LASIK Eye Surgery

Homercles · Post by **Homercles** » April 6, 2005, 5:14 pm

Im going in next friday to have a <fingerquotes> LASER slice up my eyeball.
I know 3 people that have had the procedure. They all rave about it.

Anyone here had this done?

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » April 6, 2005, 5:16 pm

No, but I'm sure you've heard the risks by now.

Just make sure you get a doctor who has performed many I guess.

noel · Post by **noel** » April 6, 2005, 5:18 pm

Everyone I know that's had it done says it's the best 2k they've ever spent.

As stated by Lohrno, just make sure you have a good doctor, and you should be fine.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » April 6, 2005, 5:29 pm

God intended you to have poor eyesight. You're messing with his will!

I wish I could get it done but I'm borderline (can read 20/20 but it's not perfectly clear) so I'm within the margin of error.

The only thing I recall as a possible negative is that you might see "starbursts" around lights at night if your eye gets sliced up the wrong way. That may have only been an issue in the beginning.

Good luck!

Legenae · Post by **Legenae** » April 6, 2005, 6:10 pm

I remember someone bringing this up a couple of years ago - hope it helps.

http://www.veeshanvault.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6277

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » April 6, 2005, 8:21 pm

Wow. Amazing that I didn't post on that thread! : )

Contacts were discussed on it though and long wear contacts are a solid option as an alternative. I wear contacts that I leave in for 6 months (sleep in them, etc) at a time with no problem. A few eye drops in the morning and that's it. Contacts have come a long way. The new ones let lots of oxygen through and are extremely comfortable. I can live with changing my contacts once every 6 months.

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » April 6, 2005, 8:25 pm

I still agree with what I said then, I even had it done in Cincy right across the street from that little mall south of Blue Ash.

Best money I ever spent other than the 1200 that was my final check to my exwife.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » April 6, 2005, 8:32 pm

btw, contacts don't go bad anywhere near the experiation date. I had an eye exam a few months ago and the doctor looked at the set of contacts I brought in and they had expired in 2001.

Another thing is that contacts are marked for daily, weekly and monthly wear but many times are the exact same contact just with different packaging. It's all marketing and how much you pay for the exact same lens in some cases.

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » April 6, 2005, 9:29 pm

Thought about it a year ago and decided to pass...for the time being anyway.

What made me decide to wait is that

1) most all LASIK patients will need to use reading glasses after age 45-50 but newer technology is possibly changing this

2) there still is an unacceptable amount of errors in the process, but again the newer technology is getting better and better.

3) the newest machines cedude postop complications almost to zero because here is no manual surgery involved...the machine excises the corneal flap automatically, however those devices hadn't yet been FDA approved.

For now I can deal with glasses and no surgery

Kaelina · Post by **Kaelina** » April 7, 2005, 1:35 am

I'm surprised the contact companies can get away with that shit. I do the same thing, usually buy the two-week wear lens and wear them until the lens starts showing deterioration (usually around 6 months). I'd go broke if I threw them out every two weeks like they want. I take them out overnight every so often if my eyes feel strained at all, but haven't had any problems in the 10 years I've worn them.

Contacts last much longer if you don't use hair spray or smoke. Especially the hair spray -- it's really bad on the lens. My doctor took a contact, sprayed it down with aerosol hairspray, and it pretty much just melted. I don't even own hairspray though, so not a concern for me!

I'd love to just get laser correction, but a laser near my eye scares the shit out of me. =(

Sparty · Post by **Sparty** » April 7, 2005, 1:41 am

I got it done and now I can see threw womans clothing.
It sucks.

Good luck Homer =)

Drinsic Darkwood · Post by **Drinsic Darkwood** » April 7, 2005, 1:44 am

your forgot your name

nobody · Post by **nobody** » April 7, 2005, 2:52 am

his name is Sparty

Tegellan · Post by **Tegellan** » April 7, 2005, 4:46 am

I am considering having eye surgery done myself at some point, but being a student the price is a bit too high for me.

I am one of the unfortunate ones who cannot wear contacts because of allergy, being allergic to the proteines in my eye fluid sucks I must say, they adhere to the contacts and make my eyes all red and itchy in no time flat, that is no fun.

Legenae · Post by **Legenae** » April 7, 2005, 5:00 am

Tegellan wrote: I am one of the unfortunate ones who cannot wear contacts because of allergy, being allergic to the proteines in my eye fluid sucks I must say, they adhere to the contacts and make my eyes all red and itchy in no time flat, that is no fun.

I have that same problem, though not bad enough to force me to stop wearing contacts. I just get the monthly ones and throw them out when they start to really irritate my eyes (about 1 - 1/2 months depending on if I wear them every day). Next time I visit the eye doctor I'm going to see if I can try a different brand.

