Lasik surgery, yea or nay? What do you know about it.

[mizzou]

mom had a bad experience, sister had a good experience. Both will probably need lasik again in about 5 years

dude, if you have trouble under the eye puff thing you can't go through with lasik/ek, you are conscious during the entire thing

 

[silverpig]

My dad had PRK done last year and loves it. He had to go in for a touch-up procedure (covered as part of the initial cost), and they noticed some retinal detachment (unrelated) for which they got him in immediately to another laser doctor to get patched up.

 

[sdifox]

I am too chicken to have laser eye surgery.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

anyone had vision regressing years later? i'm talking like 3 - 5 years later or even longer. I've heard many people according to my parents now need to get it done again or their vision is basically getting worse....

Makes me think twice.. dunno. I'd love to get it done. The side effects are a bit annoying, but beats contacts. But if it's not really permanent, then that's the true deal breaker.

 

[igotid]

Yes, I did it back in 2003.

Best money I ever spent I always say.

Cons: Dry-er eyes and might have made my night vision worse, though it's hard to say since it was easily worse with the contacts I was wearing prior to the procedure.

Pros: no more corrective anything. 20/20 vision. Can go swimming and to water parks with no fear. etc.

Basically what he says, I also did it on 2003

 

[Obsoleet]

From what I understand, all the side effects people list like blurry vision at night ect are all supposed to be temporary. There are no permanent longterm effects if everything goes as planned.

 

[Red Squirrel]

From what I've been told by my doctors, the drops arent permanent for the average person who does the surgery. You use them before, and after the operation. I don't think you need them forever unless you have issues. I think people reading the thread are getting confused.

I did her an eye surgeon in my area doesn't support Lasik, because it removes material from the cornea and it's irreversible. I'm not sure I agree that it's a bad thing if you have poor vision.. but I'm also not an expert on the eye. The cornea is just being corrected. But like I said, I don't even know what causes people's vision to get blurry.

Ah so it's a temp thing. Yeah I'd have trouble going through that stage but if it's temporary then that's not so bad, I'd tough it. I have not seen official stats but I'm guessing the odds of complications are super low.

 

[Reckoner]

Ah so it's a temp thing. Yeah I'd have trouble going through that stage but if it's temporary then that's not so bad, I'd tough it. I have not seen official stats but I'm guessing the odds of complications are super low.

The best thing is to go to a couple free consultations from different practices, research them to get an idea on their reputation, and make an informed decision from the recommendations of the surgeons involved. Ask a ton of questions as well. Here's a pretty good site I used (and still use) when I went through the process:

http://www.usaeyes.org/ask-lasik-expert/index.php

 

[Obsoleet]

My doc Im setup with has done 30,000+ people so I feel ok about it

 

[F1N3ST]

Get it done at Walmart with a coupon. Or in the back of some guy's van. Savings

 

[Obsoleet]

Get it done at Walmart with a coupon. Or in the back of some guy's van. Savings

It's closer to $4,000. There are some cheap places but I'm too scared to not pay a decent amount. Although at the place I'm going to, you get lifetime touchups if you keepup your yearly appt with your eye doctor.

 

[LittleMsSnuggie]

My dad had it done a few years ago while he was still enlisted. I don't know much on cost since the Army paid for his, but they gave him the footage of his procedure being done.
It looks completely harmless. He had to wear glasses while his eyes recovered which didn't take that long.
I'd get it done if I had the money for it.

 

[QuantumPion]

I'm going to wait until there is some sort of stem cell or eye cloning treatment, or at least a new technology which gives better then 20/20 and does not affect night vision.

 

[insanity2]

I had PRK done and I had an astigmatism. Before the surgery, I was 20/35 and now I am 20/20, correctable with glasses to 20/15 if I want to since I have a small astigmatism left. I was lucky enough to get it for free since I am military. The LASIK guys who went through the routine when I did said their eyes hurt more, which I understand is related to cutting the cornea flap back. There is also a possible danger of that flap ripping open again after it heals, if you get subjected to a sudden hard impact. Not sure how common that really is....it was just something they explained to us before the surgery.
I would do it again in a heartbeat. Glasses always annoyed me...steaming up, etc. Doctors said I might end up needing glasses when I get older...either reading or if the astigmatism comes back. Pain wasn't bad at all, other than self inflicted. Computer monitors are a no no until at least a week after the surgery. I tried to push it after about 2 weeks and only made it 4 hours before my eyes were burning. Eyes are more sensitive to bright light, but I don't notice any more "halos" at night like some people experience. Most important....follow the drops/medicine regimen by the letter!! NO SMOKING OR BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO SMOKE!! I have heard one person who permanently tinted her vision yellow because she wanted her daily cigarettes. Another person didn't take the antibiotics and now he sees "crystals" in his vision because he didn't follow the directions. Why you would want to gamble with your vision is beyond me. I think if you find a reputable doctor, you should be fine. Wish you luck!

