Lasik Surgery

[michael950]

Has anyone on this site actually had this done?

I am scheduled to have this done in April and wanted to get some feedback from people who have actually had the procedure done...

I would like first hand accounts, please no my Aunt's cousins nephew had it done and he said bla bla bla.

[GDFL]

I saw a video of it on youtube. Man is that stuff hard to watch. I'm still going to try to get it done as soon as funds allow.

[tursiops93]

I had it done 5 years ago...best thing I ever did. Completely painless...could see pretty good immediatley after....even better after a couple of hours...drove myself to the follow-up visit the next day and then returned to work the same day. I am now 20/15 in one eye and 20/20 in the other. I was as nervous as anything, but it was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eschberg]

I had it done two years ago... I got 20/15 in both eyes now. It's the best thing you will ever do for yourself bro.

[michael950]

My fears are reduced night vision and halos. Really nervous about this, I am really afraid it's gonna turn out as one of those better left alone things.

[eschberg]

My fears are reduced night vision and halos. Really nervous about this, I am really afraid it's gonna turn out as one of those better left alone things.
I had halos for about a month but it goes away, or atleast mine did. My night vision is better now than it was with contacts. Just make sure you stay on schedule with the eyedrops and you'll be fine.

Also, don't watch any videos or watch them actually perform a procedure. Just go in there and get it done.

[onesojourner]

my wife did it a year ago. she has no night vision problems. she loves it. she works at the clinic and she had it done for about 200 bucks. she is 20/15 in both eyes.

[tursiops93]

I had and have none of that. I have ZERO problems with it now or after I had it done.

[Moondance]

My fears are reduced night vision and halos. Really nervous about this, I am really afraid it's gonna turn out as one of those better left alone things.Those are my exact fears along with something going wrong & insurance not paying for squat. With my luck, if it could happen, I'd be the one it would happen to.

[eschberg]

Those are my exact fears along with something going wrong & insurance not paying for squat. With my luck, if it could happen, I'd be the one it would happen to.
I seriously doubt anyone's luck is worse than mine and nothing happened to me. My insurance didn't pay for shat... I just used my tax return. It's so awesome to get crushed by a wave and not lose a contact.

[WAB]

I had it done a couple of years ago and I like it. No problems, the rest of the day sucked after it was done until I could go to sleep. Went snowboarding 2 weeks later. :biggrin:
my sis had astigmitism (sp?) and bad eyesight. She had to stay under the lazer so long she smelled her eye burning. :shocked:

[michael950]

OK, had it done Friday April 13th.

Very satisfied, my former visual acuity was ~ 20/800... now 20/15 in right and 20/20 left.


:biggthumpup: :biggthumpup:


Drawback, Dr. recommendation to not ride until 2nd week of June.

[Snackem]

OK, had it done Friday April 13th.

Very satisfied, my former visual acuity was ~ 20/800... now 20/15 in right and 20/20 left.


:biggthumpup: :biggthumpup:


Drawback, Dr. recommendation to not ride until 2nd week of June.

So this is an off season surgery then. . .

Glad to hear it all went ok :biggthumpup:

[eschberg]

Congrats!!!

[SJKny]

What's the approx. cost you guys paid for this?

[vitaly]

What's the approx. cost you guys paid for this?
$4000 at Diamond Vision

[Peter123]

I'm doing it in October (too many water sports to do it now). I'm stoked about it.

[BombThreat]

How bad do your eyes have to be in order to get this done? Im almost 22 and I feel my eyes are just not getting any better... My distant vision is getting worst but close-up is good. I'd love to have 20/20 vision again w/o having to deal with glasses or contacts.

[Idok]

you are not a candidate if you are still undergoing visual changes....



I dont recommend (nor refer) ANYONE for lasik until a minimum age of 28.....

[Shonuff]

. . . trying not to talk about work on the X . . .

[Moondance]

DITTO! Lasik is awesome. if youre a candidate.. DO IT.. i used my company's FSA to pay for it.. pre-tax baby!

been about 7 years now since i had my lasik done.

