LASIK

[Rickomatic]

Are you saying you wouldn't have the procedure if you had it all to do over again OR you wouldn't go back to wearing reading glasses, etc?

Sorry. Must have typed too fast and didn't proof read it. I WOULD have the procedure again and I wish I had not waited so long to get it done.

[Commando]

When I got LASIK last year, they gave me a Valium in the waiting room-- did absolutely nothing for me. Do you think they're dispensing placebos, or do some people just not react to those kinds of sedatives?

[falafel]

When I got LASIK last year, they gave me a Valium in the waiting room-- did absolutely nothing for me. Do you think they're dispensing placebos, or do some people just not react to those kinds of sedatives?

Its not really a sedative, right? Just supposed to take the edge off so you are less nervous.

[Commando]

Its not really a sedative, right? Just supposed to take the edge off so you are less nervous.

I'm not sure. I asked for another one and they laughed at me. Guess I should have lost some lbs before I went in. Although in fairness I wasn't that nervous to begin with- that started when they fitted my head with that lens that forced my eyelids open while they flambéed my corneas.

[Northwestcoug]

Just got LASIK last week. It was kind of an impulse thing. I had been kicking myself not getting it done when it was still legal for my work to give us a reimbursement of 2% of my income for health expenses (damn you obamacare!!!). I had also bid on a silent auction at the local surgery center benefit for 50% off LASIK (damn you nameless jerk for hovering over the auction pad that last minute!!!). And with a second kid getting ready to go to college, it had kind of fallen off my radar.

So last month when I was getting my eye appointment for new glasses, one of the people came in and gave her spiel: $3400 for both eyes, which included a year of regular followup. I was pretty surprised about the price; I had thought at least 2 grand per eye. So I texted Mrs. NWC about the price, and she thought that was pretty good. The wheels were then set in motion...

January is a slowish month for us, so I asked for 3 days off plus a weekend to recover. Last Wednesday was the procedure. Like Commando, I was given the Valium, which I must say didn't do much to take off the edge. Just the act of firm pressure on your eye (not painful, just pressure) is a little disconcerting. And the countdown to keep looking at the light for 20 seconds. I kept telling myself, I can do this, I can look at it for 20 seconds. It's still a little nerve-wracking. And then, the sweet smell of cautery. Minority Report gets the overall feeling pretty close:

minority-report_cruise-eyes.jpg



The procedure is around 20 minutes, and the improvement is almost immediate. With all the edema, my vision was still cloudy that first day. I was told to keep my eyes closed for 4 hours that night. I tried to go to sleep but was still wound up. It didn't take too long for the topical anesthetic to wear off, and it felt like I had left my contacts in for a year until I fell asleep.

I woke up the next day feeling much better, but still with some irritation. I am on a fairly strict regimen of eye drops: steroids and antibiotics four times a day for a week, and artificial tears hourly for three weeks. These do help with the dryness. I was good enough to drive to the first followup appointment, and according to my doc everything looks OK. I have been doing pretty much my normal activities after the second day post-up.

There are some fluctuations in acuity, which is to be expected. And I've been given some reading glasses to do close-up stuff. I don't care about that. I've been around 6 diopters since college, and I can't wait to go snow-boarding/biking/swimming without having to worry about contacts. Hell, even waking up and being able to read the clock is awesome.

So so far, so good. I'll have a checkup next week, then monthly for a bit to see if any 'adjustments' will be needed. I'm pretty happy so far, and I'm hoping for an uneventful outcome. Even if I have to wear glasses for some things like driving, I want to be able to play outside and not worry about what I'm going to put on my eyes.

I totally recommend this. In fact, they'll give me a $50 coupon for referrals! Let me know!

[Shaka]

Best four grand I ever spent.

I had a slight monovision correction and I've been able to avoid reading glasses. I'm sure I will need them in the next five years or so. The four years since I had the surgery have been visual heaven.

[Jeff Lebowski]

My wife did this 15-20 years ago. She went from coke-bottle glasses to 20-15 vision. No problems or complications.

