OT- Lasik eye surgery tomorrow!!!! send pixie dust!

[SnowyPrincesses:)]

For anyone considering this I have decided to take the plunge. Tomorrow at 9:30 I will be preparing for the treatment. I am VERY nervous although I have done all my research. The procedure will cost me $3550.00 can. Of course they offered a "cheaper" alternative but really... You only have one pair of eyes and I can't imagine anyone actually taking the cheap route.
One of the DR.'s told me I'd be off for a week and another lady in the office told me 2 days. Does anyone have success stories to share to make me more settled? Anyone have questions I might be able to answer next week?

 

[Albertan mom]

I had Lasik done 18 days ago.
I LOVE IT!!!
For the first 24 hours-no computer/tv/reading
The first week was hard-no makeup, and you have to wear eyecups to bed, lots of drops
After day 14-you can shower!! (No running water in your eyes up until then)
So really, I didn't start to feel normal until day 7!
I would take a few days off work for sure, so you can rest your eyes if you need to. They recommend lots of sleeping.
I felt paranoid-no rubbing, no lotions, no being around smoke-it seemed like there was so many rules
But it is totally worth it-now I love IT!
Good Luck! Enjoy the freedom from contacts and glasses!

 

[SnowyPrincesses:)]

I feel ALOT better Thanks, Did the procedure take that long? About an hour? Can yoou REALLY see with out your glasses and contacts, I know it sounds silly but I can't imagine it really. LOL. Have you had any trouble with halos or anything like that?

 

[rmontgo892]

It will be 2 years ago this Sept! Love it, love it, love it!!

The actual procedure is minutes! As always, the waiting takes the longest.

Not sure if your Canadian (I realise what the thread says) but in the USA I paid double 2 yrs ago. Not sure what the exchange rate is? Claim them on your taxes for medical. If you can???

I went the extra $$$ for wave front technology where they take pic after pic of eye...almost didn't make it cause the machine couldn't get a good pic of eye and then they take out floppy disc and put it into laser machine for a custom "cut." I think my ability to focus was off??? This had nothing to do with the procedure this was the pre test pics for the wave front technology.

I had halos at night for a long time even with the "custom" cut that can reduce that. Example...red stop light and street lights have a glow around them. I didn't drive at night for a bit.

I believe they updated the technology again since my procedure.

The worst part of the whole experience for me was NOT touching/rubbing your eye. Not bad, huh?

I followed the post op instructions to the letter.

They should give you samples of drugs but when you buy the drops after you run out ONLY buy the ones with NO PRESERVATIVES!! I even found them in a grocery store now but go to another place if you can't find them! The newer box even says for Lasik/No preservatives. Carry the drops with in your purse for the first month at least.

Here is the best news for last...I could read the VCR clock over the TV from the bed thru the holes in my eye shields the first night around 3 am!!! Amazing huh???


I really didn't need any pain drugs etc but took everything they gave the first 48 hrs to ensure a great recovery. Give yourself 2 full days to rest up and snooze in bed. I slept on my back with pillows. If your sleepy, don't fight it! Talk on the phone if you get bored easy.

Here's to a speedy recovery and enjoy your new eyeballs!!! Best thing I ever did for myself. Oh yea, and treat your self with a great new pair of sunglasses!!

 

[Albertan mom]

I can really see! 24 hours after the procedure, I had a checkup, and one eye was 20/20, and one was 20/15 (which is better than 20/20!)
I have had no halos. They told me I wouldn't, because I don't have big pupils. It also has something to do with how your pupils dilate. If they dilate a certain way, you are more likely to have the night glares and halos.
From the time I walked into the office to the time I walked out was 1.5 hours.
They were also running a bit behind.
3:45-got there, signed in
paid the money
signed all the forms, had to listen to the drop instructions, etc..
waited in the waiting room
Met the doctor, he checked my eyes out, explained the procedure
took the adavan (yay!) but it didn't really have time to sink in, because I went in to the operating room 12 minutes later!
Went into the operating room at 5:05, walked out at 5:20!
When you get in there, you lay down, get the freezing drops, and they prop your eyelids open. You can't feel them cutting the flap, just a bit of pressure. Then the actual 'laser' part, sounds like a bug zapper, and smells like burning hair! But it only took maybe 20-30 seconds! Then he put the flap back down, brushed it into place, put in some drops, put a clear eye-cup over it, and that was it! Then the next eye. Each eye, start to finish takes about 5-7 minutes. It doesn't feel that long though, it is kind of a blur of activity and stuff. I just can't believe it only takes 15 minutes to change your life! (oh-and the few thousand dollars!)
My DH, and DS6 and DD10 watched it on a tv screen outside the o.r.. They thought it was freaky, cool and sweet (DD)
When you leave you have eyecups on, so you can't really see anything.
My eyes felt tired, scratchy, but didn't hurt.
They were hazy a bit the next day, on and off.
I love it. I haven't had a headache since I had it done-before I used to get headaches 3 times a week or so.
It is soooooo great, just be sure to follow all the doctors instructions so you don't have any problems!

