Lasik eye surgery?

I just made an appointment for next week to be evaluated for Lasik eye surgery. I'm 44 now and didn't start wearing glasses until I was 33. My eyesight is not bad, just a fairly small prescription. Passed my last vision test for work (railroad engineer) without glasses, but just barely. I just hate the hassle of glasses. Tried contacts about 2 years ago. I could wear them, but they were an even bigger hassle and I couldn't see as well with them.

Anyone had it done? Results? Complaints or problems? Worth the cost?

Also, not that I would want it, but a few years ago I thought I saw something about Pro drivers having their vision "tweaked" to be a bit better. Just curious. Does anyone know anything about that?

I know several people here that have had the Lasik done, and they're all happy with the results, and no complaints that I've heard from them... I wish I could get mine done, but I have a pretty bad astigmatism, and they say sometimes it works and sometimes it don't for people with eyes like mine... My vision isn't "bad" per-say, I have 20/15 vision with my glasses, just that the astigmatism is the issue... Your last question, I haven't heard about that before... Interesting though...






Doug...

The only regret I have ever heard from anyone that had it done was...
"I wish I would have done it much sooner."

If/when it comes time for me to need glasses...I'll probably consider it myself.

David I have 20/20 but my close sight is a little blurry so reading glasses. Man I hate it other than seeing Ugly people now and then , but when I do I just look away .......LOL I have a few friends that have had Lasik done and as like doug they love it.. Good luck with your surgery...


Randy

Hey guys,had mine done 9 years ago.Wished it would have been done sooner,but the eye Dr. that I "had" been going to for years always told me I could not have it done because my eye sight was so bad,20/750.Then I heard about this Dr. in town that was running a special,if you came in and let them check you out there was no check out fee.Well I went and could not have lasik but they did PRK which is one eye at a time,a little longer healing time,but same outcome.End result was 20/15 both eyes.Best money I could ever in my life spend.No more contacts,no more glasses.After it's done you'll be asking your self why didn't I do that sooner.No regrets what so ever. Michael

My wife had it done 2 years ago. Money WELL spent. She had been wearing glasses or contacts most of her life. Now her vision is better than mine. She can see road signs come into focus just a few moments before I can and I've never had a need for glasses. Sheesh!

She loves it. Just be sure you got to a reputable doc. Its worth the extra cash not to do it in a van at walmarts.

Also, not that I would want it, but a few years ago I thought I saw something about Pro drivers having their vision "tweaked" to be a bit better. Just curious. Does anyone know anything about that?

David,
I believe Mike Dunn has had the "tweaking " done that you describe. I also seem to remember the late Scott Geoffrion had it done as well. Hope I'm not talking out of school here...

My wife had it done in 2006...her vision was terrible (20/400 IIRC) & she had had contacts since the age of 13. She still says that it was the best money we ever spent. Her vision is still 20/15 today.

A couple of notes-

1) As someone noted....find a reputable doctor..ask lots of people who they went to. The reputable guys are generally not the ones on billboards. Amy's surgery was about $4000 in 2006 from a local specialist who does various eye surgery, not just a Lasik assembly line.

2) This doesn't sound like an issue for you, but my wife had to go without contacts- glasses only- for one month prior to the surgery, as the contacts had made depressions which needed to disappear.

3) Count on being more-or-less inactive for a few days. You will probably feel like crap for 24-48 hours. You will also need to put in 3 different eye drops (IIRC) for a while, so if you have problems using eye drops, you'll need a helping hand.

4) There are a couple of methods of doing laser eye surgery, so ask questions. The newer one is supposed to be slightly less of a hassle.

5) Remember that there is some risk to doing it. Sometimes there are complications. My wife had no problems. A friend of hers, who was very gun-shy, decided to get Lasik from the same doctor after seeing my wife's results. One eye went fine for the friend...the other did not, and after three weeks, she had to go in to get it redone ("fine-tuned", as the doctor put it. ) The second time was a charm.

6) Also be aware that the results aren't instantaneous. My wife saw a noticeable difference after 24 hours, when she could take the goggles off...but it takes a few weeks to achieve full results.

7) It is possible to have it done again in the future, if your eyes get worse in 20 years or so.

I had it done in 2000, had worn glasses and contacts for 12 years prior. It cost me $5000 for both eyes, and I would gladly pay it again if I had to. I had to not wear my contacts for a week, it's tough to do when you can't see your hand at arms length, and I walked out and could see almost perfectly. Like previously posted, it takes a short time to fully heal, but a very small price to pay to have good vision. I had it done on a thursday, and went back to work welding on monday. Good luck, Chris

David,
do you wear glasses just to see up close? Are you far sighted or near sighted or?

Far sighted people are NOT good candidates for Lasiks but they ARE good candidates for the new Corneal Inlay.

I only wear glasses to see up close, reading glasses, so I go tuesday to get an evaluation on the new corneal Inlay procedure.

jsracing wrote:David,
do you wear glasses just to see up close? Are you far sighted or near sighted or?

Far sighted people are NOT good candidates for Lasiks but they ARE good candidates for the new Corneal Inlay.

I only wear glasses to see up close, reading glasses, so I go tuesday to get an evaluation on the new corneal Inlay procedure.

Thats what I need My close up vision started going away a few years back and they get worse all the time.What does the Inlay procedure cost?

well right now its free. cause they just came out with it. about 300 people have had it over the last 2 years here in Indy with great results. Look up eye surgeons of Indiana on google.

my bro in law had it ~5 years ago. No problems what so ever.
mother in law had it done 2 weeks ago....good so far..

As long as it is done with a laser! I had mine done with a blade 15 years ago and I had to get a cornea transplant in April. The technology has improved alot in 15 years!!!!

Thanks for the input guys. It's not a done deal yet. I may not even be able to have it done. Some people are disqualified for various reasons. I'll find out Tuesday.

I been thinking about it but im just chicken shat so far but this thread makes me feel a lot better about it now thanks.

My wife had PRK a little over a year ago, she was under the laser around 10 minutes, when they were done they tested her eyes, she was 20/30, 10 minutes early she was 20/400. PRK took about 3 months to heal, now she is 20/20.

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like I won't be getting it done.

Went to my appointment. My left eye is close to normal, so he said he wouldn't touch it. He would just do my right eye. He said he would set me up for monovision with my left eye left alone for distance and do my right eye for reading and up close. It's pretty common and your brain is supposed to merge the two for good all around vision.

I had tried the monovision two years ago with contacts and couldn't get the hang of it. I told the lasik doc about that. He said the only way he would do lasik on me is if I did the monovision contacts again for at least a year and got used to it.

I might consider it again on down the road, but for now I've got a new pair of glasses on order. My first pair with progressive lenses. ...eeek

I know a few people who have had it done and had no problems and I know one guy who had it done and is almost legally blind in one eye. There was a malfunction with the machine halfway through. He's had a few surgeries since to help fix it, but it's not as good as the other one.

I wear glasses at night and contacts during the day. I'm not hassled by it enough yet to justify someone cutting on my eyes. One wrong move and you can be blind. NO THANKS!

I didnt have the same vision as you but i was pretty extreme i had a 10 and a 6 correction in my eyes so i was recommended to get the IMPLANTABLE CONTACT LENSES. They were more expensive than laser but could be undone if absolutly needed. It is a simaler to the precess they do on people with catteracks so not new, when i had it done i was the 23 person in the test in canada. It was done at the gimball clinic in calgary but i know they have offices in canada and the states. And one thing i get real uneasy using the words deal and best price when it comes to my vision, sometimes its worth paying for the best. JOHN