LASIK eye surgery

[Turk74]

I was wondering if any of you have had LASIK procedure done to your eyes? I'm interested in gettting it done and want to hear stories, good and bad, of those who have experienced the procedure. It sounds like "custom" LASIK is the way to go if your eyes can handle it. Thanks in advance.

Dave

[Boxer]

I'm sorry. Could you type that a little bigger? I can't quite make it out.

Lazy.. Eye........ Surgery? Oh nevermind.

[pjbmw]

Of the few people I am aquainted with who have had this surgery, it has been a godsend. The gross-out factor of the procedure always keeps me from asking if both eyes had the same procedure or if one was set up for farsightedness and the other for nearsightedness.

[toner87]

I had both my eyes laser corrected nearly 5 years ago to the day... 12/5/00 to be exact... Cost me $1500 for both eyes back then...
I was quite nearsighted and needed glasses or contacts to drive, play tennis, go to movies, etc... The procedure was nothing short of miraculous. Your vision is corrected imediately and you walk out of the doctor's office seeing better, though you do wear eye protectors, as you don't want to jostle the work they've done. Sure, the procedure's little uncomfortable and there's a possibility you'll get an eye infection like I did, which required steroid drops and a couple extra follow up visits, but once that's behind you, WHOAH BABY!!, what a difference it makes! If I had one minor issue, it would be a little extra halo action around streetlights at night, but you get used to that.
I'd do it again. Of course, YMMV and all that rot... No more glasses except sunglasses, no more contacts, no more contact solutions, no more eyewear hassles, just great vision... I'm not up on the technical terms or what my pre/post surgery vision #'s were,a but I'd go for it w/out a doubt.
C.

[Pat]

I casually ask about it every few years, and I pretty much get the same response. Apparently because my eyes are a combination of far sighted, near sighted, AND significant astigmatism, my eyes may not be good candidates for the procedure. But then again..... it's my own optometrist whom I've been seeing for 20 years who tells me this.

I suppose as a 51 year old, I should pretty much accept that at least reading glasses would still be required if in fact I COULD undergo the procedure. I could get used to that! I have a wide bridge, so glasses don't sit well on my nose. It would be FANTASTIC to rid myself of them full time!

[R4R&R]

My wife had it done a few years ago and she loves not having to wear glasses anymore. The only 'problem' is she still needs glasses occasionally at night. As I rack up more miles my eyes are starting to fade and I recently started using contacts. It was great to see (clear) again but I'm not sure I could take the 'cutting' part of the LASIK procedure - it's not like you don't have to watch. I'm happy with my contacts. For now.

As far as the surgery, I haven't heard of anyone having problems.

[danstl]

I had mine done several years ago, and it was quite expensive. I don't think I was properly evaluated beforehand, or I would not have had it done.

I had two problems. First, they cut too deeply on my left eye. Back then, they gave you a video of the procedure, and there was some blood when they did the left eye, but none on the right. Now, my left is 20/40 without glasses and cannot be corrected with lenses to much better.

Second, my eyes were apparently too dry for the procedure. They used to plug up the ducts that drain tears from your eyes to keep the mositure in them for a while after the surgery. The plugs were supposed to disolve after a bit, but they damaged these ducts in my eyes, and they no longer drain properly. Now, my eyes run a lot because of this. There is an additional surgery that is supposed to help this (they install a stint to drain the eyes), but the potential complications from that are not something I am willing to accept now.

The short answer is that this procedure is quite safe and effective for most people, but the potential complications are significant. Make sure you are properly evaluated beforehand, and use someone who takes the time to do it properly.

[huffergasen]

I had a great deal of astigmatism and had the procedure in my late 50's. It was successful and I am pleased with it. However, the cutting edge today in this area is lens replacement. It is more expensive and it's availability is not as widespread as lasik, but results in perfect vision for close up and distance.

[toner87]

The short answer is that this procedure is quite safe and effective for most people, but the potential complications are significant. Make sure you are properly evaluated beforehand, and use someone who takes the time to do it properly.

Amen to that.
T.

[Shaman]

I am going to try very hard to afford it for my 35th B-day.

Here are some threads from another board on the issue:

http://archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.ph ... ight=lasik

http://archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.ph ... ight=lasik

[boxermania]

My problem was similar to toner87 and the procedure was performed early in 2004. My nearsightedness has been corrected in one eye and the other not quite perfect, the idea is that it helps tremendously for those that operate a computer....intermediate sight.

I can read text without glasses, if I place it away from my nose ......can't see very well close in....use a pair of inexpensive reading glasses (1.75X)

Overall it has been a positive experience.

[wncbmw]

I just talked to my eye doctor about it last month but not for me. He is very conservative and just a few years ago was taking a wait-and-see attitude. He now does the procedure. He cautioned that some "cut rate" surgeries are using some of the older machines and that within the last few years, a new generation of machines has taken the success rate (perfect vision) from over 70% to over 90%. This is one thing that I would not shop for bargains on!

I was asking for my son, who is 18 and has awful vision (-7.0 contacts in both eyes. My vision sucks and my worse eye is only -3.75!) When he is 21 or 22 and quit growing for sure, we will probably get it done for him.

As for me, I use extended wear contacts with the left eye weakened some to reduce the use of reading glasses. Put them in, wear two or three weeks, throw them away, put in new pair. Until I have some problems, I ain't getting cut!

[Lance1150]

My sister had it done a few weeks ago and isn't happy... vision in intermittently good/bad...

As for the 'halo' effect, that apparently can be quite bad and causes many EXTREME distress.... (rainbows around all lights at night)...

I'd get SEVERAL opinions, not be pressured to have it done on the spot, and be prepared to deal with complications, and less that perfect results...

It's you EYES, be careful!

P.S. I haven't had it done, just talking from heresay.

[collyers]

All hearsay aside - my wife had it done 7 years ago when it was almost $2k an eye - she had THICK glasses/contacts. Gone forever. Best thing she ever did for herself. Was seeing 20-20 in less than 24hrs.
Worried? Check the DR out for how many/how long (s)he's been doing it.
Don't let the negative-sayers fool you. The % of problems is less than 1/10 of 1% ACROSS THE BOARD (in Texas Drs, at least). Always go with your gut feeling with people - if you're uneasy- find someone else. Also, like motorcycle tires, don't cheap out - these are the most important things on the bike (and in your head). Get the best. Toss your specs.

[bimrluvr]

before having Lasik almost three years ago. Now, I do evertything without glasses for the first time since I was 8 years old. Here are some factors for your consideration in deciding:

Age - the older you are, the slower you heal. Under 45 is better.
Prescription strength - Correction for up (down) to -6 has a very high success rate.
They new wavefront technology they have now is better than what I had.
Less risk of post-op infection (the most frequent complication) with all-laser Lasik. That's where even the corneal flap is made with a laser.
Choose your doc carefully. Docs experience counts for a lot...so does the equipment he uses (latest tech is much better than 5 years ago). Your doc should have done at least 3k to 5k of these procedures.
Vision is rarely 20-20 the first day...it takes from one to six months for best post-op vision to be reached post-op.
Some people never arrive at 20-20, so don't have unreasonable expectations.
Dry eye is a common problem from day one post op. Will be bad at at first requiring constant eye drops. It does resolve with time, but it's a problem that may never fully disappear and will worsen a bit with age.

After having said all that, my stand is that it was the best $4k I ever spent. Makes every activity that requires decent vision more pleasurable. Scuba, riding, movies and concerts are all enhanced...oh yeah and lets not forget seeing DJ's posts better.