lasik surgery

[Debbie7452]

I did it at least 10 years ago. I had to have one eye redone later to get the perfect vision I wanted (free of charge). It was so easy, that I did not stress about getting it done twice. I did NOT smell a burning smell so YMMV.

I still have great far vision, but near vision is now pretty bad. I'm 46 though so I guess that's part of life...The first clinic I visited for a consultation did not give me a good vibe, so I ended up choosing a different one and was very happy. My Doc gave a valium before the procedure, which was nice. After the procedure I went home and took a Benedryl and passed out on the couch. My Doc made me where goggles for a few weeks at night to protect my eyes. I hated those things!

 

[rlduvall]

All I can say is manage your expectations. I looked into this in March and found out not everyone is a good candidate for Lasik - especially people who are farsighted with a high + on their prescription. The first place said absolutely "Not"; corneas too steep, + power right on the edge of recommended. Second place said absolutely "Yes" but kept talking about me being nearsighted [which I am not]. Third place said absolutely "Maybe" but would need to dilate eyes to see if vision changed much because I was right on the cusp of it being a good option.

Decided to wait until technology advances for my type of vision. I was so disappointed and depressed. All three places did tell me the best option was the cataract type surgery that implants a new lense [RLE], but that costs 3 times as much and can have more complications.

I decided to try contacts for the first time and that has worked out great for me.

 

[Scotico]

Got it done last year and it has been great. The only thing I did that no one else did on here was travel to Colombia to do it. Besides being the place where lasix was invented, the doctors are some of the best and they are far more advanced than theey are in the states. I have family down there and I own a small apartment so I was able to stay there for 2 weeks to recover. Definetly the best money I have ever spent for myself.

 

[Kellydelly]

When looking for a Dr, be sure that the practice you use has a dr on staff that will be doing your procedure. Many fly-by-night companies will have one Dr do all your pre-op stuff, then a Dr you've never met before (and who has never seen your eyes before) does the actual procedure. That's crazy to me. If you're cutting into my eye, I want to make sure you've seen them before, and you'll be doing the followup care as well!

I had the Lasek procedure done about 4 yrs ago. When I showed up for the procedure I was tested a bit more and told that I was not a candidate for Lasik because my corneas were too thin (nobody mentioned this to me at my initial consult). Some doctor I didn't know, from another state (Ohio, I was in SE MI) showed up to do surgeries that day. I was not thrilled about that. He was greeting his own clients from OH with much more graciousness than those of us who didn't know him. I had the kind of procedure where they scrape the cornea instead of cutting a flap. I was given 5mg of valium a few minutes before the procedure, but it wasn't enough . I had fluid poured all over my face and head during the procedure, and I was a total basketcase. Nobody was kind or reassuring to me. They told me to look at the light, but I have to tell you there were like THREE different lights and I was terrified of looking into the wrong one. It was a horrible experience. After one eye was done the Dr went to do the next one and I asked him if he was going to make sure the first eye was okay first. He very arrogantly told me that my first eye was now perfect. When I was allowed to get up and walk out of the room I burst into tears and insisted someone get my husband. The poor guy thought something horrible had happened. I am not normally a baby about this sort of thing, I really was treated awful . I am not even sure what my vision is now because they never told me at my followup appt and I never want to talk to anyone from that office again. I immediately lost my near vision (I was 37). I don't need readers yet, but I have to hold small writing far away to read it now. I am happy to not have to wear contacts or glasses anymore, but I sure would not recommend this place to anyone (and they are a prominent office in metro Detroit). I paid $2,000 for both eyes. My vision was not bad enough that I was blind without glasses or couldn't function without them (needed them to drive and watch tv, though).

 

[girli565]

I had the Lasek procedure done about 4 yrs ago. When I showed up for the procedure I was tested a bit more and told that I was not a candidate for Lasik because my corneas were too thin (nobody mentioned this to me at my initial consult). Some doctor I didn't know, from another state (Ohio, I was in SE MI) showed up to do surgeries that day. I was not thrilled about that. He was greeting his own clients from OH with much more graciousness than those of us who didn't know him. I had the kind of procedure where they scrape the cornea instead of cutting a flap. I was given 5mg of valium a few minutes before the procedure, but it wasn't enough . I had fluid poured all over my face and head during the procedure, and I was a total basketcase. Nobody was kind or reassuring to me. They told me to look at the light, but I have to tell you there were like THREE different lights and I was terrified of looking into the wrong one. It was a horrible experience. After one eye was done the Dr went to do the next one and I asked him if he was going to make sure the first eye was okay first. He very arrogantly told me that my first eye was now perfect. When I was allowed to get up and walk out of the room I burst into tears and insisted someone get my husband. The poor guy thought something horrible had happened. I am not normally a baby about this sort of thing, I really was treated awful . I am not even sure what my vision is now because they never told me at my followup appt and I never want to talk to anyone from that office again. I immediately lost my near vision (I was 37). I don't need readers yet, but I have to hold small writing far away to read it now. I am happy to not have to wear contacts or glasses anymore, but I sure would not recommend this place to anyone (and they are a prominent office in metro Detroit). I paid $2,000 for both eyes. My vision was not bad enough that I was blind without glasses or couldn't function without them (needed them to drive and watch tv, though).

