Lasik surgery ROCKS! From 20/200 last Friday to 20/25 today

[Rowdyboy]

and improving! Wave Front technology made it a piece of cake!

Very little pain, (10-15 minute procedure) very little post-op requirements.

If you've been on the fence, I strongly suggest taking the plunge. My only problem is that I'm used to wearing glasses and it seems very strange not to. Still have to wear reading glasses (the cheap kind from the drug store) and sunglasses when I go outside, but the world is much prettier and sharper now.

[dave29]

1. congrads

amazing what they can do with eyeballs!

[progressiveBadger]

2. Congrats!

My fiancee got it done a few years ago, and now she has eagle eyes.

[IronLionZion]

3. Did you do it here or in Canada?

and how much was it?

[Rowdyboy]

5. $3200 for first rate technology (both eyes)

That includes pre-testing and post operative care,,,

Procedure was performed in Jackson Mississippi

[Red_Viking]

4. Do they cut your eyeball?

I'm not squeamish, but wow--I totally can't stand seeing any kind of procedure done to the eye. "A Clockwork Orange" gives me fits. :) So, that's been keeping me from considering the procedure.

Glad for your success! Good luck, and heal well.

:dem:

RV

[Rowdyboy]

6. Only with lasers

I can't even wear contacts (I hate the idea of touching my eye). This procedure did cause a little pain for about 2 minutes-well worth it! Trust me, you can do it

[geniph]

18. Red_Viking...

I was so touchy about touching my eyes that I never could put my contacts straight on (I always had to put them in on the side and push them over - for 20 years, I did that!), but I did not have a problem with the LASIK. It's so quick that you barely have time to get apprehensive, plus they give you a Valium beforehand. My husband watched the whole thing on the big screen from the viewing room outside, and said it was amazing to see. He actually remembers the surgery better than I do, as a 10mg Valium is a pretty hefty dose for someone my size. ;-)

[Doug Decker]

7. Had it about 8 years ago...

it was great. I see perfectly now.

As far as the cutting part, if you are uncomfortable (I was) they give you a valium. I had no problem after that.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

8. Is it covered by Insurance Co ????

[romantico]

9. Hey

I am seriously considering having this done this summer.I saw in ad in yesterdays news paper where it only costs $299 per eye.Whay are they NOT telling me? I am SO sick of wearing glasses!Anything else you wish to tell me about this?Thanks!

[Rowdyboy]

15. No idea but I'd be cautious

I saw several, better offers but I went with a long-established clinic and a doctor whose been performing the surgery for quite a few years.

[amazona]

36. cheaper can be better, actually

Surgeons who have done thousands of surgeries and who have long ago paid off the contracts on their equipment actually have more experience with doing LASIK than some of the doctors charging more. However, in Rowdyboy's case, his cost was high because he is paying for the new WAVEFRONT software, which is very highly recommended also. But I had an older program (like I said in my post above, had it done 6 years ago, before it was approved by the FDA) and I had excellent results -- as do most people.

Just investigate the surgeon and be sure the reason he's cheap is because he has done a lot of surgeries and you'll be fine. Don't go to a surgeon who never turns anyone away; you want a surgeon who will only do the surgery if you are a good candidate for the surgery. Some people aren't and you would want to get an honest opinion.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

10. Congratulations! You'll never look back (no pun intended)

I had RK on my right eye and PRK on my left eye (20/500) in 1996 and am still glasses- and contacts-free. They undercorrected and warned me that I may become a little nearsighted with age (as is happening now), but I can still see just fine and have no problem driving. Best money I ever spent! (And no, it wasn't covered by insurance.) I remember looking out the window and being thrilled at being able to see the leaves on the trees!

Will you have any problems with photophobia after Lasik? If so, be very careful to wear sunglasses when you're outside (don't even go out for a while if you don't have to).

Enjoy your newfound visionary capabilities!!

[Rowdyboy]

14. My insurance didn't cover it

Some companies, I believe, do. I have some other, serious medical expenses and can get a medical deduction on my income tax next year.

[geniph]

17. No, virtually no insurance will cover LASIK

as it's an optional surgery. However, if you have any kind of flexible medical savings plan, you're allowed to use pre-tax dollars to pay for it.

It's pretty much in the same category as elective cosmetic surgery.

[amazona]

37. insurance will cover it if you have a cataract

My surgeon searched each eye very carefully for even the smallest of cataracts but I didn't have one, so had to pay for the procedure myself. I think it's a bit fraudulent to consider it cosmetic -- it isn't, it is restoring your eye to normal function -- but insurance companies are thieves, what else is new.

