Anybody else had laser vision correction?

[jellybean]

So I just got back from my local Starbucks, and while strolling the neighborhood, latte in hand, I was completely overwhelmed by the natural beauty surrounding me everywhere I looked. It's springtime in Vancouver...sunnydays, birds chirping,

tulips, daffodils, cherry blossoms on the trees. Mountains on the northside, the beach when I look south, and Stanley Park just footsteps away from my apartment building.

 

Now this is NOT about gloating just because I happen to live in the most aesthetically beautiful city in the world (well, maybe just a little)

 

It's about appreciating that I am able to actually SEE...and I can see WITHOUT having to wear corrective lenses.

 

I treated myself to the procedure a couple of years ago, and to this day I still view it as nothing short of a MIRACLE.

 

I had to get my first pair of glasses in grade 2! I never understood, because no one else in my family has vision impairment....'course I never wore the damn things, especially during my vain teen years.

 

Then at age eighteen I starting wearing contacts - they where always a pain in the butt...at work they would become so uncomfortable and would leave my eyes dry and red.

 

After work, and on weekends I would slip on my designer frame eyeglasses.

 

Have saved myself a ton of money by not having to purchase contact lens solutions...I was also replacing my contacts and eyeglasses once a year.

 

I don't have to see an optometrist anymore because the laser clinic gives eye exams for free.

 

I was blind as a bat....but now I have vision that has been evaluated at even slightly better than 20/20.

 

I'm just feeling full of gratitude today....ah, the precious gift of sight.

 

Has anybody else had this done, and feel it has enhanced their life?

[alphamale]

Originally posted by jellybean

Has anybody else had this done, and feel it has enhanced their life?

 

Hi JELLYBEAN.

No i have not had lasik done but my little brother who is an eye surgeon used to do these and most of his patients had same reaction as u.

 

Right now I am wearning these new soft contacts that you wear for 30 days without ever taking them out. You can sleep in them and everything. They are great! But more expensive, of course.

[QuikSilver210]

Im only 15 and my vison is like 20/250 in both eyes. I cant even read a book if it was right ifront of my face without contacts or glasses. And it just keeps continuing to get worse. My mom asked about laser eye surgery but theys aid i should wait until im 18 since my perscripiton keeps changing. I really need this surgery before i go blind

[bluechocolate]

I actually like wearing glasses & have a huge collection of them (very blind without 'em). They can be a drag in winter, frosting over when you go in-doors, but that rarely happens these days as it doesn't get cold enough. I've had prescription swimming goggles made for the beach & stuff like that & sometimes wear soft-contacts for going to the gym - so many options!

 

A good friend of mine had corrective laser surgery & swears that it did indeed change her life - something about being able to see in the shower really thrilled her!

[lynnered]

i haven't had it done would love too,it not an issue of money I'm just scared something will go wrong &screw up my vision.

jellybean can you go into detail about the procedure?

[brashgal]

I had it and I feel the same way - after wearing glasses for over 35 years it is nothing short of a miracle.

 

Those who are very afraid can get one eye fixed at a time - a little more expensive but works for the ultra-cautious. I met a couple people in the waiting rooms during my follow up visits who had it done this way.

[moimeme]

I have two friends who had laser surgery - both ended up with problems. I realize complications are rare but I just don't want to mess with the possibility. Anyway, my eyes are not the beauteous doe-like orbs I wish they were so the specs actually provide some needed emphasis around them.

[jellybean]

Originally posted by lynnered

i haven't had it done would love too,it not an issue of money I'm just scared something will go wrong &screw up my vision.

jellybean can you go into detail about the procedure?

 

Dear lynnered....

 

Gonna cut right to the chase - I was PETRIFIED!...and this while in the waiting room. The staff realizes everyone is a little nervous, and you are required to arrive 1 hour ahead of time so they can give you an Ativan to ease the tension a bit. I requested 2 Ativans, and they said okay.

 

The actual surgery was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.....there's just something really unnatural about being fully conscious and awake, while someone is operating on your EYEBALLS!

 

It was a surreal, scary feeling - I kept thinking I was strapped down in some horror chamber, while a mad scientist was performing some cruel, experimental

operation on my precious eyes.

 

The surgeon puts in drops first, to anesthetize. then he applies some kinda clamp that makes your eyeball bulge out a bit, and so as you are unable to blink. He takes a marker and draws the areas he plans to cut. Then he cuts, but not a full circle - he creates a 'flap'. (And BTW, that's where the part about any potential problems comes into play...it's all about how the 'flap' seals itself back into place and heals)......anyways, he lifts the 'flap' and goes to work with the laser.

