Nov 14 2008
Lasik anyone?
I have been thinking, very hard, about getting ye ole eyes fixed. Lasik has been on my mind for a long time and most of that time I was just to damn poor to pay for it weighing the pros and cons. You know, getting info from previous glasses/contacts wearers who had taken the plunge, etc.
Well, it’s time for health care open enrollment at The Office and, even though I don’t have a vision plan, I can use those handy dandy flexible spending account dollars to pay for some eye fixin!
I’ve seen some information on the different types of eye correction surgery (Lasik vs. IntraLase, both of which are probably either TM or R) and see the pros and cons of both. But here’s what I’m wondering…
Have any of you readers had either procedure? If so, how was it? What was your recovery time? Do you still have to wear corrective lenses? Do you feel like it was worth it?
Chances are that I’ll probably do this, as long as some Dr. thinks I’m a good candidate but I’d still like to hear from you.
Stumble it!
i just found out yesterday that i can also flex lasik surgery! my eye doctor for years has always recommended against it; he says the effects aren’t always permanent and he said there are too many “quacks” who do it. he DID say that i would be a good candidate, as my eyes haven’t changed much in the past several years and that he would only recommend it if i went to a good doctor.
i had to change doctors because of insurance, and while my new doctor told me pretty much the same thing, he said i’m an EXCELLENT candidate. he said he’s had it done and it was one of the best things he’s ever done for himself in his adult life.
so. i’m seriously considering it now. being able to see in the morning when i open my eyes? i almost can’t fathom it!!
I have been told that I could not have that done for me.so I’ll just stick to wearing glasses.
I had mine done in august, and I love it! I found it to be a dramatic change, and when I did mine I didn’t go the cheapest but looked at several options and chose the one that seemed to give the best pre and post evaluations.
I’d agree with your doc, it is certainly one of the best things I’ve done for myself.
Ryan
I myself am not a good lasik candidate yet, as my prescription is still changing dramatically each year. But my beau E had it several years ago, and said it’s just nice to be able to see his toes in the shower. He does get a bit of a halo effect from lights at night, and I’ve heard that lasik can have this effect in some people. Also, several years after the surgery his prescription has begun to change a bit, and he wears very mild corrective lenses some of the time now.
An old supervisor of mine also got the surgery, and she said it was the best money she ever spent on herself.
And finally, I used to work at a medical malpractice law firm, and we had one case where a guy went to get lasik, and the doctor didn’t set the right depth on the knife and ended up tearing a hole in his eye. I don’t know if this impaired his vision permanently, but it’s not a nice experience to have to go through regardless. So in that vein, make sure you do get a really good doctor who has done many successful operations.
All I have to say about this subject is, GO FOR IT, YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT!!!!!
James and I had Lasik done the spring of 2006. It was so quick and easy. Of course the anti-anxiety(sp?) meds helped. I am also glad that I went first and then watched James’s on the TV in the waiting room. If I would have seen that first I might have been a little more nervous.
Recovery time, I drove about 6 hours after having it done. It probably took about a week to feel like my vision was crystal clear. I now have 20/15 vision. James who was twice the legally blind is now 20/20 and neither one of us has to wear anything else to correct our vision. The goggles you have to wear at night for the first week or so was not the best, but anything to make sure everything heals right. Our eye Dr., not the surgen, told us that we should put drops in our eyes every 30 minutes for the first two weeks to ensure proper healing which we did and I am glad we did. After one year the eye Dr. said that he could hardly see any scaring in either eye.
Our Dr. is the best Lasik Dr. in Ohio if not the Mid-West. If you want to come out to him you can have a few hotel stay with us.
At first it was hard to see the huge bill, but I tell everyone that it was the best money we ever spent. (That is what we did with our child tax credit from our tax return that year. Great to have kids!!!)
I wake-up and can see (a little dry eye in the morning, but eye drops take care of that). No more night blindness when I drive. No more spending money on glasses or contacts and all the stuff that goes with it.
Al and Jess, Go for it Girls!!
Later,
Care
I will second what care said. I had glasses and/or contacts since high school. Total pain in the ass messing with either every day. It was a little disconcerting that you could smell the laser removing material from your eye. The best was that it took a total of ten min from the time you walked into the “operating ” room til you walked out. I remember walking into the hall and looking down to the end and could see perfectly. It was great! Just take care and follow the what your doctor advises. It takes a few months for your cornea to fully heal. I still have 20/15 vision after eight years. Oh, and I had mine done in Canada. I don’t know how that compares in price now but at the time it was only $1000 an eye compared to $2500 an eye here. Totally paid for my trip to Vancouver BC.