Lasik surgery anyone?

A

Alhambra

Cathlete
I just found out that I've developped an allergy to the protein that accumulates on my contacts...it's got an amazing long name for the condition. In a nut shell once you develop it...toss your contacts.
As a result I'm looking at getting wavefront lasik eye surgery. As I love doing high step aerobics and actually want to be able to see my step while I'm working out (it's been interesting the past two days with my glasses sliding as I workout).
Has anyone had the surgery? How did it go? Any problems? What was the recovery like? I'm incredibly nervous as my eyes are super sensitive, just reading the description of the surgery freaked me out. I know the more information I have the less nervous I'll be.
 
Alhambra, I'd love to have it done too but I am the biggest scardy cat! I have many friends/relatives/students that have had it done and say it's a breeze. I may cave one of these days and get it done but wondering if I would still have to wear glasses for up close work??? I will wait to hear replies. Thanks for asking.
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie")http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
I had lasik surgery 2 1/2 years ago. Not sure if it was "wavefront", as I don't recognize that term. Anyway, I was very nervous. Reading all of the pre-surgical consent forms almost made me not do it! The surgery was a breeze, they gave me a mild sedative beforehand (which I think they offer to everyone). Afterwards, I went home and slept for about 4 hours. My surgery was at the end of March, so college basketball March Madness was on TV. Well, when I woke up from my nap, I could read the tiny basketball scores in the corner of the tv. I was so excited!!! I had no complications, so the recovery was easy. You have to use eye drops for a few days, and sleep with "goggles" on so you don't rub your eyes. I didn't wear eye makeup for about 2 weeks, because I was afraid that rubbing my eyes to remove the makeup would interfere with something. My vision is still better than 20/20 now with both eyes. I have a slight astigmatism in my left eye, but not bad enough to notice. Oh, and before my surgery I was REALLY near-sighted. I could only see about 6 inches from my face without glasses or contacts. So, I love it and would highly recommend it! Good Luck!!;-)
 
I had it done in 1999. One of the best things I've ever done for myself. I am so squeamish, I'm still surprised I did it! I had it done first thing in the morning, the procedure itself took about 5 minutes. The part I was most scared about was when they cut the "flap" so the laser can get where it needs to be. I could not feel anything but I held onto a nurse's hand for dear life! I think they have new technology now that they can do the flap with a laser as well, I would have preferred that I think.

Immediately after the surgery I could see clearly, but my eyes were super-sensitive to light. They advised me to keep them mostly shut the rest of the day and I had to wear eye patches. The next day I went back and they took of the patches and I could see so clearly! I had worn thick glasses since elementary school, so it seemed like a miracle! I had to wear the eye patches at night, I couldn't wear makeup and I had to be careful not to rub my eyes for two weeks.

It was definitely the right choice for me and I'm SO glad I did it. Hope this helps.

Lori

P.S. They did offer me two Valium before the surgery, and I happily accepted. I think it calmed me quite a bit.
 
I had wavefront LASIK done June of 2004 and I love it. I couldn't see very well the day of surgery but they give you a sleeping pill anyway because they want you to sleep the day away, the eyelids form a natural bandaid. I had it done about 9 a.m. and the next day I had a follow up appointment at 1:30 p.m. I was able to drive myself. I had some starbursts and halos around lights at night for the first few weeks which I was told was normal and would disappear and it did. I have 20/20 vision and when I went back in July of this year for my one year checkup I was still 20/20. No problems whatsoever, no pain, it was quick and easy. I also had to sleep with goggles on for a week and also couldn't wear makeup during that time. I was very near-sighted and had astigmastism, which was especially bad in my right eye.

I can't recommend it enough. There are those few who have complications but I wasn't one of them. Best thing I've ever done for myself.
 
I was scheduled to have Lasik 2 weeks ago, but when I got to the laser center, the numbers weren't checking out on the machine so I would have had to reschedule.

The place I went to, LasikPlus was very pushy in getting me to schedule initially, and exteremely rude when I said I would need a few days to arrange time off from work again before rescheduling.

Needless to say, I will not be going back to that place.

I've done a lot of research and talked to a lot of people who have had it done and everyone had positive things to say. You might like to check out www.healthboards.com and http://www.asklasikdocs.com/cgi-local/forum/board.cgi - I found both sites to be very helpful.

I recommend choosing your Dr. carefully and not going to a chain like LasikPlus. In retrospect, I think it was a blessing in disguise that I couldn't have it done that day.

Good luck!
 
