Lasik Eye Surgery

[DznyCrzy11]

Has anyone had Lasik? If so, would you recommend it? I have contemplated having it done and I think I have finally gotten over my fear of it!!

Sent from my Galaxy SII

 

[aliyasmomma2003]

I would like to hear experiences too. I can't see the broad side of the barn without my glasses or contacts and I hate them both.

 

[DizBelle]

Had it. Glad I don't have to deal with contacts anymore. My eye allergies are much better too.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Had it done 7 years ago and the only regret I have is not doing it sooner! BEST money I ever spent! Would do it again in a heartbeat!

 

[Neesy228]

My DH and my DBrother had it done. Both would tell you that it was the best investment ever.

The day of the procedure they both said was "uncomfortable" but they (the doctors) encourage you to sleep or lay around with your eyes closed for hours on that first day. It improved rapidly for both of them and their vision evened out pretty well after about a week, then after about 3/4 months it was perfect.

It was a lot of eye drops before and after the procedure. The surgery was brief, the recovery was fairly easy.

I have considered it and went for a consult, but I can't really get over the idea of someone holding my eye open and cutting it. I'm weird about my eyes though. It took me until I was in college to get comfortable with the idea of contacts. Therefore, I really am fine with my contacts/glasses.

 

[tvguy]

I only know one person who had it done who wasn't happy early on, he had a bad result.
However, be warned, depending on your eyes, you will need to go in for "touch ups" in the future, most folks go 7 or 8 years between touch ups so budget for that.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I had it done 13 years ago. Still have 20/20 vision in both eyes, although I recently developed a need for reading glasses (Lasik can't correct for that). The procedure was easy. I ended up having problems with dry eyes for a few months afterward. It's pretty common and easily fixed with artificial tears. I was able to stop using them and haven't had any problems since. It's important to listen carefully and follow instructions for pre-op and post-op. It's a process that takes a few weeks (no contacts for a week or so before the surgery, a series of drops afterward). I haven't needed an enhancement yet. However, I was told it costs a lot less than the initial procedure. Mine cost $1800 per eye (insurance paid for about 1/2). The enhancements are under $200 per eye (might be more now - I was given that quote 13 years ago). Would definitely recommend it. So nice not to worry about contacts or glasses, and nice to be able to see when I get up in the morning!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

My DH started wearing glasses when he was 8 years old. Several years ago, at about age 50, he had Lasik. In the beginning he was a little disappointed with one eye, and they told him to give it 3 months, I think it was. And sure enough, everything's fine. He's thrilled with the results. Really incredible to not needing glasses after 40+ years.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I had a consult and was told I'd still need glasses afterwards so to me, it was pointless to go through with it.

 

[mfd25wife]

My DH and my DBrother had it done. Both would tell you that it was the best investment ever.

The day of the procedure they both said was "uncomfortable" but they (the doctors) encourage you to sleep or lay around with your eyes closed for hours on that first day. It improved rapidly for both of them and their vision evened out pretty well after about a week, then after about 3/4 months it was perfect.

It was a lot of eye drops before and after the procedure. The surgery was brief, the recovery was fairly easy.

I have considered it and went for a consult, but I can't really get over the idea of someone holding my eye open and cutting it. I'm weird about my eyes though. It took me until I was in college to get comfortable with the idea of contacts. Therefore, I really am fine with my contacts/glasses.

I was terrible about my eyes. I wore contacts from the time I was 16 until I had the LASIK done. I had mine done in 2000 or 2002. Honestly, it's been so long, I forgot. When I did it, they gave all of the patients Valium and Demerol about 30 minutes before the surgery. That was good because I was shaking like a leaf on the table so they had to give me a second Valium. I don't know if that is routine any longer, but I would think you could ask for something. I literally could not have done it otherwise. I would slide down in the chair trying to get away from the doctor when he would shine the light in my eyes and examine them.

My DH timed the surgery because he could watch it on a closed circuit tv. It was ~3 min. 20 sec. for each eye. It took longer to cover the other eye and switch eyes. I used artificial tears and a then a gel at night for a while. They prescribed Darvocet or something comparable to help the patients sleep through the first day because it feels like you have sand in your eyes, but not quite that bad. It seemed like they gave me enough for 5-7 days and then I had a checkup. It's uncomfortable, and they didn't want us to rub our eyes. They also gave us plastic glasses to sleep in at first. This was all long ago when it was more expensive and insurance didn't pay so we got fanny packs full of eye drops, medicine, etc. The fanny pack was in case we were alone and needed to find the bag.

I think they said about 75% of the healing takes place in the first 24 hours. I had a checkup the next morning. I could see remarkably better within hours, and then much better as time went on.But, coming from someone who couldn't find her glasses in the morning, it was great even the next day. If I remember right, I couldn't swim or get in a shower for one week. I couldn't wear eye makeup for a week before and one to two weeks after.

I would recommend it.

