Lasik eye surgery

[elamb]

Anybody had this done? Any likes/dislikes or things to look out for? I am thinking of having it done and was wanting to get some opinions on it.



Thanks,

Eric

 

[Morphious]

I had mine done a couple of years ago, and the results were great. I can now see the alarm clock from across the room in the morning to know how long I've overslept... Also, I can now wear real sunglasses instead of either having a second pair of prescription glass or clip ons. Same thing for eye protection and safety glasses. Back when I had my quad and was riding alot in at the sand dunes, I had to wear googles over my glasses and that just wasn't comfortable so that pushed me into getting it done. Takes about 10 seconds or so for each eye, was pretty cool seeing it done.



Oh yeah, don't go with price, find a reputable place with an extremely good track record, as those are the only two eyes your going to have. I paid about twice as much for mine as some of the bargain places, but I went with a dr. that had performed over 20k with only 2 failures.



Morph.

 

[elamb]

The Dr. that was recommended to me is supposed to be real good and he definitely isn't the cheapest. He offers touch ups if you need them which I like that idea.



Thanks,

Eric

 

[Morphious]

mine was the same way with the touchups, but now I live 1200 miles away and haven't been able to keep up with my appointments because of that, so the "warranty" part is out the window.



Morph.

 

[AKAMAC]

Glad I had mine done, now duck hunting in bad weather is no longer a drag. Had mine done at a place for 450/ eye and I now have 20/20 20/15.

No regrets!

 

[Andy Perreault]

Eric, you might want to check out these two topics, lots of good information here:

Lasik eye surgery: bad experiences?

Anybody had Lasik eye surgery done?



By the way, the place I mentioned in the second topic above went out of business because their insurance costs were too high.

Andy

 

[greyghost]

No regrets

I had mine done 9 months ago. Lived with glasses since the 5th grade. I wish I would have done something a long time ago even if I would have had to have a second procedure done. Technology is awesome, my eyes are 20/15 and 20/15 so far. Enhancements are free for the next two years. My Doc has the newest of laser equipment, able to correct up to a 8 mm diameter. My pupils dilate to 9mm so at night I do get the halo. On rain nights its a *itch to see but thats the only thing I don't like.



Garrett

 

[schu777]

Years ago I asked my eye doctor what he thought about it.



Doc: Do you get along with your glasses?

Me: Yes

Doc: Do you get along with your contacts?

Me: Yes

Doc: Why take a chance on ruining your vision when you get along fine with glasses/contacts?



I agree that the idea of being able to see when waking up in the middle of night without having to put on glasses would be nice. However, you do have a chance to have complications. My thoughts is... what happens from 10, 20, 30 years down the road? Will my eyes just get worse as I age? If they get worse, will it be just slightly and just like normal loss of vision?



It's all what you want to do, take your chances and do it or just live with your current vision and go on with life?



Michael

 

[dlange]

I am thinking about this also. Being a hod carrier and being around sand, lime, and cement all day helps me go through over 4 pair a year. And contacts are not a option. Does anyone know a good doctor around ST Louis? And what is the deal with not being able to see at night. Is this from the laser sugery?

 

[greyghost]

Night vision (long)

Originally posted by dlange

... And what is the deal with not being able to see at night. Is this from the laser surgery?

Dlange,

Ask your doc about the side effects there are a few. If you don't get the questionnaire, a video on the procedure and a consultation with the doc leave a pronto.



Mine is not as bad as it sounds, I can see better at night now than before with glasses or contacts. And its getting better everyday. It has a lot to do with the area they can treat with the laser and how much your pupil will dilate in low to zero light conditions. Like I posted before my pupil will dilate to 9 mm where as the treated area is only 8 mm in diameter, ala haloville.



I'm the OPs Manager for an equipment group. We fabricate, build, assemble, test and install industrial equipment. So the safety glasses and the work environment are harsh. I'm also a Hunter and avid Motocross Rider. And now I can't understand why I had waited. The freedom from wearing those damn coke bottles is unmeasurable, and for those who have skepticism about long term effects you should take a long look at what has been accomplished in the last 10 years and what is on the horizon. Now they can treat for all kinds of eye problems, not just poor vision. Hopefully in the next couple of years they will be able to treat a larger area of the eye. For me it would mean no more halo.



