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Lasik

psychbabe314psychbabe314 member
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I come from a family with very poor eyesight. But, I have the poorest eyesight of them all :-P. When I was in highschool, my parents offered to pay for lasik for me, but after discussing it with a specialist we decided to wait until after I turn 22. Now that I am closer to that age, my mom has asked me to think about getting it done as she would like to put aside the money for it. I would love too! But, I have also been told not to set my expectations too high as my eyesight is terrible.

Eyesight: -8.5 and -9, but I have to get new contacts because these are not strong enough. This is the prescription I have had since I was 17.

Has anyone else had an experience with this procedure, possibly with eyesight such as mine? How well did it work for you? Was it worth it? Any issues after? It has worked very well for my parents, but they were -2ish and -6ish, if I remember correctly. So, mine are a bit worse! It will be a couple more months, but I am having an eye exam soon so that they can verify that I am a candidate for this surgery (and to get new contacts!).
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Re: Lasik

  • KeptInStitchesKeptInStitches member
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    What has your ophthalmologist said about your likelihood for success?

    I'm -13.5 and -14.5, so I'm a very poor candidate for Lasik, and I envy anyone who could see success out of it since my own eyes are so bad.
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  • SwazzleSwazzle member
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    I had Lasik a few years ago and it was the best decision I've ever made. My eyes weren't nearly as bad as yours, though. I don't remember what my prescription was. 

    The whole procedure lasted maybe 10 minutes. I felt nothing at all during it and couldn't see anything that was going on either. Afterwards, I sat up and could read the 'no smoking' sign on the other side of the room which was incredible. I had no issues whatsoever after my surgery and if I had to, I would go back and do it again any day. Luckily, my eyes are still 20/20 :)



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  • labrolabro member
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    I don't have much to contribute. I've had perfect vision my whole life. However, BF's uncle had Lasik about 10 years ago and his vision was pretty bad (Coke bottle glasses) and he says he'd never go back. He says he experiences some dryness and bluriness in the mornings when he first wakes up but he'll deal with the minor things for the sake of having decent vision for the first time in his life. Apparently post-op he had to spend a week at home keeping his eyes covered so they would heal? Maybe this is something that was for an older procedure? I dunno. I wish BF would get Lasik but he is afraid of the procedure. It's really frustrating because he hates wearing glasses and contacts tend to irritate his eyes.



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  • SwazzleSwazzle member
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    After my surgery, I went home and laid on the couch for the rest of the day and after that, I was fine. You have to sleep with goggle sort of things over your eyes for a week or 2 weeks so that you don't rub your eyes in your sleep but I definitely didn't have to spend a week at home with my eyes covered. Just that first day and at night when I was sleeping. 



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  • minskat30minskat30 member
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    @Swazzle - Good to hear you had a good experience with it.

    OP- I haven't had Lasik but am looking into it myself (I'm -5.0 and -5.5).  I think I want to wait one more year to see if I hold steady there (been there for two years now).  I hope it works for you!

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  • phiraphira member
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    @KeptinStitches You are officially the first person I've met with a worse contact prescription than I have! I'm at -8.5 and -9.5 (hopefully that's as bad as it gets).

    I'm hoping to have LASIK as soon as I have the money. My vision has mostly settled at "super crappy," but my contacts irritate my eyes enough that my vision gets a little worse just from wearing them. I hope that by the time I can get LASIK it's significantly cheaper.

    I know someone with similarly bad eyesight who had LASIK. He said it was absolutely worth it. He does experience a side effect/complication, which is that lights often have halos around them.
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  • KeptInStitchesKeptInStitches member
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    edited August 2013
    @phira, I'm "profoundly nearsighted," have astigmatism (mostly corrected with contacts when I was in high school), and have misshapen eyes (seriously, they're footballs) ... all in such a proportion that I'm still considered "normal." I'm 26 and have had no change in the last 5-7 years or so, so hopefully I've plateaued until I'm around 40, and I'm grateful that it's correctable.

    ETA: Have you tried different contacts?
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  • phiraphira member
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    @KeptinStitches I have. I switched from Acuvue 2-weeklies to AirOptix monthlies. They're a LOT better. I don't honestly FEEL that much irritation on a regular basis, but my eyes always look tired, and if I go a week or so without wearing contacts, my vision when I start wearing them again is slightly improved.
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  • raquelort23raquelort23 member
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    I had the procedure done twice as I had really bad astigmatism. With eyesight in that range though, you might need a different procedure called PRK which I had. Not going to lie but it HURT afterwards for a few days. During the procedure, I didn't feel anything but the pain kicked in maybe 8 hours later. I was really sensitive to light and my eyes just pained me no matter what. I have 20/20 vision now but I will never go through it again.
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  • a13049a13049 member
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    I had it done, and I couldn't be happier. It was absolutely painless. Recovery was a nap and that was most because of the Valium I took. If you are a good candidate, I say go for it
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  • psychbabe314psychbabe314 member
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    Thanks for all of the advice! I'm so sorry it took me so long to check this thread again but life has been pretty hectic between work/new roommate getting ready to move in/school schedule being messed up... but I had some time tonight to finally check!

    @KeptInStitches, I won't know for another few weeks because my work changed my schedule and asked me to come in the day I was going in for the appointment. Also, your eyesight really is terrible! I thought mine was bad!!!

    @Swazzle and @Imhollister, the goggles are good to know about. I don't remember my parents having to use them but that is something I will discuss with my doctor. Thanks for the information!

    @phira, hopefully you can get lasik soon too :-)

    @raquelort23, I will ask my doctor which procedure he would suggest. I was under the impression there was one way. I have a pretty high pain tolerance level, so we hopefully this does not irritate me too much! I also have some slight astigmatism which has not yet been corrected due to an error with a doctor's office that I will never return too.
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  • Pepper6Pepper6 member
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    My H had it done about 3 years ago and he says it's the best money he's ever spent!  He had the all laser procedure (laser cut and shaping, no blades) which tends to be a little more accurate and lessens the likelihood of the halo effect at night, and he's never had any issues.

    The procedure took less than 10 minutes, we went home, he slept the rest of the day (you don't actually have to sleep, just have your eyes closed), but he was able to drive to the follow up appointment the next day and has had 20/10 vision ever since.
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