 

[insanity2]

I'm going to wait until there is some sort of stem cell or eye cloning treatment, or at least a new technology which gives better then 20/20 and does not affect night vision.

I don't notice any worsening of my night vision from the procedure. Not sure, but I think the military is on 3rd or 4th generation equipment. Military's goal is always 20/15, but it all depends on why your vision is bad and whether you are a good candidate for LASIK/PRK. I went through 2 screenings before I even got put on the list to have it done.

 

[bobdole369]

www.lifeafterlasik.com if it hasn't been linked.

I would never do such a thing with something as precious as sight. It's too risky. I don't care how many studies or schooling is involved.

Just as I wouldn't voluntarily lengthen my penis, even if 99.99% of the people got it done and in the end had a much bigger dick. It's that 0.01% that ended up with only shriveled nuts leftover that make it a no-go.

 

[bobdole369]

My dad had it done a few years ago while he was still enlisted. I don't know much on cost since the Army paid for his, but they gave him the footage of his procedure being done.
It looks completely harmless. He had to wear glasses while his eyes recovered which didn't take that long.
I'd get it done if I had the money for it.

It looks completely harmless.

Have you actually watched the procedure?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4kDC4sZ5Jg

Heres one. It looks TERRIFYING to me.

 

[Bateluer]

I had it done in Feb 2007, with an enhancement in Oct 2007. Overall, I am definitely glad I did it. I don't need glasses anymore. For me, there is some starbursting at night around bright lights, but its not bad and you adapt quickly. Also, I still use the artificial tear eye drops daily, usually when I get up and once or twice at work, then again after I get back from my runs.

I have a theory that the reason some doctors don't like it is because they make more money off selling you glasses and contacts on a regular basis. With LASIK, if its done right, you don't ever come back for glasses or more contacts.

 

[LittleMsSnuggie]

Have you actually watched the procedure?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4kDC4sZ5Jg

Heres one. It looks TERRIFYING to me.

Yeah, I watched the video. It didn't seem like anything big to me.

 

[Obsoleet]

Thanks for the votes and posts everyone. I had my operation today, and it feels like a miracle. Unless you are the extremely nervous type, or very fearful of it (usually caused by a lack of reading/education on the subject), I would recommend it if fear of the operation is what might be holding you back. The only part that was slightly disconcerting was when they pulled the flaps back, your vision gets a little blurry.

 

[FoBoT]

i asked my eye doctor, i am not a candidate for lasik, my eyes are too bad, cornea or lens is too thin, something like that
he said they are going to have this new thing in a few years where they implant a lens and that would be best for me

 

[gigahertz20]

I want to eventually do it but I'm too chicken, I know the odds are very slim of it going bad, I'm less worried about that. It's going through the proceedure itself. For those who did it, how does it feel? I am very sensitive in the eye area and it bothers me to have stuff in my eyes let alone a knife cutting the surface while I have to keep my eye ball straight, I just can't picture myself being able to go through it.

The thought of not needing glasses would be awesome though. I could actualy go on water slides when I go to the theme park and other stuff that, with glasses you can't really do.

Are your eyes that sensitive that they can't handle soft contacts? When I first got contacts 5 years ago, they went in and I hardly felt them. I was worried it would feel like something is in your eyes, but not at all. I plan on getting lasik or whatever is the best procedure sometime in the next 10 years or so.

 

[Obsoleet]

I wore contacts over 10 years, closer to 15. And never noticed they were in until the last few years, where I could hardly stand having them in, that's what really drove me to Lasik (that and I'm in the financial situation now to). You might find the same thing happen to you over time, and maybe not. Contacts arent that bad if you don't notice they're in at all.

 

[Obsoleet]

Well, it's been a week and a half since the operation.

My conclusion is: do it. It's amazing, quick recovery, not a painful operation, and the results are more than worth it. Best way to spend thousands of dollars that I can imagine other than saving your life, not to mention free lifetime touchups if I need it.

If you're a candidate, and you have the money and any desire at all, don't hesitate.

 

[lifeobry]

I'd like to get it done but I look good in glasses :awe: