Lasik Vision Correction

[Kev]

After doing some exhaustive research i have decided to have laser eye surgery. My pre-op is August 3rd and if i am a candidate the surgery goes August 5th. It should be a done deal.

I recieved the literature from the Lasik Center in the mail. They cover the potential complications that can occur with this surgery and the benefits. It all seems pretty routine these days they have made great strides in laser eye surgery. Of course there is no guarantee that my eye sight will be restored to 20/20. The success rate for 20/20 or better is 87.3% according to the FDA. I'm rolling the dice and assuming my eye sight will at least be restored to 20/40. 20/40 is the legal requirement for being able to drive without correction.

The surgery is going to cost me $2000 which is a great deal cheaper than it use to be. Of that my medical plan pays $500.

I'm just curious has anyone had this surgery resently or in the past? Care to talk me out of it? --- Kev
Lazik Eye Center

 

[deke]

I want to get laser eye surgery also. The only problem is every time I save a few bucks I read about some new hottie and blow my dough!

 

[qwerty]

I got mine done May '99, At that time I was told to check with the BBB and at that time Lasik and Gimble were the only ones without lawsuits pending.(I chose Gimble) Do it, you won't regret it!!!! And it's 5 years later and my vision is still perfect. It cost me $2400 AND IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!

 

[Kev]

Did they mention that there is a very good chance that you will need glasses again within 5 years? ( Last figures I read were better than 50% ) Like a face lift, things tend to sag back into place over time.

How important is night vision to you? A very common side effect is altered refractivity along the lines of the operation. In bright light this isn't noticible, but when dealing with point sources of light such as driving at night the effect like looking through cut crystal with lots of rainbow halos and 'lens flare' effects.

Valid points Grendleaxe.

The 30 page booklet i recieved covers all of these concerns. The possibility of short term halos or starburts is less than 1 on 1000. The possibility of permanent halos is a rare phenomenon. (According to this booklet.) There are actually 19 medical concerns that could effect my long term vision. The odds however are in my favour.

If i have to have surgery again at a latter date the Lasik Center thats doing my surgery requires that i only pay half the fee, and my medical plan will pay $500 dollars of that. Even if i had to pay the whole thing i still think its worth it. --- Kev

 

[Kev]

Thanx everyone for your input.

If you are blessed with good eye sight you have no idea what its like to be reminded every day how imperfect you are. The first thing i do when i roll out of bed is put my glasses on, and i'm tired of it. --- Kev

 

[zlmmm]

I had it done in 2000. Despite some scary, but correctible complications I would do it all over if I had the chance. Anyone with severe allergies knows the grief of wearing contacts and that is all behind me now.

I still have my slight astigmatism, but I guess they can also fix that now.

The only thing I can suggest is talk to everyone you can and get a reccommendation for a doctor and do research on him. Thanks to the skills of my doctor the complication was overcome. I wince to think of the alternatives...

 

[carlotta]

I went in for the pre-op procedures & testing & my surgery is going to be late September... I CAN'T WAIT... wearing contacts SUCKS hahahahaha

Wooooo Woooo... Cheers!!! To better vision!!!!!!!
carlotta

 

[Alexboy]

I'm paranoid something would go wrong during the surgery. Can you get one eye done at a time?

 

[Dremok]

I had the surgery 5 years ago. The feeling of freedom from glasses is wonderful still. Go for it!!!

 

[carlotta]

Alexboy, yes you can get one eye done... In fact that IS what I am doing... As I have to wear only one contact lens to correct bad vision in one eye... The other eye is 20/20... So yes, I am getting just one eye done & I can't wait!!!!!!! Not to have to wear that one **damn** contact...
carlotta

 

[wilde]

Has anyone had PRK done? And what was your recovery period?

 

[zlmmm]

Is PRK the same as RK?

I believe RK is completely obsolete with the availability of Lasik. The computer controlled laser is far more precise than even the most skilled surgeons hands. The complication rate has been reduced several times over.

 

[OTR2]

I had Lasik done a few years ago, best $3000 I ever spent....20/20 vision in both eyes, no waking up on the couch (or floor) with my contacts stuck to my eyeballs...AND I banged the receptionist from the clinic!!

 

[Kev]

I had Lasik done a few years ago, best $3000 I ever spent....20/20 vision in both eyes, no waking up on the couch (or floor) with my contacts stuck to my eyeballs...AND I banged the receptionist from the clinic!!

$3000 ya say? its costing me less than $2000 and with out my medical plan paying a percentage. The price is just plummeting and the procedure is getting more and more refined.


.......and you banged the receptionist? Care to post a review OTR2. --- Kev

 

[wilde]

PRK aka No Touch

PRK is for patients who are not candidates for Lasik usually because of corneal thickness concerns and for canadates who dosen't want to have the flap as is created with Lasik because of certain activities (such as boxing or any activities where there there is contact with the eye. One doesn't want a flap, created with Lasik, that can be moved or injured).

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)

PRK is a form of outpatient corneal surgery in which a surgeon removes the front surface of the cornea (the epithelium). Epithelium can be removed with the laser itself, and can be scraped with surgical instruments, or it can be removed with a brush that looks like a small circular sander. Or it can be wiped off after alcohol has been applied to the epithelium to loosen it up. Any of these methods work and the outcomes are very similar.

Now, back to my questions.

Has anyone had PRK done? And what was your recovery period?