Lasik

[master1578]

Has anyone had Lasik eye surgery? I'm looking into getting it done. I've noticed that prices are all over the place. If you don't mind could you let me know what the cost was either here or by pm. I certainly don't want to "bargain hunt" with my vision, but I don't want to throw my money away either. Any comments/ experiences both good and bad are appreciated. Most people I've talked to have been absolutely thrilled with it.



TIA,

Brian

 

[JoshPeters]

I got mine done 5 years ago for $1400. VERY worth it! My only "drawback" was before I had it done my eyes were sensitive to light. Now they are more so.



My vision is so good I can't believe it. I have friends with "perfect" vision and they don't stand a prayer as to what I can see. I've been able to read print on a page from 10 feet if I focus on it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I needed to.



Josh

 

[Little Bill]

Cost me about $3K 4 years ago for both eyes, astigmatism in both.



Worth ever penny to me.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Called my eye dude today and have an appointment November 14th, I have a choice through them of going to Canada for $2200 for both eyes or doing it locally for around $3700. I'm still thinking about that one, I have $2500 in a medical spending account and our company just started paying $1000 towards the surgery, so the local plan is looking good.

 

[master1578]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking at $4k for the new Wavescan Custom Lasik. A bit pricey but it's the place I've been going to for years for exams and such. I'm scheduled for the 22nd of Nov. Oo.

 

[SCosgriff]

Had it done 5 years ago for around $4k. I love not wearing glasses but the night vision is not very good. I had astigmatism and they did not offer wavefront. I am thinking of going back to see if they can improve the night vision. Over all I would probably do it again. .

 

[Koa Man]

I had mine done Feb. 2004 by the only lasik surgeon here that has done lasik on other lasik surgeons. He was also the most expensive, at $4500 for both eyes, lifetime adjustments no charge. I had monovision done, one eye for reading and one for distance, which is what he said 85% of his patients over 40 chose. He said if I did not like it, he could adjust the other eye for distance. The reading eye came out pretty good, the first time my distance was 20/30. I went in for adjustments on both eyes, and now I can read type 2 print and have 20/15 vision. I was able to read 3 letters on the 20/12. 5 line, but could not make them all out so my distance was given at 20/15. My 16 year old daughter with no glasses or surgery can read ALL of the 20/12. 5 line... .



Another thing to keep in mind, if you have a CDL or are contemplating getting one, you need to have distance in both eyes. I had to have my surgeon give me contacts for one eye (he did not charge for that either) to take my DOT physical and renew my CDL license. I am supposed to wear it when driving a commercial vehicle as well, so I still carry around a set of reading glasses.



My only regret is that I did not have it done sooner, but waiting was almost a benefit, since the machine he used was the latest state of the art and it was less 4 months old.

 

[JHerrlich]

The WaveFront Lasik is what my Girlfriend got. She said it was worth it (but then again, she got it free through a study when she was in the Marine Corps). Her night vision was affected a little and she has some sensitivity to light, but she says she would do it again in a heartbeat.



BTW, you should be careful when skydiving, the wind pressure could cause the flap to rip open...

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Well I got my eyes done this morning, WOW, what a difference with no glasses. The procedure only took about 5-10 minutes per eye. Got home about 11 am and took a 3 hour nap, woke up with the TV on and when I opened my eyes I could read the small print on the bottom of the screen on one of those news channels.



For anyone thinking about it, it was alot less scary than I thought it would be and it is amazing how fast I was able to see good. Oh and I did it locally they were running an end of the year special for $3100, it's a big chunk of change but I already had it save up anyways and hopefully no more glasses. Just wanted to give an update.

 

[rubberneck]

Been thinking about doing if for a while, but it kind of freaks me out at the thought of someone cutting the front off of my eye. (i know big wussy) Everyone i know who has done it only has one regret, and that is they waited so long to do it. The price doesnt really seem that bad considering how much glasses and contact cost me. then there is the cleaners and solutions and crap. Has anybody had a bad experience out there? Guess i should just man up and do it.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I was a little worried, especially after they tell you what is going to happen and I was seriously considering backing out, I'm a big chicken too especially with my eyes. Honestly though it was alot easier than I thought, after they did the first eye I was so amazed at how fast and easy it was that I almost missed them doing the second one. It felt like they were done in two minutes. If you've ever had a dry eye test done at the eye doctors, that was worse!



I had a guy telling me horror stories of a guy who knew a guy and it freaked me out a little, nothing bad just stories of pain but I'm really thinking someone was embelishing a little because there was minimal pain.

 

[Koa Man]

I have not had a problem with night vision or sensitivity to light. Once in a while I may get dry eyes and need to use some eye lubricant, but that's very rare. I consider myself very fortunate that my eye surgery came out so well.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Had Wavefront done in March '05 - astigmatism in both eyes. $4400 thru Kaiser. Wish I would have done it sooner but I'm glad I waited because I was very concerned about night vision - I'm a police officer and I work graveyard shift. I've had no night vision problems.



Brian

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Just a follow up, I went to the eye doctors the day after the surgery at 8:15 am, not even 24 hours, and everything is fine and I now have 20/15 vision, so it's better than 20/20. I don't have any problems in the dark, no halos or vision issues and I can wear real sun glasses and real safety glasses not the heavy prescription ones I had been wearing. I'm loving it! Oo.

 

[master1578]

I guess I should give an update since I asked the question...



Had it done on 11/22. All I can say is ... . WOW. I was a little freaked out about the cutting too, but you don't even know they're doing it. 20/20 the day after. I notice it getting better all the time. I'll second the "real" safety glasses and sunglasses... I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.



They even gave me a video of my procedure...



Brian

 

[Sled Puller]

Its been a year, everyone still happy?

 

[master1578]

I am... Oo. Just had my 1 year exam before Thanksgiving. 20/20 on their chart. I read the 20/16 line at my DOT physical over the summer. Doc said everything looks good. He told me "What you see is what you get. . "



I'll take it.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Just over a year for me and I absolutely love it, I can wear normal safety glasses at work and I can see when working on the truck since I don't have my glasses getting all sweaty, that and I don't get a headache from the glasses squeezing my fat head anymore. My vision is 20/15, the only issue I have is my eyes tend to be dry now and I have to use drops when I am in air conditioned spaces like at work, maybe 2-3 times a day. My wife got hers done after me and one of here eyes is still a little blurry so she'll have to get it re-done after the pregnancy

 

[jwilliams3]

I have a slight astigmatism and don't think I'll be getting it done. There is a guy at work that has trouble with dry eyes after having the procedure.



I have read some horror stories and the percentage is still within 1-2% and thats just too much for me. If they could get it into the parts per million defect range I might be closer to buying off on it.

 

[wyosteve]

Fwiw, I had mine done 10 yrs. ago. Had the PRK procedure in Toronto. Both eyes at once. Still 20/15 in left eye, and just under 20/20 in right. Best $4000 I ever spent.