Has anyone had LASIK?
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Oregonfire

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 12:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hello, esteemed fellow posters. I am considering getting laser eye surgury, and I am moderate to severely nearsighted (-5.50), and don't want to be a blind little old lady someday. How was your experience? How much did it cost? Apparenly the cost has realy gone down from a few years ago. Are you glad you had it done? Thanks for any info.

Rissa

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 01:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oregon, I won't give prices because being Cdn, they won't mean anything to you. I had the surgery almost exactly two years ago and it's the best thing I have ever done for myself!! The surgery itself is entirely painless. I had expected my eyes to burn or hurt afterwards but I had none of that, I did have the most incredible sinus headache which I was told was normal. My surgery was around 11 am. I went home... lay on the couch and *listened* to the TV (is hard to keep eyes open and they were light sensitive). Have to put two different types of drops in (one for pain and one for moisture) constantly the first few days. Like I said, BAD headache all that day, and your nose will be totally stuffed. Went to bed around 8 (what else can you do with your eyes shut? LOL), when I woke up... my vision was wonderfull, headache gone, felt great.

I lied, will talk a bit about price. At the time I got mine done... you could find a clinic for about 1200 up to about 4 grand. I talked to my eye doctor who gave me some really good advice about the complications rates for these clinics. The one that had the lowest complication rate was mid-priced.. cost me 2400. If someone is going to burn out layers of my eyeball, I don't mind coughing up the extra money for a good track record. LOL

I had about 20/80 vision (if I recall) and an astigmatism. I am now 20/20 in one eye and 20/15 in the other.

Kearie

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 01:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oregon...my dad had Lasik a few years back. he's had diabetes and it began effecting his vision.
He was also nearsighter.

Within a day he could see. He was very pleased with the results and uses glasses when reading only. It was a great choice for him.

Sorry I can't say much more. I just know it worked out well for him.

Bigd

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 01:52 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
On the outside chance that your are reading this thread and you previously had RK (radial keratotomy) and have had lasik since then, or are planning to have lasik, please include a note in the bottom about your results.

I had RK surgery in the early 80's when corrective surgery first came out and my vision has now reverted beyond how bad it was before. I have been considering lasik, but I would like to hear from someone who has actually done it. Thanks!

Sorry for tacking on to yours Oregonfire, I hope you don't mind.

Lancecrossfire

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 02:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
A work mate in our group is having it done at the end of the month. So far he is impressed with the up front work, the way he has been treated and the way everything has been laid out. He is quite a sceptic so having him be impressed it something in itself. I will report back when he's gone through it and report how it is for him He is 54, and knows he will still need reading glasses after it's all done, but is looking forward to no contacts the rest of him life.

Karuuna

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 02:29 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Here's an article that might be of some help. I've considered doing this but always chickened out. :)

The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery has issued a set of guidelines to help you determine if your doc is competent, and if you are a good candidate.


Eye Laser Guidelines at a Glance

By The Associated Press

Highlights of new guidelines for consumers considering LASIK surgery to correct blurry vision.

The ideal candidate:

-Over age 18 with a stable prescription for glasses or contact lenses for at least two years.

-Has a thick cornea.

-Doesn't have vision too bad for today's lasers to treat. LASIK is approved for nearsightedness up to minus-12 diopters; astigmatism up to 6 diopters; and farsightedness up to plus-6 diopters. A diopter is a precise measure of vision error; a 1-diopter blur drops someone from 20/20 vision to roughly 20/40.

-Has no other eye diseases or conditions that hinder surgical healing, such as certain medications or autoimmune disorders.

-Is fully informed about the surgery's risks, and that they may still need to wear glasses or contacts.

The less-than-ideal candidate, who may still choose LASIK but must understand the risks:

-Has dry eyes, which the surgery may seriously worsen.

-Is being treated with steroids or other drugs that delay healing, or has other diseases that do the same.

-Has a scarred cornea.

Not a candidate:

-Has cataracts, glaucoma, corneal diseases or a thin cornea or certain other diseases that affect vision.

-Has unrealistic expectations. Candidates must understand there is a risk of serious vision-altering side effects.

-Anyone who is under 18, has unstable vision, is pregnant or nursing, or had ocular herpes within the last year is temporarily not a candidate but might be treated later.

Every potential candidate must undergo comprehensive eye exams that could rule out surgery. Ensure your exam includes:

-A history of vision, including past eye disease or injury, and amount of correction needed.

-A discussion of contact lens use. Contacts change the cornea's shape, and thus cannot be worn for at least three days, and sometimes for several months, before LASIK.

-Mapping the cornea's shape and thickness. Zapping a cornea that is too thin or has too few cells lining its back surface can seriously harm vision. Irregularities in shape also can produce poor outcomes. Accurate shape measurements are vital to determining how much correction to attempt and where to aim the laser.

-Measuring pupil size in both dim light and room light. People with large pupils are more prone to glare and other problems, particularly with night vision, after surgery.

-Dilating the eye to examine the retina, optic nerve and surrounding blood vessels for disease. Other exams must ensure eye muscles, eyelids and the eye's outer surface are healthy, and rule out cataracts and glaucoma.

