Lasik Eye Surgery

[GlennandAnn]

I have been wearing contact lenses sisnce I was 12 years old. I am now 35 and am growing tired of not being able to see unless I "put in my eyes". I have started to debate getting Lasik surgery done.

Any feedback I receive (cost, pain, results, etc..) would be greatly appreciated.

Glenn

 

[GlennandAnn]

Bumping for Glenn


Ann

 

[aprilgail2]

I had it done many years ago and consider it one of the best things I ever did for myself. Its about 7 or 8 years later now and I still have 20/20 in the right eye and 20/15 inthe left eye. I would have it done again in a heartbeat if I needed it.

 

[Buzzlvr31]

I, too was getting tired of having to rely on contact lenses for proper vision since I was very nearsighted. So, I had the surgery done a couple of weeks ago and I'll tell you it was the best thing I have ever done for myself!! :happy2: Sure, it was expensive, but the results of not ever having to deal with contact lenses again made it well worth the high price!!

In fact, the only pain I experienced was a little bit of pressure when the corneal flap was created. Otherwise, it was very quick and painless.

So, my advice to you would be to do it!!! You certainly will feel a whole lot happier when it's done!!!

 

[TTFN]

I had it done just over 3 years ago. My contact lens prescription was -8.75 in both eyes. When I left them out for several weeks before the surgery, I tested at -10! Need less to say, the 20/40 vision I have now is great for me. I could have gone back up until a year after the surgery for a "tweak" to get to 20/20, but just didn't bother. People think this is a vanity surgery, but I was always terrified of losing my lenses or glasses in an emergency and not being able to even see my kids to help them. Anyway...I had no pain at all. The surgery took very little time, and I could read (fuzzliy) the clock on the wall as soon as I sat up. I still use glasses to drive only, but I don't legally have to have them. Good luck with your decision; I'm so glad I did it!

 

[Melora]

I had the surgery done last year..it was the best thing Ive ever done hands done!

I had -8.5 in both eyes and now I have basically 20/20 vision.

I too was afraid that in an emergency I would lose a contact or my glasses. I had a hard time wearing glasses becauses they gave me headache. My vision was so bad without correction that I could barely make it around my own house.

It did not hurt though I was terrified. The only thing that did hurt was them putting in the eye holders to keep your eyes open. It only was uncomfortable for a moment, while they were in, they didnt hurt, it was just the pressure of opening them up.

My eyes were sensitive to too much input for about 3 weeks (goign someplace where there were a lot of colors or lots to see.. Costco for example made my eyes feel strained until they healed fully.. so much to look at and so many different depths).

Make sure you go to a reputable docter who has done it for along period of time.

 

[hercamore]

Yes, make sure you go to a reputable doctor!

A friend just had it done at Mayo Clinic in MN and it went very well. Cost aorund $3K. Insurance didn't cover it.

herc.

 

[TTFN]

I absolutely agree....check out the doctor. I'm sure many people have good results with the cheapie places, but I sure wasn't trusting my eyes to the lowest bidder!

 

[goin2disneyagain]

I had Lasik in June 2002. I am very happy with it. I did an extensive amount of research and talked to people about it. I attended a seminar and finally scheduled my appointment. My vision is 20/15. I highly recommend it.

 

[Robmom]

I never had it done, but I definitely would get an excellent doctor to do it. I hate to laugh at this subject, but it reminds me of an episode of "King of Queens", when Doug gets his wife laser eye surgery, but uses the cheapest person and she can't see after the surgery and then has to have it redone by a good doctor. It was really funny. But it certainly wouldn't be funny in real life, so be careful who you get to do it.

 

[deedee67]

I'll repeat what others have said before me ~ it was the best thing that I ever did for myself. It cost about $4,000 but is worth every cent. I had the Lasik done about 6 years ago and my vision is still perfect. One of the greatest things about it is being able to see the clock in the morning without having to put on glasses. I also love being able to see in the ocean without worrying if a wave is going to knock out a contact lens. Good luck with your decision.

