Who's had lazer eye surgery?

[leahannpen]

I am very, very close to having this done. I've made an appointment. I'm just wondering what the experiances were here, if you've had it, how it went... if you didn't do it, why? That type of thing. This seems so awsome, but I do want feed-back.

Thanks all!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I had Lasik done a year ago. The best thing I have ever done. Without corrective lenses I couldn't read the big "E" on the chart, now I am 20/20 in one eye and 20/15 in the other. It's so nice not having to mess with contacts and glasses.

The surgery goes quick (quicker if your eyesight is not as bad as mine was). I had a little longer recovery time because it was so bad to begin with and I was under the laser longer, but I was seeing fine within the first 48 hours. The most annoying thing was wearing the eye guards to sleep.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

 

[regi]

I wish I had it done years ago. I had my surgery in March and it is the best thing I've ever done. The procedure takes less than 5 minutes (at least mine did) and is relatively painless. It kind of felt like having something scratchy in your eye, but that doesn't last too long. I had my surgery at around 9 a.m. and a follow up at 3 p.m. and by the time of my follow up the scratchy feeling was pretty much gone and I was seeing much clearer. Be sure to use your drops and follow their advice and you will do just fine. If you have any other questions, pm me. I'll be happy to help.

 

[LemonDietCoke]

My husband had it about a year ago and he is just thrilled with the results.

 

[CarolA]

I had it a year ago and I am happy I did it.

My advice is to make sure you physician does a LOT of these. If they don't talk to you about potential side effects, I would be nervous.

My doc (who is also a friend) said that some of the places that advertise inexpensive operaitons will just have a traveling eye surgeon who comes in, does the surgery and moves on. I would not want that. I had several follow-ups included in my fee (my final one is next month!)

 

[NurseKim]

I had my LASIK done in April of '01. It was the best money I have ever spent (and still spending! )
My procedure took less than 15 minutes. I was very, very nervous. After all, they are cutting into your eye! I did not recieve anything to calm my nerves and I was glad because I could focus on the red/orange/yellow dancing light. During the procedure I did not feel any pain, only a little discomfort when he applied the suction ring.
Afterwards, it was eyes closed for the remainder of the day and steriod and antibiotic drops every 2 hrs and when ever I needed for dryness. You cannot rub, squeeze, or strain your eye in anyway or else the corneal flap can become dislodged!
I followed up with my doc 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 yr post-op.
Before surgery, my vision was 20/800 (I couldn't see the big E either). 20 minutes post-op my vision was 20/25. 1 week later my vision was 20/20 and it is still 20/20. I had no complications and I followed my post-op instructions to a tee. The only 'side-effect' I get is occasional dryness (Theratears works great!) and I see halos of light especially at night. I knew about that ahead of time because I have large pupils.
I hope you have the same great experience that I did! Good luck and let us know when the big day is!

 

[leahannpen]

Sounds good so far!

The doc I am going to had me in for an inital visit to just talk. Next 9/9 I have the exam with dilation. Then, a few days later, the actualy surgery. I'm going to a man who a good friend went to a year ago. He's the only doc at this place and has been there for 6 years. I feel good about that. He's done thousands (I forget the number) of these, so that helps too.

Also, my $ includes a bunch of follow ups and a lifetime guarantee and all my drops etc. etc.

Thanks for the info. Any other opinions would be great!

 

[Disney845]

I have been interested in doing this ever since I first heard of it some years ago. I have worn glasses or contacts since the 1st grade and have horrible vision. I am in my early 20s and my optometrist has told me that it is better to wait to at least the mid 20s (around 25). Appearantly by this age the eye has pretty much finished growing and changing shape. I was told that if I did it sooner there was a chance of my eyesight continuing to get worse after the surgery therein putting me back into glasses or contacts. I have decided to wait, but as soon as I can get the go ahead I am getting it done.

 

[zurgswife]

Zurg had it done about 18months ago and is extremely happy with the results...he loves not wearing contacts.....

 

[KozmicLee]

December will be 2 years for my Lasik surgery. Before the surgery the doctor doing the procedure came in and talked to me: what could happen, what I would most likely feel, how long the laser would be on and so on. I had astigmatisms and bad myopia in both eyes but now I don't have any halos or anything and I also see 20/20.