AP-NY-06-03-02 1838EDT

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Oregonfire

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 03:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks everyone! I figure that I am pretty much the ideal candidate, except for the large pupil thing, which I don't know either way. I guess they'll have to measure that at the doctor's. I also have a weak muscle in my left eye that I seem to have inherited from my maternal grandmother. I haven't worn contacts for a year because they always hurt my eyes.

I really want to get this done and am looking at Christmas break as the target date. I found a place online that looks trustworthy, with lots of testimonials, with surgery running about $1700. I've heared that the Canadian LASIK's are cheaper. I'll keep you posted--if this sort of thing interests you. :)

Any other comments would be much appreciated. Bigd, I'm sorry to hear about your eyes reverting back. I hear that LASIK has a very good success rate, but not sure about regression.

Juju2bigdog

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 03:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oregonfire, since you are close enough to Vancouver, B.C. to consider it, look into London Eye Place Center in New Westminster, which is a suburb of Vancouver. They are one of the pioneers in refractive surgery in the world, and they do the "no-touch" laser surgery. Recovery time might be a bit longer, but the results are very good. My husband and one of his friends both had it done and both are very pleased. Husband has to wear reading glasses. Friend does not. Both now have excellent distance vision. It is also somewhat less expensive than U.S. lasik and safer.

Here is the home page:

London Eye Place Center

IF you would decide to go to that facility, you should plan on investing about three to four days. It would be best to take somebody with you, but you CAN go alone if you stay in a friendly hotel that will sort of look after you and see that you get some meals, since you won't be able to drive for first couple days. I live in WA state close to Vancouver, am retired, and will volunteer to stay overnight with you if you need someone, AND you do it before mid-November or after April.

Meggieprice

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 04:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Nearsighted and checked this thread...but I have to leave a note for Juju that you are really something-these boards are just full of the greatest people! It is just so sweet of you to offer to help Oregonfire.

Gotta ask, too...what happens from mid November to April?

Oregonfire

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 04:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks so much, Juju! That is a very kind offer. :) I'll check out the site and see what's involved. Unfortunately Vanvcouver is a bit far for the operation--about 10 hour's drive from here. And I'm afraid that the cost of staying over would nullify the savings. But safer is definitely better.

Ketchuplover

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 06:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
My seeing eye dog got lasik :)

Gail

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 06:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I would guess that mid November - April is snow season?

Juju2bigdog

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 08:57 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I was thinking you are in Portland, Oregonfire, but ten hours would put you a lot further away than that. But remember, the Canadian dollar is still depressed. You can stay in a decent hotel or B&B for around $50 US. We might have even had a 2 for 1 night deal at a hotel for $100 Canadian. Some sort of special deal that hotel had arranged with the eye clinic. That is the hotel I was thinking of. I seem to recall the guy there might drive you up and back for your appointment, or at least arrange a taxi, and he will see that you get meals. Still, it is better to bring your own slave, I mean friend.

Meggieprice, Gail is right. Not so much snow as the depressing very short days Whit is talking about in another thread, and where I am it rains all day all winter. Or it drizzles. Or it threatens to. I am planning on spending this winter in sunny, hot South Texas. Rio Grande Valley. Viva Mexico!

Sia

Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 10:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
My first-cousin had lasik surgery in NY state less than a year ago; she's thrilled with the results.

Whowhere

Monday, October 14, 2002 - 12:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
FWIW

I know several people who have had lasik surgery and I have yet to hear any complaints. All have been very happy with the results. Sorry, I'm not sure of the prices.

Based on what I've heard, if I needed it, I'd definately get it.

Maesin

Monday, October 14, 2002 - 01:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hey Oregonfire and everyone else,
I had my eyes done March 2001. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!
I wore glasses and/or contacts since I was three, so this was a major change in my life. I have 20/15 in both eyes now.
I didn't have valium or anything going into it. It took a total of 14 min from when I layed down on the table to the time I went to "see" my parents (they were both there!). I didn't have the headache, but I did have some itchy, scratchy burn kind of thing that went away with the first set of prescription drops. After that first set it was gone.
I still keep regular drop everywhere as I have learned to keep my hands out of my eyes after the surgery. If I am really tired they will dry out, but I think that is about the same as before.
My brother had it done almost 7 years ago when the lasers took twice as long. He told me the graphic version and scared me into not doing it! He has since gone back to have one eye tweeked (he had really bad vision) and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I do sometimes miss giving people the evil glare over the top of my glasses, but I get over it really fast!
Sorry if this seems like an unorganized post, I just wanted to put my two cents into this one and am in a bit of a hurry! I will be around in a few days with (hopefully) more time to read. I keep getting stuck in the worst date thread...

Maes

Sabbatia

Monday, October 14, 2002 - 05:40 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I am actually scheduled for Lasik surgery on the 24th of this month. I had a ton of tests with my normal eye Doc Friday and go see the surgeon this Weds. Yeah, I'm getting very nervous, but my sis had it done a yr or so ago and LOVES it. It is going to be $3000 total for everything. I know several people that have gone to this surgeon and have had good results, so I'm not price shopping. I'll let ya know how it comes out!!

