LASIK

[EZ_Maladen]

Any of you had LASIK done?

I am going through the early steps of finding a doctor and just seeing if I am a candidate.

My initial consultation identified me as a candidate and also able to use the Custom Lasik procedure.

I heard nothing but good about the proceedure but I am a bit wary of the fact that after shelling out all this money I could still need glasses.

[EZ_Mordimer]

It's been just about 2 years since I have had my lasik surgery and I don't regret a single minute of it. I came out of the office with 20/40 vision and it has not decreased yet. I am not sure exactly how bad my vision used to be but contact lense prescription was aroun -5.25 in one eye and -4.75 in the other. I also had a slight stigmatism in both eyes. Total cost back then for me wsa $1500 for both eyes ($750 per eye).

As far as needing glasses later, this is still a very real possibility. Your eyes may still deteriorate over time and I contemplated this. I figured that even if they did my eyes possibly wouldnt be as bad as they once were and the joys and freedom of not having to rely on contacts or glasses was more than worth it.

If I had to choose all over again I would definately still have it done. =i=Mordimer
Immortal clan
Desert Combat
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[EZ_Maladen]

My vision is not too horrible -3 in one eye -2.75 in the other so I have high hopes that it could correct me to the point of not needing glasses.

They also give me a lifetime warranty on my eyes basically if my vision starts to go bad again they will fix them again for free.

They other isue is reading glasses and how many people need them arround 40 (and me being 35) but neither of my parents need them so I am hopeful that gene carried through.

I am just a bit nervous about the proceedure being done on my eyes but I know it is painless but still a bit apprehensive.

[Aidden]

My Girlfriend just had it about 6 months ago..

She is loving it..

[Dragynphyre]

Thinking about it here, I am -5.25 in left eye, -5.75 in right eye. (Back In Black)
Delissandra Splitshadow - Marauder of Clan X
Grandmaster Poisoner (250), Master Potter (195), Grandmaster Lush (200)

Why is it that the last piece I've needed from EVERY armor set, from Ravenscale on up to Stanos' Wicked is the PANTS?
I honestly am beginning to think it's a conspiracy founded by Glip!

[EZ_Qanin]

Had it done 4 1/2 years ago. My prescriptions were -5.75 -5.50. Next day I was able to drive. Went to the eye doctor about 6 months ago and still am a shaky 20/20.

It took me about a month for me to get to 20/20 but like I said I felt comfortable to drive the next day after getting zapped. Cost me about 4k to get it done. Edited by: Qanin at: 3/29/04 9:44 am

[EZ_Northwind Saami]

After looking into many different vision corrective surgeries, I settled on Radial Keratotomy about six years ago. The reasons I went this route instead of the laser are that you do not lose any cornea tissue, and the operation has about 30 years of success behind it. I had severe astigmatism in both eyes and was extremely near sighted. I'm not sure if things are different now, but at the time, laser treatment was not able to correct the astigmatism enough to remove the need for glasses.

My vision six years later is still perfect. The operation is quick and painless and recovery consists of a few weeks of eye drops and some minimal itching as the incisions heal. I'm not sure of the success stats for present day laser treatment (of any kind), but I'd still recommend RK.

Here's a link to the doctor that corrected my vision. Explore the site. It will answer some of your questions regarding laser and RK procedures.

www.karasvision.com/

[EZ_Maladen]

Thanks for link but I am not sure how much RK is done these days any longer. Seems like it has been mostly replaced with LASIK.

The center I am looking at currently has 2 doctors. One of which is the Eye Doctor for the Redskins so if you ask me that is almost all the information I need.

So far I not heard any bad things from people having the proceedure done which is reasuring.

[EZ_Senn Sei]

One thing I'd point out is - go with IntraLasik, not just normal lasik...

the difference is this:
with lasik, they use a microkeratome(sp?) blade to cut the flap from the front of your eye, then a laser to remove tissue to reshape your cornea.

with intralasik, the flap is created by an 'intralase' which basically is a laser that creates a lot of tiny bubbles just under the front of your eye, allowing the flap to be folded away. Its a *lot* more precise.

