Lasik eye surgery???

[Augustheather97]

I am seriously considering having it done....I have worn glasses since I was 9-- 31 years...and contacts and would love to wake up and see clear and not get nasty headaches from dry contacts...has anyone had it done? and how was the procedure and how well can you see now? and how much did it cost you?
thanks

 

[Pop Daddy]

5 years ago I was 20/900 and 20/650, wore contacts also, Im now 20/20 in both eyes

 

[mickeyboat]

Long post

 

[Serena]

There have been several threads about this in the past. I think all the replies were positive. It sounds like a scary, but very helpful surgery.

 

[cynsaun]

I had it done in November of 1999. Before the procedure, my vision was about the same as Pop Daddy's, not I see 20/20.

The only thing I would recommend is taking a sedative before the procedure is done.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I'm having the CustomVue Lasik done on 7/23. I'll let you know. The regular lasik is $2,000 and the VISX CustomVue is $3,100.

The CustomVue measures your eye and tells the laser your unique imperfections. The doctor isn't just relying on your eye prescription to do your lasik. It gives you a custom lasik surgery.

They are coming out with new equipment all of the time.

I am so blind that I can't see the BIG E on the eye chart! I have done a lot of research and am using the best doctor in our area. Our insurance would pay $400. but this dr. isn't on their list. My eyes are too important to save $400. so I am going out of network.

Lori

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I had this last April and it cost $2200--just paid it off, LOL. (DD said "what can they do if you don't pay, take it back?")
By that time I had trouble with reading, and I have had distance issues since 1977. They can't fix both (yet) so I chose to have the distance fixed. It is a miracle. I remember one ENight at MK I was on Astro Orbiter and had a wonderful view and my $)#(@!( contacts were foggy! Now I don't have to worry about it. I do buy the 1.5 readers at the dollar store for reading help--they sure aren't flattering, but better than the $300 glasses I had before with progressive lenses! (esp. since after that my insurance stopped covering those and insisted I get bifocals with the line--yeah, right!)
I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I hope someday to get the reading vision fixed as well.
Robin M.

 

[Sandy V.]

I had it done 4 years ago and it was the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Like you, I'd worn glasses since I was a child and contacts since I was 16. I was 40 when I had the LASIK surgery. I believe the cost back then was around $3,000, and I used my FLEX account at work to pay for it.

My vision was horrible before (bad astigmatism) and I see better than 20/20 now. For me, it was a miracle.

Best of luck in making your decision. Feel free to ask any specific questions.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Does everybody suggest taking the sedative?

I've been thinking of doing it without it. Drugs sometimes upset my stomach.

Lori

 

[Sandy V.]

Lori - I thought the sedative was great - it took the edge off and relaxed me before the surgery.

I didn't have any stomach upset from it. Afterwards, my husband drove me home and I slept for 2 or 3 hours. The sedative had worn off by the time I woke up.

Good luck with your surgery. I hope all goes well - you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner!!

 

[chasbos]

Had the Lasik surgery done 5 years ago and it has been great. I have had no problems and the procedure is very quick and painful.

 

[Sandy V.]

Eh . . . chasbos, did you mean painless?!?

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

chasbos, you're suppose to be encouraging me!

Lori

 

[two4ruff]

Had it one year ago. I was given a valium by the doctor. I have better than 20/20 now and am very glad I had it done. The ONLY side effect I have is some "halos" around lights at night, like from street lights or headlights, nothing that I even notice anymore.

I'm a huge medical procedure chicken and it really wasn't bad at all!

 

[elgerber]

Conveniently enough, my SIL married one of the top Lasik surgeons in the country a few years ago. That worked very well for us, he has done most of the family. We only paid cost, which was so great, because we were really broke at the time. I believe it was 4 years ago we had it done. It was the best thing we ever did!!! I did not take the sedative before or after, and I was just fine. My husband did not take them either.

Erika

 

[beattyfamily]

Did anyone see Jessica Simpson go thru it on her show!!!! I couldn't look!

I've been trying to convince my DH to do it but he's a chicken with anything to do with doctors.

It's not covered by insurance, right? so is the average $3000?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I had Lasik done about four years ago. It is the best thing I ever did for myself. DH's Ex works for some of the best opthamologists in the area, so we were able to get out eyes done pretty cheaply (DH did a favor for EXs boss, so his were free, and I got the friends and family discount so I only had to pay for one eye, lol). I couldn't read the big E and now I have 20/20 vision. It wasn't painful, I did take a valium, but it didn't do anything for me. I would do it again if I ever needed an adjustment.

Things to look for before picking a surgeon:
The LASIK itself the machine does, what is important is how many "cuts" your opthamologist has done.

Find out what is included in the price. I had one free adjustment within a year if needed. Also included were check-ups at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year post-op.

You want to get your LASIK done at a place that does not move its machine around.

Go for it, you'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner.

 

[Jimbo]

MJ's experience mirrors mine. I had my surgery just under 4 years ago. In just 58 seconds (30 for the right eye, 28 for the left) I went from "blind as a bat" to 20/20 vision. I used to have to put my alarm clock up to my nose in the morning in order to see what time it was. Now I can read it from across the room. There was no pain, not even any discomfort.

My doctor charged $1900 per eye. There were cheaper doctors around, but he had done the most surgeries of anyone in the area, so I decided that he was my guy. The money covered everything, including several checkups and adjustments as needed. I didn't need any adjustments, though, and didn't even bother going back for my last checkup. There wasn't any point in going, everything's fine.

BTW - I have a flexible spending account available at work, one of those things where you can set aside pre-tax money for health care expenses. So I paid $3800 in pre-tax money, which is really only about $2400 in "real" money.

I have nothing bad whatsoever to say about my experience!

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
Did anyone see Jessica Simpson go thru it on her show!!!! I couldn't look!

Ditto! I almost threw up watching her do it!

I want it so badly - I've been in glasses since kindergarten and have about 20/800 vision.

BUT - how does it NOT hurt?? They CUT YOUR EYE!!

 

[Sandy V.]

Katerkat, I promise you - it doesn't hurt. In addition to the sedative to relax you (mine was Valium), they use these numbing eye drops.

You really don't feel a thing. I had absolutely no pain then and no discomfort later. I went home and slept off the medication, and by dinner time, I was back to normal PLUS I could see!

I'm not a "medical" person at all - but I watched the tape of my surgical procedure they sent home with me because it was fascinating!

You really won't regret having it done.