Get Lasik, Yes or No?

[Abbott]

Originally posted by legolas
As far as hypnosis goes, I have this theory that poor eyesight has to do with emotional problems (blockages) from early choldhood. This is well documented scientifically, in fact stuttering is purely an emotional problem, and once you figure out what the blockage is and clear it up, you're cured! I've been working on identifying what the blockage is for me.

What's your source? That just plain sounds crazy.

I've always assumed it's genetic. Both of my parents require vision correction, so they took it for granted that I would need it. And, lo and behold, I've needed glasses since the age of six.


Ben

 

[Inc. ©]

I don't know what chop shop surgeon these other guys went to, but I got it done a few years ago and I am 20/20 in both eyes. Recovery process is about 72 hours...1 year WTF?? Your eyes wont' be any more sensitive...they are the same. I guess you want to pay up though or you'll turn out like these guys who got it done in their friend's garage :crackup:

 

[Ever onward]

Abbot,

Yes the decision is mine and I have decided to go ahead with the procedure.

Posting a poll on this board was a minor part of the decision. I have talked to numerous doctors, coworkers, friends, family members, and people who have had lasik.

I posted the poll on here mostly to see how a number of people felt about lasik and the benefits of not wearing glasses.

Also, I hear that custom lasik reduces night vision problems and problems with glare. I am definitely getting custom.

I will post about my experience once it's over with.

 

[Ever onward]

Well I got lasik 2 weeks ago on March 1st.

The procedure itself was mildly discomfort but it got over quickly and it was well worth the results!

My vision is great! It's not crystal clear but it's just as good as with contacts or glasses. It's supposed to "fluctuate" for the first month and it has a little bit. Some days it is clearer then others. But it is always just as clear as it was with glasses.

There are a few side effects: Dryness when I wake up in the morning, light sensetivity, glare at night, but these things aren't too bad and are supposed to lessen with time.

I won't know until 3 months after the surgery whether I might need a "retreatment" or "enhancement" as it's sometimes called. I understand that retreatment is just a "second coat" just to make sure I have the clearest vision I possibly can. There is also a small charge for the retreatment but it isn't too bad because I get a heavy discount along with my original "fee". So that's no big deal.

I got the custom lasik which was $1650 per eye. No insurance doesn't cover this, I had to go through a credit company and was approved within minutes online. I'll be paying this off for 4 years at $84 a month. It was well worth it.

Some of you mentioned "laser surgery" and "horror stories". It's true there are risks involved but there are also risks involved with "driving your car" and "horror stories". If a person is thinking about this I would recommend going to a doctor has a lot of experience and credentials with lasik but I wouldn't let the potential risk stop you if you are strongly considering it.

Overall this was the best investment I ever made in myself. I'll share 2 moments with you guys. On the day of my surgery I took a nap afterwards to rest my eyes. I woke up a few hours later and the first thing I did was try on my old glasses. They were blurry! It was like I have a whole new set of eyes and I thought to myself "whoever wear's these glasses must have a serious vision problem.

The other moment occurred a few days later. I got out of the shower and found myself looking for my glasses. Then I thought to myself "hold on, I don't wear glasses anymore!"

Anyone has questions, I'll be happy to answer them. It's good to SEE the board open again.

 

[oneshot]

my ma had hers done a few years ago. she has this side effect where it takes ridiculously long to adjust to darker places. not sure if theyve fixed these problems, but if they have theres no reason not to get it done.

 

[bbestar]

Ive been near sighted since highschool but I heard your eyes can be correct by doing certain exercises. $1650 is alot of money

 

[Ever onward]

Thought I would update this thread for those considering Lasik.

I originally had the surgery on March 1st 2006 which I commented on in my previous post.

The dryness did almost totally go away with time but I did have trouble with glare at night so I finally decided to go in for the retreatment.

I had my eyes retreated for glare on September 21st. This procedure didn't take long: it took seconds instead of a minute and a half.

At first my problem with glare at night was worse than before the retreatment but it got better over time and now I have very little trouble with night glare.

Also after the retreatment, my eyes were dry again for awhile. In fact the dryness was much worse after the retreatment than it had been after my initial procedure. However, it has been over two months since the retreatment and the dryness has improved and is almost at the level it was just prior to retreatment (but there is still room for improvement and I feel it is getting better as time goes by).

So long story short. The glare problem that I had before the retreatment is all but gone and the dryness is supposed to be gone after about 9 months from the date of the retreatment.

Lasik is awesome. Glasses and contacts suck! If you have the means, I highly recommend it.

 

[Demon]

See if you, meaning anyone interested, can get Lasik before making any decisions, such as withdrawing money from a federal savings account tax free.

 

[spider_007]

I didn't even know they could treat glare after the operation.....I have little bit too.

How's you vision at night?

 

[Ever onward]

I didn't even know they could treat glare after the operation.....I have little bit too.

How's you vision at night?

I'm not sure how they treat the glare (or how it is different then treating for nearsightedness) but it worked.