HIGHLY recommend it.

i havent read the whole thread, so dont know what the general sentiment is, but i couldn't be happier. and the whole procedure took like 20 minutes.. i literally walked there from my apartment, got the surgery, walked home, took a power nap, and went partying that night.Do you not remember posting in this thread?!?!?!:biggthumpup:

[Moondance]

lol.. no, didnt read through it, laziness. i just figured a new lasik thread popped up. :dunno:

i'm a slacker today, what can i say.They say sex is the first thing to go after you get married. In your case, I think it's the memory..:biggthumpup:

btw...Congrats:arms:

[Shonuff]

lol.. no, didnt read through it, laziness. i just figured a new lasik thread popped up. :dunno:

i'm a slacker today, what can i say.

Just today?

[Peter123]

They say sex is the first thing to go after you get married. In your case, I think it's the memory..:biggthumpup:

btw...Congrats:arms:

It's actually for old age. First sex, then memory, then hearing and finally your bladder control.

I emailed you the article about it, don't you remember?

[onesojourner]

just where a scuba mask and you are all set!

[Gainera2582]

. . . trying not to talk about work on the X . . .


Oh come on, you and Idok are the experts here!!!!!!!!

[cdubb]

Digging this up for an update.

So hows it going michael still happy with it. I am goin in for a consultation next monday. Hope to have the surgery after the LSFR. How long in between eyes do they wait? Im still assuming they do one eye at a time? Im goin to the Mann Eye institute and the have some kinda wave lasser. My perscription has been -2.50 in both eyes for ten or more years. I hope I can have the procedure and all goes well. Tired of sleeping in glasses do my punk @$$ being scarred of not being able to see in the event of a emergency.

Any way how are your eyes? Hows the night vision/halos?

[Shonuff]

Usually it's both eyes on the same day.

[Peter123]

cdubb, I had my eyes done at Mann in October. If you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them for you.

But, here's exactly how it works there:

1. You arrive and sign in.
2. You are directed to a waiting area.
3. You're eventually called back and measurements and such are taken to compare to the ones done up until that day.
4. You go back to the wating area.
5. You're doctor gets you and does a final vision check and checks your eyes for anything odd (no infections, injuries, etc that have happened since last time he saw you)
6. You go upstairs to where they have the (in my best Dr. Evil voice) "Laser".
7. You're given a real quick run down of what is going to happen and you see somebody else having the procedure done (it's going on during your orientation).
8. Dr. Mann comes out and introduces himself and then does a final examination of your eyes.
9. Dr. Mann returns to do another persons, while you are prepped with some drops and such and given your kit (sun glasses, patches, etc).
10. You're taken into the "laser" room and thrown under laser 1 where they do the first step. Dr. Mann zaps your eyes for a reason I can't remember, but it really jacks up your vision.
11. You're taken to a waiting area while the effects of the first treatment kick in while you silently think, "I can't see #%^&! Should I say anything? They told me my vison would be blurred, but should it be this bad? Maybe I should say something? No, I'll wait. What was the name of that lawyer I saw on TV?"
12. You're brought back into the "laser" room and put under laser 2. They do something funky to one eye, and you know if you weren't given those pain drops you'd be killing people. They zap you. Then they do the same thing to the other eye.
13. They look at your eyes, bandage you up, give you some valium, and kick you to the curb.

You go home and sleep.

The next morning you wake up with pretty much awesome vision, and go see your eye doctor. Then you see him again in a week. Again in a month. Again in three months. You're cured.

I was +7.00 in each eye. Yeah, I couldn't see #@%$. Now, I can read without glasses, but I have to strain to do so; therefore, I opted for reading glasses.

The only regret I have is not getting them done sooner.

Mine was $3850 with tax, title, license and all destination charges.

[bit]

I wanted to bring up the option of PRK incase some of the people here are not aware of it. There is a very small chance that the flap left by the Lasik can become loose from a hit to the eye or simply a particulate in the eye. The doctor I went to said he had only seen three cases in the 10 years he had been doing Lasik.

I chose PRK because I am in the water all summer and do a lot of marshal arts. With both these activities I have a great chance of getting hit in the eye and/or getting grit in my eye. There is no price difference, but the healing time is longer. I was originally ~ +9.5 in both eyes, after two weeks I was 20/30 and after 3 months I was 20/15. The whole thing was $2900 out the door at TLC.

