Have you had LASIK surgery? Are you glad you did?

[Whoa_Nelly]

and if you did, was there a moment of total blindness? Have been told this happens. Am considering having LASIK...especialy when I'm like I am right now, two shits to the wend...um...too shots to the wand...oh, yeah...two sheets to the wind...
Anyway...am thinking it would make seeing double a little bit more enjoyable without contacts or glasses...

[alittlelark]

1. Got it done 1 yr, 6 mo's ago.... Awesome results

I have better than perfect at 20/15. I never experienced total blindness, but the 300+ laser shots in each eye were FREAKY!!!

I was 20/575...I couldn't find my glasses in the morning. I picked the best doc in the area (don't skimp w/ your eyes). It was pricey, but worth every penny!

[kikiek]

2. 5 years ago and I never had any problems. Am very happy. Over

all probably saved myself money between the glasses and contacts. Free redos for life too. No moments of total blindness occured to me.

[Lady Effingbroke]

3. yes, about 5 years ago.

Best money I ever spent on myself. No problems whatsoever either with the surgery or afterwards.

[Cleita]

4. Recently in both eyes, a month apart for cataracts.

One eye is still fuzzy and will need a further lasik treatment once everything settles in. Quite honestly, though, right now, even with the fuzzy eye, I am seeing much better than I ever remember in my life. My only problem is being light sensitive so I still have a problem with the computer.

[fishnfla]

14. You had LASIK done for cataracts?

Wow!:headbang: :yourock: :headbang: :yourock: :headbang:

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. *WOW* Thanks for the posts!

After I get my teeth cleaned and all white 'n' shiny, will go for the LASIK! I know how it is not being able to locate glasses in the morning unless their right by my bedside..am 20/400 astigmatic..and am sick of wearing contacts.
Definitely am going for the surgery. I know of a doc, through a friend who went to him, in Las Vegas who will do it for $400 an eye.

edited for drinking Chardonney and typing at the same time...:blush:

[steely]

6. My advice? Do it.

I did, and I wish I did sooner - no regrets, no blindness (don't know what you're talking about). I was giddy for weeks. Find a good Doc (mods may filter med advice). I am a little sensitive to light, but always was. The feeling (of freedom) is incredible. I should point out that I am of a certain age where I do require reading glasses, but the dollar store variety are fine, and I'm not wearing them all the time. Folks who don't wear glasses don't understand the diff, but believe me - I'm glad I did it (19 mos. ago). I waited and researched for 10 years, wavefront convinced me. And I know 6 people who did it before me.

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. Most Awesome!

Am going to go to LV and get it done! I know I'll still have to wear reading glasses, but what the hell? <<am also of an age where I need these>> It sure beats having mascara flake into my eye and get under a contact lens!

[Lady Effingbroke]

9. do it - your eyes will feel so much better without contacts!

I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it is to wake up every morning and just be able to see - no fumbling for glasses or fussing with contacts.

It has been almost 5 years, and I can see every leaf on every tree and every blade of grass in perfect focus - what an amazing surgery! I have broken the tyranny of expen$ive yearly visits to the eye doctor forever!

Go for it! :thumbsup:

[steely]

22. Good luck

I should mention, the low price you quoted seemed quite low - so without sounding ike a jerk, you might wanna check into that.

[MikeDuffy]

8. Have you considered your age in making your decision?

First off, I am admitting no expertise with this subject; however, virtually everyone starts having more trouble reading as they get into their 50s. So if you have this operation and have say "20/20" vision as a result, as you start having this reading problem due to age you will eventually need reading glasses as you won't be able to focus on normal size text. Being nearsighted as I am, I can read by taking off my glasses at 57 (simplistically you can think of my glasses having "de-magnifying" lens, so removing them results in a net magnification -- although the complex reason has to do with proper focusing), although that may some day may no longer work and I may then have to read via bifocal lens -- but I already have to wear glasses.

To summarize, you may want to ask your doctor about what options you are likely to contend with when these age related reading problems occur to you. If you are in your late 40s or early 50s, you may soon have to have additional vision correction such as wearing reading glasses, so is it then really worth it?

Hope this point is helpful to you or others considering similar surgery...

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. Am 51

and also have no prob reading with glasses/contacts off. Have discussed having LASIK with my optometrist, and am a good candidate for the surgery. Also, there are new techniques coming out that are for adjusting the lens for those who need reading glasses. In fact, in Australia, have read about a total change to the lens using some sort of gel lens insertion.
At any rate, am going to go for the LASIK....am getting too old to wear contacts...being able to see as soon as I open my eyes in the morning far outweighs being "blind" and hoping I can find my glasses.

