Who's had LASIK?

COkristi

I'm about to schedule a consultation and I'm so excited. I'm actually not that nervous, just hoping I'm a good candidate. Anyone have good/bad/ugly experiences they would like to share?

[Deleted User]

My dad did it. He no longer has to wear contacts but he does wear reading glasses still at times. But he had really bad vision, so what he had done was a major improvement.

He didn't have a bad experience, but he did say it freaked him out that he was awake the entire time since you have to keep your eyes straight.

vegasgroom

I've had two friends have it and are very happy they did, but both said they really hated the procedure for the same reason seshat mentioned; you're awake and eyes open as they shoot lasers to slice your eyeballs open. :-)  I'm just glad I have perfect eyesight (so far) when both of my parents wear glasses, I'd probably do the procedure too though if I didn't and I was appropriate for it.

missy68

My brother had it done; he had a hard time with it; same reasons mentioned above. He HAD to wear sunglasses any time he was outside for a period of time, and he was not allowed to ride rides/get water in his eyes (like at my parents' pool, etc) for a certain length of time.

Otherwise, I think he's been OK with it.

LesPaul

Not to be a downer, but ask the doctor about dry-eye.  Two friends who had Lasik both experienced moderate to severe dry-eye problems afterwards.  One of them regretted having it done because she had to constantly put drops in her eyes.  Granted, they had it done several years ago, and the technology has undoubtedly improved since then, and they may have had a particular condition that makes them more susceptible to dry-eye, but it doesn't hurt to ask.  Good luck - I'm too chicken to even get a consultation.

COkristi

Thanks for the feedback! The open eye/awake business does freak me out but I'm trying to wait to get totally freaked until I'm ready for the surgery. At least it's only a few minutes long!

jasmineh7777

Honestly, I wouldn't even consider it for myself. I've heard of people that ended up committing suicide because of ongoing non-stop pain after the procedure. I am sure that is very rare, but it is just one reason that I will stick with my glasses.

SarahPLiz

I had it done last June. I spent the rest of the day on the couch with my eyes crusted shut from all the eye drops, but when FI pried them open for more drops, I could see the popcorn on the ceiling, and I was amazed!

I had to be careful not to rub my eyes for a few months, and couldn't swim for a while because of the pressure drom my goggles, and the tendency to rub my eyes when I got out of the pool. 

The first week or so, my vision was still adjusting, so it was a little weird, but then it was fine. At my first week visit, I was 20/20 in both eyes. Now I am 20/15 in both eyes.

As far as the actual surgery, you don't feel anything beyond them taping your eyelids open. They gave me a valium and put in numbing drops. The really weird part was when they cut the flap in your cornea. When they pull it back, you are totally blind. The whole procedure from beginning to end was less than 15 minutes. FI watched it through a window, and saw the actual procedure on a TV in the waiting room. He said he felt sorry for me. How sweet! Right when I got up from the table, my vision was foggy, but it wasn't burry. I could tell that i could see, it was just through a fog. 

I had to wear protective glasses to sleep and for athletic activities, and try not to get sweat in my eyes, but it wasn't a hardship at all. 

Here is picture of me right after surgery. I had to sleep in that getup for about 2 weeks, but it wasn't too bad, just not real sexy:

AllAboutTheBenjamin

I want lasik SO bad.  I asked my eye doctor about it and he says I'm a perfect candidate for it.  In your 20s you still have several years left before you need reading glasses - but even then, you won't need reading glasses for every day everything, you know?

I want to get it sometime in the first couple years we're married.  No one I've talked to that's had it says anything bad about it.  My doctor told me of the 800ish or so people in our area who've had it, there are maybe three or four people who weren't happy with the results.  Those odds work for me.

My mom has watched too much Dateline and doesn't think I should do it, lol.  But whatever.  I hope your appointment goes well!

COkristi

Thank you LesPaul, I will definitely ask about that. I have weak tear ducts as it is, I hope that doesn't get worse . I'm going to a doctor in Denver who is supposed to have state of the art technology and a great reputation so hopefully it will be ok.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Would you be doing the blade or the laser?

COkristi

The doctor I'm going to uses laser http://www.dishler.com/. This thread is making me a little more nervous though, eek. SarahPLiz, thank you, that was really helpful. I didn't know about avoiding swimming and goggles at night. I'm sure I'll find a lot out at my consultation, but it's nice to hear personal experiences.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

From what I've been told - the laser is far less invasive and takes less time than the blade.  The only thing that freaks me out though is one girl told me that for a while during her laser procedure, she could actually smell it burning her eye a little bit.  Yeesh.

But yeah - waking up and not having to diick around with contacts anymore would be WONDERFUL.  I don't care what it takes.  I'm probably close to legally blind without my lenses.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I really want it, too. the whole slicing-your-cornea-open thing freaks me out, but whatever, I'll get through it.

I know people who have had really painful recoveries, but even they say it's still totally worth it!

SarahPLiz

The doctor I used has had literally thousands of patients and only 1 or 2 with complications in his career. My optometrist said that usually you only see complications when people don't follow the aftercare recommendations. The no swimming was just until the flaps sealed, which was a few weeks. 

I had my surgery on a Thursday, started bootcamp on Monday, and did an Urban Assault race the next Saturday. I had to jump in a lake for one of the obstacles, and I just had to be careful to not get lake water in my eyes. 

My sister is nervous about doing it too, but my success with it has eased some of her concerns. 

barbbhoww

My cousin does it and has done our whole family.  It is a little freaky about how they describe what they will do to you, but it is SO worth it.  I don't need it (or glasses)..but my whole family did and it does wonders for taking pictures!

ms_teach

I second whoever mentioned the dry eye questions.  I found out on my last appointment, two days  before the procedure, that I wasn't a candidate due to dry spots on my eyes that would most likely get worse after LASIK.  They suggested I try drops for a year and then come back.  Though I do hate being blind without my contacts, I decided it just wasn't worth the risk for me personally if there was any doubt. 

csspencer

I had and it was the best decision I have ever made. I had it originally was I was 19, I wanted to be a police cadet and my vision was horrible. I had to have it touched up when I was 22, but only because 19 was honestly too young. I have to wear sunglasses outside, because my eyes are a little more sensitive, but I had to wear them whenever I had my contacts in before. They tell you to take a 3 hour nap after the procedure, and it was a great feeling being about to wake up and see the clock, something I hadn't be able to do for over 10 years. Some times I have to use drops, but then again I had to with contacts.
I do suggest when you go to your consult, ask if they have a life time guarantee program, even if it costs more, go with it! As a woman, our horomones are more likely to affect our vision.

JennandJoel2010

I would love to get it, but I'm an awful candidate. My eyesight is too bad, and I guess I have a higher risk of detached retinas.

My uncle had Lasik, and has regretted it ever since. Both his retinas have since detached and he has to wear thick, thick glasses in order to function. He can't drive at night anymore. But his experience is really, really rare.