That sounds awful, I'm sorry you had to go through that. Have you been to a new eye doctor to get your vision checked? They can probably correct what is wrong pretty quickly.

 

[Pooh2]

Mine was 12 years ago. I do have a bit of troubled driving at night with glare, but worth the trade off of not dealing with coke bottle thick lens.

The best is being at the ocean, going for a swim and being able to find my way back to my beach blanket!

 

[karice2]

Subscribing... I'm a -11 in one eye and -12 in the other, I have always been told my vision is too bad for LASIK. My current (new) eye dr. is pushing me to go for a consultation, saying that nowadays LASIK can correct people with my diopter.

Anyone had LASIK who is as blind as me? I'd love to hear from people with severe nearsightedness who had success.

Mine wasn't quite that bad. -9 in one, -8.5 in the other. I got it done last year. Best thing ever. My doctor has been doing it for a really long time. He did my dad and my stepmother. All I can say is that I am sorry that I waited. It has been amazing. Vision is now 20/15.

Go to someone really reputable. Do your research.

I had a friend go someplace else where he had to dilate his own eyes prior to coming in for surgery. That seemed shady to me. We had cucumber water in our waiting room. Big difference in experiences.

 

[Cindy B]

My husband had it done in 2008. He thought it was something he wanted.

He had very severe astigmatism ($400 glasses or very expensive contacts). His astigmatism is "cured" but he still needs reading glasses.

If you ask him, he will say it was an experience he probably wouldn't do again. He actually had one of his eyes "retouched" one year later.

He was one of those "not a total cure" patients.

 

[Kellydelly]

That sounds awful, I'm sorry you had to go through that. Have you been to a new eye doctor to get your vision checked? They can probably correct what is wrong pretty quickly.

No, I have not gone to any other eye doctors. I don't have anything to correct (besides picking a different doctor!)? I can see now, and they cannot fix a loss of near vision, as far as I know, that is part of the expected result. I had this surgery right before the economy went south and my husband had a job loss, so we haven't had good health insurance until very recently. I am curious what my vision numbers are, though. I still have a little issue with dryness in one eye. As far as I know I am okay, just need a magnifying mirror to tweeze my eyebrows now .

 

[mrsklamc]

My husband had it done in 2008. He thought it was something he wanted.

He had very severe astigmatism ($400 glasses or very expensive contacts). His astigmatism is "cured" but he still needs reading glasses.

If you ask him, he will say it was an experience he probably wouldn't do again. He actually had one of his eyes "retouched" one year later.

He was one of those "not a total cure" patients.

No one really is. Most people are going to need reading glasses around 20, regardless. I had mine done around 5 years ago and they said that two way correction is on the horizon, but for now it's fix either nearsightedness or farsightedness, but not both.

 

[Jellifer]

I work for an opticians in the UK that does laser eye surgery (LASIK, LASEK and RLE).

I'd recommend never going ahead with the procedure unless you've been dilated as this is how we tell if your vision is stable.

High -ve prescriptions are treatable but these patients tend to have big pupils which can cause issues, I'd you go ahead make sure you're getting a treatment that compensates for this (in the UK we call it wavefront intralase but i don't know what the US procedure it).

Get as many opinions as possible and don't book on the day unless you've really researched your condition.

For varifocal users we sometimes teach one eye to see distance and another to see near, we do this with contact lenses first and then when the patient is happy we laser that prescription in, this might be an option in the US,ask your eye doctor.

If this is not suitable you can get a refractive lens exchange with a lens that has varifocal properties.

 

[girli565]

No, I have not gone to any other eye doctors. I don't have anything to correct (besides picking a different doctor!)? I can see now, and they cannot fix a loss of near vision, as far as I know, that is part of the expected result. I had this surgery right before the economy went south and my husband had a job loss, so we haven't had good health insurance until very recently. I am curious what my vision numbers are, though. I still have a little issue with dryness in one eye. As far as I know I am okay, just need a magnifying mirror to tweeze my eyebrows now .

Well now that you have insurance you should definitely get them checked out. Only a professional can assess what needs to be done. Even if you just get confirmation that everything is fine, it's worth it.