Which LASIK surgeon would you choose

[Dryst999]

I have two consultations scheduled for next month, both use the VISX Star4 as their excimer laser of choice.

My first consultation is for Dr. Rolando Toyos, Toyosclinic, here locally in memphis. The cost will be $2300/eye, however I get a 10% discount from my insurance. From my google search it seems like he's done a good number of professional athletes which is encouraging, his website advertises that he's done over 15k Lasik surgeries. Dr. Toyos is a TLC clinic, he specializes in the treatment of dry eyes.

My second consultation is scheduled for Dr. Ming Wang, Wang Vision Institute, according to his website he appears to be one of the top Lasik surgeons in the US. They would not give me a price on Lasik, they said it would be between 2k-4k/eye depending on what I needed done, I get a 15% discount with my insurance.

So at first glance I was dead set on traveling to Nashville to have Dr. Wang do my surgery. When I scheduled my consultation they told me I could do my consultation AND surgery on the same day. When I sent Dr. Wang an e-mail asking how this would be possible without the dilation having an adverse affect on the procedure, he responded with "No problem, we have the latest technology in laser tracking, so we can treat either with pupil dilated or not dilated."

Not sure how to feel about the above statement, it contradicts most everything i've read. That, combined with his massive self advertisement, is making me think that I may be better off with a local surgeon.

Any advice from a user that has actually had LASIK/PRK?

 

[Zeze]

Statistically, you can't go wrong with either one.

But I'd put an absolute emphasis on doctors take the time to talk to their patients until they're 100% comfortable. This is a skill only few doctors have.

Go with a local one.

By the way, it's 2012. Has Lasik or PRK made any better advancements yet? Do they still suck after 15-20 years and you need reading glasses? Still get dry eyes? Halos around lights at night? It'd be sorely disappointing if it's still same side effects as 15 years ago.

 

[rcpratt]

I spent $1,500 on my Lasik (for one eye) and I felt like I was overspending. It's such a simple procedure. It's not freaking Dr. James Andrews reconstructing your ACL. Having done professional athletes is way overkill for Lasik.

This from a guy who had already undergone a cornea transplant on that same eye.

 

[Mixolydian]

Can't go wrong with a doctor named Wang.

 

[DCal430]

Statistically, you can't go wrong with either one.

But I'd put an absolute emphasis on doctors take the time to talk to their patients until they're 100% comfortable. This is a skill only few doctors have.

Go with a local one.

By the way, it's 2012. Has Lasik or PRK made any better advancements yet? Do they still suck after 15-20 years and you need reading glasses? Still get dry eyes? Halos around lights at night? It'd be sorely disappointing if it's still same side effects as 15 years ago.

One of the biggest limitations with Lasik and PRK that still remaings a problem in 2012 is with people who are farsighted (Hyperopia), it is very limited in what it can correct, and usually their is a high risk of reversal over time. The good thing Hyperopia isn't nearly as common is myopia.

 

[blankslate]

The eye doctor who won't leave the room and let this happen to you...

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

 

[Imported]

Statistically, you can't go wrong with either one.

But I'd put an absolute emphasis on doctors take the time to talk to their patients until they're 100% comfortable. This is a skill only few doctors have.

Go with a local one.

By the way, it's 2012. Has Lasik or PRK made any better advancements yet? Do they still suck after 15-20 years and you need reading glasses? Still get dry eyes? Halos around lights at night? It'd be sorely disappointing if it's still same side effects as 15 years ago.

I agree.

As for advancements, they have a chemical they use to reduce the chance halos at night. I had PRK done in February and don't deal with halos. My eyes do get dry from time to time though.

To the OP, my doctor did not dilate my eyes. He's done over 45k surgeries according to his website. http://www.scotthyver.com/vision/drhyver.shtml

My cost was about $2300 an eye after insurance and I was able to use my FSA on the whole amount.

 

[RossMAN]

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_loc=Memphis,+TN&cflt=laserlasikeyes

I would ask here:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/memphis/1002338-opthamologist-midtown-downtown.html

 

[TreyRandom]

I had LASIK done by Dr. Dale Pilkinton in Nashville almost 10 years ago. Obviously, YMMV, but I had no side effects and to date, I have no complaints... my eyesight is still sharp. Prior to LASIK, I was very nearsighted - couldn't see anything with my glasses off or contacts out.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

lasik is about as fool proof as is gets in medicine.