[myboynoah]

Just got LASIK last week. It was kind of an impulse thing. I had been kicking myself not getting it done when it was still legal for my work to give us a reimbursement of 2% of my income for health expenses (damn you obamacare!!!). I had also bid on a silent auction at the local surgery center benefit for 50% off LASIK (damn you nameless jerk for hovering over the auction pad that last minute!!!). And with a second kid getting ready to go to college, it had kind of fallen off my radar.

So last Wednesday when I was getting my eye appointment for new glasses, one of the people came in and gave her spiel: $3400 for both eyes, which included a year of regular followup. I was pretty surprised about the price; I had thought at least 2 grand per eye. So I texted Mrs. NWC about the price, and she thought that was pretty good. The wheels were then set in motion...

January is a slowish month for us, so I asked for 3 days off plus a weekend to recover. Last Wednesday was the procedure. Like Commando, I was given the Valium, which I must say didn't do much to take off the edge. Just the act of firm pressure on your eye (not painful, just pressure) is a little disconcerting. And the countdown to keep looking at the light for 20 seconds. I kept telling myself, I can do this, I can look at it for 20 seconds. It's still a little nerve-wracking. And then, the sweet smell of cautery. Minority Report gets the overall feeling pretty close:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6610[/ATTACH]



The procedure is around 20 minutes, and the improvement is almost immediate. With all the edema, my vision was still cloudy that first day. I was told to keep my eyes closed for 4 hours that night. I tried to go to sleep but was still wound up. It didn't take too long for the topical anesthetic to wear off, and it felt like I had left my contacts in for a year until I fell asleep.

I woke up the next day feeling much better, but still with some irritation. I am on a fairly strict regimen of eye drops: steroids and antibiotics four times a day for a week, and artificial tears hourly for three weeks. These do help with the dryness. I was good enough to drive to the first followup appointment, and according to my doc everything looks OK. I have been doing pretty much my normal activities after the second day post-up.

There are some fluctuations in acuity, which is to be expected. And I've been given some reading glasses to do close-up stuff. I don't care about that. I've been around 6 diopters since college, and I can't wait to go snow-boarding/biking/swimming without having to worry about contacts. Hell, even waking up and being able to read the clock is awesome.

So so far, so good. I'll have a checkup next week, then monthly for a bit to see if any 'adjustments' will be needed. I'm pretty happy so far, and I'm hoping for an uneventful outcome. Even if I have to wear glasses for some things like driving, I want to be able to play outside and not worry about what I'm going to put on my eyes.

I totally recommend this. In fact, they'll give me a $50 coupon for referrals! Let me know!

That picture scares me.

[Northwestcoug]

That picture scares me.

My wife took video of the procedure. That will scare you even more...

[Omaha 680]

I appreciate the testimonials here. This might be the year I pull the trigger on the surgery.

[Walter Sobchak]

My wife did this 15-20 years ago. She went from coke-bottle glasses to 20-15 vision. No problems or complications.

Same time frame (late 90s), same results for me. But I no longer have perfect vision and need a light prescription now (-0.75)... due to aging no doubt. Has her vision stayed 20-15?

[old_gregg]

i've been thinking about doing it this summer. depends on the status of the fsa.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Same time frame (late 90s), same results for me. But I no longer have perfect vision and need a light prescription now (-0.75)... due to aging no doubt. Has her vision stayed 20-15?

Not sure if it still tests that way. Her overall vision is still very good but she is starting to use reading glasses.

[Shaka]

Same time frame (late 90s), same results for me. But I no longer have perfect vision and need a light prescription now (-0.75)... due to aging no doubt. Has her vision stayed 20-15?

If you get your surgery at the right place they will do free lifetime adjustments.

[thesaint258]

I appreciate the testimonials here. This might be the year I pull the trigger on the surgery.

You should. I had it done ten years ago or so, and sometimes I still wake up in amazement that I don't have to put glasses on to see. It's a procedure that's well worth it.