Hope this helps, I step up to this plate 3 times before I got the courage to go thru with it. Man looking back I should've just grown a pair the first time.



Garrett

 

[GSaltzman]

Lasik

I had mine done around 8 months ago and it's the best money I have ever spent. My scrip for my contacts were -9. 50 in left eye and -9. 75 in my right. Without corrective lenses I could not see. My vision is now 20/20. Over time I know I will need reading glasses due to age but I can live with it. It cost me $1,795 per eye but this doctor has done thousands of precedures without any failures and they will do touch ups if you need. The after surgery care has been outstanding. I too was nervous before I made up my mind to do it. When you are ready you will do it also. Just do as much research as you can and ask your doctor lots of questions. Good luck!

 

[Andy Perreault]

Originally posted by dlange

And what is the deal with not being able to see at night. Is this from the laser sugery?

I had mine done in May of 2001. I make my living as a truck driver and I drive at night. Absolutely no problems here. I did have a side effect that went away gradually after a few weeks. At night, when I looked at something bright, like a reflective highway sign along a dark road, it looked to me like the air around the sign was glowing. I wouldn't call it a halo, it was more like a fog or haze surrounding something bright. Another example of this, and this was during bright daylight, the trailer that I lived in looked as though there was a fog of dry ice "smoke" on the roof when I would look at it. The only time I can think of that I still have that side effect today is if I'm out in the sun and I'm trying to read or write something on a piece of white paper. The paper looks like it's glowing.

I posted some details in the old thread that I mentioned in my posting above.

In a nutshell, I'm VERY glad I did it!

Andy

 

[elamb]

I believe that I am going to have it done the first of december. I have an appointment on Oct 3 for the first consult. Right now they quoted me $3,600 , but that covers everything.

Touch ups, all follow up apts. for a year. I appreciate all the advice and info. I will let everyone know how it turns out.



Eric

 

[MN Cummins Lvr]

Eric,



I am probably too late here but it is the best thing I have done in my life! I had it done in Jan. 2002 and my wife had it done in Jan. 2003. I had halos at night for about 6 months but other than that, no probs or issues.



Good Luck!

Paul

 

[Tony T.]

Eric: I had this procedure done in Dec,1999 and so far no problems. It cost me only $300. 00 bucks out of my pocket, my company insurance picked up the rest of the bill. Now as far as the halo effect I had some of that at first, I noticed, but not long afterwards I either got use to it or it went away. What I trying to say is it is not bothersome to me. Technology may have changed a lot since mine was done. Just got the new driver's licence and got that corrective lens restriction removed. The only problem I have seen myself is a co-worker had the procedure done last year and he had problems with his lasik surgery with what he describe as cloudy vision, like looking through a piece of plastic at something. He has blue eye's and I have heard that people with blue eye's are not prime canidiates for the surgery. This may have changed with newer technology I don't know. My eye's are brown. Anyway just do like the other suggest, reserach. You will love it if your a outdoorsman, hunting,fishing,golf etc. Good Luck Tony T. Oo.

 

[CumminsPuller]

My wife had it donw in 98' and has never had a problem. And to this day still does not need glases for anything. Did not cost us a dime, DOC said he would do it for free.



Jason

 

[elamb]

If they can do it I am going to have it done the 18th of December. They have estimated my cost at 3,600 with 15% off for my ins. I hope tech. has changed concerning the blue eyes because mine are blue. Seems like everyone I talk too that has had it done loves it. I hope I end up with the same results.



Thanks,

Eric

 

[wyosteve]

FWIW, I have blue eyes. Had it done Jan. 97. Still 20/20 or better. Slight halo at night on signs w/ headlights, but something I can live with compared to wearing glasses/contacts. Best $4k I ever spent.

 

[JHerrlich]

I'll have to relay this to my roommate. She's kinda nervous about her surgury that's probably going to happend next week. She's either getting PRK or Lasik (50/50 chance). She's taking part in a study from the military and she's getting it done for free. The only thing is, she doesn't have a choice in the surgery that she's getting.

 

[GSaltzman]

Lasik and Blue Eyes

elamb, I too have blue eyes and also large pupils. Had no problems with my surgery. Very slight halo aroung lights at night but it is not bad. You will be happy! Good luck!