Anyone else had Lasik surgery?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

I had it three years ago and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. It changed my life in soooo many ways.

[democracyindanger]

1. Details?

I've thought about it, but that's as far as I've gotten.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

2. I was blind as a bat...

needed glasses to find my glasses, LOL. Wore bifocals and tripped over everything. Afraid to do any fun stuff because of it, like go on rides at the fair with my kids and grandkids. Now I go and do everything. It really changed my life.

[TNDemo]

3. I had it 1-1/2 years ago.

I had the all laser version with no knife. I had a -9 correction in both eyes so I was really blind. I have to have the monovision since I am over 40 and that is a little different but that's due to age, not procedure. The one thing I did not expect was the dry eyes. I had real problems the first few months afterwards and used Restasis and that helped but to this day I have to put drops in first thing in the morning because my eyes are so dry during the night. I am fine during the day. I never had dry eyes prior to the surgery but the doctor told me that I had to have 450 zaps of the laser as compared to the 150 or so the majority of folks have and that takes longer to heal. Overall I am happy with the result. I wish it had been available when I was much younger but I was just too scared to go the radial keratotomy route. My vision has also slipped a little bit - went from 20/20 to about 20/50 and is probably a little worse now. However, that is a long, long way from 20/900.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

6. That's what I have, the monovision...

which took a bit to get used to. I had some dryness, but quickly got over it. I think I was using the drops too much in the beginning and the saline was drying them out more than helping. So far three years later I have had no problems. I'm 58. Sounds like you might need yours "tweaked" a little? (that's how my doc refers to it)

[TNDemo]

17. If tweaking means more surgery

I am not going that direction because my eyes are dry enough. I asked why the surgery caused dry eyes and he said it cuts the nerves that feed from the tear ducts and the more you have done the more nerves that are cut. He said it took about six months to regenerate. That is about when things started to get more comfortable but I am definitely not back to the pre-surgery status. Anyway, the fact that my glasses are not coke bottle bottoms anymore make it worthwhile.

[DrZeeLit]

4. YES! I love it! Five years of BLISS!

I am so happy I did this. No more glasses, sunglasses, contacts, red eyes, fogged up eyes, eye infections.... so many ways this works.

My husband gave this to me as a Christmas and Birthday present (my birthday is Dec 30, not that anyone here sent a card...nooo, but I digress). One eye for each... ha ha. He was delighted not to be shopping.

I had a major astigmatism, too. Oi -- gone with the laser!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

13. Only one thing I disagree with you about...

I went out immediately and bought several pairs of fantastic looking sunglasses because for years I been getting by with those stupid clip-ons on my regular glasses! Ah vanity...

[DrZeeLit]

23. Yeah, you're right. Regular sunglasses rock. I meant ....

...the prescription ones -- the ones you were always freaked about scratching cuz the insurance company either wouldn't pay at all or would pay once every two years for new glasses (either regular or sun).

I am soooo glad I don't have to skimp on my eyes that way.
Yeah, I couldn't believe what I could buy -- cheap funky ones, expensive classy ones. It is still fun.

Right now I have Maui Jim's.... wow, light and great!

[democracyindanger]

5. To all above

Has your night vision been affected? And what was the recovery process?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

8. I saw halos with anykind of nighttime lights for the first year

but that improved daily. The first two weeks you really have to be careful not to touch your eyes while the "flaps" heal. They give you goggles to wear while sleeping (pain in the butt). After that it is just a matter of time until you get to your ultimate vision. It keeps improving up to about a year's time. There is no pain during the surgery, but I can only describe it as a "weird sensation" so I advise taking the valium that they give you to relax.

[RaRa]

7. Looking into it

now that my husband's insurance will cover 100% with their preferred provider. My brother (a doctor) and his wife had it done and are thrilled. I did have a coworker 5-6 years ago who complained about it. She was a flake, so I only rate her opinion as 50% worthwhile.

[wtmusic]

9. My sis had it and the machine broke

after she got her corneas cut...fortunately, they were able to do the laser two weeks later. It worked out OK, but she was not a happy camper.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

10. That's probably why I would recommend

carefully picking out the Doctor and the facility. A place such as Bascom Palmer in Miami, specializing in eye surgery certainly would have more than one machine, and I can't imagine that happening there since they do surgeries that are much more intricate. Having said that, I had mine done at a small office in Key West and didn't have any problems. Must have been very unpleasant for your sister though...glad it turned out well.

[Zorra]

11. Yes. My vision was like 20/500, and lasik surgery is like a miracle.

My eyes were 20/15 after the surgery, but have regressed a little. Fortunately part of the deal was that if my eyes regressed, I get a free "touch up", which I am having done next week.

[quisp]

12. It's coming up on 4 years for me...

and it was the best $1500 I ever spent.

Being able to go swimming and see the whole time is priceless.

btw, I quit smoking around the same time and, in the money I've saved on smokes I've paid for my operation twice!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

14. Fantastic!

I felt so much younger without the glasses that I decided to get my upper eyelids fixed a year later to go with my "new eyes"! Yes, Lasik definitely is a life changing thing...still don't understand why most insurance companies list it as cosmetic surgery.

[Skittles]

15. all of you sound like you had major bad eyes pre-surgery

I've just got the over-40 peepers - can't read small print. I'm truly sick to glasses - would lasik be worth it for someone like me? I don't really care about the money.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

19. That's how mine started

pretty soon I was wearing bifocals. I would do it again, but go by what your eye doc recommends.

[Technowitch]

16. Me, roughly three years ago, too.

Best thing I *EVER* did.

Went from insanely nearsighted to perfect vision. It's wonderful.

[GOPBasher]

18. I want it. Can anyone tell me how much it costs?

Glad to hear it went well for you. When I'm on my feet financially, I think I'll do it.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

20. I've heard quite a range of prices

from $1200 to $5000. Mine was $2500 (both eyes) and included a "touch up" withone one year which I didn't need.

[GOPBasher]

21. Thanks. :-) nt

[mikebl]

22. question to those who have had it done

About 12 years ago I had RK done. Since then my vision has gone back to where I need glasses again. I'm 55 yrs old and my prescrition is still changing. My doctor says it might have toi do with the RK done years ago.
Does anyone know if LASIK can correct this.