 

[SnowyPrincesses:)]

It will be 2 years ago this Sept! Love it, love it, love it!!

The actual procedure is minutes! As always, the waiting takes the longest.

Not sure if your Canadian (I realise what the thread says) but in the USA I paid double 2 yrs ago. Not sure what the exchange rate is? Claim them on your taxes for medical. If you can???

I went the extra $$$ for wave front technology where they take pic after pic of eye...almost didn't make it cause the machine couldn't get a good pic of eye and then they take out floppy disc and put it into laser machine for a custom "cut." I think my ability to focus was off??? This had nothing to do with the procedure this was the pre test pics for the wave front technology.

I had halos at night for a long time even with the "custom" cut that can reduce that. Example...red stop light and street lights have a glow around them. I didn't drive at night for a bit.

I believe they updated the technology again since my procedure.

The worst part of the whole experience for me was NOT touching/rubbing your eye. Not bad, huh?

I followed the post op instructions to the letter.

They should give you samples of drugs but when you buy the drops after you run out ONLY buy the ones with NO PRESERVATIVES!! I even found them in a grocery store now but go to another place if you can't find them! The newer box even says for Lasik/No preservatives. Carry the drops with in your purse for the first month at least.

Here is the best news for last...I could read the VCR clock over the TV from the bed thru the holes in my eye shields the first night around 3 am!!! Amazing huh???


I really didn't need any pain drugs etc but took everything they gave the first 48 hrs to ensure a great recovery. Give yourself 2 full days to rest up and snooze in bed. I slept on my back with pillows. If your sleepy, don't fight it! Talk on the phone if you get bored easy.

Here's to a speedy recovery and enjoy your new eyeballs!!! Best thing I ever did for myself. Oh yea, and treat your self with a great new pair of sunglasses!!

My big fear is the halos.. how long did they last and do you still have problems with them?

 

[rmontgo892]

My big fear is the halos.. how long did they last and do you still have problems with them?

Yea...me too! I still have them but THAT is me. Everyone is different. It has calmed down but I can still see glowing. I can use the analogy of the Osbourne lights at Disney-MGM studios. You know the 3-D glasses they hand out so you can see special effects around the X-mas lights...that is what I experienced and still do to a certain extent.

It is still 100% worth it for me!!!

The other posters are doing a great job explaining.

I forgot the one thing that was uncomfortable during the procedure is when they took a magic marker and marked out on my eye ball where the cuts/laser was going. That was it! Amazing, huh?

Do NOT worry about the Halos!

Enjoy your new eyeballs!!!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I had two valium for my procedure June 10. It kept me from hopping out of the chair and running away but i still thought about it.
The part that freaked me out was when they sort of suction cupped my eye and my vision went dark for maybe a minute.

They advised everybody to go home and take a nap.
Even after the nap i didn't feel so good. Needed another nap in a complete darkness to let my eyes relax to feel better. To get it dark i was wearing eyeshields, dark glasses they give you plus a hat over my face.
Used lots of drops and eyes feel pretty good now with no halos.

Good luck!

 

[Albertan mom]

I didn't get the magic marker on my eyes...
I didn't get dark glasses either. (they told you to bring some)
I couldn't fit my sunglasses over the eyecups so on the 2 hour drive home, I put my hubbys hat over my face, because we were driving right into the sun. Some people experiecne more sensitivity to light, I don't really find that. Though I have been wearing sunglasses the last few weeks, just to be on the safe side.
Ya, the suction thing was weird.
And when it went black for that 30 seconds, that was freaky. Glad my dr. warned me that that would happen!

 

[disney funseeker]

I made my appt. for a consult the other day. I'm going to the same place as Alberta Mom. I have wanted to do this for a long time but was too scared.. and still am.
SnowyPricesses, are you going to Toronto to have it done? The other thing I wanted to do to ease my mind was get a second opinion while I'm in Toronto next year.
I think this procedure is going to cost me a lot because my eyesight is very poor. I wear my contacts so much, that I was told my eyes weren't breathing enough. So, I'm trying to convince myself that I am saving my eyes by having Lasik.

Good Luck!

 

[Albertan mom]

My prescription was a 2.00, and it cost me $995 per eye (1990 total, includes all checkups, post op checkups, taxes, eyedrops, and a spiffy pen..!)
We figure to be around a 3-4 year payback. Meaning, the amount I spend on contacts, solution, glasses, etc.. we would have spent that $2000 in about 3 or 4 years. In Alberta, any out of pocket medical expenses over $2000 can be claimed. So we could have claimed the meals, mileage, drops etc... but we forgot to keep track of it. So do that, and you will get back a small percentage!

 

[disney funseeker]

Albertamom, thanks for that information on medical coverage. Did not know about that over $2000 deal. This means more money for Disney

Still have lots to learn about my new province.

 

[R&J]

Disney Funseeker, if you don't mind sharing, what is your eyesight like i.e. prescription-wise? I am VERY nearsighted, about -10 in my right eye (my "good" eye, LOL) and about -11 in my left.

