Lasik

[loana0320]

who has gotten it done... and how do you like it? regret it? love it? any doctor recommendation in Sugar Land area? I been thinking about it for quite sometime now.. and my hubby keeps telling me to get it done but I keep putting it off as I have no health insurance but at this point I think is worth it instead of paying for contacts and glasses as often as I need them lol

[copper]

I had it done. LOVE IT! Wish I would have done it sooner. Been two years now and not one problem. Love waking up / swimming / ect. not having to worry about contacts.

Most insurance wont cover it. Mine did not cover it.

I would say go for it.

[Ahh!]

I did it. I like it. I went from no glasses to bifocals in college. A few years ago, I had one eye done. So I have great distance on one eye, and good close up on the other. I can drive around and function with no glasses in public just fine. Procedure was fine, saw 20/20 the next day. No pain.

[akimartymar]

Most insurance companies will not cover LASIK, even though it mans they will not have to buy you glasses anymore. Go figure. I had it and it was the best 2 grand I ever spent.

[Steelsun]

I did it and have mixed feelings.

I did it about 9 years ago - my vision was AWFUL! (20/400 and worse).

Overall it was a success - I was 20/20 to 20/10 the day after. And it was great not having to wear hard contacts or thick glasses anymore.

But I had one major problem: Valium. They gave me valium right before the procedure to relax the muscles. I had never taken it before. It took about 15-20 minutes (i.e. about 4-5 minutes after the procedure was done) for my body to realize it was allergic to the stuff - I went into a seizure and my eyes rolled back (and that was after the flaps were done, so you are keeping your eyes still and closed). Not good - caused several ripples in the flaps. The staff was unprepared for a medical emergency.
about 4 hours later I was finally able to go home - a bit beat.
Overall though the eyes healed fine aside from 2 blurred areas (hard to notice) where the ripples never flattened out right (and the cornea sealed itself thicker).
To this day they are still there.

And I find myself needing glasses again - but then again I am older now (just hit the 40 mark) so age is taking it's toll - and I can exist (read/shoot/drive) without them still, just would be better with them.

Would I advise getting it done?
Yes - just be alert to some of the problems that can occur, and read the contract you sign - you are giving away any sort of redress/suit/refund when you do the procedure.

[Jenny Z]

I had mine done 5 years ago, and just a few days ago I was thinking of how awesome it is that I still see perfectly. I haven't been to the eye doctor in a long time, but I'd bet money I'm still at least 20/20.

Definitely worth it.

[toverman]

I'm still wearing glasses for now. It stinks!

[BeccaJ]

ive been wearing glasses since 3rd grade. contacts since 7th. almost 12 years later....still wearing contacts. i want lasik bad.

[Daniel Bates]

I'm getting refractive eye surgery (not sure which type yet) done by the Army. The surgery should be sometime in the next two or three months.

[darktiger]

I have been kicking around the idea for a few years now. I guess now would be a good time. It's a hard decision between lasik or a 85L f/1.2

[sjordan]

I got it done a few years back.

One thing they will not tell you is that the after care cost is very high. So when you budget, be sure to put a extra $500 into your budget.

You will end up buying about 3 different types of prescription eye drops multiple times, plus a TON of "one time use" sterile eyedrops that are not cheap.

My only complaints is night vision (halos). The stars just don't look at good now. However, my day vision is awesome 20/15. And yes I would do it again if I had the choice. I wore glasses/contacts since the age of 9

[andyz]

I had it done 9 years ago. I still wear glasses, but they're a fraction of what I used to wear. And I can still do a lot of things without glasses. I'd do it again.

I kept a diary of sorts with some pictures, here http://home.hot.rr.com/zavoina/lasik.htm .

[thorin]

Had it done 8 years ago - was 53 years old. I was told I would still need reading glasses (use some of the 6 pair for $25.00 - have a pair or two everywhere). Had glasses since 8 or 9 years old; wonderful to be able to drive without glasses. Would recommend to anybody! No problems whatsoever. My after care cost was less than $50.00?

[ggeen]

I had mine done in 2001 by Dr. Carter. I love it. Just be aware that lasic does not stop your eyes from aging. I wear readers from time-to-time but that is because I'm over 40 now. Better than the coke-bottles I used to wear though. I highly recommend it with the caveat that you use a top notch, highly respected doctor. Seven years ago the risk were about 0.5% failure -- a catastrophic event like loosing ones eye sight in at least one eye. Today that number is even lower and a promise of 20-20 or better is given.

Seven years ago, 20-50 was considered a success as one could pass the Texas drivers' license eye exam with that. Times have changed...and for the better in some cases.

-G

[loana0320]

awesome Thank you so much everyone for all this info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have one more pair of contacts and the ones I am wearing.. so in about a month i will be needing either another eye exam or lasik.. I am definitely going to go for lasik... I am 29 years old and I have been wearing glasses since 18... reason is because I could not get a drivers license when I applied.. so is a restriction for me... My glasses are not very thick but I also have astigmatism... I just want to be able to see without worrying about my contacts sticking when I am under a fan, or glasses poking behind my ears lol
Thanks again for all the info :)