Sabbatia

Monday, October 14, 2002 - 06:27 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I guess I should have mentioned that my eyeglass prescription is -7.25 and -6.5 so I'm pretty blind, at least to me!!

Oregonfire

Monday, October 14, 2002 - 06:32 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Sabbatia, that is really blind. I'm usually the blindest person in the room, but you win! Good luck on your surgery. I look forward to hearing about it.:)

Maesin, thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad to hear that things worked out well.

Sia

Monday, October 14, 2002 - 07:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
My eyes have actually improved as I've aged, unbelievably. My prescription used to be at least 8.5, but I think I'm down to about a 7.0 now. My eyes were bad in first grade, when I got my first glasses, and deteriorated until I was in my teens. My prescription changed for the better during my pregnancies. I am very nearsighted.

I wore soft contacts from 1979 until about 1995. I've given them up, as I can't find the thick contacts that I really liked. Today's lenses just fold up in my fingers and are too hard to insert; I've totally given up on them. I would consider the lasik surgery, but am very squeamish about having my eyes touched. eyeflash5

Curious1

Monday, October 14, 2002 - 10:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I had the Lasik surgery done here in Iowa in January of this year. I love it! The only problem I've had is dry eyes, but I just have to keep up with the drops. I was nervous before having the surgery but it wasn't bad at all. The center that I got mine done at allowed you to go in and view a surgery or two if you wanted.

The way I look at it is this, sight is one of our primary senses and the $3000.00 that it cost me was well worth it. Heck most of us spend more on car payments in one year! Even if I had to spend the $3000.00 to get this done every 10 years I'd do it!

Teddybear

Monday, October 21, 2002 - 02:28 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I had it done over a year ago and love it and wonder how I lived before with contacts. Its Amazing. Mine was $995 an eye.

Mssilhouette

Wednesday, October 23, 2002 - 03:14 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Through all the great information given the one silly and scary thing that hit me in the posting by Karuuna was the image of having Ocular herpes

My mind just got stuck in that little tidbit and wouldn't let go. I didn't know there was such a thing. I can imagine several jokes on how one contracts ocular herpes...but I wouldn't want to insult anyone who has it.

Herpes in your eye...geez those things sure do get around.

Okay that was my silly moment...please go back to be informative about the Lasik!

Sabbatia

Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 06:27 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, I have good news and bad news about my lasik surgery. It seems I have a wonderful, gorgeous, Dr who teaches classes in problems with lasik, and is the "go to guy" when people have a bad lasik experience to try to help the person see well again. Did I mention he's gorgeous? Anyway, we got the right eye done just great. I have 20/20 vision in it already.....and he put his hands on my face after he did it and told me how good I did...sigh. Anyway...when he started the left eye, the machine that makes the flap stopped about 1/4 of the way through. He had to pull out and stop. Now, it is a matter of waiting for it to heal so he can try again. Looks like we will be doing it a week from tomorrow. I was disappointed that I didn't leave seeing better with both eyes, but glad he took the conservative route. When I told him it was about my luck for something like that to happen, he said it's okay, it just gives us a chance to get to know eachother better.....sigh. Anyway, if this eye goes as well this time as the right one did, I'll be seeing 20/20 out of both of them in a little over a week!! I'm excited. BTW, it wasn't bad at all. You felt no pain, just some pressure for about a minute. It took only a matter of a few minutes to do an eye. The next day, it was no worse than when you have a bad edge on your contact. Irritating but not painful.

Grooch

Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 06:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Sabbatia, I am sorry that happened to you.

But why did the machine stop? What is a mechanical malfunction?

Sabbatia

Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 07:09 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yep grooch, it's NEVER happened to him with this particular laser, and only once with a different one. So, it's very rare!!

Grooch

Friday, November 08, 2002 - 09:14 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Sabbatia, how is your eye doing?

Sabbatia

Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 04:28 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
They are doing pretty good actually. THe right one is 20/20 and the halos are clearing up nicely. The left one tested 20/60 the day after surgery and I freaked. The Doc that was doing my followup said "at least we can still get it to 20/20 with lenses" That was NOT what I wanted to hear!! I went to the surgeon and I don't know who was trying harder to console whom. I mean, this guy has a rep for being the best!! (did I mention he's pretty?) Anyway, he's gonna do an enhancement on it, but we have to wait three months to do it.....so I get to keep seeing the pretty Dr. I TOLD him that is something is gonna happen, it'll happen to ME. It's always that way!! I tried to explain to him it's not about him and his abilities, it's about ME!! He believes me now! Anyway, he is convinced that I can have perfect vision, and he's gonna do it!!

Sabbatia

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 10:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
FOLLOWUP: I went to the doc today and my prescription of -1.5 in that left eye had changed to -.5. It's getting better......and since it changed so much since Monday, they think it will be 20/20 by my appt next Friday. We shall see!! The only problem is, I'll miss the pretty Dr.

Lucy

Monday, November 18, 2002 - 06:09 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Great news about your vision, Sabb !! Just noticed you posting your progress over here and I'm glad hear that your vision is getting better.
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