LASIK surgery

[crazy4disney01]

I am considering having this but I'm scared. Don't know if I can handle something coming at my eye, having my eye held opened, and everything else.

If you've had it, what is it like and does it hurt? Would you do it again if you had to?

Thanks!!!

 

[NCRedding]

I had lasik 6 years ago. I went from legally blind (-9 in one eye, -8.5 in the other) to 20/20.

The procedure itself was creepy, but tolerable . This was mainly because of the valium they gave me prior to starting--I really was relaxed for the procedure. I didn't feel any pain during the procedure. I felt slight pressure when they were opening my eyes with the clamp thingy.

The recovery period for me: The first day, I went home and went to bed. The first days my eyes felt as though I had sand in them-I teared up alot. You can not scratch or rub your eyes at all--they even give patches for you to wear at night so you won't inadvertantly scratch or rub.

For the first two weeks, I thought I had made a huge mistake--it took about that length of time for my eyes to stablilize. The first day after the surgery, I was 20/50, but I felt blind since I was used to 20/20 with contacts.

I would certainly do it again--I love the freedom of no glasses, being able to swim, wake up in the middle of the night and see my clock--I could go on and on--I feel it is some of the best money I ever spent.

 

[LindaR]

I had mine June 2005. I absolutely would do it again AND have helped several friends who were thinking of having it. I was never able to wear contacts because I couldn't stick my own finger in my eye! I went to one of the top surgeons in the country (very important to not cut costs here) and they gave me meds to relax me. The meds really work and I didn't care about what they were doing! Then they want you to take a sleeping pill and sleep til the next day. They give you goggles to wear so that you don't accidentally touch or rub your eyes while you are asleep. I never felt discomfort or itching.....I was sleeping! The dr does a quick exam the next morning and you go home with drops for your eyes. Use them and follow all directions. I had no real problems. Your eyes change throughout the day, clear and sharp and then one eye may get a little blurry (usually because it gets dry) put eye drops in and you are good to go. No pain, no problems.....perfect vision!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[merrily]

I had it done several years ago and would do it again in a heartbeat! The freedom from contacts and glasses is wonderful! I do recommend that you ask the provider for something to calm you before the procedure as I did not. They ended up only doing one eye and making me come back (with valium) to do the second. If I would have had the valium in the first place, there wouldn't have been a problem.

 

[Linda/MA]

I had it done almost 5 years ago and absolute LOVE it! I wore hard, then gas permeable lenses for over 20 years and just couldn't image wearing them when I became a senior citizen! Plus I hated glasses and I was finding that I couldn't read without reading glasses! So, I was wearing contacts plus glasses a lot of the time. My first appointment with my doctor was in early November and finally had the lasik in mid-January. He took a lot of precautions and did a lot of testing because I had been a hard contact lens wearer. I really had no problems with the procedure. I was a little nervous but the valium took care of that! When the procedure was done, I couldn't believe how well I could see already. I went home that morning with the protective glasses, took a nap and was good to go after that. I used the sterile eye drops for a few months, but never experienced any itchiness at all. I had monovision done, which means I read with one eye and use the other eye for distance. Now I don't need glasses to read either. The only time I do wear glasses is for night driving because of the glare and that is only because I had the monovision done. I would positively have it done again. But, as the previous poster said, make sure you go to a reliable doctor who specializes in lasik!

 

[momrek06]

One of my girlfriend's recently had LASIK done and she is a walking billboard for the procedure. She is 45yo and is just thrilled beyond believe. I actually thought she was very brave in doing this BUT absolutely no problems. She is always telling everyone to "go for it"!! I think it was roughly $4000.00 for the procedure! Not sure though, but pricey!!!!

 

[DisnyMama]

I had it done in Feb. 2003. I was extremely nearsighted and have astigmatsim. The procedure was not painful at all. I was very nervous and thought how am I going to be able to let them do this to my eye while awake. It was a breeze. They gave me a mild dose of Xanax about 30 minutes before the procedure which didn't do a thing. It will be ok. Immediately after I could see distances. However, I am now farsighted and cannot read anything in small print or close up. I cannot put on my mascara with a hand held mirror like I used to because it is too close. I now have to use those little reading glasses to read most print. The astigmatism wasn't fully corrected so I would need another procedure now to make that better but I think I will just leave things alone. Your eyes will continue to age no matter what so I will just let nature take it's course from here and if I have to go back to glasses one day-so be it...no that there are some really cute frames.