I used to wear contacts all the time, but since having kids (DD5 & DS2) I only wear glasses - all those sleepless nights and exhaustion, can't be bothered with contacts. But I hate that I can't function at ALL without corrective lenses, and my glasses are always getting bashed around when I hang out with the kids, so I'm thinking of going the surgery route.

However, I've heard that with nearsightedness as bad as mine, the results may not be as successful?? I haven't researched it very much, so I was just wondering what you've discovered.

Thanks for any info!

 

[disney funseeker]

R&J, my eyesight is -5.50 and has been about that (minimal change) for the last 10 yrs.

A few yrs ago, I had also heard about Lasik not being able to correct severe nearsightedness to 20/20. I don't know how accurate that information is anymore. At the time, I did not know anyone who went through Lasik that had vision worse than me. So I just thought I must have really bad eyesight.

During my last Optometrist appt. I was told that my eyes were working very hard to seek oxygen and that I'd better switch the type of contacts I wore and decrease the hrs. I wore them. Then, she starts talking to me about possible retinal detachment and scares me even more. Since then, I wear my glasses a lot. And whenever I get headaches, they seem to be from eyestrain; throbbing behind the eyeball. So these are some of the reasons for me to seriously consider Lasik.

There are lots of success stories but also a website and discussion forum on Lasik failures. I can't remember it right now (discovered on a link, from another link,....)

My consult is not for a couple of months but I will let you know what I find out. The assessment is free. Try a couple of different places if you have that option and see if they give you the same information on your personal situation.

 

[Albertan mom]

My aunt had a very, very strong prescription. Her glasses were so thick and heavy that they were making the top of her ears bleed! She had the surgery about 5 years ago, and is still doing great. So they must be able to do really strong cases too!
The consult is free...you could always call them too, they are very helpful at most places. Check the internet too.

 

[SnowyPrincesses:)]

I'm having mine done in Kingston ONT. I beleive the $3555.00 was the MAXIMUM price(lol- go figure) because I have a somewhat strong per. and an astigmatism. I guess if I end up with halos I can remember the Osbourne lights analogy and pretend its just a bit of everyday magic? That might keep me from going nuts. Thanks to everyone that took the time to post I feel loads better. In two hours.... Anyway as soon as I can post again I'll write my doctor's trip report!

 

[cottontail]

Hi: My husband went last week for a consultation. He is over 50. They told him that he would still require glasses for reading, is that true. Do all of you still need glasses for reading. I am guessing that it depends on your age.

Deb.

 

[TimNDansMom]

I have considered Lasik off and on for years. My perscription is -8 and I used to read the Lasik problem boards all the time...that was what scared me off.

I know the technology has improved greatly but I still fear dry-eyes afterward, more than anything. Halos are also a concern.

I find as I have gotten older that my eyes are a lot dryer and wear my glasses more than my contacts now. I can still wear them but not as long, I find. With the high index glass and anti-reflective coating I don't mind myself in glasses nearly as much.

Now I find that I need readers when I wear my contacts and with glasses, I'm deciding on whether to get bifoculs or just continue pulling my glasses down my nose a bit, to adjust the power, to read.

Deb, your husband will definitely require glasses in order to read because his eyes will be corrected for distance and as we age the lens in our eyes do not adjust as well to focus on small things like reading. I've read that you can have one eye made at a little lower power to help with reading. I've tried that with contacts but found I didn't like it...maybe if I'd given myself more time for my brain to get used to it but by that time I was starting to wear my glasses more so just got myself readers, when wearing my contacts.

I still think about it and maybe one day I'll investigate to see if I'm even a candidate for Lasik!

Good luck today SnowyPrincesses!

 

[R&J]

Thanks for the feedback, disney funseeker & everyone!

So can anyone out there who has had, or is considering, lasik surgery, beat my apparent "record" of -10/-11 eyesight?? I hope not

DH who is a physician, has an opthamologist colleague who says he doesn't really recommend the surgery because they don't know the real "long-term" effects. But it's been around for quite a number of years now, so I'm not sure what he means by that.

However, what really gets to me is that DH & his colleague both pointed out that if the surgery is so wonderful, why is that we always see optometrists & opthamologists who wear corrective lenses, even the ones who promote the procedure?? Why don't they get the surgery done themselves?

Anyway, I'll keep stewing over the possibility of surgery for a while, but I'm very interested in reading about others' experiences.

Hope everything went well, SnowyPrincesses!

 

[cottontail]

Well my dh went for his lasik info last week.

The whole idea for him was not to have to wear reading glasses after he had this done. But like Julie said he would still have to have the reading glasses. They did give him the option as Julie mentioned of having one eye slightly less than the other eye to keep from wearing reading glasses. But if that did not work then he would have to get the slightly lesser eye done to the same level as the best eye.

Julie, my hubby has bifocal contacts so he can see distance and read small print, but he is at the last level. Meaning if his eyes get worse he will not be able to get to wear the bifocal contacts.

He is still thinking about it all. It was going to cost 2400 for both eyes.

Deb.