Anybody have Lasik eye surgery ?
- Thread starter Dave Hess
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I want to, been wearing glasses since I was 8. But I'm too scared.
I had it done last july.
cost was about 3500$ for both eyes.
that was all inclusive.
I went from blind as a bat over 12" away to 25/20 and 30/20
If I want it a touchup is free. (to get closer to 20/20)
the worst part is suction cup on the eye and slicing and dicing. and the burning hair smell.
overall I'm happy I did it but it was kinda traumatizing for me. Just remember TAKE BOTH VALIUM.. not just 1.
its great there were many improvements I didnt even consider..
pm me if you want some specifics.
I do have some halo'ing at night but not really worse than I had with glasses.. ie glare.
Lights do seem REALLY bright at night now though Abit more bothersome.. but not terrible.
cost was about 3500$ for both eyes.
that was all inclusive.
I went from blind as a bat over 12" away to 25/20 and 30/20
If I want it a touchup is free. (to get closer to 20/20)
the worst part is suction cup on the eye and slicing and dicing. and the burning hair smell.
overall I'm happy I did it but it was kinda traumatizing for me. Just remember TAKE BOTH VALIUM.. not just 1.
its great there were many improvements I didnt even consider..
pm me if you want some specifics.
I do have some halo'ing at night but not really worse than I had with glasses.. ie glare.
Lights do seem REALLY bright at night now though Abit more bothersome.. but not terrible.
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Originally Posted By: Rand
the worst part is suction cup on the eye and slicing and dicing. and the burning hair smell.
And now I'm even more scared. Thank you Rand.
the worst part is suction cup on the eye and slicing and dicing. and the burning hair smell.
And now I'm even more scared. Thank you Rand.
Here's what I don't get...
Let's say you are nearsighted [see well close, but far objects blurry].
OK, you get Lasik to make the far vision perfect. You then give up your un aided near vision.
We can't have it both ways. It is corrected for one way or the other.
Let's say you are nearsighted [see well close, but far objects blurry].
OK, you get Lasik to make the far vision perfect. You then give up your un aided near vision.
We can't have it both ways. It is corrected for one way or the other.
Don't ever lookup how its done online, you'll likely never get it done after.
I have had it done in 2007. I opted for mono vision, which had just been FDA approved at the time. That is, my dominant eye is corrected to 20/15 for distance, the other eye is like 20/60 and is the close-up, reading eye. It takes about a month for the brain to adjust. With this, hopefully I will not need reading glasses. I figured if I didn't like it, I could go back within the "warranty" period and have the reading eye corrected to 20/15 for binocular vision.
It has been great! I did use a reputable clinic that performs "custom" lasik surgery, where your eye is mapped and bladeless surgery is performed to your individual needs. I compare this to the $700 an eye places that perform conventional, one size fits all, surgery.
I do carry a low power soft contact lens so I can have binocular vision for night time driving, but as time goes on, I rarely use it. Driver license vision requirements vary by state, so that must be checked before opting for mono vision. I hope this helps, lasik mono vision has made me independent of needing glasses and contact lenses. I was severely nearsighted.
It has been great! I did use a reputable clinic that performs "custom" lasik surgery, where your eye is mapped and bladeless surgery is performed to your individual needs. I compare this to the $700 an eye places that perform conventional, one size fits all, surgery.
I do carry a low power soft contact lens so I can have binocular vision for night time driving, but as time goes on, I rarely use it. Driver license vision requirements vary by state, so that must be checked before opting for mono vision. I hope this helps, lasik mono vision has made me independent of needing glasses and contact lenses. I was severely nearsighted.
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Before lasers they did it with a knife slice. Mainly for pilots.
My distance is fine. But I need reading glasses. At $6.50 for a 3 pack of reading glasses at Walmart I think I will keep with the reading glasses.
My distance is fine. But I need reading glasses. At $6.50 for a 3 pack of reading glasses at Walmart I think I will keep with the reading glasses.
I had Lasik done-either 7 or 8 years ago.
My vision was in the 20/200 range in each eye. Without glasses or contacts I was unable to drive and couldn't read anything beyond the first E on an eye chart. My vision was correctable to about 20/30 with contacts or glasses.
