Anyone had Lasik eye surgery?
 

I was wondering if you guy's could give me feedback on Lasik eye surgery? A friend is trying to talk me into it. I have 20/40 & 20/70 vision and I'm considering having it done on my bad eye. I've heard nothing but good reviews from people that have had it done, but I understand there are possibilities of problems.

One person recommended that if I decide to do the surgery, find a Dr. that offers "wavefront" lasik, said it is better. ???

I know quite a few people that have had it done and everybody loves it. I have been considering it but haven't yet either. Must be nerves..

I had it done several years ago. Mine was one of the first of my type done (far sighted + astigmatism). It wasn't even FDA approved when I first went to be evalutated.

It's a fantastic procedure. One of my eyes got bad again and they did it again. It's not a magic bullet though, you eyes will still get old after the procedure. I need reading glasses now, but I can still see a helluva lot better than before.

The procedure itself is no worse than a haircut.:)

One friend got the flap infected, but he got it taken care of and vision is fine now.

Another friend did it and couldn't see worth a darn for over a year after the procedure. 3 years later, he is finally happy he had it done. He was halfway through getting his pilot's license when he had the procedure. Had to bail out on the license and started it all over about 6 months ago and now has his license.

SS930

I own part of a LASIK center, have had it done myself, and have probably co-managed 5000 patients. Let me know if I can help out.

Yes, definately go wavefront. If you could give me more specifics, I could be of more help. i.e., your age, prescription, and what you want to accomplish.

Good luck.

Mike Sufka
St. Cloud, MN

[email protected]

I had conventional lasik about 3 years ago when I turned 30. I was nearsighted and had worn glasses and contacts for about 15 yrs or so prior to that. My doctor told me to wait to have it done until my eyesight stopped detiorating for around 18 months.
It took about 5 minutes per eye, with absolutely no pain. The worst part about the procedure is sitting in the room waiting to have it done. After the doctor smoothed out the flaps I was able to see instantly. He made me go home and take a nap and lay low for the rest of the day. There were 2 sets of drops I could use - one for pain which I never needed and the other was to help the healing. I also was not supposed to rub my eyes at all for a week to make sure the flaps did not come up.
I have not had any problems with my vision since and I now see 20/15. The weirdest part about it was getting used to waking up in the morning and not having to find my glasses so I could see.
:)

a good friend of mine father performas TONS of them and from what i heard is upposed to be really good and well know. Wellhe doens;t actually do eth lasik himself one of his underling doctors taht works in his parctice does the lasiks, he does all the wierd specialized eye surgeries.

That was the best invetsment I have ever made. People who can see clearly will never understand what it's like to wake up and not be able to see the clock. I now have 20/20 and I'm thankful everyday for getting that surgery done. Well worth the money. Simple outpatient, then minor discomfort for a couple of days.

I have also looked into it. Been wearing glasses/contacts since I was 5 or so. 40 now.
My wife works in the hospital surgury and works with eye surgons all the time so she gets the inside scoop. They all say that todays procedures just keep on advancing with great results and recommend it.

From everything I gathered, it is great for the under 40 crowd, but 40 seems to be the age when your eyes change again, so may have to have a 'tuneup' if you have you have it done younger. I was going to have it done this winter, but the damn boat projects taking all my eye money. Seems like the longer I wait, the more specialized it becomes for the different types of eye conditions; near or far sighted, astigmatisim...
Everyone I know that has had it done love it, once they get past signing the release form stating you accept that you may go blind during the procedure. :cool:

I had Lasik done 3 years ago, almost to the day. I had been wearing glasses or contacts since I was 11. My eyesight had deteriorated to 20/800. That's not a typo; what most people saw at 800 feet, I could only see at 20 feet. To give you a perspective 20/200 uncorrected is legally blind. My eyes are now 20/15 and it is fantastic. About 2 months after the surgery my buddy and I were off South Miami Beach when he snagged a rope around the one prop and shaft of his '63 Sea Ray. The captain and I did a free dive for about two hours (30 seconds at a time) cutting off the tangle one piece at a time. About ten minutes into the process, this gorgeous school of Yellow Tail Snappers appeared under us. Three months before, I couldn't have seen them without a prescription mask. It was an incredible feeling to see them with 'just' my eyes.
I don't know where you live, but the doctor in Baltimore who did my eyes has people come in from all over the world.

It was a positive life changing expierence for me..... slightly uncomfortable during the procedure.....no pain what so ever.... I have to agree...the worst part was waiting in the waiting room before the procedure.......go for it

Try to make sure that you get a good doc that will tell you the truth. I personally know someone that had the Lasik done and had a problem. A few months after she had the Lasik’s done she had to have her retina repaired. She had a detached retina and had to go to a retina surgeon to have it repaired. The two surgeons told her that she should not have had the Lasik done. Reason being her retinas were thin. I guess when they do an evaluation before the Lasik that is one of the things that they are suppose to check. When she had her evaluation the Lasik Doc told she was a perfect candidate for the Lasik procedure. He lied to her and almost caused her to go blind in one eye. I do know that she found others that this has happened to. You need to be told the truth so that you can make your own judgment. If it were me I would get more then one evaluation and would probably go to a retinal specialist for an evaluation. Best of luck with your choice.

had it done 8 years ago this month...never regretted it. All is fine...but I as I get older....need my WalMart specials...for reading very fine print

I had it done almost two years ago exactly. BEST THING I EVER DID!! Love it! I know Bill was nervous about me doing it but unless you know what it is like to have to wear contacts or glasses most of your life (since 8th grade), you have no idea what a difference it makes. I was in heaven the first season boating without contacts. My vision was 20/200 (boardering on legally blind). Yes, they give you drops for your eyes and two pain killers. You have to rest your eyes and not rub them but what a miracle to wake up the next day and be able to read the time and temperature in the corner of the TV screen while watching the morning news. The worst part for a female is not being able to wear make-up before or after the surgery for a while...but you get over it. Like US1 Fountain said, after 40 you might need to wear reading glasses but I have a while before that happens.;)

Good luck with your choice, I don't regret it at all.

Patti

My bro just got it done and it turned out good for him. He had 20/400 in one eye, I'm about that bad too in each eye. Been wearing contacts/glasses for years now and I'm ready to have it done. I have no idea what it's like to wake up and see stuff. My bro had it done in New Orleans, I forget the name of the place. It's basically a mobile trailer that they take around to different cities. Don't worry either, each time it's moved they have a guy come in and check the laser and make sure everything is ok. A lot of people have gotten it done there and I'm about to be the next, contacts suck and I'm sick of forking over $$ for them each year.

Had PRK done 1 year ago. Similar to LASIK, but much more preferred for dry eyes. Best $2400 I have ever spent. I was 20/80 near sighted with astigmatism in both eyes, now I am 20/15. Just research your doctor. My insurance had a deal with one outfit for $895 but I had heard a few negatives, so I went with the best doctor in my area, a little more money but you only have one set of eyes.


Jan

What is PPK?