 

[amdhunter]

I know someone who knew a guy who's cousin's sister eye fell out because of lasik.

 

[PenguinPower]

I had LASIK done by Dr. Dale Pilkinton in Nashville almost 10 years ago. Obviously, YMMV, but I had no side effects and to date, I have no complaints... my eyesight is still sharp. Prior to LASIK, I was very nearsighted - couldn't see anything with my glasses off or contacts out.

This. I had mine done by Dr. Pilkinton in 2005. No side effects. Went from -7.25 in both to 20/20.

 

[TreyRandom]

This. I had mine done by Dr. Pilkinton in 2005. No side effects. Went from -7.25 in both to 20/20.

Yeah, I think one of my eyes was -6.75, and the other was -7.00. I was shocked to be able to read the whiteboard and clock across the room as I was getting up from the LASIK table!!

I don't know if healing procedures have changed much in the past 10 years, but I would recommend that you follow them to the letter. Dr. Pilkinton prescribed me two kinds of drops and told me to keep my eyes closed as much as possible over the next 24 hours. Despite wanting to use my "new eyes", I kept them closed, listening to the TV and relaxing, and using the drops as prescribed. I don't know if that made a difference... but I don't have halos, starbursts, dry eyes, or any of the other side effects you commonly hear about. So be sure to follow whatever your doctor says to do.

 

[Imp]

I agree.

As for advancements, they have a chemical they use to reduce the chance halos at night. I had PRK done in February and don't deal with halos. My eyes do get dry from time to time though.

My eyes with contacts in and with glasses already halo like crazy at night. I wonder how much worse it could possibly get if I got lasik.

 

[rsutoratosu]

I had mine correct at 2001, at TLC, the place that paid tiger woods.. its a chain.. i had 0 problems, no halos, no side effect, no dry eyes. My gf got hers done about 4 years ago at a different TLC. Her surgeon is the husband of my surgeon. Pretty funny. My GF actually had ppk because her lens was too thin and wasn't qualify for lasik. 0 Problem, no halo, or anyt of that stuff. I took the video of it, i can post it up on youtube or something.

 

[TreyRandom]

My eyes with contacts in and with glasses already halo like crazy at night. I wonder how much worse it could possibly get if I got lasik.

Mine did too... with contacts. No longer! Consider: you're looking through a piece of plastic.

 

[jlarsson]

For me, it made the most sense to have it done in Montreal.

My procedure was $2600 total ($1300 per eye) plus about $400 for the pre/post-op appointments with my local optometrist. My local hospital has a lasik center, but it would have been twice that amount ($2400 per eye plus pre/post-op appointment fees). In addition, at the time I had my operation, the Doctor I saw had performed over 100,000 surgeries. The local hospital had only done a few thousand.

I had wavefront-guided lasik. Easily the best $3k i've spent, I'm still rocking 20/15 vision, with no side effects (no dryness my optometrist can detect despite working in a stuffy office, no halos when driving at night, etc).

 

[BrokenVisage]

Dr. Jewish?

 

[WiseUp216]

My dad got his lasik surgery for free in the mid-90's as a guinea pig. His eyesight was really bad.

Still hanging tough almost twenty years later. I think, at worst, he needs reading glasses in some situations.

 

[mizzou]

No matter what, pay for the BEST surgeon in your area. I paid $4,000 for mine total and i have ZERO regrets. My eyesight is fucking amazing.

I do understand it may not last forever, however I got it for a specific reason and it has already paid me back my investment.

 

[happyRN]

Dr. Toyos is who you want to see - no pun intended. He has clinics in Nashville and Memphis. I am a retired surgical nurse. I had cataract surgery with Dr. Toyos beca

---

Hi,

Welcome to AnandTech Forums. I locked the thread because the previous reply was almost a year and a half ago.

Our members refer to such posts as "necro" posts, and some of them tend to post replies ranging from sarcastic to hostile, including possible accusations of spamming, whether warranted or not.

You are welcome to continue posting on our forums. Thanks for understanding. We hope you enjoy yourself on our forums.

Harvey
Senior AnandTech Moderator/Administratoruse I saw his work in the OR. All the younger nurses had Lasik with him and had a great result.