In my case, intralasik was the only option - my eyes were -8 in one eye and -8.5 in the other, and my corneas were rather thin to begin with - normal lasik wouldn't have been precise enough to work for me.

Also, the risk of any kind of infection from instralasik is approximately zero. No blade ever physically cuts your eye. Much less complication, much more precision. It'll probably cost you a bit more - but you only get one set of eyes in your entire life. I'd say its worth it. I know I don't regret it at all had mine done about a year ago, it cost about $2800 for both eyes, total (including all followup visits, artificial tears, etc etc - everything).

for information:
www.intralasik.com

where I had mine done:
Will Vision & Laser Center

I highly recommend them. I know some people fly in from across the country to see Dr. Will, personally it was about a 3 hour drive so it was a bit easier.

To repeat one thing, because its important: This is the only set of eyeballs you will ever get (well... depending on future advances in medical technology). Do NOT skimp on this procedure to save a couple hundred bucks.

[EZ_Gozar]

not had the surgery personally, but two neighbors, a girlfriend, and a professor I had all had Lasik done in the last couple of years or so, and within a few months ALL of them needed glasses again. One neighbor and my professor needed reading glasses immediatly.

I do not know a single person personally who had the surgery and likes it.

Bear in mind that I do not know these peoples prescriptions, so I do not know how whacked their eyes were, but the ages ranged from 21 to 63.

[EZ_Maladen]

Senn thank you so much for that information.

I actually did not know about that method. I did some research and found the only doctor in my area that offers that option.

Going to go see her next week.

[notwen]

A co-worker of mine just had it done about 2 months ago. His eyes are still stabilizing, and sometimes still needs eyedrops, but he's adamant that it was the best $2500 he ever spent. He only gets free adjustments for one year though...

Me personally, my vision is just a little too important to me to trust to an operation that hasn't been around all that long in the grand scheme of things. The last time I saw an optometrist he asked me if I was interested. I told him I was, but I was a little nervous about it and not knowing what the lasting effects were... like 20 years down the road. He agreed with me.

If I'm pushing 40 and no one seems to be having side effects in the long term, I'll reconsider it.

[EZ_Ten Evenings]

My eyes are pretty wonky... Im legally blind without my Buddy Hollys, and have about one inch of focus depth about three inches from my face.

I havent asked anyone about it, but my astigmatism and all makes me think Im not a candidate.

[Dorla]

Can you get LASIK no matter how bad your eyes are? I assume there's an upper limit... my eyes are -7.00 in both and I have slight astigmatism to boot. I've been thinking more and more about doing it, especially since I can set up a medical savings account at work and get it done with pre-tax money.

Unfortunately, I have a serious fear of eye surgery... I like watching weird surgeries on Discovery Health, but eye surgery always makes me ill. I know they give you relaxants and whatnot beforehand... I hope that would help me get through it.


Edit - right after I posted that I found a website that says you can get LASIK if your myopia is between 2.0 and 15.0, and if your astigmatism is less than 4.0. Sounds like I fit. Man, 15.0... my 7.0 is bad enough, I can't imagine twice as bad. Edited by: DorlaStincfinger at: 3/29/04 1:12 pm

[EZ_Aurarier]

I got curious on what exactly they do in LASIK, and I'm a dork - so I went to my favorie "Everything for Dummies" site. Here's the explanation incase anyone else was curious.

[EZ_Maladen]

The proceedure is rather straight forward from all my research.

Basically a flap is made by cuttig the lense on your eye (couple ways they do this). The flap is folded over and then the lazer zaps your cornea area to reshape it.

Flap is folded back and basically brushed flat.

That is it. Rather neat actually what technology can do these days.

If LASIK is something you are even remotely interested in most places will have you come in for a free consultation. They can determine if you are a candidate and answer a lot of questions you may have.

Some places are more pressure sales oriented than others so just go in keeping that in mind.