Lasik Scheduled

So, I finally got tired of glasses. They get in the way of helmets, working out, and all sorts of other things. Contacts suck, too. Tell me any stories you guys have concerning this.

My mom said it affected her depth perception and night vision, but she has great vision during the day.

Then again, I don't find contacts/glasses that much of a hassle, so I'll pass on a laser to the eye.

Cheap or expensive? It DOES make a difference.

There are also many techniques for how they go about it, you should read up on it. Yes, some people are perfectly fine (and it works perfectly fine) with the cheaper options. The package I am looking at next year is $5k, as it has the least complaints about night vision and depth perception (critical things for racing).

My vision sucks bad, 20/ 200 or so. But, the idea of any voluntary eye surgery spooks me out. I'm just fine with the minor inconvenience of Acuvue lenses.

Got it done a little over a year ago. One of the best things that's ever happened to me. My results were unusually good though. Corrected down to 20/14 on the first shot. No really noticeable side effects. I'm maybe a little bit more sensitive to glare at night.

+1 on spending the money for top quality surgery. I went to a place with the best reputation and track record in the region. (Ninja Edit:) Mine cost about $2,200/eye, including all follow up examinations and no additionally fee if I were to need a second pass under the laser.

Surgery was not painful. But the procedure surrounding cutting the flap feels really really weird. Like a big bug crawling on your eyeball. I was worried I'd be too much of a spaz and not focus ahead well enough to get good results. Clearly that wasn't the case. Practice taking deep breaths to stay calm.

Mine was about $2500 for one eye - I went to the best guy in town. Actually, he's the best guy in Denver, he just makes the trip over here once every couple of weeks. After 20-odd years of wearing a contact in just one eye, I am now SO much more comfortable. I can also see better at night because my eye isn't all irritated from the lens. I'd never realized how much that lens bothered me. 100% success in my case. He also did my wife's eyes about 5 years earlier, again 100% successful.

The first day was kinda painful, but it went away quickly enough.

I'm looking at roughly $2k for my left eye. The place has good reviews and has been around for awhile.

My laser surgery was a huge success. I did all the glasses and contacts and headaches of it all for almost 30 years. I have great eyesight today and felt it was well worth the $1,800 I spent here.

Dr. Foulkes did a great job. He took care of Dan Hampton (Chicago Bears) and Bernie Mac too.

The actual surgery was odd. The first eye was easy since I had a small clue as to the process and the second eye was more intense since I had just witnessed eye #1. It was short and over quickly and I have had great eyesight for 8 years.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/lasik-surgeons/chicago-foulkes.htm

Best of luck, I hope it goes well!

Wife was done a decade or so ago, and has had no issues at all. She hit 50 this year, and now needs reading glasses.

I've read about glare at night causing issues for some people. My night vision isn't half what it was 30 years ago either...

I went a different route. I had implants(eyes, not boobs)! Since, according to my ophthalmic surgeon, everyone has the beginnings of cataracts, they remove that and implant a corrective lens. The best part was because it was considered a corrective procedure, it was totally covered by my insurance. I went in blind as a bat(legally blind-uncorrected) and walked out 20-20 and 20-30. It was totally painless and after wearing glasses for over fifty years, the freedom was awesome. It's been four years now. If down the road I need a prescription change, it's a simple process. Edit: added info http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/implantable-lenses.htm also search intraocular lenses

I've got it in the back of my mind for my daughter. She's extremely myopic ( like -12 diopter ) and we currently have to special order contacts for her. Even if she still needs correction afterwards, it will be in the normal range and she'll be able to see the end of her nose.

Well, if what these guys are saying is true, the $4k you'll spend on your daughter will pay off far more for her happiness in the long run.

In reply to minimac:

I've been looking at that type of procedure for a while - never occurred to me to talk to the doc about seeing if it would be covered under cataract surgery!

Woot. Everything is kinda blurry at the moment. I do look badass with these sunglasses on, though.

Congrats! Let us know how it goes as you return to your new normal.

I'm really curious about this. Though slightly concerned that if I didn't have my chunky black glasses I'd have no visual character at all...

Also, how do I unlearn 25 years of assuming I'm wearing safety glasses, since I'm always wearing safety glasses?

few people in my family had it done by the relatively cheap guys and where very happy with it...

i've got -5.00 in both eyes but contacts do fine for me... so the possible issues means i'll happily stay with my contacts :)

but big congratz... I hear it's a world of difference

I had my annual eye appointment last week and I asked my doc about it. He said that the place they recommend is excellent and he hasn't heard of one person having a problem. He also said that because of my prescription and general eye health, I would be an excellent candidate. I think I will do it eventually. I'm holding off for two reasons: One is the cost, and the other is that I'm now in my early 40s and starting to develop presbyopia. This can be corrected with Lasik by "tuning" one eye for up close and one for far away, but I want to wait until it's more or less done changing before I try it. Besides, I have excellent results with disposable extended-wear contacts, so there's no immediate need to make a change, it would just be for convenience.

rotard wrote: Woot. Everything is kinda blurry at the moment. I do look badass with these sunglasses on, though.

I really, really, really want lasik... but there is no way in hell it could be done on me if I'm required to be conscious. I can't even get my eyes to wear contacts.

Ian F wrote: I really, really, really want lasik... but there is no way in hell it could be done on me if I'm required to be conscious. I can't even get my eyes to wear contacts.

you're screwed then. I work for an Ophthalmology practice and have worked on the lasers. You are aware and focusing. But, there is no feeling as your eye is numbed

I love contacts and would never consider Laser as long as contacts are working well.

I wear contacts every day 15-20 hrs easy with no issues.

Grtechguy wrote:

Ian F wrote: I really, really, really want lasik... but there is no way in hell it could be done on me if I'm required to be conscious. I can't even get my eyes to wear contacts.

you're screwed then. I work for an Ophthalmology practice and have worked on the lasers. You are aware and focusing. But, there is no feeling as your eye is numbed

Does it numb a bluffers spasm? The last time I tried to get contacts it took three of us (5 hands) to try to keep my eye open while the doc put the contact in.

You can't close your eye during the procedure, lol.

In reply to rotard:

Well, I gathered that...

I was hoping that they can numb your eye to the point where your eye lids don't work.