lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

[ezbtr]

Ive really wanted to do this, and now that all bills gone, would kind of like to treat myself, I hate wiping my glasses in the rain, etc! My left eye ok, but right has always been terrible, can only see closeup. Anyone have experience with this/ Oh, Im 45, have been looking into this and researching awhile, especially want to know more about folks in their 40's getting this. Any comments would be great!
Thanks!

 

[Expidia]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

It's amazing. I had it done about 8 years ago when I was in my 50's. I drove 3.5 hours North of me to Montreal. $1000 for both eyes at a big practice. I actually was able to drive to a restaurant just outside of Montreal the same night without glasses

Still have same vision today as right after the procedure. Before I could not see my car's odometer or a telephone book without putting on my bifocal glasses. I can read highway signs a mile away and I buy a few of those $5 magnifying half specs now for close reading. My glasses used to cost $400 every few years.

Highly recommend it. Just go to a practice that has done a lot of procedures and make sure the MD you're seeing is the one who does it rather than an associate who is learning

Not everyone is a candidate for it though. They put you through a whole battery of eye tests before they let you know if it can be done. They refund you like $900 if you are not a candidate.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

If your a diabetic your not a candidate, as your cornea changes thickness with your glucose level throwing the Rx off. .

 

[bruceb58]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

I had it done at the beginning of 2009 when I was 50. Mine cost more than most at $5000 but I had the BEST doctor around. You are messing with your eyes here so don't go with just anybody.

There are many people that are not good candidates. If your prescription has not been stable for many years, don't do it. If your eyes don't lubricate well don't do it. If you wear contact lenses and your contacts dry out a lot, don't do it.

There are risks to this surgery. Don't let anyone kid you about it. Even the doctor I have gone to has stories on the internet about complications.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

I had it done in 03. I'm not 40 yet but I can tell you that it was the best money I have ever spent, bar none. Even better then the boat. I knew it was the best purchase ever when I woke up the next morning. I saw the alarm clock on the night stand without putting it right next to my face.

 

[jrs_diesel]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

Not LASIK for me but PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) in 2008. Best thing for me that I have ever done. My eyeglass precription was -6.75 in both eyes. (very nearsighted)

The main difference between PRK and LASIK, is that PRK is all done on the corneal surface. Recover time was longer and I did nothing for about 5 days but sit in a semi dark room. My eyes hurt but was tolerable and miserable. It was worth it though.

Like gonefishie, I too have a bedside alarm clock. Mine shines the time up to the ceiling and it was an incredible feeling to be able to read that without squinting or reaching for my glasses.

 

[OldePharte]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

The Bosslady is an RN at a local eye clinic. She would never have Lasik only a PRK.

Her suggestion is to get 2 opinions and go through the pros and cons of each procedure and go with the one you feel the most comfortable with.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

Not a good go. Rendered a $500.00 dollar pair of glasses useless in a 10 min procedure. Things in the shower and water don't look the same as you remember. You keep poking yourself in the bridge of your nose for no good reason. And finely it re-leaves you wife of one of her most important task's. Keepng track of where you left your glasses.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

And like anything, don't do it unless you can pay cash. Many lure you in with the free credit for 12 months but the interest is crazy if you don't pay it off.

 

[ezbtr]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

no diabetes, contacts, dryness here and prescription is almost identical for last 12-15 yrs, I'll keep researching, Thanks guys!

 

[aspeck]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

Hmmmm, makes me want to look into this proceedure ... but I HATE doctors!

 

[ezbtr]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

Hmmmm, makes me want to look into this proceedure ... but I HATE doctors!

Me too!!!!!!!!!!!! but 2 mins an eye, no pain or discomfort...

 

[aspeck]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

Me too!!!!!!!!!!!! but 2 mins an eye, no pain or discomfort...

You go first, and maybe I will follow ... if I can get over my dislike of Drs ... would be nice to be "glasses free" for the eldest daughters wedding in August.

 

[ezbtr]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

And Im going to see if my insurance assists too

 

[bruceb58]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

I used my FSA so at least it was before tax money.

 

[achris]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

Been wearing glasses since 1968. Rx has been stable at about 6.0 and 5.75 for the last 25 years.... I may look more seriously at this too.... BUT, I'm like aspeck, I HATE medical procedures, of any kind. Don't even like injections.

Chris.....

 

[ezbtr]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

Aw guys, I "hate" doctors too perse, not them, just the neccessary pain they "inflict", LOL, hell Ive had a plate and 6 3" screws in my knee/leg, 2 left, and plenty more booboos.
But hey if I can make my lifestyle comfier(I hated driving my boat with glasses and the spray!!!), I'll look into it. Like all you guys, I work my butt off and is nice to FINALLY be able to "spoil" myself a bit - good grief, buy a $15 bottle of great wine, vacation, perhaps a nice old truck for me, is funny my son and I just had this conversation this afternoon

 

[heyttown]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

Best thing I ever had done that was voluntary procedure. I think my insurance covered $500 per eye. And I went to the best most recommended dr in town. They had a 2 options for me and the way it was described to me in laymans terms were the cheaper procedure they took your eye prescription and entered that into the laser machine and lets say they have 1000 other surgeries done with the same script..the laser will do the same procedure it did for the other 1000 surgeries.. For more $$ they would do a layered type graph of your eye ball as it isnt perfectly round, and they would enter that info in the laser and it would be a precise treatment for your eye only.. Or something like that.

Either way I wouldnt hesitate to do it again if I had to, plus as long as I follow my yearly checkups,my eyes are guaranteed...if my vision ever changes they will correct it for free.

Its nice to not have to wear glasses anymore, no more fogging up, or getting rain drops on them.

I will however point out some negative points for me.
I hate touching my eyes,either by hand or even putting eye drops in... and after surgery for a few days eye drops were happening many times a day,I got used to it but didnt like it.

And while the surgery was going on, it kinda freaked me out knowing my eye was open and I can hear the dr explain everything to me while he is working, but it was weird to be able to see,and when he cut and folded back the flap on the eye, my vision slowly went black, I could see the flicker from the laser sometimes, but it pretty much faded out.. Very weird.

But even with those 2 things, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

I've worn glasses since I was 6. I too had thought about it, but just a few months ago I decided not to. My othopedic Doctor had his done at the Cleveland Clinc. Something went wrong with his. About 4 months afterwards his sight got so bad he committed suicide as he became unable to practice his surgery. He was a very respected man to our community.

Just be sure to do your research, God only gave you two eyes.....Good Luck in your decision.

 

[Dave Barnett]

Re: lasik eye surgery? Anyone have experience?

My cousin and my sister-in-law both have had this done. Both now report prefect 20/20 vision in both eyes and no problems. My sister-in-law wore coke bottle glasses for years and now wears none.