Lasik

purrpaws · May 9, 2006

I'm getting LASIK at the end of this month. I'm nervous, but also excited about it. Although, I'm not too happy about wearing my glasses until the surgery.

Anyway, if anyone wants to share their experience, good or bad, please feel free.

arlyn · May 9, 2006

Never done it personally, but my mother had it done.
She's never been happier.
She went from trifocals to just reading glasses (non-prescription).
Her biggest motivator was migraines, the weight of her glasses (even though they were light) was causing her more problems.

MoochNNoodles · May 9, 2006

DH and I both want it done. I've had glasses since the 2nd grade. I'm ready for glasses/contac free life! Let us know how it goes!

babyharley · May 9, 2006

My ex-boyfriend's mom had it done a few years ago, and she loves it!

If I were brave enough, I'd have it done too!

Good luck!

lilleah · May 9, 2006

I have wanted this surgery for a long time.
Without contacts or glasses, I am legally blind. I seriously cannot see a foot in front of me.

So the docs are trying to get me to get Lasik. But I was reading on the internet about it. And I got scared from all the un-known results, because there is no long-term studies about it. You CAN go blind, right on the chair, or when you get home. It's very possible. And that's what scares me the most. I couldnt risk total blindness.

So, it talks about how the long-term effects are un-known and blindness may be one of the effects.

BUT, on the other hand, people have loved it. Said they couldnt be happier, and wouldnt have it any other way. I dont know. The risks out wiegh the happiness for me. Im happy right where I am, and if my eyesight gets any worse, I will have to have this sugery. And I wouldnt be looking forward to it.

Please let us know how you're doing, and how it works out for you!
Im very interested.

abnihon · May 9, 2006

I did it and I'm so happy I did!
I started a thread about this in Sept before my surgery. You can do a search for it.

deb25 · May 9, 2006

I had it done 5-1/2 years ago. Best money I ever spent.

katl8e · May 9, 2006

I had it, almost 5 years ago and am EXTREMELY pleased. After wearing glasses, every waking moment, from the age of nine, it is wonderful to just need drugstore reading glasses.

I went from worse than 20/400 to 20/20, in less than 24 hours. At the age of 43, I was suddenly able to drive, watch TV and clearly see the look on a lover's face WITHOUT glasses.

lunasmom · May 9, 2006

I'm waiting until I get a little older (35-ish) before I get mine done. Only because I fear going back for reading glasses when I'm 40! Figure the later I wait, the more I'll need lasiked!

Anyhoo, my brother got it down about 3-4 years ago. LOVES IT. The first thing he noticed was waking up the next morning and seeing the alarm clock...WITHOUT glasses or contacts.
The first day though the doc didn't get him enough of the local, so it wore off quickly and there was a 45 minute wait for his pain relief to be filled. That was more or less the worse part for him

Good Luck and I'm sure you'll do fine!

touro1979 · May 9, 2006

I am going to get it done someday.

menagerie mama · May 9, 2006

I had it done in 2001 I think, and I loved it! I could see 90% better, 5 minutes after the surgery!

I had a little sensitivity to light and a little dry eye for a while but nothing horrible and nothing that made me regret my decision for one second! Good luck!

lisasha3 · May 9, 2006

I did it 2 years ago - and like everyone else says - best money I ever spent! It was so easy! The actual surgery itself is only like 30 seconds. It's the set up that takes time. It was so fast and didn't hurt not one bit. It is a strange feeling to have someone messing with your eyes, but just relax and keep in mind that this is a good reputable doctor that has done this time and time again.
The biggest thing with Lasiks tends to be dry eye. Your eyes will most likely be dryer after the surgery and there are some surgeons now refusing patients if they have chronic dry eye already (my Aunt was just refused). So if your eyes tend to be on the dry side - they will most likely get dryer, but on the flip side - go to the doctor and get a script for Rystasis (sp?). That helps you develop tears naturally. My aunt was told to use it then she should be able to be a candidate.

purrpaws · May 9, 2006

I haven't had any dry eye issues ever. I do have spring allergies that make my eyes itchy. I normally take Claritin only when my allergies are really bothering me, but I have decided to take it every day up until my surgery, so that they won't get red and irritated between now and then.

I have my pre-op on May 18, and the day of "the big zap" is May 31.

I'm going to have all laser lasik with the Intralase. It looks like most of the people who posted would have had it done with a microkeratome. I feel better about a laser making the flap, but that's just me. Also, my doctor says she has done over 5,000 lasik surgeries, so that makes me feel pretty good.

I'll be sure to keep you all updated. Right now I'm a -6.50 in each eye. I'd be thrilled to be a 20/40, but my doctor says she considers that unsuccessful. Apparently to her, you're only successful if you get 20/20.

22 days until "the big zap"!

sanctie · May 9, 2006

Yay for you! And I am glad to hear you are doing an all-laser system. It is much more expensive, but my eye doc says it's so much better, and it lasts for life, no getting re-adjusted later! One day when money isn't an issue I will have it done!

poisonedpenny · May 9, 2006

I would love to have mine done, and probably will in the future. Have heard many personal success stories from friends and family, and no personal failures. I would love to hear how it goes for you. So keep us updated and good luck!

dawnofsierra · May 9, 2006

I had LASIK back in 2000, and consider it the best huge monetary investment I've ever made! My Ophthalmologist called me the "LASIK poster child" because my improvement was so dramatic and absolutely the best case scenario. Before the procedure, I was legally blind without corrective lenses, with my right eye at 20/400 and left eye 20/200. I couldn't see that big X on the testing chart without my contacts! Fortunately, my contacts had always fully corrected my vision.

