Lasik Surgery - Anyone Ever Experience?

[Disneyphile]

My dad scheduled me for Lasik surgery on both eyes on April 3rd.

This is a "flap" procedure, so I should be ok within 24 hours, and feel great after a week once my new vision adjusts.

Has anyone had this? What should I expect?

I'm nervous as hell, because I can't even look directly at my contacts when putting them in.

I'm also scared of coming out blind. :eek:

Oh, and I'm having the procedure done in Vegas by one of the top Lasik docs in the country. That makes me feel a little better, but..... :eek:

[Moonliner]

I researched it a few months ago.

For me it's a no go. I'm at the wrong age.

With either the blade or all-laser version this is a highly automated by the book procedure with minimal risk. Just make sure you get a good consultation and insure that you are a good candidate.

Here is a good starting point (http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-tough-questions.htm)for the research you need to do.

[Chernabog]

One of my co-workers had it done and is very satisfied with the procedure. Remember, you're drugged for the procedure which lessens the unpleasant nature of the thing. From what I was told, if you move or whatever the laser is programmed to turn off -- there's minimal risk to the whole thing. While it happens, just keep in mind that the whole thing doesn't take very long at all to do, kind of like getting blood drawn or whatever.

Just think about getting your beach chair set up on Castaway Cay :)

[Alex]

I had it done about 7 years ago. Lani had it about a year before me.

Went perfectly fine but I can't comment on any innovations since then.


Keep in mind that while it will correct certain things it will not prevent that somewhat standard age-related near sightedness so you'll still eventually probably need reading glasses.

Did he schedule you without having a consultation first? Unless things have changed they really don't give you any drugs, just a Valium beforehand if you want it. I was seeing mostly fine within hours and completely normal by the next day. I had some extended eye dryness issues that required putting an ointment directly on my eyeball which was interesting.

[Prudence]

I'll be interested to hear how it turns out for you. I am right on the cusp of being too myopic to qualify. My aunt, whose prescription is similar to mine, had it and with one revision appointment is now very happy with the results. But I confess that I like being near-sighted too much to do much research on it. I do like hearing about it from those who do go forward in case I change my mind. Do you mind if I ask how far off the 20/20 mark your vision is?

[Disneyphile]

Do you mind if I ask how far off the 20/20 mark your vision is?I've never bothered to look at my score, but I do know that my prescription is -6.25.

[Prudence]

I've never bothered to look at my score, but I do know that my prescription is -6.25.

Well, you're getting up there, but I've got you beat. ;) I'll be waiting to see how close to 20/20 you get!

[BDBopper]

I've never bothered to look at my score, but I do know that my prescription is -6.25.

Mine is -16 and -17.5 respectively. My lenses are THICK!

[BDBopper]

Best of luck on the Lasik. I've heard some very good things about the priocedure. Unfortunately my eyes will not be able to handle something like that. There is a technical reason why but I can't remember it.

[lashbear]

I had it done and it works beautifully. I love not having to buy prescription sunglasses !

[wendybeth]

Eric had it done, and he he's very happy he did. He used to wear very strong glasses, and also spent a fortune on contacts. Now he only needs reading glasses; he buys them by the half-dozen at Costco.

[swanie]

Mr. Swanie had it done several years ago and he's been pretty happy with it. Even though his vision is 20/20 now, it is slightly worse than it was with his old glasses. His glasses corrected him better than 20/20 so it was and still is a little adjustment.

Now for a helpful hint... We checked out several books on CD while he recovered the first day or two. The doctors advised him not to watch TV and he had to stay in a dimly lit room. He would have been bored out of his mind without the books!

Good luck with it!

[alphabassettgrrl]

My m-i-l and s-i-l both had the eye surgeries, though I don't know specifically which ones they had done. But they both had really thick glasses, really bad vision, and now can see. M-i-l still wears glasses, but regular glasses, not coke-bottles.

Good luck! I'm glad you have a reputable doc doing it. **hugs**

[scaeagles]

Wife loved it. So glad she did it.

[Disneyphile]

I can see! Well, sorta. My eyes are still adjusting.

My experience was um... half terrifying.

I have zero complaints about the docs or the center - they all rock.

However, when I was given Xanax and Valium to help relax and sedate me, it only brought me down from the rafters, since I was already high-strung to begin with. So, I went into the op room with my nerves at a somewhat normal level, rather than the "what the hell do I care" state.

They dropped numbing drops in my eyes and waited a few minutes, and then did the right eye. It was weird, and I was perfectly aware that something was happening, but I couldn't feel anything, so my adrenaline only started pumping at a slightly accelerated level.

However, my left eye seemed to resist the drops more, and once they stuck the speculum on, I could feel it. (Not painful, but I could feel it.) So, my nerves instantly climbed their way back into the rafters, more than they do if I'm at the dentist. I kept uttering, "I hate this!!", "Oh holy hell!", among other panicked phrases. And, I saw and felt everything they did. :eek:

Ya know that "experiment" scene when the guy is abducted in "Fire in the Sky"? That instantly ran through my mind, because that's pretty much how I felt. :eek:

The good news: I went from 20/2,000 (not an exaggeration) in both eyes to 20/20 in my right, and 20/25 in my left within the first 24 hours, which will both improve as my eyes continue to heal this week.

The bad news: Apparently Valium and Xanax only make me belligerent rather than relaxed, because after the procedure, I was swearing like a sailor and wanting to slap everyone in sight.

The temporary bad news: I can only kinda see what I'm typing, because it gets fuzzy again every other second.

Once my eyes finish healing, I think I'll be a very happy camper, because this is literally changing my life. :)

[BDBopper]

I am so thrilled for ya DP! I honestly did not think I was anywhere close to being able to have lasik and I am. There were some strange thing with my corneas that would not allow my eyes to make the adjustments or something. You don't realize how much it would change my life to go from what DP just did.

Though I am somewhat mixed if I would even go there. I'm of the mindset that God created me this way for a reason and that I was meant to be this way. You don't know mixed those feelings are.

Apparently you had a similar accuity that I have except I have some other things going on with my eyes DP. I feel closer to you if that makes any sense.

[wolfy999]

Sounds like a success......keep us updated.

[RStar]

Good news, DP! I'll pray for your continued healing and adjustment.

[Disneyphile]

Stupid left eye is still blurry. :( It will momentarily focus for just a second and then "fog" up again. Grrrrrr. And, I'm constantly going like this just so I can see --> :eek:

I know it's been less than 72 hours since the procedure, and I need to be patient. But, it's hard to be patient when I'm getting annoyed that I can't see. And the worst part - I can't go on any rollercoaster type rides for about a month. I want my Space Mountain! Meh.

Yeah, one day soon, I'll stop complaining. I can't wait for that day.