Lasik surgery

[DomainMagnate]

Just wondering anyone here did this, any comments, experience first hand or from friends?

 

[draggar]

My wife did it years ago and thinks it was the best thing she's ever done. The proceedure was very easy, too. No needles going into your eyes like some people think.

As she described it then:
They put a "suction cup" up to your eye where you feel a little pressure. (this cuts the outer part)
They squeegie across your eye (moving the outer part out of the way)
They point and shine the laser in your eye
Squeegie again (moving the outer part back in)
Put the suction cub back on (healing / "bandaging" the outer part)

The toughest part was the recovery - she had to wear these goggle like things, taped all over her eyes at night so she didn't scratch them and had to wear googles / glasses for a few days.

 

[randomo]

Ditto to draggar's comments - my wife also had the surgery years ago & was delighted with the result. (Me, I'm too squeamish to let laser beams into my eyeballs, so I'll be wearing these glasses forever ....)

 

[DomainMagnate]

thanks! What diopter did your wives have?
I got 2 in one eye and 2.5 in another.. thinking if it's worth the risks

From what I read it seems 92-98% of operations are successful, but in some cases there were complications and also the long term effects are still unknown since it's relatively new.

 

[zangief]

A friend of mine lost one of his eyes.From my experience if everything goes well then it is ok but if there is a mistake on the operation it is hard to correct it again.

 

[PeterMan]

I went for the consultation a while back and I am not a good candidate for Lasik, but the newer laser surgeries are supposedly a good choice... but way more expensive...

My brother in law had Lasik years ago and they messed up one of his eyes. He has been 20/20 in one eye since, and the other eye is worse than when he went in... He spent about 4 years fighting with them to get it fixed and now is almost normal after 2 more procedures...

Not a common result I know, but there is always a risk... Having said that, if I had $3500 burning a hole in my pocket right now I would do it...

 

[GAMEFINEST]

My friend got it done, no issues with him, I will get it done sooner or later

 

[copper]

I got mine done about 4 years ago.
About $3K for both eyes if I remember correctly.

For me, no such thing as "suction cup" like Ed's wife.
Took about one hour including checkups, tests, consultation...
Actual surgery took about 5 minutes.
$3K for 5 minutes, lol

But, it's worth it every penny.

About risk, I think doctor check them and consult with you.
My sister couldn't do it because doctor said there could be some risk for her and told her not to do it.

 

[Nodnarb]

Lasik is the best surgery ever! If you can afford it, do it!

No pain, less than 2 minutes in "surgery" and I had just amazing results. 20/15 vision about 4 months later.

My surgery was just under $3k with 18 months 0% financing, in December 2005.

 

[INVIGOR]

You asked, now here you go. Can't get much more "first hand" short of having it done:

http://www.owned.com/Owned_Videos/2008/06/29/Lasik_Eye_Surgery_Up_Close/

 

[Raider]

I think you have to consider your age, If your in your 20's and 30's, I would recommend it, Why live with glasses when you dont have to?... But if your near sighted and in your 40's, your still going to need reading glasses. It's one or the other, unless you have one eye for near and the other for reading, I know they do that... My Husband looked into it and he's still deciding.

 

[Tia Wood]

You asked, now here you go. Can't get much more "first hand" short of having it done:

http://www.owned.com/Owned_Videos/2008/06/29/Lasik_Eye_Surgery_Up_Close/

Ok. This pretty much "did it" for me. I'm definitly sticking with my contacts. Nobody else finds that totally against nature, lol? I never knew the eye do those things and....just ewww.

 

[copper]

You are funny as hell, Tia

 

[mediaadvantages]

I represent one of the best and largest lasik surgeons in the midwest and have done marketing seminars in the lasik industry for years. Where are you located? When it comes to Lasik you get what you pay for. There are many surgeons that do the $999 specials and crap like that. When you are dealing with higher priced surgeons, the majority will tell you right away if they feel it's too much of a risk for you. They aren't affraid to turn down business if they feel it's the best decision for you.

If you are in the midwest check out http://www.grenelaser.com/eye-surgeons.php

 

[DomainMagnate]

thanks for the tips!
Well my only concern is safety.. I mean if something goes wrong you might lose your vision, which is a scary perspective. I've also heard many people mention some side effects like dryness in the eyes, rash, double vision.. anyone experienced it?
I don't wear glasses most of the time, just when driving or stuff like that.

 

[PeterMan]

Just fopr some added info, this is the procedure that I would have to undergo, as opposed to Lasik, it is called ZYOPTIX LASER TREATMENT:

http://www.lasikmd.com/cmoncton/las...-procedures/zyoptix/zyoptix-lasik-prk.en.html

At the time I went for the consult it was too expensive because it was the clinics latest and greatest, but I am planning on going back after the Summer for another consultation... I am someone who has worn glasses since the age of about 6-7 and I am completely useless without glasses or contacts. According to them, I can get to 20/20 and also leave room for a later "touch up" as I get older. This particular treatment also reduces the risk of night vision issues.

 

[Nodnarb]

thanks for the tips!
Well my only concern is safety.. I mean if something goes wrong you might lose your vision, which is a scary perspective. I've also heard many people mention some side effects like dryness in the eyes, rash, double vision.. anyone experienced it?
I don't wear glasses most of the time, just when driving or stuff like that.

If your corneas are thick enough to undergo the surgery, then you should do it at any age, in my post-lasik opinion. Reading glasses for the over-40 crowd can't be avoided. I had the surgery at age 35 based on a recommendation from a 47 year old insurance agent friend. A friend of my parents had his lasik at 60. So age doesn't matter.

Basically, I wanted to play ball, and swim/lounge at the pool with sunglasses and without contacts. And I wanted to wake up at night and see the alarm clock. Both goals were accomplished. And when I need reading glasses, I'll still be able to do all three of those things without.

Dryness was never an issue for me. I used the drops (natural tears) like they told me to during the healing process and probably daily for the first year. I had mild light/night sensitivity which went away after 4-6 weeks of healing.

Bottom line, if you can afford it, it's worth it! It's a miracle surgery! Your only regret is that you didn't do it sooner!

 

[HarveyJ]

I want to get this done, but not while I'm awake...
Being able to see what's going on is bad enough with a dentist... I'd had for it to be with something coming directly at my eye.

 

[Nodnarb]

I want to get this done, but not while I'm awake...
Being able to see what's going on is bad enough with a dentist... I'd had for it to be with something coming directly at my eye.

You don't really "see" it. Hard to explain but it's so fast.

And you have to be awake to focus on keeping your eye still.

 

[Nova]

I consider lasik too risky unless you are very fortunate on a number of fronts, and it's not the only game in town either. What about long term data, too? Also, there's got to be a better way than the corneal flap. I think it's one of those entrenched things a lot of people are making a lot of money at, and wish more time and resources had been focused on discovering and developing better alternatives.

This may be a much better way to go than lasik (other related articles here, too):

http://www.visianinfo.com/

http://www.visianinfo.com/html/safety-icl.html

http://www.abc15.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=4f12ad98-5e80-485a-a2ee-7a33ddbddb0d

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_20/b3783110.htm

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/614914.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=lasik+site%3Awww.businessweek.com&btnG=Google+Search