Good luck if you decide to go through with it!

PS: I scratched my cornea with my fingernail one day at work about 5 months afterward and they let me right in that day to check me over. Luckily, I didn't do any damage.

 

[dizneenut]

I would love to have it done, but I am such a big chicken!!! Maybe one day I will get over it and do it! Nice to see such positive feedback from everyone.

 

[CarolA]

By the way, my doc gave me a valium before the procedure! I don't think I could have made it otherwise. I was terrified! I made sure not to even breath while the laser was on me (which was only for a few secs on each eye!)

 

[Micca]

I know three women (one is DW) who think it was the smartest thing they've ever done. I would do it in a heartbeat, but my eyes are too bad. Doctor said in a few years the technology would improve enough to do the procedure on me.

 

[iluvorlando]

My DH had it done. I actually got to watch them do it (they had a TV monitor). He had no problems at all, and is VERY happy with it.

I am a candidate too, but I am too much of a chicken. Maybe one day......

 

[A kid at heart]

I had mine done jun 01 and it was the best thing I have ever done. My eyes were not as bad as kims but still pretty bad.I was -500 and -525. now I'm 20/20.
My dr was from NY and comes down here for 3 days a week. I got to see him the day after my surgery as well as on my return visits after the surgery. I did have a problem where one of the nights after the surgery I had rubbed my one eye during the night(I must have taken the goggle things off). That entailed me having to do the steroid drops hourly (antibiotics too)and then every other, then every 2 hr, etc until I was back on the normal cycle. I rarely have dry eyes at all now and once in a blue moon I have to use the tear drops now. I love it! I wish I had done it sooner. I also have any enhancements if necessary included in my fee as well as the followups. I had one(followup) every other day(for 2 weeks) after I rubbed my eye, then weekly for a month, then every 2 mths and then at 6 mths and then 9mths and then 1 yr.
I wish I had done it sooner.

 

[Zurg]

Outstanding!

no glasses no contacts.

Okay Zurgy is getting old and reading glasses help but I think the surgey was great.

Minor discomfort for a little while. Maybe a few days top. No all that painful.

I was at work the next day.

 

[christineann]

I had Lasik almost three years ago, and I'm 100% thrilled with the results. I couldn't see my digital alarm clock on the bedside table without my glasses. I had the surgery in the morning, and that afternoon my son and I installed a new mailbox. Trips to the beach/pool are hassle free, and I don't have the excruciating pain that I used to have with contacts.

Choose your surgeon carefully. The best deal may not be the best for your eyes.

 

[whirlsy]

just curious on the cost of this , is it really expensive? My husband could use this, he wears contacts and never takes them out, he gets red eyes all the time, so I think he should invest in this also. thanks

 

[NCRedding]

I had my Lasik in June of 2000 by the doctor who had been taking care of my eyes for years. For years he had been telling me that when he could fully recommend a procedure to help me with my terrible vision (glasses since 3rd grade, couldn't get out of the bed w/o glasses, legally blind, etc) In September of 1999, he wrote to me saying he would recommend Lasik--I was so scared it took me until April to go in for the initial evaluation. He gave me a valium to relax me. I was at the laser office for about 1 hour. As others have said, the procedure isn't painful, just kinda creepy! I had scratchy eyes that day, and a couple of inner eyelid bruises for a few days. The day after the surgery, my vision was 20/50, I was so disappointed over that weekend: I felt I had made a terrible mistake--I couldn't see well enough to read or watch TV. BUT, it got so much better. I am now 20/20 and love going to the beach/pool/waterparks--I don't have to debate do I wear my contacts, and don't swim, or do I wear my glasses and wonder around blindly. The only complaint (and complaint is too strong a word for what it is) I see halos or sparks around bright lights at night: slightly annoying, but not anything that interferes with my vision. Also I carry artificial tears with me, because my eyes have a tendency to dry out--they did that before the surgery. I paid $3200.00, and now that same doctor charges about $2200. My advice would be to be sure that you know and feel comfortable with the doctor--I have friends who have had it done in "eye mills" and hate it. Sorry so long.

 

[DaisyDebbie]

I had my Lasiks done in June 2001 and I'm thrilled with the results. I don't have much to add to what all the others have said. Best thing I've done for myself, such freedom