At my last vision checkup (last summer) I was at 20/15 in my right eye and 20/20 in my left. My only (extremely minor) problem is slight starbursts around lights at dawn or dusk-surprisingly at full dark it's not an issue. Before the surgery I had the same starbursts when wearing contacts, typical of most contact lens wearers. I didn't have the starbursts when wearing glasses.
In order to correct the starbursts I have a pair of driving glasses that have an anti glare coating on them. It nearly eliminates the starburst issue, and has the added advantage of tweaking my long distance vision slightly so that, as my eye doctor puts it, I have "high def" vision. I can read street signs from a very long distance away. I only use the glasses at dawn or dusk, and even then I don't really "need" them, it's just nice to have my vision that sharp while driving.
It took about 3 months for my vision to completely settle down after the surgery. Once it did, I was like a normal 60+ year old that never needed more than reading glasses. It's such a pleasure not to need to fuss with glasses or contact lenses, not to mention the expense of contacts or the hassle of wearing glasses in the rain or on a hot day when you're sweating.
The surgery itself was extremely simple-the prep work leading up to the surgery was more of an issue than the actual surgery. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, in my case the results were great and I've been extremely pleased. I used an extremely reputable eye surgeon who had done many successful Lasik procedures before me.
Originally Posted By: RiceCake
Don't ever lookup how its done online, you'll likely never get it done after.
Why would that scare anyone away unless they're rather spineless to begin with? It's just a surgical procedure done with a laser, and by today's standards it's a rather simple procedure.
My vision was in the 20/200 range in each eye. Without glasses or contacts I was unable to drive and couldn't read anything beyond the first E on an eye chart. My vision was correctable to about 20/30 with contacts or glasses.
At my last vision checkup (last summer) I was at 20/15 in my right eye and 20/20 in my left. My only (extremely minor) problem is slight starbursts around lights at dawn or dusk-surprisingly at full dark it's not an issue. Before the surgery I had the same starbursts when wearing contacts, typical of most contact lens wearers. I didn't have the starbursts when wearing glasses.
In order to correct the starbursts I have a pair of driving glasses that have an anti glare coating on them. It nearly eliminates the starburst issue, and has the added advantage of tweaking my long distance vision slightly so that, as my eye doctor puts it, I have "high def" vision. I can read street signs from a very long distance away. I only use the glasses at dawn or dusk, and even then I don't really "need" them, it's just nice to have my vision that sharp while driving.
It took about 3 months for my vision to completely settle down after the surgery. Once it did, I was like a normal 60+ year old that never needed more than reading glasses. It's such a pleasure not to need to fuss with glasses or contact lenses, not to mention the expense of contacts or the hassle of wearing glasses in the rain or on a hot day when you're sweating.
The surgery itself was extremely simple-the prep work leading up to the surgery was more of an issue than the actual surgery. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, in my case the results were great and I've been extremely pleased. I used an extremely reputable eye surgeon who had done many successful Lasik procedures before me.
Originally Posted By: RiceCake
Don't ever lookup how its done online, you'll likely never get it done after.
Why would that scare anyone away unless they're rather spineless to begin with? It's just a surgical procedure done with a laser, and by today's standards it's a rather simple procedure.
I was seriously considering it...then I asked my 28YO optometrist why she still wears glasses and if she ever considered it. Basically it's not guaranteed and you eyes (like everythign else in/on you body, changes with time...so eventually you WILL be back to glasses.
That's all the advice I needed to stay with contacts/glasses! esp. since a trained professional would not even get it done
That's all the advice I needed to stay with contacts/glasses! esp. since a trained professional would not even get it done
I've always had 20/20 vision and don't have personal experience with Lasik, but a couple of my brothers and a relative had Lasik. They all said they gained near perfect vision and didn't have any side effects. I think it is important to go to a well regarded Dr. who's done 1000's of the surgeries of course. I think the odds are your vision will be corrected and there won't be any side effects.
I had it done in 2000 and would/will do it again if and when necessary. There was zero pain and/or discomfort when I had mine done....the only uncomfortable part was afterwards for a few hours....burning sensation. My surgeon recommended a nap afterwards which is good advice. The absolute best part was when I awoke from my nap, the digital clock across the room was as clear as a bell!
