Any Lasik or other vision correction folks here?

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

I am getting tired of wearing glasses and contacts and would be interested in hearing of some your experiences in vision correction.
What type of correction? Cost? Who did it? Are you happy with the results?

Also, I think I caught the tail-end of something the other day which suggests yet another method. Any info on this or the above would be appreciated.

[tedoll78]

1. I'd like to add my question(s):

The one thing that's holding me back from this procedure is the idea of being awake while they clamp your eyes open (think: "A Clockwork Orange"). No amount of Valium is going to calm me during such conditions.

So, my question.. can they knock you out before doing it? When they're able to do that, I'll gladly get it done..

[Red State Rebel]

17. Maybe they can use nitrous??

I was a dental phobic and that is the only thing that saved me. When I'm buzzing on nitrous at the dentist office I don't care if they cut my toes off and sew them across my forehead.

[AlinPA]

2. I don't know the cost, but my son in Chicago had it done recently and it

was a huge success. Incredible difference- his eyes were REALLY bad and is now near 20-20. He is reading small blurred text, we can't believe it. No pain, no problems had it done Friday and working on Monday. We are so happy for him, he has worn thick glasses since he was 4 and had contacts for years.

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

5. Was it Lasik?

[AlinPA]

6. Yes, it was lasix. We didn't ask him what it cost. He is so happy, says

everything is so clear and no more glasses/contacts. He does have to use eye drops once/day, the rest of life I believe.

[amazona]

9. the rest of the month, is more likely!

I only had to use the eye drops for about 3 weeks. It depends on the person, my friend who had a different surgeon, had more dryness and had to use them a bit longer. But the rest of one's life...no...not necessary. Permanent dryness would not be considered a successful result. It is listed as a rare side effect but I never met anyone who actually experienced it.

[mistertrickster]

3. My mom had it--good results.

The older "laser" method actually cut a flap out of the cornea with a mechanical scraper. The new laser surgery is completely computerized and the flap is cut with the laser.

The second method you may be hearing about is lens replacement. As I understand it, they take out your old lens and attach a new silicon corrective lens in. Seems like this would work better for presbyopia where you can't see things up close. It costs 2x as much I've heard.

[Lady Effingbroke]

4. I had LASIK done several years ago.

I am very happy with the results. I had the procedure done in Mexico (Nuevo Laredo), and the total cost was $1000, which was extremely inexpensive compared to what American doctors were charging at the time. I live in Houston, so this was a rather convenient option for me. I have had no complications whatsoever, and my vision is at least 20/20 or slightly better. I don't think that general anesthesia can be used for this surgery, since when you are unconscious or sleeping your eyes tend to "roll back in your head" (for lack of a better medical term), and you must be alert and looking straight into the Lasik machine in order for the procedure to be performed correctly. They do put drops into your eyes in order to "numb" them before cutting the flap in the cornea; I felt no pain at all during the procedure. They used tape to hold my eyes open, since the natural reaction when someone goes poking around in your eyes is to blink, but I have also seen an instrument used to hold the eyes open which looks similar to the thing the dentist sometimes uses to hold your mouth open while he/she is working. I would think it is up to each individual doctor as to how he/she performs the procedure. All I can say is that I am extremely pleased with the results of my surgery, and, although initially very expensive, the money you save in the long run by not having to continually replace eye glasses, contact lenses, lens solution, etc, plus not having to pay optometrist's fees, makes the surgery well worth it.

[Texasgal]

7. I am a nurse for a lasik eye surgery facility....

Let me help you.

To answer the poster about the speculum that keeps your eye open. You eyes are done one at a time, so only one spec is placed at a time. YOur eyes are given proparacaine to numb your corneas. Honestly, you cannot feel the spec at all. It seems a little weird, but really you can not feel it, and most people have no idea it's even there.

Our facilty has a 95% success rate.

If any of you have any questions regarding the procedure, let me know.

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

14. What about the other 5%?

What means unsuccessful?

[Texasgal]

15. Unsuccessful could be many things....

There is no guarantee that your going to achieve 20/20 vision. This is elective surgery after all. There are also some underlying health risks involved.... generally this is detected during the screening process. IE: cataracts/ thin corneas/dry eye... etc...

[Red State Rebel]

18. What if you wear bifocals?

I don't want to bother with it if I still have to wear reading glasses, is there a way to fix both?

[Texasgal]

19. Unfortunately, there is no way to fix

Presbyopia at this time. Lasik is mainly for distance. Now... there is a thing called "mono-vision" They can correct one eye for distance and one eye for near. It works well for contact lens users. We always ask patinets to wear "mono" contact lenses first, to see if your brain can accomodate.

They are currently working on a new procedure that involves tightening of the muscles in the back of your eye. ( this is what causes us to not be able to see up close well after age 40 or so ) It's going through FDA clinicals right now.

[amazona]

8. Lasik greatest invention ever

I had it done some years ago, before it was FDA approved, and it was substantially more expensive than it is today, but I don't regret not waiting. You don't realize how much glasses and especially contacts hold you back until you're free of them. If an honest surgeon says you are a good candidate, I honestly don't know why anyone would hesitate at today's prices.

No more sand blowing under my contacts when I'm trying to do something outside. No more fumbling for glasses when I wake up in the morning. No more wondering what my toes look like in the bathtub. It really is the little things.

[alittlelark]

10. I got WAVIX at the beginning of this year

I went from 20/525 to 20/15 - I had an abmormally good result.

The experience itself sucked. I was given only 1 10 mg valium - PUHLEASE. I should have had 2 of those and a few shots - heck, someone drops you off and picks you up anyway!!!! And afterwards you should sleep (all the more reason for the extra drugging).

It is truely 'Clockwork Orangy' . Painless Physically, somewhat tramatic mentally.

My friend got it done by the same doc. 3 months ago. She claimed she accidently washed the first pill she was given in a pair of pants (she now has 2 10mg) then she had 2 glasses of wine prior.

She didn't find the experience 'Clockwork Orangy' at all - and she slept

[tedoll78]

11. Thanks!

I won't be having it done until they can knock you out. It may take some time to develop a way, but I don't care. The "Clockwork Orange" vibe scares the bejeesus outta me. It's right up there with having a tube down my trachea.. :scared:

[alittlelark]

12. Drug yourself up like Cheri did

She couldn't have cared less!! She was having a good time! Just know your limits!!!

I don't want to scare you out of it - The results are amazing - just make sure you are more in LA LA Land than Clockwork Reality!

[tedoll78]

13. The thing is..

I have no idea where my limits are. I've never, ever had any valium.. ever..

[pagerbear]

16. My sister had it done almost three years ago

Still thrilled with the results. She was reading road signs as she was being driven home.

She's a nurse, and did the research before she had it done. She was allowed to observe a procedure done by the surgeon before she had it done. She was very confident. I'd consider going to her surgeon, although he's in SC and I'm in NYC.

I would love to have it done myself--my glasses just don't seem like they belong on my face any more. I don't like glasses at all.

[denverbill]

20. Me, my wife, her brother, my best friend's wife have all had Lasik.

First time in 35 years I could go without glasses.

My wife and my friend's wife both had to get a 'redo'. They came out of the first procedure seeing fine, but a few months down the road, their vision changed and they needed to get the work redone. After the 2nd procedure, both see fine. Mine has been good from the get go. My BIL just got his done Friday so it's too soon to say for him.

I'd heartily recommend it. Beats the heck outta wearing contacts. It's great to glasses fogging up in cold weather or to have to fumble for my glasses to see the alarm clock in the morning.