[Peter123]

FYI:

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik/risks.htm

[Peter123]

One more think, don't think that because I still have to wear reading glasses that Dr. Mann didn't do a good job. The reason I have to wear reading glasses is due to my age and presbyopia.

[sjetrider]

Whats the average cost of this procedure now?

[Shonuff]

About the same . . . $3500 or so for a good surgeon.

[Peter123]

I saw a place advertising $299 per eye. lol

I'll go there right after heading to Tijuana for that $75 brain surgery special.

[cdubb]

Thanks Every one

[Shonuff]

I saw a place advertising $299 per eye. lol

I'll go there right after heading to Tijuana for that $75 brain surgery special.

Here is a delightful visual metaphor of LASIK for $299 per eye.

http://4strokepersonalwatercraft.com/jet1.jpg

[Lucas]

I got it when I was 23, best thing I ever did. Cost... FREE thanks to the Marines. However I got PRK, Its the same as Lasik but instead of cutting a flap in the first layer of the eye and then just setting it back in place when they are done to use the laser, they remove the first layer and let it grow back on its own... They use like a dentist tooth brush to remove, its painless when they do it believe it or not, but the day after and the next 3-4 days it feels like you put in your contacts with hot sauce on them... Was not fun, and is way more painful than just lasik, but being in the military and flying, I can not run the risk of that flap flipping up on me! Im right in the 15/20 20/20 area. My eyes a bit more sensitive now, and sometimes I wake up with pretty dry eyes. But its still well worth it. I wouldnt go cheap, you will get what you pay for there are actually a few different types of Lasik/PRK machines some are more accurate, I know I said I got mine for free, but it was through the Navy/Marines, the navy were the ones who originally came up with the procedure, and has the latest and greatest machines to do it, that the civilian sector does not have or probably just didnt have a few years ago when I got mine.

[Shonuff]

The Navy didn't invent LASIK.

[Moondance]

Here is a delightful visual metaphor of LASIK for $299 per eye.

http://4strokepersonalwatercraft.com/jet1.jpgomg....That looks like Dr. Ming Wang:bigeyes:

[Peter123]

The Navy didn't invent LASIK.

But they were the first to use it on dolphins.

[Shonuff]

Along with fin grenades.

[WAB]

been 2 yrs for me. All good

[Lucas]

The Navy didn't invent LASIK.

Then they lied to me... But they did a good job on my eyes

[michael950]

I've been extremely happy.

That said, the only things different (before the surgery) is dryness. For about the first 3 mos I used eye drops every day. Lately, its as needed maybe once or twice a month.

Went from a visual acuity of 20/200 to 20/20 & 20/10.

I've begun to notice halos at night, but it's not that bad. Small price to pay, vs standard contacts. My blood vessels began corssing over my cornea (which is due to restricted oxygen exchange). I then went to smi-permiable gas contacts (O2 Optics), and that was a great improvement. However, nothing beats not having to worry about corrective lenses. My son was a month old when I had it done, and those midnight/early AM feedings were much more bearable not having to deal with contacts.



Hope that helps.

[Peter123]

My blood vessels began corssing over my cornea (which is due to restricted oxygen exchange).


x2

[Waste Land]

Then they lied to me... But they did a good job on my eyes

Damn sailors:grumble: lol

[cdubb]

:bananajump: Got my surgery this morning. It was a little scary Im not going to lie. Im so glad I did it,almost didnt get to have it done due to financial reasons. I found out the same doctor charges almost a grand more in Austin vs Houston. But thanks to the X I got the Houston price.

My vision right now is just a little blurry. The whole procedure took less then an hour to map my eyes and burn my eyes. It was a crazy experince.

So what do I do for the 3 weeks Im off the water?

[Shonuff]

Knit me a sweater.

[StandupWI]

If there are any big King of Queens fans on here this reminds me of the episode when Doug gets Karie the procedure for her birthday what a classic.

[Peter123]

So what do I do for the 3 weeks Im off the water?

Kill all the golfers.

[Shonuff]

Kill all the golfers.

Correct me if I'm wrong Peter, but if he kills all the golfers, they're gonna lock him up and throw away the key...

[yamasaki]

i did lasik like in 2000.. even used a coupon.. its all good in da hood! highly recommend it.