At night I had a bit of blur (glare) around lights I was looking at such as traffic lights or oncoming headlights, now I have almost none.

My night vision is just about as good as my day vision (accept it is darker, I don't have night vision afterall)

 

[Ever onward]

UPDATE

Had the initial treatment in March of 2006 and a retreatment for glare in September of 2006.

Now almost 10 full months after the retreatment, my vision is better than ever with little or no glare. Also the dryness that accompanied the procedure(s) is all but gone.

The easy payment plan was reasonable and should be paid of in about a year and a half from now.

Hands down the best investment I ever made.

 

[spider_007]

good to hear.

For some reason my glare took longer then normal to desapear. Two years later, and i see great, day or night.

 

[KneghtRyder]

"can never wear glassses in your life again

 

[Kev07]

UPDATE

Had the initial treatment in March of 2006 and a retreatment for glare in September of 2006.

Now almost 10 full months after the retreatment, my vision is better than ever with little or no glare. Also the dryness that accompanied the procedure(s) is all but gone.

The easy payment plan was reasonable and should be paid of in about a year and a half from now.

Hands down the best investment I ever made.

That's great!

I'm considering getting lasik done also, but i'm gona research soem more first.

Isn't the process always being improved?

 

[gmonster2]

I've thought about it too. Its not something to just jump into without some research ,thanks for the info tho.

good link here ..

http://drjoeross.com/refractivesurgery.htm

Actually the eye surgeon i saw was wearing glasses and said he couldnt take the chance no matter how small as it could be the end of his job! Made me think...

It is after all a laser scarring your eye not something u can change back if u decide its not for you! I think theres a new procedure where they insert lenses into the eye which can be removed so no permanent damage.

 

[cordoncordon]

I had Lasik done 8 years ago (I had terrible eyes and was tired of wearing contacts) and it is THE BEST thing I have ever done. You have no idea how great it is to wake up and be able to see. To not have to wear contacts and having dust and grime get underneath them. Just the thought of that is making my eyes water right now lol.

My eyes have remained good since the surgery, and I'm telling you before I had it they I could not see well at all without contacts. I had worn them since I was 14.

 

[azanon]

Where you guys have to be careful is realizing that they will "pre-qualify" just about anyone. I did my own research on it, and found out beforehand what constituted thin cornea thickness. Anyway, when they actually measured the thickness, i was WAY below recommended thresholds yet they pre-qualified me anyway. I confronted them about that (they were shocked that I understood the numbers), and their defense was, in so many words, the doctor was really good and would get it right the first time.

Basically, i have so little cornea thickness, that had he screwed up, there would be none left for enhancements later.

Don't trust these guys. You guys with great results are what you call lucky people!

 

[Mr.Positive]

I had lasik done about 5 years ago, and here's my personal thoughts on it. Technology I'm sure has changed, so take this for what it's worth. When every brings up lasik, I think back and realize that having lasik done was the BEST choice I've ever made in my life.

My vision was 20/400..horrible, and I had to wear glasses since I was a child, as long as I can remember. Contacts bothered my eyes being sensitive, so I couldn't wear them. My lifestyle was always active, and I was always breaking my glasses. I hated the fact that I had to rely on them to survive. I had to wear glasses, because without them, I was really screwed. I'm sure I've made up the money in broken glasses over the past 5 years too.

1) After 5 years my vision is still better than 20/20, it's something like 20/18 actually. Pretty d@mn good. I may need reading glasses when I get older, but at least I won't need them to function.

2) No side effects, although bright lights at night might be worse than the average person, however I don't notice it or care.

3) I do not have to worry about not seeing while swimming, skiing, etc. I love it. Lasik really changed my life for the better.

4) My eyes. Women are always complimenting me on my eyes. When I wore glasses, it almost never happened.

So, from my experience, I would definitely recommend it. However, make sure you do your homework, don't try to cut costs...it's a pretty intense operation (I thought), so go to a reputable place, even if it costs more.

EDIT: Read Azanon's advise above. The place I went to was very adamant about people being qualified for the operation. They, in fact, turned away more people than they accepted, and thus had a 99.something success rate.

 

[azanon]

EDIT: Read Azanon's advise above. The place I went to was very adamant about people being qualified for the operation. They, in fact, turned away more people than they accepted, and thus had a 99.something success rate.

... and i take it when they told you this, you believed every word.

.........

Want a life secret everyone? If you trust more than, say, 5 people of all the people you know... you're trusting too much.

 

[Mr.Positive]

... and i take it when they told you this, you believed every word.

.........

Want a life secret everyone? If you trust more than, say, 5 people of all the people you know... you're trusting too much.

There are reputable places Azanon, but they do not advertise much and mostly spread through word of mouth, personal recommendations. Usually, as in my case, it was one doctor that did the procedure. I had to wait months to schedule it actually, the guy was so busy.

As with anything, do your homework with Lasik. It's a serious procedure IMO..