Older people will have better luck finding tiny cataracts, I suppose, but I advise getting it done as soon as your eye is stable (in your early 20s) if you can. I never realized what a hassle glasses/contacts were until I didn't have to bother with them any more.

Now they need to invent something that works on progressive conditions like age-related farsightedness. But reading glasses are better than bifocals or trifocals any day of the week!

[BlueStateGirl]

11. That's good to hear. I have been thinking about doing it, but

I have been a little scared.

[Beer Snob-50]

12. Congrats!!

I had it done last September in MOntreal and regret not having it done sooner! Much cheaper up there than here.

[Commendatori]

19. How much cheaper?

20/350 here dying to do it but not able to at these prices.

[MadHound]

13. I still think I'll wait for a few more years

Just to see what some of the long term problems are. I'd rather be wearing glasses all of my life than have lasik surgery and go blind from complications twenty years from now.

But hey, congratulations, and I hope it works out for you.

[geniph]

16. I had mine done almost 5 years ago

and my vision is still 20-20, which is far better than it ever was with contacts (I was legally blind and very astigmatic). It was my 40th birthday present to myself, and it is the single best thing, BAR NONE, that I've ever done for myself. I sat up in that chair and could read the clock across the room that I couldn't even SEE before the surgery.

They do actually cut the eye, however; they cut a tiny flap in the outermost layer with a microscalpel, then they make the corrections with the laser and put the flap back.

For anyone who's considering it, first research the surgeons you're considering. Make sure they're using equipment specifically designed for LASIK, not lasers adapted from other purposes. Find out how many surgeries they've done. The surgeon who did mine teaches the procedure at the University of Washington Opthalmology College, and has had the procedure done himself. Nearly everyone in their office had had it done as well (that tends to be a pretty good recommendation, as they see people coming back for post-checks). I don't recommend picking a surgeon by price. Pick them by success rate and experience. I paid $4,000 for mine, but I wanted a really good surgeon with a lot of experience who was local (in case any follow-up care was needed).

Make sure you're a good candidate. It's advisable to wait until you're at least 35, as your prescription tends to keep changing until around then, and you run the risk of being either over or under-corrected if you do it sooner (they can't do it twice, and you won't be able to wear contacts after LASIK, so you want it corrected right). A good surgeon will tell you if you're not a good candidate, and why.

I'm like a poster child for it. I have very little haloing (a little driving at night, but I had more from contacts), I had no post-op pain, and my vision stabilized within a week. I cannot express what an improvement it's made in my life not to be forever fussing with contacts and glasses and prescription sunglasses and prescription diving masks and all that nonsense, and to be able to get out of bed and SEE where I'm going. It's a blessing.

[Rowdyboy]

20. Funny you said that

It was my 50th birthday present to myself (actually from my mom since I paid for it from a small inheritance).

[dawn]

21. Thanks for the advice.

I'm 32 now, and my doctor says I am still not a good candidate because my vision keeps worsening. Waaah!

[geniph]

30. Chances are pretty good that that will stop in the next few years

My eyes kept getting worse until I was about 35, then they got slightly better before they stabilized at about 39.

The best candidates for LASIK are between 35 and 55. After 55, it's really not recommended. Before 35, it may be futile.

[amazona]

38. wow, that's rough!

My vision stabilized in my early 20s, I thought everyone's did. I wish they'd had LASIK when I was 23, it's great stuff.

Unfortunately, your doctor is right -- LASIK is only for a stable prescription.

[DancingBear]

22. The other side of the coin

I have had 9 (yes, 9) laser surgeries so far, without success. At this point, my eyes are just about where they were before surgery #1. I have had both "conventional" and Wave Front - my eyes heal in such a way that for the first 1-2 days the difference is as promised, then they regress to (sometimes) worse than before surgery.

The surgeon that is doing the work is by far the most renowned in the country - he is the same surgeon who did the Lasik work on Tiger Woods and countless numbers of other athletes, celebrities, etc.

I'm scheduled to be looked at again in June '04 (last surgery was done in Dec '03) in hopes that perhaps a VERY long heal time is what I needed.

Age is definitely a factor is getting this type of surgery!!!!

NOTE: My eyes are correctable to 20/20 with glasses, so that is a good sign.

[Puglover]

23. isn't it a miracle/

I had lasik 3 years ago and went from 20/875 in one eye to 20/50 and 20/500something to 20/20 in the other....was gonna have the 20/50 eye tweeked but found that with it I don't need reading glasses....I love it.