I didn't even need reading glasses for the first couple of years and I do use them now but can still read a newspaper if I hold it at arms length.
BTW, mine was the knife swipe and it is a little un-nerving when they lift the cornea (sp?) up out of the way....complete blindness except for a greyish bright. Also, the surgery performed in my day causes dry-eyes but I think that problem has been solved.
I highly recommend it!
I didn't even need reading glasses for the first couple of years and I do use them now but can still read a newspaper if I hold it at arms length.
BTW, mine was the knife swipe and it is a little un-nerving when they lift the cornea (sp?) up out of the way....complete blindness except for a greyish bright. Also, the surgery performed in my day causes dry-eyes but I think that problem has been solved.
I highly recommend it!
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I took my friend to get his Lasik about 12 years ago.
I got to watch it on the big screen. A little disturbing if you are sensitive about your eyes.
On the ride home, he was slumped back in his seat, all valiumed out. Occasionally he would sit up and say, "I CAN READ THAT SIGN!....."I CAN SEE THE LEAVES ON THE TREES."
He got to take his driver's license test and remove the "A" corrective lenses restriction.
It lasted about 10 years. He is back to wearing glasses again.
I got to watch it on the big screen. A little disturbing if you are sensitive about your eyes.
On the ride home, he was slumped back in his seat, all valiumed out. Occasionally he would sit up and say, "I CAN READ THAT SIGN!....."I CAN SEE THE LEAVES ON THE TREES."
He got to take his driver's license test and remove the "A" corrective lenses restriction.
It lasted about 10 years. He is back to wearing glasses again.
Too much of a chicken here. Fortunately, I'm one of those who can almost go the full 30 days in 30 day and night contacts. Just some readers for close up and I go a day or two and then switch lenses for 3+ weeks.
DIL had it many years ago, no glasses.. no complaints.
harbor
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Everyone I know that has had it done, including my sister, have gone back to wearing glasses or contacts a few years later. My concern is cutting into healthy tissue for aesthetic reasons.
I can't cpount the number of times stuff has bounced off my glasses, including a slap shot that knocked the polycarbonate lense right out of the frame. I'd say do it if you need 20 20 to earn a living. Remember, if they foul it up there isn't a "do over".
Originally Posted By: harbor
Everyone I know that has had it done, including my sister, have gone back to wearing glasses or contacts a few years later. My concern is cutting into healthy tissue for aesthetic reasons.
Everyone I know has had a postive experience. I went from not being able to read the big E to 20/15. Don't think that putting contacts in your eye every day is risk free either. How often do you get a speck of dust in your eye or the hard contract acts like a suction cup on your eye? I think it depends on how near sighted you are and whether you can get by with soft or hard lenses. You are not going to be able to wear contact lenses when you get older and your eyes dry up.
The only thing I question is getting one eye for reading. While your far vision will stay 20/20 (first person they ever did is still 20/20) reading vision gets progressively worse, so I asked my eye doctor if the reading vision option would last 10 years and he said, "not even"
Everyone I know that has had it done, including my sister, have gone back to wearing glasses or contacts a few years later. My concern is cutting into healthy tissue for aesthetic reasons.
Everyone I know has had a postive experience. I went from not being able to read the big E to 20/15. Don't think that putting contacts in your eye every day is risk free either. How often do you get a speck of dust in your eye or the hard contract acts like a suction cup on your eye? I think it depends on how near sighted you are and whether you can get by with soft or hard lenses. You are not going to be able to wear contact lenses when you get older and your eyes dry up.
The only thing I question is getting one eye for reading. While your far vision will stay 20/20 (first person they ever did is still 20/20) reading vision gets progressively worse, so I asked my eye doctor if the reading vision option would last 10 years and he said, "not even"
I'm lucky that I don't need eye glasses all the times, only when reading. So no Lasik nor contact for me.
The first reading glass I had was 12-15 years ago and I still using it, it was 0.75/1.0 and as of last year my eyes went to 1.0/1.25.
The first reading glass I had was 12-15 years ago and I still using it, it was 0.75/1.0 and as of last year my eyes went to 1.0/1.25.
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