Lasik Surgery? Would You Do It Again?

[keishashadow]

DHs eye dr. finally agreed that he'd be a candidate for Lasik. He currently requires a substantial correction & can't wear contacts @ work. Really would be nice to be able to save up the $ so he can have it done.

Surgeon in our current eye practice only does the work out of a hospital, quite pricey out of pocket. Internet & Yellow Pages list a ton of "clinics" in the Pittsburgh area. Other than the individual's experience (told @ least 300 plus is a good starting point) what should I look for?

Couple Questions:

1) Would you have the surgery again?

2) Insurance won't cover any of the costs...any idea how much is "standard" in a non-hospital setting?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I just asked hubby.

Aside from money, he would absolutely do it again.

His dad offered to supplement the costs last year....the procedure was one of the more expensive ones with lifetime guarantee (i.e. if there is a change in vision...he can get a "touch up" to correct it as long as it is correctable). The cost was $5000. He did have a slight astygmatism.

He's home sick today and is tired of me asking questions--so no more information for you.

I do know that he has to use rewetting drops...much less frequently than when he first had the surgery, but he has to carry them around especially on airline flights. It just seems his eyes are more sensitive to drying out. But the drops fix that.

 

[imsorry]

I would do it again! I am in NYC and it cost me $4800 for both eyes.

 

[Disney4Drew]

Had it done and would definitely do it again.

I had it done at a place that specializes in doing only LASIK. It was less than 2000 for both eyes. HTH.

 

[debbi801]

Can I chime in here?

How long ago did you have it and had bad were your eyes before hand? Also, were you near sighted, far sighted, etc.?

I am extremely near sighted and have slight astigmatism. I wore contacts for a long time, but no longer can, they irritate my eyes too much. My eye doctor says I am a good candidate, but I really don't want to wind up in glasses anyway.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I have not had lasik surgery done on my eyes (though I'm probably a candidate) but my MIL has. She had it done shortly before DS was born and I know she would NOT have it done again.

MIL had a severe astigmatism and DFIL thought it would make a nice Christmas present to give her a gift cert to have her eyes done. But somehow, the eye doctor screwed up and though she no longer has to wear glasses (except regular sunglasses), she can no longer produce adequate tears to keep her eyes lubricated. She has to carry around little tube things full of artificial tears wherever she goes.

TOV

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I've been looking into having it done as well. Around here, it is about $900 per eye, done in a doctor's office as an outpatient procedure.

 

[Mike.Wazowski]

I would DEFINATELY have it done again!
I had in done in 2002.

I cheated though -
I made an appointment in Niagra falls at a clinic that ONLY does lasiks (that is why they can keep there prices low!)
for 3 nights in Niagra falls, spending money and the surgery it cost me just over 2 grand!

I went up with the intention of - if I don't feel right abou tit I will NOT DO IT!
At the clinic while waiting I met plenty of people there just for post op appointments, one year check ups, etc... they COMPLETELY put my mind at ease!!

 

[lindakmonty]

I would do it again in a heartbeat. My vision was 20/400... it took two procedures. It was very easy and well worth the cost. Mine was around 2k w/o any insurance coverage as well.

 

[paigeandmorgansmom]

I had mine done in july. My eyes were -5.50 and I had a mild astig. I had custom lasik with the new wave procedure. I was seeing 20/30 when I left that day and now 6 months out I see 20/15. I do have mild dry eye, but I had that before. I just use gel drops when I go to bed and when I wake up I use re-wetting drops. Mine cost 4200 for both eyes.

I would do it again in a heart beat.

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

I had it done in 2000. We went up to Canada to a Lasik only clinic so it was $1000 for both eyes. We spent a wonderful weekend in Vancouver and myself, my dad and sister all had it done on the same day. None of us have any dry eye problems but I have night vision issues...severe starbursts. At the time they did not have the ability to completely correct astygmatism (sp) so I still have a little hazy vision at extreme distance. I had 20/15 vision for almost a year before is settled at 20/20.

 

[iluvdisnee]

DH had it done 2 years ago! He said he would do it again in a Heartbeat! I'm even considering it once I get to my goal weight!

I believe it was about 5000 for both of his eyes. He was in bed for a day after with each eye (done on different days).

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks so much to all who posted

DH is on the fence, think he was shocked that he finally got preliminary ok today for procedure (has astig., high Rx, some other issues, etc.)

I'm told the cost varies as to the level of correction needed.

Guess we'll just get a firm quote from "our" practice, then "shop it around".

Know that DH doesn't want to spend the money on himself...think it's the main reason he's hesitating.

Wonder if it's an "approved" medical procedure for itemized deductions % threshold?

 

[Feralpeg]

I woud do it again in a heartbeat. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance. Although they did not cover it outright, they doctor had a deal with the company that reduced the price.

 

[Evil Genius]

I would definitely do it again. It was about 2200.00 for both eyes.

The dollar amount depends on which method they have to use and how much of a correction needs to be done.

 

[pkasbohm]

Hey KS! It will be a year in april since I have had it done and I would do it again in a heartbeat!!! I love not having to wear glasses or contacts. I was nearsighted with astig. in both eyes and it worked for me. I got both my eyes done for under $1k! Shop around and and do some research on the doctor.

any questions ask away!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

It will be 4 years in April since I had mine done. I would most certainly do it again.
I had 20/300 vision and was getting farsighted as well (I got no-line bifocals at 37--I'm an English teacher and read a LOT). We got vision insurance and they refused to let me get no-lines--even paying the extra myself. I was too young (and vain!) to get bifocals. The Lasik place could have done one eye for far and one for reading, but I didn't want that either. So I have wonderful distance vision--but I need reading glasses. But that's OK--instead of $200-$300 glasses or monthly contacts (and of course you need both because you can't always wear contacts, and insurance only pays for one or the other) I get reading glasses at the dollar tree. Not always the most fashionable frames, but who cares!
Robin M.

 

[NikiM20]

Its been 5 yrs since I had my surgery done. I pd $1600 for it and it was the best $$ I have EVER spent (besides Disney , of course ) There is nothing like being able to see

 

[LadyZolt]

My DH and I had it done at the same time in the summer of 2004. I was nearsighted, something like 20/450 (an average person can see an object at 450 feet clearly. For me to see the object as clearly as that, I had to be 20 feet away. Basically, pretty bad vision. LOL!) I wore glasses from when I was 10 years old, and I was 42 when I had the surgery done. DH was 46 with equally bad vision.

Would we do it again? Absolutely. In a New York minute. Would I do it if my vision hadn't been that bad? No. I think all surgery has risks. If you can distinguish things well and need glasses only sometimes (like watching TV or driving), I wouldn't recommend it.

We paid $4,000 each and it was done by a doctor (ophthalmologist -- I also woudn't use an optometrist. I would insist on a surgeon, a fully certified ophthalmologist) using a new-at-the-time computerized instrument that minimizes error. I know people who had it done in the back of a van for $500 (LOL!), but I wouldn't recommend that, either, although theirs turned out fine.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[torinsmom]

I would definitely do it again! I had mine done in 2000 and my eyesight was 20/400. Now it is 20/20 in one eye and 20/10 in the other. I paid $1000 for both eyes. Best money I ever spent! It is so nice to be able to see when you get up in the morning and not to have dry, hurting eyes from contacts.

Marsha