[NoPasaran]

24. I'm glad you went through with it

I remember replying to a thread of yours some months ago when you were thinking about having it done and describing my RK experience. It took me a couple of years to break the habit of trying to adjust the glasses I know longer wear.

Enjoy your new eyes!

[Rowdyboy]

26. That is the damnedest part of it

I've worn glasses for 33 years and I find (to my shock) that I miss them. Don't even get me started on reaching to push them up higher on my nose.

The reading glasses I still wear make me feel more "normal"

Yes, I did start a thread last winter when I first got the idea and I remember you were one of the people who replied. I'd never even HEARD of Wave Front before that thread-DU does a lot of educating by accident.

Thanks to all who helped me decide to take this chance. It was an excellent decision.

[geniph]

29. It's nearly five years for me, and I still try to push my glasses up!

I poked myself in the eye for WEEKS after LASIK trying to push up the nonexistent glasses!

[Blue-Jay]

25. Wow! Good for you!

I've considered lasik, but I kinda like the way I look in glasses. (weird, eh?). The only thing I miss is being able to buy mass quantities of sunglasses that don't require a prescription.

[Rowdyboy]

27. A kick to celebrate

:kick:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

28. You'll have that "phantom glasses" feeling for a while

I was always reaching to push up my no longer present glasses. Also, don't you just love being able to see the alarm clock without reaching for your glasses?

I have nothing against glasses except that I have "very prominent mastoid processes", and I can never find a pair that doesn't hurt for that reason. Sigh.

[Rowdyboy]

40. I'll kick twice, certainly, maybe more

I'VE GOT NEW EYES!!!

[Deja Q]

31. I know I don't qualify, but I should get a consultation anyway...

How many of them will con-job a "yes, it's safe" answer when I'm easily distracted and shift my eyes a lot (in other words, I'd zap myself blind... and there are better ways to induce blindness, including some myths I once heard about... :evilgrin: )

Congrats on the success of the surgery!

(on edit: Can they compensate for shifty eyes? :D )

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

32. They'd attach prongs to hold your eyes open

Although my doc did give me a "talking-to" because somehow I was managing to tear up and blink my eye in anticipation of the laser zap. Somehow I managed to hold it together after that.

[Rowdyboy]

35. Witht the prongs and the valium, I was happy to just lie there

and let them do what they wanted to do. There really wasn't much to look at except "beyond the red dot"...It only takes a few minutes

[geniph]

44. I wasn't able to keep looking straight ahead with the first eye

so that one took a couple days longer to stabilize. You can't actually move your head, but you can look slightly to the side (you're supposed to stare fixedly at a red light during the VERY SHORT procedure). I was too nervous with the first eye, so that eye took a little longer to be 20-20. With the second eye, I realized a) it was painless, and b) it was extremely brief, so I was able to hold still.

They gave me a stuffed animal to hold onto, plus one of the nurses was holding my hand. They want to be SURE you're not too apprehensive. I wasn't all that apprehensive, but some people are flat terrified, and they go to a lot of trouble to calm you. In retrospect, it was easier than a haircut.

[ringmastery]

33. pupil size

Is it true that if your have large pupils, you can't have Lasik?

[amazona]

39. yes it is true

Most of the side effects you hear about, such as not being able to drive at night and weird halos, occur with people who have unusually large pupils. Your surgeon can measure your pupils and tell you if you're a candidate.

[amazona]

34. congrats, did it 6 years ago, and it's wonderful

Best thing I ever did for myself. Just getting to where I have to start using reading glasses again for small print -- being free of bifocals is the best thing ever, people who have worn glasses all their lives (as I did until surgery) have no idea of how much glasses/contacts limit you until you're free of them. I couldn't believe I could see the clock at night when I wake up in the dark, I could see my toes in the tub -- all the little things you can't do and never see when you're near-sighted.

Don't forget you can donate your old prescription glasses to the Lion's CLub.

I have proselityzed quite a bit about Lasik and gotten several friends and family members to do the procedure, and everyone has been very, very happy with it. A wonderful invention.

[strategery blunder]

41. I might do it in another 15 years

I'm waiting for it to become STANDARD treatment for vision problems before I have a laser fired at my eyes.

(20/350 correctable to 20/40 w/ glasses, btw.)

[Rowdyboy]

42. Don't do anything you're not ready to

It was right for me now. It wouldn't have been one year ago.

[bikebloke]

43. Reluctant

I wear prescription ash trays. My eyes are not that good, but they're all I have. Anyway, as a cyclist, the specs keep the bugs and grit out of my eyes.