Corrective Eye Surgery
 

I am considering this too! I hope someone with some experience replies.

i had it done... 2 years ago now.. maybe 3... ooo maybe more.. lol... It is the best thing i've ever done.

they will do a whole bunch of tests at first. at least here they did.. i went to TLC.. they are world wide... the worst of it all is when they trust your eye pressure.. but they put a numbing liquid on your eye.. so it isn't even that bad!

Then the day of you go in... they give you a mild sedative.. i could have used two :p it just makes you calm.. it doesn't knock you out or anything.. they bring you into a room with other people who are also going to get it done that day... they put the numbing liquid on your eyes twice... then .. at least with us.. they asked who wanted to go first :p i didn't! i had my ex with me (wasn't my ex at the tme) and he was able to watch through a window. we went in and they hold your eye open with something or other... but you dont' feel like it is dry or anything because it is numb.. they slice your eye but again.. you dont' feel that... you just feeel the pressure of the machine they use to do that... they pull the flap over.. again NO pain... and ask you to watch a light and then they are done that eye... 1 min max. then they do the other eye... and you are done.. you go in the waiting room for a bit and they ask you to read a chart to make sure you can see and you get to go home. When you are home... you have 3 different eye drops that have to go in.. the first day it is every 2 hours for 24 hours and then they are more spaced out... your eyes are... sore i guess... they are tender maybe... VERY VERY Sensitive to light... you are supposed to sleep as much as you can because when they are closed they heal... and again.. they are sore so you want to keep them closed.. you hav eto sleep with these plastic concave things over your eyes for the first 4 nights which is tough... you can't wear make up for a week and have to wear sunglasses outside for a week.

if at anytime in my life i need it done again... TLC will do it for free which is part of the sevice they offer

if you have any other questions pm me or just ask on here :) i am so glad i had it done!

I had it several years ago and I'm very pleased. It wasn't painful at all and very quick. Mine was done after lunch and the doctor gave me some shields (to protect) my eyes and told me to rest them until the following morning. I cheated a little, cable news was on that night and before I could never read what was scrolling across the bottom of the screen but I glanced in that direction and couldn't believe it, it was so clear.

I've done some research on it. I was told that since I'm nearsighted, and of a certain age, I would need reading glasses after corrective eye surgery. I don't need glasses now to read or work on the computer, just to drive, watch TV, and see. So I would be trading one pair of glasses for another. If you're young, it's an excellent choice, just don't look for bargains, I've heard too many horror stories about the discount surgery centers. Some older people opt to just get one eye done. They use one eye for reading, and one for seeing things at a distance.

I had it done 3 years ago and it is without a doubt the best thing I have ever done for myself and well worth the $3,000. That being said, it took me longer to recover than I thought. I couldn't drive at nite for awhile like a few months (I think it was 3). The first few weeks, my eyes were tired and scratchy feeling and I didn't feel like being at work but I did go. My girlfriend also had it done and experienced the same thing. She even questioned whether she had done the right thing and at first she was convinced she had made a huge mistake. I'm just saying this because it seems like they sometimes don't prepare you for that as much as they should - at least the place I went. Things improved over time and I have no regrets but I just want you to be prepared that it really does take awhile to fully recover.

I had mine done several years ago too. I had a bad astigmatism as well. When I got contacts, they had to be special ordered with weights in them. I was borderline as to whether I could do the lasik. But, I found a great Dr and everything turned out great!! I can't believe I waited so long. With the cost of my contacts it has already paid for itself.

Good Luck!

I have a friend who had it done about 3 years ago. She was almost blind without her glasses. She had it done because she couldn't see her children when she was swimming with them in the pool and had her glasses off. She now has to wear glasses again, but they are very mild lenses compared to what she was wearing before and she is not blind without her glasses. She says she would do it again in a heartbeat - but she is wearing glasses again.

I have a cousin who also had it done, but is now wearing glasses again too. Hopefully, that won't happen to you, but it can.

Lasik
 

I had lasik but my husband had PRK. He prefered his method but I preferred mine...lol. I did it just days before Chrismas "07, so it has only been a couple of months. I decided because we were in a severe roll over wreck in a freak ice storm a few years ago and my glasses came off. I couldn't see if my kids were alive or dead... or bleeding... I could see nothing (it was really dark too). As soon as I had the cash (from selling a house) I did it! The military paid for my husbands. It was THE BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE. I still have some freak blurring in one eye every once in a while if my eyes dry out, but for the most part it is perfect. Plus I have 20-15 or whatever it is that is better than perfect vision! Life is soooooo much better for me!

For a while I would find myself pushing up my glasses that weren't there or if I got something in my eye I would reach up to adjust my contacts...lol. The only thing that I wasn't prepared for is when they put this suction cup on your eye it is very uncomfortable.... beyond that... it really hurt me (and I don't have sensitive eyes) but it lasts only a couple of seconds and I would do it again in a heartbeat! DO IT!

I had Lasik surgery on both my eyes last June and I very stongly suggest it!

I am telling you its one of the best things I have done....So anyone who asks my opinon...the answer is YES! Get it done ASAP!!

Really just go in and do it, you will thank me

If you do it...it will change your life! For the better! Do it!

I had it done some years back and I just wish I had it done sooner. It is a very scary thing to contemplate, but once it is done you will feel the same way everyone else has posted. It is definitely a life changer!

I so so so want to get Lasik...I was going to have it done 2 years ago but my hubby got pnemonia and that cleared out my flex spending account...and then I was going to get it done last year but we found out my daughter need braces....yup..there goes the flex spending account for the next 2 years and by the time she is out of braces it will be my sons turn....so I guess I will have to wait....I am hoping to have all my credit cards paid off by this summer and then maybe i will get it done and just charge it...cha ching!!

