Has anyone had Lasik?

[lottaLove]

I have a consultation next week to see if I can get laser eye surgery. I'm hopeful that this would eliminate my need to wear glasses for a very very long time.

Has anyone had this done, or considering it? If you have had it, or know someone who has, were they happy with the results?

[Michelle68]

I've never had it but I'm posting to bump your thread to the top so hopefully someone else will respond.


--Michelle

[KWLinda]

I had lasik done about 2 years ago. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself. I was EXTREMELY nearsighted. My Dr. actually said that my eyes were so bad that if I lived in prehistoric times I would've been dinosaur bait. LOL Anyway, I now have 20/25 vision and don't need corrective lenses at all. It still amazes me that I can wake up in the middle of the night and see the clock on the nightstand.

With the money I've saved in the last two years on glasses, contact lenses, solutions etc, it's pretty much paid for itself. (my prescription glasses would run close to $400 a pair due to my strong prescription. -8.5 in one eye and -9 in the other, my contact lenses were pricey too due to an astigmatism which was corrected with the lasik)

It was not painful and the healing process was relatively easy. I had some bruising in one eye but it wasn't painful. By the time they were finished the procedure I could read the clock on the far wall of the room and the procedure took just a few minutes.

[Telephus44]

I had LASIK done 4 years ago. My eye sight corrected to about 20/15, although it did get worse over time - I'm now about 20/35 and got a pair of glasses for driving and distance. I'm a candidate for touch-up surgery, but my MIL paid for it as a wedding gift and I don't feel the need to pay for it myself or ask her to pay for it. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with it since contacts were not working for me (I have VERY dry eyes) and I don't like wearing glasses all the time.

One thought - really random - I remember reading somewhere about a study that said that the results are better with less humidity in the air, and that for whatever reason Sept. was the worst time to have it done (mine was done in Sept, that's why I remember this article!). Not sure if it's even true, but you might ask when you make your appointment.

The surgery itself wasn't bad - you just go home and take a nap afterwards, eyes ache like you've been staring at a computer moniter, but within a day I had great eyesight and everything was back to normal. Eye drops were a pain, but worth it.

[pip]

My husband had it a few years ago, and it did help his distance vision. However, once it was done, he found that he had to wear reader glasses for all close up vision.(He was in his upper 40's when he had the procedure done and maybe that's why.) He gets frustrated and is talking about getting progressive lenses to wear all the time. I think I'll just stick with my multi-focal contacts.

[accountantbyday]

I had it done 3 years ago. I went from 20/400 to 20/15 within a few weeks. My vision is still that good now and I don't ever regret my decision to do it.

[Libby]

My sisters gf had it done a long while back and said it was the best thing she could've done. Mind you she was fresh out of highschool and didnt want to be burdened with the hassle of glasses etc and thought they made her ugly. So it was for cosmetic reasons? But she still has to wear glasses now for nighttime driving and distance and maybe reading? Through the years Ive been seeing her with and without them.

A former coworker had it done and loved it! He told me that I should go get a consult b/c its the best feeling in the world to wake up and not have to put on glasses and then start my day. But he continually tried to put on his glasses for 3 months after

Both have said its good for about 20 yrs depending on how healthy they keep themselves due to the technology at the time they had theirs done and how bad their eyesight was to start.

Id consider it as my rx for glasses is about -6 for both eyes. I have an astigmatism and Im diabetic. But b/c of the last reason Im wondering is if itd be worth it? I know that if my vision doesnt change much and stays consistent for a # of years and my sugar levels stay well maintained I should be ok to go - but I always wonder about it. But whats really holding me back is the price. $2,000/eye roughly. I know it'd be worth it in the long run but $4,000 for something that may not be forever???

This year alone my glasses cost me about $500 for one pair, the 2nd was only $200 and contacts for a yr plus solutions will only be about $300. Total of $1,000/yr. (Well really only $800 as I didnt need the 2nd pair) So really it isnt all that much $ unless my vision gets worse.

Im still up in the air on this...maybe one day when OHIP will cover a portion of it, or the technolgy has improved and risks have gone down, I'll think about it again.

But how long did you have to use the drops after surgery???

This is a great thread btw! Thanks for posting!

[Telephus44]

I think that the eye drops were for 2 weeks - I had two different kinds, one was 4x a day, one was 2x per day. I know that one was an anti-biotic.

[luvdietcoke]

My sister did and it worked great for her, been over a year since.

[Bethany]

I had it done about 5 months ago. By far, the best thing I've ever done. The procedure for me was a bit uncomfortable, you feel a good deal of pressure and my eyes burned for 4 hours afterwards. My eyes were very dry for 2 weeks afterwards, too. However, now I see perfect and I feel ten years younger. It's done a great deal for my appearance. I highly recommend it. I paid 2100 total and I feel it was very well worth it. I have very good "eyecare insurance" so I got a big discount (my surgeon usually charged 4200.) Most places do the consultation for free.

[Libby]

lottaLove - let me know how the consult goes....this may be something I can start thinking about sooner rather then later....the idea does toy on my mind often but not enough to go and get an actual consult yet.

I think that the eye drops were for 2 weeks - I had two different kinds, one was 4x a day, one was 2x per day. I know that one was an anti-biotic.

Thanks Sara! I thought you had to do the drops for a year after....I was wondering wow....putting in eye drops all the time or just putting on a pair of glasses which is easer?!!