Lasik

[BankerCat12]

I got Lasik a little over a week ago and if anyone is thinking about it, its a must. I wake up now seeing 20/20 or better. Since its such a new feeling for me, I keep thinking I fell asleep in my contacts when I wake up. The procedure was nothing and the next morning I was seeing great and playing golf. I have worn contacts middle school and wish I would have gotten this done years ago. My allergies made my life miserable with my contacts either floating around or becoming foggy.

The only negative I can say is I was told that I wanted to sleep immediately after the procedure. I had them give me the strongest Valium allowed (10mg I think) and then proceeded to take two Benadryl once I got home. That ish didnt work. I was up for 4 hours after the procedure and I thought I made the worse decision of my life. I now know why they want you to sleep. It was like sandpaper on the eyes and I couldnt even open in my dark basement. Once I was able to fall asleep it was fine.

If I had to do over again, I would get the earliest appt instead of the latest and stay up the night before so you are guaranteed to fall asleep when you get home. I am sure this has been discussed on here before but thought I would get people on the fence to make the move. Its well worth it.

 

[kyboy1998_rivals34276]

One of the better things I have had done. I've had my LASIK for 8 years now and still have better than 20/20 vision.

You'll see a halo effect around lighting for a good while, but it will go away and your sight will actually improve over the course of the year.

That was my experience at least.

 

[RacerX.ksr]

I had mine done about 15 years ago. I went to Indianapolis to have it done and spent the night in a motel close to the office. I didn't have any pain meds, not even an aspirin. I was miserable for the few hours it took me to fall asleep. I woke up with no pain at all and could see better than I ever did with contacts.

The best memory for me was driving home down 65 and seeing the individual leafs on the trees and not just a tree. I've had no complications whatsoever and recommend it wholly.

 

[Big_Blue79]

Best decision/money of my life. Wonderful.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

Got mine done in summer of '07 and within, I'm guessing, 5 years, started to see some blurry. For the last couple of years, I really need to use glasses at night, driving is a bit risky - and trying to read the scrawl at the bottom of ESPN, for example, is pretty hopeless.

The doc told me when I had the procedure done that I'd be back in a few years to tend to my near vision. But that never happened - in fact, I have ridiculously good (for my age) near vision (or whatever the right term is). I can see very small print with no problem at all, can't imagine needing readers. Which is odd, I'd think, since I look at a monitor all day. Anyway, in my last checkup it was explained to me there is a relationship there - the fact that I can see so well up close has something to do with why the Lasik is wearing/wore off regarding seeing from a distance.......but who can recall such trivial details.

Anyway, agreed with the OP, definitely was worth it, even considering the two paragraphs above....

 

[Big_Blue79]

I was -9.25 in both eyes. I had to wait until the Waveform technology because previously Lasik was confined to -8 or less. 20/20 since, going on 7 years. My life is basically pre and post Lasik.

 

[-LEK-]

What did you guys pay?

 

[DoubleSecretProbation]

Had LASIK three and a half years ago. Results were ok but I'm back in contacts at this point.

 

[Big_Blue79]

What did you guys pay?

Roughly $3000 back in 2008. I didn't shop around too much; went with a good recommendation and very experienced doctor. To turn on the machine that actually does it. But still.

 

[-LEK-]

Roughly $3000 back in 2008. I didn't shop around too much; went with a good recommendation and very experienced doctor. To turn on the machine that actually does it. But still.

Thanks. Was that both eyes?

I have thought about it, but see all various pricing every where.

 

[Big_Blue79]

^ yeah, both eyes. I worked 6 pm to 6 am at the time, and 24 hours after the surgery drove 40 miles into the desert to work. It was a bit tough the first week driving at night, otherwise no problems. Lots of Groupon like offers for a cheap rate, but it's your eyes. Do the legwork on the business, try to get a recommendation from someone you know. Worth it. My mother in law (before I knew her) had it done 10 years ago and has some issues (she won't drive at night anymore); she went with the cheaper option. Shouldn't make a difference as the machine does the work, but... it's your eyes.

 

[RacerX.ksr]

The part they don't tell you about beforehand is you can hear your eyeball sizzle from the laser and it smells just like burning hair.

 

[BankerCat12]

The part they don't tell you about beforehand is you can hear your eyeball sizzle from the laser and it smells just like burning hair.

I was told this 2 hours before from a guy in my office. I was like thank a$$hole. I couldn't hear but I could smell the burn. Didn't scare me. I was told at my initial procedure that you go blind in the eye for 15 seconds. That is always scary but I would expect to lose some sight with the procedure. No way to avoid it.

What scared me the most was the next morning I woke up to go to my follow up appt my right eye when I first opened was a complete blur. I blinked twice and it was perfect but if you read my few hours after the surgery above and then being blurred a second, I nearly had a heart attack. My procedure was completed two days tomorrow and I would 100% do it all over again even with not being able to fall asleep.

In regard to the price, I believe I paid $2800 and some change (both eyes). There is a $100 groupon to save $500. I also was referred by someone and they gave them $50 and saved me $50. I went to Joffe here in St Matthews. He has done over 13,000 Lasik procedures. Would be happy to save someone $50.......

 

[LordEgg_rivals16573]

I've got to do this. been wearing contacts since high school.

 

[RacerX.ksr]

I think the laser is good for your eye. Try to eat some bacon that hasn't been cooked. Now put some heat to it. See, the goodness is in the heat.

 

[jtrue28]

That whole process just freaks me the f*ck out. Can't just close your eyes and wake up when it's done. Touch that noise.

 

[We-Todd-Did]

My papaw had lasiks and it didn't do anything for his eyes. He just said that when he took it he pissed all the time. You guys must be taking the generic.

 

[DoubleSecretProbation]

Lol.

Can't say I thought about it like that but my surgeon was pretty schmarmy and wire Tommy Hilfiger jeans. That and he was from Indiana. So, not sure I would do it again. My sight is undoubtedly better but let me I said I'm back in contacts and I use eye drops like a mug stanky.

 

[DoubleSecretProbation]

Wore not wire

 

[DoubleSecretProbation]

Damn I phone

 

[Chuckinden]

My wife and I had ours done together in Cincy by a UK graduate (just thought I would throw that in there). He charged $499 per eye. That was 18 yrs ago and some of the best money ever spent.

 

[beltieboy_rivals376542]

Went to Bennett & Bloom a couple years ago for a Lasik consult and was told my vision was too poor to have it done (don't know my exact numbers but my contacts strengths are -9 in the left and -7.5 in the right). Instead they tried to sell me on some "permanent" contact lens that carries much more complications and about double the price of Lasik. I declined.

 

[BBUK]

I've needed reading glasses since I was 40. (14 years ago.) Still not used to glasses but I can read. That said, I thought hard about getting the procedure but cannot. Just my take but I can see now.

 

[Big_Blue79]

That whole process just freaks me the f*ck out. Can't just close your eyes and wake up when it's done. Touch that noise.

It's like a minute or two.

Went to Bennett & Bloom a couple years ago for a Lasik consult and was told my vision was too poor to have it done (don't know my exact numbers but my contacts strengths are -9 in the left and -7.5 in the right). Instead they tried to sell me on some "permanent" contact lens that carries much more complications and about double the price of Lasik. I declined.

I looked into the permanent contact thing around 2006 when the FDA finally approved some clinical testing. They've been in use in Europe for a while. Basically, it's cataracts without removing your own lens. Haven't looked at it for a while, but could be a last gasp option.

It used to be that Lasik capped out at about -8 (max) or -6 (most doctors) for the nearsighted. However, the Waveform (or waveform? something like that) allows for corrections of worse eyes - IIRC, the machine uses a laser to map the eyes to make the best possible correction. I was -9.25 in both eyes, now I'm 20/20 (might be 20/25 in one eye, but pretty much impossible to notice). That's not the only factor, however, as corneal thickness and astigmatism factor in. But I would seek out another opinion. Lasik can correct up to -12 now (at least). It's one of the top 5 best decisions I've ever made in my life, and I would have paid 10x what I did (with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, of course).

Seriously, I encourage everyone with bad eyes - especially those with terrible eyes - to get them corrected if possible. It's life changing going from functionally useless without corrective lenses to full 20/20.

http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-wavefront-custom.htm