I'll probably wait a few more years for the technology to improve before I go for LASIK. My best friend had it done several years ago and she says it's the best money she's ever spent.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » April 7, 2005, 6:23 am

Legenae wrote:
Tegellan wrote: I am one of the unfortunate ones who cannot wear contacts because of allergy, being allergic to the proteines in my eye fluid sucks I must say, they adhere to the contacts and make my eyes all red and itchy in no time flat, that is no fun.
I have that same problem, though not bad enough to force me to stop wearing contacts. I just get the monthly ones and throw them out when they start to really irritate my eyes (about 1 - 1/2 months depending on if I wear them every day). Next time I visit the eye doctor I'm going to see if I can try a different brand.

I'll probably wait a few more years for the technology to improve before I go for LASIK. My best friend had it done several years ago and she says it's the best money she's ever spent.

Hmmm, I use the all purpose contact solution that has the protein remover stuff in it. This time of year (spring) I do have more "sleepers" (eye gook) in my eyes when I wake up but as long as you keep a bottle of all purpose contact solution around and use it when needed, you should be fine.

I use, Bausch & Lomb RENU Multiplus, No Rub solution. Tag line: Cleans, Rinses, Disinfects, Stores, Removes Protein Daily

Might be a good idea to put some eye drops in before going to bed as well to clean while you sleep or your eyes may end up looking like Al Swearengen's on the latest episode of Deadwood!

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » April 7, 2005, 12:28 pm

i'm used to wearing glasses so i'm in no hurry.

i will do this down the road, but i can wait it out a bit more. hopefully in a couple of years, i can get a portion of the cost paid by insurance or my vision plan. you'd think my vision plan would kick in $500 cause that is cheaper than them buying me a pair of glasses every year.

anyway. i'm also waiting for all you people to have your eyes fall out in a couple of years just in case

masteen · Post by **masteen** » April 7, 2005, 2:44 pm

I had this done 5 years ago, and my vision is still 20/18 (yes better than perfect).

Most reputable clinics have a candy dish of Xanex sitting out in the waiting room to make sure you're nice & relaxed for the proceedure. Just don't drive yourself to the operation and you'll be fine. I never understood how people could think they could drive themselves home from an operation where their vision is changed.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » April 7, 2005, 2:52 pm

masteen wrote:I had this done 5 years ago, and my vision is still 20/18 (yes better than perfect).

It looks like you're wearing glasses in your avatar. That before the surgery?

Legenae · Post by **Legenae** » April 7, 2005, 3:25 pm

Winnow wrote:
I use, Bausch & Lomb RENU Multiplus, No Rub solution. Tag line: Cleans, Rinses, Disinfects, Stores, Removes Protein Daily

Might be a good idea to put some eye drops in before going to bed as well to clean while you sleep or your eyes may end up looking like Al Swearengen's on the latest episode of Deadwood!

I've been using Opti Free Express No Rub solution. It too is supposed to remove protein.

I don't sleep with my lenses in. The only time I really wear contacts is when I'm out of the house (work, etc). I wear my glasses at home to give my eyes a rest from the contacts.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » April 7, 2005, 4:21 pm

I use the Bosch & Lomb (I fucked up the spelling bad!) No Rub solution. I used to wear my contacts in all the time. Over the last 5 years though I have cut it down to only wearing them when I go play in my pool leagues twice a week.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » April 7, 2005, 8:27 pm

Make sure to take someone with you that has a weak stomach to drive you home. If it is like the place where my mom had her surgery, they may let the guest watch it. My sister was pregnant at the time and the smoke coming out of my mom's eyeballs made her happies.

Elf · Post by **Elf** » April 8, 2005, 10:07 pm

I went to one of the best guys in the country and cost me 4k.

I love it.

Dont dare go to someone just because they are cheap, friend of mine went to someone that charged 1k an eye and he says he has real bad "haze" at night looking at lights etc.

Miss Milynna · Post by **Miss Milynna** » April 8, 2005, 11:38 pm

I got it down in 1997 by one of the guys who pioneered it here in the states. 7 years later, I am still 20/20. Yes, there is a little bit of the halo effect around lights at night, but it has never been a problem. I can drive at night and whatnot without any issues.

Tegellan · Post by **Tegellan** » April 9, 2005, 12:33 pm

I have tried just about everything i can at present, but whenever I use contacts my eyes will itch and dry up mwithin a couple of hours due to the allergy. I wanted to try some new contacts that came out and supposedly are "wetter", but they cannot correct my vvision problems well enough to make it worth my while.