Hi, I had a lasik a year ago. I had CustomVue. I was a big chicken the day of the surgery but I'd rather go through 5 minutes of it than wearing glasses for the rest of my life. I honestly think it's soooooooooooooo worth it. I was in pain for about 1 1/2 hours like burning, etc. My doctor doesn't give valium or any drugs. Only antibiotic and steriod drops. He said valium and other drugs make people too sleepy and they can't concentrate. You have to concentrate on the dot as he performs the surgery. Other people I have spoken with had no pain whatsoever. My vision went from 20/400 to 20/10. If you live on Long Island, I highly, highly recommend Stahl Eye Center and get Dr. Huffnagel. He's so good. They're not pushy or anything. They're so nice. My husband is going to have it done in January. I wish you a lot of luck and it's 10000000000x better to work out without your glasses. Good luck!

Lisa
 
I used to work for an insurance company that covered some lasik procedures. You have to be very careful about who you have do your surgery. I have spoken to people who had very good results and spoken to people who have not. Some of those people who have not had good results now have shadows every day that they must deal with. Get alot of referrals and ask lots of questions.
I myself am very near sighted. I, however, in my current years, have decided that being near sighted has it benefits. When I am up in the morning on my way to the bathroom, if I chance to look in the mirror, I cannot see myself. I find that positive these days.
Ha, a silver lininng for me!
 
My lawyer was saying just yesterday that the surgery was the best money she ever spent. The total surgical time took less than 15 min, and her recovery was remarkably easy and fast. I'm going to look into it myself. I don't know if I'd be a candidate, because I'm at that nasty bifocal age, but I hate the thought of ever giving up my contacts and going back to glasses. And I hadn't even thought of working out in glasses. Ugh!
 
I had PRK, an alternative to Lasik done in 2001. I had PRK because my cornea was very thin. I had great results within a week but then I got PG in 2003 and my vision became a blurry like it was before PRK - this is common in PG due to hormones - and unfortunately it never went back. My doc would touch up again for me but I'm in NY and she's in Baltimore. No chance of that happening since I have a toddler son and my hubby works full time and goes to school at night. I wouldn't say Lasik/PRK is permanent. Many have great results but sometimes things happen. I may do it again one day when we have more money. Just make sure you find a reputable doctor.


"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"

Debbie
 
mine cost 3500, not covered by insurance whatsoever. I think that may be on the higher end but she was a doc affiliated with Wilmer Eye institute at hopkins (well still is lol).


"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"

Debbie
 
>>What does the surgery cost?<<

Mine cost $2000 per eye, so $4000. I think they are somewhat cheaper now, mine was six years ago. They did have financing options. I don't think any insurance will cover it, but we could use DH's Flexible Spending Account for it.

Lori
 
Has anyone heard of a new procedure where they actually remove the lens of your eye, just like they would do if you had cataracts, and replace it with a lens that corrects your vision to 20/20? I saw something about it on the news a few weeks ago but haven't seen anything since then. I'm really intrigued by it.

Michele
 
Can you get Mono-Vision with it? Such as...one eye for close-up work and the other for seeing a distance?
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie")http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
I don't know if you can get mono vision. I would like more info myself.
I just saw this one report and haven't seen anything else about it.

Michele
 
Thanks for posting this. I've been researching it also. I've worn glasses since I was 6 and contact since I was 15. My vision (I think) is 20/800 with a minor astigmatism. Not even sure if I'd be a candidate since it is so bad. I've recently developed a corneal ulcer and have had to wear my glasses for about 2 weeks (with 3 more to go). But then I'm going to have to get new contacts and glasses. Thats why I've been looking into it. I scares the crap out of me though. I'm such a chicken. I think I'm more afraid of developing serious complications (with the luck I have).

I have heard of the lens replacement surgery.

Kimbra
 
I'm another one who has been wanting LASIK. I've been blind as a bat since I was a little kid. I don't expect miracles, and I don't care if I am 20/20. I just want to be able to function without contacts/glasses.

However, I have to get a stronger prescription every 2 years. I was told that I'm not a great candidate for LASIK because they want you to have stable vision for over 5 years. I think that's just because they don't want to do any touch-ups later (many places offer free touchups for life) and not for any health reasons. Those of you who have had the procedure: Was your vision stable for years beforehand or did you also have to get new glasses every two years or so?

Thanks
 
I asked my eye dr. about it and she said she does not recommend it for patients in their forties. It is only useful for people who are young. She said it would make my reading vision much worse at my age.
 
I had wave front Lasik done in January of 2005. It was so easy I literally went in seeing nothing (20/500 and 20/550)sat in the chair for 10 minutes and sat up and I could see!! Things were sort of softly blurred but I could tell they would be fine. I had the surgery at 7:00pm at night and the next morning at 9am I had 20/20 vision. I had no pain and the only minor annoyance was wearging the eye patches at night for a few days so I would not rub my eyes. I'm fast approaching 40 and if I start to have problems with reading I will definately go back to have monovision. The cost at my Dr. was $3,000 for regular lasik and $4,000 for wavefront. Go for it!!
 
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