[timbo512]

Wife goes in on the 11th. Gets half off for being ateacher. I can use the discount also. Thats at Berkeley. Its the Heros program for Fireman, cops, teachers, ect.

[Peter123]

Correct me if I'm wrong Peter, but if he kills all the golfers, they're gonna lock him up and throw away the key...

Not golfers, you great fool! Gophers! The little, brown, furry rodents!

[cdubb]

Ok gophers Ill work on,but not golfers. Maybe I can go play a game while Im out. I woke up this morning to 20/15 vision in both eyes. Doctors said all was good. No pain,no discomfort no complaints.

[Idok]

keep using lubricating drops...

no visine, no murine no clear eyes......


I recommend 'Blink'

2-3x/day whether you think you need it or not...It makes a difference!

[Peter123]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5729877.html

April 25, 2008, 10:03AM
Lasik patients tell of pain linked to procedure

By LAURAN NEERGAARD
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Patients harmed by Lasik eye surgery alternated between fury and despair today as they told federal health officials of suffering years of eye pain, blurred or double vision — even of people driven to suicide.

"Too many Americans have been harmed by this procedure and it's about time this message was heard," said David Shell of Washington, D.C., who had Lasik in 1998 and says he has "not experienced a moment of crisp, good quality vision since."

Colin Dorrian was a college student when he was told he wasn't a good Lasik candidate, but went ahead anyway — and his father, Gerald, described six years of eye pain and blurred vision before reading his son's suicide note to a Food and Drug Administration panel: "I can't and won't continue facing this horror."

Matt Kotsovolos actually worked for the Duke Eye Center when he had a more sophisticated Lasik procedure in 2006, and said doctors classified him as a success because he now has 20-20 vision — something Kotsovolos charged is a deceptive industry practice.

"For the last two years I have suffered debilitating and unremitting eye pain," Kotsovolos said. "Patients do not want to continue to exist as helpless victims with no voice."

A decade after Lasik hit the market, the FDA is taking a new look at whether warnings about its risks are appropriate — and pairing with eye surgeons for major study to better understand who has bad outcomes and why.

Most Lasik recipients do walk away with crisper vision, and the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery reviewed studies showing about 95 percent of patients say they're satisfied with their outcome.

But not everyone's a good candidate, and an unlucky fraction do suffer life-changing side effects: poor vision even with glasses, painful dry eyes, glare or inability to see or drive at night.

How big are the risks? The FDA agrees that about 5 percent of patients are dissatisfied with Lasik. How many struggle daily with side effects? How many are less harmed but unhappy that they couldn't completely ditch their glasses? The range of effects on patients' quality of life is a big unknown — and the reason the FDA held a public hearing today as part of its new move.

"Clearly there is a group who are not satisfied and do not get the kind of results they expect," said Dr. Daniel Schultz, the FDA medical device chief. The study should "help us predict who those patients might be before they have the procedure."

About 7.6 million Americans have undergone some form of laser vision correction, including the $2,000-per-eye Lasik. Lasik is quick and, if no problems occur, painless: Doctors cut a flap in the cornea — the clear covering of the eye— aim a laser underneath it and zap to reshape the cornea for sharper sight.

Doctors advise against Lasik for one in four people who seek the surgery, said Dr. Kerry Solomon of the Medical University of South Carolina, who led a review of Lasik's safety for the ASCRS. Their pupils may be too large or corneas too thin or they may have some other condition that can increase the risk of a poor outcome.

Solomon estimates that fewer than 1 percent of patients have severe complications that leave poor vision.

Other side effects, however, are harder to pin down. Dry eye, for instance, can range from an annoyance to so severe that people suffer intense pain and need surgery to retain what little moisture their eyes form. That's the kind of question the FDA's new study is being designed to answer.

Dry eye is common even among people who never have eye surgery, and increases as people age. Solomon says that 31 percent of Lasik patients have some degree of it before the surgery and that about 5 percent worsen afterward.

But dry-eye specialist Dr. Craig Fowler of the University of North Carolina says other research suggests 48 percent of patients experience some degree of dry eye at least temporarily after Lasik. Cutting the corneal flap severs nerves responsible for stimulating tear production, and how well those nerves heal in turn determines how much dry eye lingers long-term, he said.