 

[AspiringCindy]

9/11 prompted me to have it done...so I did! I was very confident in the doctor and the procedure itself was painless and quick, but the first 36 hours were H*@L for me! I was practically blind for that first 36 hours. That night I went to bed thinking, "What have I done" only to wake to perfectly clear vision! I am so happy with my 20/15 vision and recommend it even if you may have a few hours of being uncomfortable!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I don't think anybody else said this but...if you have it done, DO NOT expect to have perfect vision the moment you leave the doc's office. There will be several MONTHS of doing eyedrops and revisiting the docs office for checkups. Also because you've had contacts/glasses for so long, it might take a while for your eyes to adjust to focusing near/far/in between/whatever without your lenses.

I haven't had lasik, but DMIL has and I've seen what she's been through the last 2 and a half months since she had it done. She loves the fact that she doesn't have to wear her glasses anymore, even if she is stuck putting drops in her eyes about a zillion times a day right now.

TOV

 

[Sleepy]

I am having Lasik done May 5 because I can't wear contacts anymore. I am paying $4,000 and my doc is tops in her field. Can't wait to finally see without glasses. The past 2 years have been horrible for me. I can't see a thing without my glasses.

 

[Sleepy]

Originally posted by TheOtherVillainess
She loves the fact that she doesn't have to wear her glasses anymore, even if she is stuck putting drops in her eyes about a zillion times a day right now.TOV

Sounds like she has dry eyes. Is that her problem?

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by TheOtherVillainess
I don't think anybody else said this but...if you have it done, DO NOT expect to have perfect vision the moment you leave the doc's office. There will be several MONTHS of doing eyedrops and revisiting the docs office for checkups. Also because you've had contacts/glasses for so long, it might take a while for your eyes to adjust to focusing near/far/in between/whatever without your lenses.

ITOV

Hmmm...sounds like she has some kind of problem...I saw very well right after the surgery, not perfect but no need for glasses...within a day or two I saw perfectly, used antibiotic drops for about a week after, saw the Dr 2 times in the next 6 months for rechecks....

 

[DaisyDebbie]

I had it done in June 2001. Best thing I've ever done for myself

I saw perfectly the next morning at the drs. office. I only had to put antibiotic drops in my eyes also. No other problems.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I know that at the beginning, DMIL had to put in antibiotic drops. I'm guessing her Lasik experience was different from ya'lls because she has (had??) pretty bad astigmatism. That's why DH and I will probably never be able to afford lasik for ourselves. He is practically blind without his glasses and I have what the eye doc calls "mixed astigmatism' meaning I am far sighted in one eye and nearsigthed in the other. How wierd is THAT?

TOV

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I did this a year ago and am very happy with it. I had progressive lenses going in (I teach English and read a lot and it's a lot of strain on the eyes) and I knew I couldn't fix both, and didn't want the "univision"--my asst. principal has one reading eye and one distance eye and I don't know if I could handle that. So even though "I can see for miles and miles" I need the cheap reading glasses at about a strength of 1.5. However, I don't have to wear them all the time, not even for reading (my reading vision is getting better it seems, but it's harder in dim light) and the $1 I spend at Dollar Tree is much better than the $300 my last pair of glasses cost!
Here's an example--in July of 02 we were at an Enight at MK and we were up in the astro orbiter, but I had that halo thing going on because I'd had my contacts in for a long day. There was a haze around all the Main St. lighting and all the tomorrowland lights as well. Was I ever miffed that I couldn't enjoy that view! Now NYE we were at the Contemp. and I could enjoy the fireworks with no help at all, it was wonderful!
Robin M.

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

I had it done in 2000. Love being able to see with hassles!!!! I went to a clinic in Vancouver BC that was wonderful!!! As an added bonus they are about half the cost of facilities in the US. My DH had it done at the same place last year and he has had no problems. I was actually jealous because he got to have the wavefront procedure. But I can go back and have a free enhancement if I need it. Here is the homepage to the clinic if anybody is interested. http://www.lasikeyecentres.com/