 

All you see is a bright red dot, and he keeps telling you to look right smack in the middle of it.

 

Then he does the other eye.

 

You spend a few minutes in the recovery room...they give you those huge, dorky black sunglasses, and special eye-drops to take home...then you're supposed to spend the rest of the day doing nothing but resting, and napping at home.

 

After I awoke from my 3 hour nap, I went to my window and could see the mountains in the distance! So, the results are almost immedient, and continue to get even better in just a couple of days.

 

After a couple of months, I noticed my left eye was not as good as the other.

So I had to have a slight revision done (again I requested 2 Ativans)...but it was was just a minor adjustment he did, and not nearly as traumatic as the first time.

 

It's ALWAYS safer to UNDERCORRECT....and I was cool with that. Everything is perfect now.

 

The clinic offers a 'life-time quarantee'....if a fix is needed you never have to pay for it.

 

I hope I haven't frightened you, lynnered....I was a big baby, but you have to remember that great advances have been made in this type of surgery and it is common and safe.

 

I have zero regrets......GO FOR IT!!!

[Three of Swords]

Originally posted by jellybean

So I just got back from my local Starbucks, and while strolling the neighborhood, latte in hand, I was completely overwhelmed by the natural beauty surrounding me everywhere I looked. It's springtime in Vancouver...sunnydays, birds chirping,

tulips, daffodils, cherry blossoms on the trees. Mountains on the northside, the beach when I look south, and Stanley Park just footsteps away from my apartment building.

 

 

Oh you lucky thing!! And I am not talking about the corrective eye surgery here. Just to have spring. How I wish for it right about now.

 

Spring just seems to be a time of hope and renewal.

 

I too have thought about having corrective surgery, but two optometrists that I have gone to said I am not a great candidate for surgery. They also both said that I am not a good candidate for contact lenses either. Astigmatism and myopia. And I wear (progressive ) bifocals.

 

Maybe I should see someone who specializes in surgery for their opinion.

 

A co-worker was told they wouldn't do the surgery on her and as she has similar difficulties so I might be in the same boat.

 

I wear my glasses as an accessory anyway. My hair is coloured the same copper red as the glasses - and (I think) it all seems to work - but I do NOT like how the prescription makes my eyes 'bug' out - like a magnifying glass to the face. Uggh!

 

I too would be hesitant about surgery because they are my only set of eyes - even if they don't work so wonderfully.

 

B.

[MWC_LifeBeginsAt40]

I have an appt on Monday for an assessment. What should I expect? They said it would take 2 hours but I'm not sure why. They will be putting something in that will make me look like PussnBoots from shrek 2 and I won't be able to drive or see much for another 2 hours.

 

Can anyone tell me what this is all about? Do I need to get someone to drive me home?

 

How many hours can I expect until I can see normally?

[brashgal]

They are going to dialate your pupils, all the better to see inside your eyes, my dear...

 

You should be able to drive yourself although if you have to go far or through heavy traffic you might consider having someone drive you. I'm usually back to normal within a couple hours.

 

Two hours, eh? Sounds like you will do a certain amount of waiting but they check you out first to decide if you would be a good candidate for the surgery, discuss the procedure (you might watch a little movie that explains it too) and then probably talk about how you'll pay for it.

 

Very cool - thinking positive thoughts for you!!

[gridiron]

I had Lasik done at the beginning of the year. I did go to one of the top (and most expensive) places to have it done, but the doc was one of the pioneers who helped develop Lasik, and has been doing them for a long long time now. I was not exactly looking for the blue light special to get the cheapest price when having this done.

 

So far, it has been absolutely great. Waking up the next morning and actually being able to see my alarm-clock crystal-clear, then looking outside and seeing everything so clear was truly exhilerating. The last time I went in for a followup, I was measured at slightly better than 20/20.

 

QuikSilver - be patient. My doc also wanted to verify my prescription had been relatively the same for a while. Your results will be safer and better once your prescription stabilizes.

