I do have a downside but I was warned about it--I already had "progressive lenses' (you know, bifocals for the vain ) and I was told that the surgery would NOT correct both my distance and reading vision. So now when I read I need a 1 or 1.5 reading glasses--but heck, I can buy those at the dollar store!!! In the meantime, I get up and I can SEE what time it is, what the weather is without getting up and finding my glasses, if there is a "snow day" situation I can watch the TV from bed without getting up and standing in front of it. Best of all this summer on our cruise/VWL vacation I could see everything wonderfully! (except the menu, ha ha, but I had my $1 readers for that).
In 2002 we did an Enight and we rode the Astro orbiter, with the wonderful view of MK at night, and I was having one of those nights where the contacts are all foggy. Everything was like San Fransisco. That's when I seriously started considering Lasik, and I am very happy I did it. I have already had 4 follow up appointments and they said at the last one everything is great and I don't have to come back--but if I do, any corrections were included in my April surgery. I had "halos" at night for a while but not for long.
There are some websites that are all Lasik horror stories, and things do happen, but if you research and get a good surgeon you should be fine. Mine has done thousands of surgeries in Toledo and Cleveland. Don't go with the "Lasik for $200" ads in the paper! You do get what you pay for. Mine was $2200.
Robin M.

 

[izzy]

I'm so glad to see this post! I just scheduled Lasik surgery for January, and I'm a little apprehensive, too. I'm going to one of the best surgeons in the country, so that really helps. This doctor did Tiger Woods' eyes, and I keep telling myself that if Tiger Woods trusts him, I should too!

They sent me all of the paperwork the other day to read over, and I won't go into the potential problems that they listed. I know that they have to list this, but it finally got to the point where I just stopped reading it. I want to have this done, and from everything I've heard, it's very safe and quite effective.

 

[JulieWent]

DH had LASIK several years ago. Like Robin, he still has "progressive" sight problems (read: we're not getting younger!). But he loves being able to swim with my son and actually see what is going on.

My DH (along with most of the people I know who have had Lasik) had to have a "readjustment." That means that they had to go in twice, once for the original surgery and once about six months later. I think they don't really advertise it, but that this is normal. (They missed by a little the first time around.)

Hope that helps.

Julie

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I had it done about three years ago. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. I had very bad eyesight (like not being able to see the Big E on the eye charts) and now I have 20/20 vision. My recovery time was a little longer since my eyes were so bad and I was under the laser for longer.

It is important to have a doctor who has a lot of experience in making the incisions. Any person can run the laser and in fact his assistant ran it while he held my head steady. You also want to find a place that keeps its laser in one place and doesn't move it between offices. Also cheaper is NOT better. You get what you pay for. Luckily DH's ex works for the eye center and I had a friends and family discount. My doctor is the head of opthamology at our hospital. So I felt very comfortable with having it done.

You also want to know what follow up care is included in the price. If I needed a readjustment it would have been covered (I didn't) and I had check ups the day after, the week after, the month after, 3 months after, 6 months after and a year after. Also there was no charge for an appointment if I was having an emergency. I did bump my eye a couple days post surgery and was seen that same morning. Of course I was just being paranoid.