I have been interested in getting rid of my contacts/glasses for some time now. Of course, the eye surgery was always extremely pricey, however, I am seeing laser surgery popping up in strip malls everywhere. Latest advertisement read $495 per eye. Has anyone had Lasik or PRK? Would you recommend it?

someone i know had it done,
and they love that they do not have to wear glasses or contacs anymore, and said it was an in-and-out painless procedure.

the only drawback they said was some glare from lights at night, but not anymore than you would get from wearing glasses.

hope this helps
-chris

most people I know, including fellow physicians, are happy with it. One has a chronic infection in her eye ever since. In general, it seems to work well; however, I'd take the time to check out the place you are considering. Sometimes cheap isn't always best.

I've been considering this for about the last 5 years...when it first came out, I asked my Optometrist about it, and he said that although it looked good, PLEASE WAIT for 5-10 more years to be sure that there would be no lasting effects. I have astigmatism mostly, due to the shape of my eye...he felt at the time I would be a good candidate, but still wanted to see what the long term effects were.

I would love nothing more than to be rid of glasses (had them since age 8). But I also want to take the risks into consideration. I would hate to think that I could go through a $2,000 surgery on both eyes and be left with the same I started with, you know?

I've been keeping tabs, and plan to do it someday, but only when I'm sure...

I read in another thread that a regular on Answerpool had laser surgery, maybe....Mahal? I might be wrong, but, I hope they see this and can comment. Oh and thanks you guys too for your comments!!

I would love to see people who have had lasik or other laser surgeries post their experiences! This is a big, big decision (since it involves SIGHT!), and I would really appreciate hearing opinions fropm people who've had it!

Yes, deeptread, that was my comment.

I had the surgery about a year ago. I think it was PRK, but not sure on that. It was the kind of surgery where they cut in and fold back a flap, burn off a horizontal layer and fold the flap back. Mine cost $600 per eye and there was a small extra charge to correct a slight stigmatism (yes, they can do that now, too).

If you want testimonials, you can visit most of these clinics and ask for them. At mine (Global Laser Vision in San Diego), they had stacks of 3-ring binders full of them. They were basically a meat market, pack 'em in, pack 'em out. I bet they do 30-40 surgeries a day with only one surgeon and a lot of assistants. (There was some real cash going through that place!)

Well, if you liked the smell of insects burning under a magnifying glass when you were a kid, you'll think the surgery is pretty darn cool! You get to be awake through the whole thing, they just numb your eyes and hold your lids open with these clamp things.

They usually tell you that you'll see a difference in a couple of days. That's a lot of hooey! I saw a difference laying on the cutting table, the moment they laid my first eye-flap back! It was great because I've never had 20-20 ever. I left the sweat shop with a fist of gauze over each eye and grinning like a bandit!

(They'll give you some instructions for how to take care of your eyes for the next few weeks. You have to wear goggles to bed every night for 5 nights, I think; you have to use synthetic tears and some other kind of eye drops for 2-3 weeks; you're not allowed to touch your eyes with anything for a couple weeks or participate in any strenuous activities until the eye-flaps heal.)

For me, though, my eyes began losing focus within about 4 months. My eyes have always done that, though. I can remember getting a new pair of glasses, and I enjoy better vision for about a week, then my eyes seem to readjust and I land somewhere around 50 in each eye. I haven't had an exam, but I would guess I'm about that now. I could have had a free-follow up procedure, but I moved to Florida, then to Washington, so the trip was always prohibitive.

I think at least one of my eye flaps healed a little off, but the affect is almost unnoticable. If the light's just right, I can move my eye back and forth and see moisture across the front moving around, kinda like water pressed between two panes of glass.

At the time, the procedure had something like a 95% success rate. The doctors I spoke to all said that they couldn't remember ever having a complaint. They always give a follow-up eye exam within a week or two, and all turn out around 20-20, as I did.

By the way, how old you are should make a big difference in whether you go through with the surgery. From about age 50 on, you have less chance of keeping your new improved vision because your eyes naturally deteriorate. You'll spend the money only to enjoy a few years, then you'll be back to the contacts again.

If you have any other questions, you can e-mail me or post here.

I no 3 people who have had lasik. My sister and brother-n-law both had is done. No problems what so ever. My other friend had it done only in one eye and had so much problems she will not have it done in the other. You need to check the person out you are going to. Like someone said cheap is not better. One thing to ask is if they don't get you 20/20 what does it cost to repeat?
I really want this done and about 5 years ago my doctor said I would be excellant candiate. Well I knew he wore contacts and ask him if he had it done he said NO. So I waited and since then he has had it done and I am a diabetic now and I am afraid to have it done because of the healing. I scar easily. Good luck.

i had laser eye surgery for a different condition. with my my laser procedure, i had two holes put in each eye to help the fluid drain because of glaucoma. mine was perfect. i believe most laser eye surgery is safe, although there are always risks with any surgery. i am a diabetic but i healed well. i had a great doctor.

I work with someone who got laser eye surgery done 2 years ago. He has 20/20 vision now. (he's 40 years old) He was very satisfied. He wishes he would have had it done sooner. The Lasik doctor was in Windsor Canada.

I my self had Lasik and now i have 20-20 vision. It's been two months now and I'm very happy with my eyes. It's worth it!

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When I got my annual eye exam last month, I asked my doc about it....thinking it was time.
He informed me that yes, lasik would work well for me for REGULAR seeing..but that I would still need glasses for close-up work. SO NO, it's not for everyone. Heck, if I need glasses for close work, which is 50% of my day, I might as well just keep the glasses!

Awww.. I thought my cracked egg was back.

A lot of people benefit from this procedure, and a lot of people don't. A woman I work with got it, and she now sees great -except her computer gives her a glare and she had to do a lot of adjusting with lights just so she could do her job. Another woman I work with did it, and it changed nothing for her. I don't like the odds.

The success of the procedure will always depend on what problem it is correcting. I have astigmatism AND mis-shapen eyeballs - I have trifocals in my glasses...so my prescription is such that manipulating the shape of the front of the eye just isn't enough. Which is why I would still need reading glasses.

The best judge of whether it's a good procedure for you is your eye doctor....and I would recommend an opthamologist over an optometrist to make that judgement.

I felt very defeated when I learned it wouldn't be good for me...I had always looked forward to the possibility of not having to wear glasses

I actually had a Lasik surgery a couple of months ago in the US and the result to me was amazing with their financing deals for my lasik surgery . I save up to $1,350 with the 20/20 Freedom Special . don’t need to wear glasses anymore, I had an eye surgery in my2020 by Dr. Stephen B. Wiles one of the leading eye surgeons today. The healing process was fast because they used an advanced technology and state of the art facilities. I feel good and look good now without those thick glasses that I wear before. My2020 is my life saver.



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