 

[WDWBarb]

I'm considering it at this very moment. I just had my annual eye exam and asked my eye doc about it and he told me that my farsightedness is harder to correct (apparently nearsightedness is more common). I have a touch of both. He said the can fix my nearsight but I'd have to wear reading glasses for the computer, etc.

He was trying to get me in contacts and I we tried two different kinds and they were both hard as heck to get in my eyes. He said it's because I have a bad astigmatism (did I spell that right??). One lens was impossible to keep on my finger because it was so slick and the other crumpled together constantly. He ended up, after many attempts, getting them in and out of my eyes himself but the short time I did have them in I absolutely loved them. So now I'm considering LASIK. I had forgotten what it was like to see perfectly in every direction.

But I am a huge chicken and I can't imagine being able to go through with the process. My boss had it done about a decade ago and he had to start back in glasses about 5 years later. He said that was about how long they told him the correction would last. He's getting ready to do it again and he said that the last time he did it he was very scared and then felt like a fool once it was over because it was just all so quick and easy.

 

[Pooh2]

Had it done 13 years ago and just started to use reading glasses this year. So glad I did it.

 

[JLiz]

I had it done 2 years ago. I love it! I was nearsighted in my right eye, farsighted in my left, and severe astigmatism in both.

Honestly, I didn't like it the first few weeks because the improvement was so dramatic. Colors were more vivid and my depth perception was remarkably different. It would take a lot to describe the difference but it akin to the difference between 1970s analog tv and high-def plasma tv.

To address some of the concerns pp have brought up re: touch-ups and cutting. The doctor I went with will do touch-ups free for life as long as I get a yearly eye exam. Also, my entire procedure was done with laser including creating the flap. So, if you are uncomfortable with a blade (I was) there are alternatives. Also, I was given a Valium before the procedure to help me relax but there was no pain, only a little "discomfort" with the suction.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'd love to get it done, but there's two things holding me back...

1) Cost. Insurance doesn't cover it, so we'd be on the hook for the entire amount. I'd rather put that money toward family vacations
2) LONG term (ie 20 years+) effects. Has Lasik been around long enough to really indicate if there are long term problems?

 

[Mikeypro]

Has anyone had Lasik? If so, would you recommend it? I have contemplated having it done and I think I have finally gotten over my fear of it!!

Sent from my Galaxy SII

Had it done in 1999. They did over correct one eye and I had to have it adjusted a couple of months later. Right now I am still 20/15! Back then it was $2500 per eye...

The procedure itself is a piece of cake. They numb your eye, put a contraption on it that holds it open, you stare at a light and the laser starts zapping. Totally painless, and really not even uncomfortable if you totally relax like I did. I guess the only disconcerting part was that you do smell smoke as the laser is zapping.

You will still need reading glasses - that is a focusing muscle issue, not a lens issue.

 

[DawnM]

I had it almost 13 years ago. About 2 years ago my eyes started changing again and I now have to wear glasses to drive and to see long distances again.

 

[sam_gordon]

I had it almost 13 years ago. About 2 years ago my eyes started changing again and I now have to wear glasses to drive and to see long distances again.

This is the kind of thing I'm worried about. I'd just as soon put in contacts/wear glasses all the time than need glasses just to do one thing.

 

[chrissy92972]

I had it done in October 2011 and then again in one eye in January 2012. I was not able to see as well as I wanted after the first procedure, so I had the left eye redone.

Currently I am 40 and do not need reading glasses and the doctor said I shouldn't because I was corrected for monovision. My left eye is for distance and my right eye is for close up.

So far so good only time will tell I guess?

Chrissy

 

[Feralpeg]

I'd love to get it done, but there's two things holding me back...

1) Cost. Insurance doesn't cover it, so we'd be on the hook for the entire amount. I'd rather put that money toward family vacations
2) LONG term (ie 20 years+) effects. Has Lasik been around long enough to really indicate if there are long term problems?

While insurance didn't cover it per se, I got a reduced rate because of my insurance coverage. I did not have any type of vision insurance. We have Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The amount of the surgery was reduced by $650 each for both my daughter and my self when we had the surgery.

Check with the doctor to see if they give a discount due to your insurance carrier.

My brother had the same basic procedure almost 30 years ago. At that time, they didn't use lasers. The cuts were made with a scalpel. While, over time, his eyes have gotten worse due to aging, they are still much better than when he was a child. He was extremely near-sighted as a child and wore very thick glasses. After the surgery, he didn't need glasses for many years. Now, he uses over the counter reading glasses.

 

[aprilgail2]

I only know one person who had it done who wasn't happy early on, he had a bad result.
However, be warned, depending on your eyes, you will need to go in for "touch ups" in the future, most folks go 7 or 8 years between touch ups so budget for that.

I don't know anyone that has had to have a "touch up"- I had TERRIBLE eyesight since I was in 4th grade but I had it done in 1996 or 97 and my eyesight is still 20/20.