I want it done soooo bad! I am hoping I can afford it after my wedding which is in July.

So if you have a slight astigmatism will they still be able to do it?

I did it too....and at my AGE!
 

Older than dirt!!!! LOL....with astigmatism too....and the infamous "40's" disease.........we wont say how much "older that 40" I am...

I love it!!!:thumbup:

I had Lasik in 2001. The best thing and best money I ever spent in my whole life. Get a recommendation from a doctor though, don't just go to anyone. Those cheap ads in the newspaper scare me. My hubbies eye doctor recommended someone for me.

I'll never forget getting home, and sitting in the living room... AND I COULD ACTUALLY READ THE CEREAL BOX CLEAR ACROSS THE HOUSE THAT WAS SITTING IN THE KITCHEN!! This was such a miracle for me! I was soooooo nearsighted. I truly WAS one of those people who couldn't find my glasses without a pair of glasses. LOL!! :p

I remember once I lost my glasses on the bed, well the bedspread had a pattern on it so I couldn't see them. So I had to hit the bed to make them bounce up so I could find them. LOL!

No more of that. :D

I do use reading glasses now for really close work, but I don't mind at all. I only wear them once in a while.

I have 2 LASIK consultations in April. I'm so excited! If I like one of those doctors, I plan on getting it done in April or May (depending on their availability and schedules). I can't wait to do it! I can't see a thing without my contacts.

I had it done 7 years ago. I wore glasses since I was in the 1st grade and my eyes were real bad.

Best thing I've ever done!!!

The only complications I had were my eyes ended up being real dry so they ended up putting implants in my tears ducts to keep my tears in my eyes and not going in my ducts.

I had to go through weeks of testing before I could actually have the procedure done but I love it! :thumbup:

So, has anyone heard reports on long term results? Like as a person ages? How might it affect a 60 or 70 year old? I'm wondering if it would cause any problems then.:confused:

Father in law is optometrist
 

PRK= DONT DO you will end up with problems and eventually will not be able to see! Lasik is great...especially if you have just distance correction, if you have a lot of astigmatism correction then you'll probably not be a good canidate. First things first get an exam to see if you are and go to Woolfson Eye Institute if he's near you. He is one of the best, and the 1st to preform lasik and trained lots of surgeons all over the world. Good luck and you wont regret this!

There aren't any long term affects, maybe after 10 years or so you might need readers and also most places allow you to come in for "touch ups"

Fyi
 

When I had my consult, the dr. said no contacts for a month befor surgery...I think it depends on what kind of contacts..I have gas perms...so they shape the cornia more and they would want that flattened out...also the dr. said no makeup :eek: for 4 weeks befor surgery...

what a great informative thread. I have been thinking about this.
I wear soft hydrocurve lenses now.

OK I had mine done almost 10 years ago and I will probably have to have it done again in a few years since your eyes do change as you get older. (I went to the Cleveland Clinic to have done so I had a great doctor do the surgery).

I had monovision done with my eyes - one eye for distance and one eye for reading so that I wouldn't have to wear reading glasses at my age...lol. It took a while to get used to but your brain/body adjusts to the difference. Monovision is not for everyone so if you need both distance and reading glasses talk to your doctor and see if you are a candiate for monovison.

I really love it and best thing I have done for myself. I was wearing glasses/contacts since I was 6 so this surgery was life changing for me.

I had LASIK done about three years ago by a doc in NYC. I've had glasses since i was 5 years old, got the procedure done when i was 23 and it was the best thing i've ever done. I was legally blind without glasses or contacts. Couldn't read anything unless it was two inches in front of my face. :rolleyes: I worked with someone who had the procedure done and he recommended this doc in the city so i figured what the hell. I went for the consult and he told me he could do it no problems. It cost $4000 total. He said i could come in less then a week later. No contacts for 5 days before surgery.

the day of the procedure, i went to work in the AM and then went into the city. When i got to the office they had me sign some papers and pay. Then they gave me some valium. Gave me 15 minutes for that to set in and were putting drops in my eyes every few minutes. When it was time they took me into one room where they sliced open my corneas. Couldn't feel a thing and everything went really really blurry, like i was in a cloud. Then we went into another room where I laid down and they put the laser machine above me. I had to stare at a green light or red light for probably a minute or two, but it felt like longer because i couldn't blink and my eyes are sensitive to light. After the laser was finished they flipped my corneas back down and "glued" them in place. Back into the exam room where i sat for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes i could read the second to last line on the chart, something i have NEVER been able to do before. heck i couldn't even see the huge E at the top before.

Doc gave me some eye drops, plastic eye guards for my eyes at night so i wouldn't poke myself, and big sunglasses. Told me to go home and keep my eyes closed for 6 hours. He also gave me some more valium and some tylenol 500s. Shortly after getting to the car to drive home my eyes started to burn because of the light outside. I sat there with my sunglasses on and my hood pulled up over my face. My eyes burned for a few hours after i got home too. The tears would build up and then i would have to blink alot. I thought my eyes were going to fall out, seriously. finally i fell asleep. When i woke up my eyes stopped hurting and i could see!!! it was amazing.

i highly recommend it even tho mine hurt a little. my sister had it done last year and she said her eyes didn't burn at all. I guess it depends on how blind you are to begin with.

good luck with your consult!

Just curious who is the Dr. since my DR is in the City as well!

Yes. I had astigmatism, my Dr said a few years ago I wouldnt have been able to have it done. But now, its changed. So, i had it done. I have never seen things as crisp and clear as I do now.