I wish I had known the exact routine of the day before I went in, so I'll tell you a little about it even though your Dr may do things a little differently. Also, it's possible with such rapidly improving technology that they've improved the entire technique by now. The morning of the procedure, I was given a Valium for relaxation. I was so excited, it's a wonder it did any good at all. They tested my vision again, looked in my eyes with with all sorts of lights, and then measured the diameter of my pupils in total darkness. Then we went in a special surgical suite sort of room, and it must have been about 10 degrees in there. That's the only thing I would have improved, so take a sweater with you! A neat thing is they gave me a teddy bear to hold during the procedure, instructing me to hold it with both hands. It's so the patient isn't as likely to fidget around, I thought that was a really cute idea. The most uncomfortable part was the things they use to keep your eye open. Have you ever seen A Clockwork Orange? It's something like that. Afterwards, I had little pinpoint bruises around my eyes for about a week, but that was all. The strangest part is that when they remove the little flap from your cornea, you have a few seconds of sudden darkness. This would have been really startling had they not told me what was about to happen. The entire procedure took only minutes. They tape special clear protective lenses over each eye (ever so attractive

) due to the possible risk of dislodging that little flap from the cornea if you were to rub your eye or something of the sort. This isn't an evening you'll want to plan on going out!

The next morning, I drove myself to the office to have the office to remove those lenses. My vision is corrected to 20/15, better than perfect! I have since had the side effect of occasional dry eyes, sensitivity to bright light, as well as a bit of an aura around lights at night, but none of this is severe or even bothersome in relationship to the overall positive aspects. This was really a terrific experience, and I'm so happy for you to soon be enjoying the same results!

lisasha3 · May 10, 2006

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

I had LASIK back in 2000, and consider it the best huge monetary investment I've ever made! My Ophthalmologist called me the "LASIK poster child" because my improvement was so dramatic and absolutely the best case scenario. Before the procedure, I was legally blind without corrective lenses, with my right eye at 20/400 and left eye 20/200. I couldn't see that big X on the testing chart without my contacts! Fortunately, my contacts had always fully corrected my vision.

I wish I had known the exact routine of the day before I went in, so I'll tell you a little about it even though your Dr may do things a little differently. Also, it's possible with such rapidly improving technology that they've improved the entire technique by now. The morning of the procedure, I was given a Valium for relaxation. I was so excited, it's a wonder it did any good at all. They tested my vision again, looked in my eyes with with all sorts of lights, and then measured the diameter of my pupils in total darkness. Then we went in a special surgical suite sort of room, and it must have been about 10 degrees in there. That's the only thing I would have improved, so take a sweater with you! A neat thing is they gave me a teddy bear to hold during the procedure, instructing me to hold it with both hands. It's so the patient isn't as likely to fidget around, I thought that was a really cute idea. The most uncomfortable part was the things they use to keep your eye open. Have you ever seen A Clockwork Orange? It's something like that. Afterwards, I had little pinpoint bruises around my eyes for about a week, but that was all. The strangest part is that when they remove the little flap from your cornea, you have a few seconds of sudden darkness. This would have been really startling had they not told me what was about to happen. The entire procedure took only minutes. They tape special clear protective lenses over each eye (ever so attractive

) due to the possible risk of dislodging that little flap from the cornea if you were to rub your eye or something of the sort. This isn't an evening you'll want to plan on going out!

The next morning, I drove myself to the office to have the office to remove those lenses. My vision is corrected to 20/15, better than perfect! I have since had the side effect of occasional dry eyes, sensitivity to bright light, as well as a bit of an aura around lights at night, but none of this is severe or even bothersome in relationship to the overall positive aspects. This was really a terrific experience, and I'm so happy for you to soon be enjoying the same results!

Oh my gosh! did you go see my doctor? and are you me?

My story and my procedure is identical - from the valium (which was my first experience with that - wohoo) to the freezing room to the teddy bear, and my vision was 20/15 when I left.
I agree with you that the freaky part of the surgery was the lifting of the cornea - it's strange how everything went dark, but my doctor had done thousands of sugeries as well and was very good about telling me each step. I also agree that the cup that held you eye open was the most uncomfortable, but I didn't have any marks afterwards and other than being a bit uncomfortable - there was absolutely no pain at all.
The cool thing was that the doctor I go to has a tv set up in a small waiting room for family members and they are able to watch the surgery, so my dad stayed and watched the whole thing. It was kinda funny cause at one point the doctor asked me how I was doing and I said "I"m doing fine, but why do I smell smoke?". Well my dad said afterward - the smoke from the laser working was rising from my eyes and looked freaky.

vampirecat · May 10, 2006

I looked into this treatment earlier this year.

I have always worn glasses and would like to have it done. There is a treatment centre very close to us but i am afraid that things may go wrong.

My sight is not great but the last thing i want is for it to be worse. I have read on forums about loss of night vision, painful eyes and the aura problem.
On the other hand i have also read lots of positive experiences as well.

I guess that i am just scared of the operation.

I admire your bravery

dawnofsierra · May 10, 2006

Originally Posted by lisasha3

Oh my gosh! did you go see my doctor? and are you me?

My story and my procedure is identical - from the valium (which was my first experience with that - wohoo) to the freezing room to the teddy bear, and my vision was 20/15 when I left.

We really did have such a similar experience!

katiemae1277 · May 10, 2006

Here's another vots for best money I ever spent! I had mine done almost 5 years ago and have great vision since- I did have to have my one eye recorrected as that eye was better than the other so they kinda undercorrected, but I didn't have to pay extra

The only "problems" and I use that term loosely, were a little night haloing and I had to use eyedrops continuously for about 6 months afterward. All in all I strongly recommend it

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