 

Mom-Wife-Cheater - I was told to allow 2 to 2 1/2 hours on surgery day. I waited about half an hour in the general waiting room. The next half hour was spent making my payment, taking a valium pill, having an assistant take one last look into my eyes to make sure we were ready to go. Then another 45 minutes or so was spent in a dark room with nice comfy lazyboys where I reclined back and rested with my eyes closed, with an assistant putting in anesthetic drops every 5 minutes or so. I was then led to the surgery room where the procedure was done. After taping my eyelids back, the procedure started and it was probably 3-5 minutes per eye. During that time, I did not feel any pain, just a light pressure. Following the doctor's instruction, I kept the eye they were working on focused on a green light that would come and go and move around, so I just focused on that the whole time. It was over very shortly.

 

The laser machine my doc used is supposed to be a newer model using a wavefront laser, so I do not know if it would be much different for any doctors using a different type of machine. The doctor also requires all people undergoing the procedure to be driven home. He said to keep your eyes closed for at least six hours after the procedure, only opening them to get in the car, getting from the car to my house, and then straight to bed. Another thing I had to do after waking up from the nap is using wetting drops in my eyes every 15 minutes for a couple of days. This is then scaled back to every 30 minutes after a week. And then it depends on how dry your eyes are as to how often you use the drops, but it is supposed to help your recovery as well as making it more comfortable. I also had several other medicating drops I had to use for the first week after the procedure. Another thing most people who undergo this will notice for a while after is seeing halos around street lamps and car lights, but those will go away. For me, I noticed a significant improvement by the next morning, and it got better the next couple of weeks, and it seems to be holding about the same since then. I talked to another person who went to the same doctor, and he said he saw the difference the next morning, but it took a couple of weeks for it to stabilize at 20/15 for him - until then, he said it would be clear for a while and then not quite as clear. So it does vary a little from person to person.

 

For me, it was definitely worth it, as the others in the thread who had this done have said, I am still amazed by this procedure. As with any surgery though, there are always risks involved. Just make sure your doctor has done a lot of these procedures - don't just find the cheapest one - and ask a lot of questions.

[jellybean]

Originally posted by mom-wife-cheater

I have an appt on Monday for an assessment. What should I expect? They said it would take 2 hours but I'm not sure why. They will be putting something in that will make me look like PussnBoots from shrek 2 and I won't be able to drive or see much for another 2 hours.

 

Can anyone tell me what this is all about? Do I need to get someone to drive me home?

 

How many hours can I expect until I can see normally?

 

They'll be using many state of-the-art, sophisticated, equipment and machines to do measurements of your eyes. They will insert drops, and request you sit in the waiting room for a few minz, then call you back for more testing. Then more drops, back to the waiting room, then more tests.

 

They also do a medical history chart (what meds are you taking for example), and test your blood pressure.

 

Yep, it all takes a couple of hours.

 

I live practically downtown, and just walked home afterwards - I don't recommend driving or heading back to work on that day.

 

My vision remained blurry for about 6 hours.

 

Oh, and what a sight when I looked in the mirror...my pupils were dilated to the exact size of the iris...my natural green eyes were changed into 2 solid BLACK ones....wierd to say the least .....it's just temporary tho.

 

Good luck on Monday, mom-wife-cheater .....let us know when you decide on the date of your surgery.

 

I had mine done the VERY NEXT DAY!

[MWC_LifeBeginsAt40]

Well, I'm going to call there and find out more details. My appt is at 2pm and it's in a city an hour away. We just had a snow storm and the highways are bad,and I have to be home by 8pm tonight, and I am driving myself.

 

I can get someone to pick me up after my appt and take me to their place and drive me back by 7.

 

aaack if worst comes to worst, I could stay in the city overnight and ex keep the kids. Or just reschedule....but I really want it done!!!!!

 

Not sure I can afford it now - I got another lawyer bill for $1500 - there goes the rest of my settlement. Can u say CREDIT?

[sami]

Yes you do for sure. Don't take a chance.

[MWC_LifeBeginsAt40]

Here's the scoop:

 

My pupils are large

 

My corneas are thin

 

I am not a candidate for lasik (too much risk of halo)

 

I am not a candidate for PRK

 

SO

 

They have recommended PRK Wavefront which is going to be a new procedure starting in May. It is currently being done in other places. It is a customized process because the laser is normally 7 mm and I need 9.5 mm or something like that and more recovery time, which is supposedly a good thing as it's more closely controlled and monitored.

 

But it's alot more expensive. ($1800 Cdn per eye). I was expecting around $2000 total. I guess I coud get one eye done.

 

Oh, and I drove myself to my mom's (10 min) but it hurt a bit (was a sunny day).