[MikeDuffy]

15. Just make sure you explore this fully with your doctor, if you haven't yet

and check with others (like you are trying to do here) who had this surgery at about your current age, and how much a problem they found the reading thing. Note I cannot read book text nowadays with my glasses (upper lens of my bifocals) and if my eyes magically changed their shape today so that I had "20/20" vision, I strongly suspect that at my age I could not read book text w/o using the equivalent of reading glasses. Again I don't know enough about this subject and I certainly don't know your circumstances -- I am not saying not to do the surgery.

You also might try to get unbiased informed advice from a source like Consumer Reports (whom I believe is reasonably trustworthy). I'm sure you want to be especially careful with your eyes, and the more careful research you do (which it seems you are trying to do) the better you will feel about your eventual choice.

[Ladyhawk]

11. I had LASIK surgery and had complications.

Eventually everything worked out, but there was a lot of pain from re-opening the incisions and I was basically blind for two months or so. I wouldn't want to go through that again, but if I hadn't done it, I wouldn't be able to snorkel now. I was extremely near-sighted and now have perfect vision.

PM me if you want to know exactly what happened. It was not a good experience, but the odds were 1 in 5000...of course, I would be that one. :P

[Technowitch]

12. Yes, and very glad

I did not experience anything even resembling 'total blindness' -- anymore than one experiences blindness when one's eyes are closed. You just don't see for a bit...and then it comes back.

My vision used to be horrible, extreme myopia. Now, I have just a touch of presbyopia (far sightedness), but that's to be expected given my age, and if not for the LASIK, I'd probably be wearing bifocals.

The weekend I had it done was hellish, and painful for the first 24 hours... and I had dry eyes and some light sensitivity for the next few weeks. But it settled down pretty quickly, and it was great seeing clearly without contacts or eyeglasses for the first time in over 30 years.

[Whoa_Nelly]

16. Wonderful!

I already have the "old people" sunglassses from earlier this year when taking out a contact lens I accidentally had it turn horizontal in my eye and scratched my lens...ouch! Was so bad, had to wear sunglasses inside the house...scared the hell outta me!
I would trade wearing sungalsses 24/7 for a few weeks to wearing contact lenses daily...yowzer!

[friesianrider]

13. Do it...but do each eye seperately.

I have a friend who did this, and thank God she did because there was complications with the first doctor (turns out he enjoyed being DRUNK while operating on someone's eye - I kid you not).

[Whoa_Nelly]

17. Holy Moley!

One thing I do know is the doc am thinking of seeing to have LASIK has a good reputation and good results.

[driver8]

18. I had it done. Best investment I ever made!! I wish I had done it

sooner.

Did anyone see the episode of "King of Queens" where the King (Doug?) bought his wife (Leah Remini) Lasik for her birthday? He got it for her at a place called "Vision Barn" because they had a coupon. It was hilarious.

[Clintmax]

19. I have been thinking about getting Lasik done also!

I've worn contacts for many years. Everyone's responses to you cements my resolve to have the procedure done on both my eyes. I have astigmatism. I would LOVE not having to wear contacts or glasses! Thank you for posting!

[CRK7376]

20. I had PRK done

by the Army 5 years ago and I'm still positively thrilled! I can see great, quick recovery. Swim, scuba, ski, see at night...So what if I have to wear reading glasses now. Doc said as I got older I would have to anyway. I was already wearing bifocals whent he PRK was done in the summer of 2000. Great doc, great vision and still 20/15 and 20/20...

[put out]

21. I had it done three years ago.

I was very myopic, and had been since childhood, and had also gotten into needing reading glasses (I was 42 then). So, for me, it was contacts and reading glasses, or no contacts and my regular glasses for any distance vision, and then those glasses off and reading glasses to see up close, and/or falling asleep with contacts in or falling asleep and rolling over on my glasses and breaking them...I was sick of it.

So I had Lasik done on both eyes and it was very expensive but money well spent IMO. It was uncomfortable, but it didn't hurt and it was quick. I could hardly stand light right after. I fell asleep early in the evening mostly because it just felt better to have my eyes shut.

Then, I woke up at 0200 and I was amazed. I could see the books on my shelf, I could see leaves on the trees under the street lamp, I just walked around looking at stuff. For days.

My vision is still not perfect, but it is so much better that I remember it being, ever in my life. I may get it tweaked, someday, if my vision changes. But for now, I am very happy with it.