Calling all LASIK/Laser eye correction recipients!!

[LadyMage]

Ladies and gents, I come to thee today with a slight request: What have your experiences been like with any kind of laser eye surgery? I beg of you, please be detailed in your description; I'm not squick-shy.

Reason I ask is this.

My mother, who works in an eye-and-ear hospital as a lab tech is telling me that she is going to be doing some serious talking about having me get laser eye surgery for my myopia. My prescription is -5, I'm seriously nearsighted and have been in glasses for 7 years and in contact lenses for 3 more. Since she's an employee of longer than 3 years, she gets a pretty nice discount on price and me having vision insurance I'd barely have to pay a dime.

One problem is, I know that LASIK involves a blade peeling back some cornea. That to me is absolutely phobia-worthy; I am not at all good with anything sharp coming near my poor eyeballs or anything coming near my eyeballs unless I know precisely what it is. I'm looking into bladeless LASIK myself and would like to know what to prepare for...and how much valium I should ask for to relax a little. I'm a surgeryphobe, what can I say?

So, do share, my fellow CSers.

[Greenday]

I wouldn't have to mind wearing glasses or contacts again. It's such a pain. Maybe when I'm done with college in a few years, paid off my loans, and have my own place, I'll get it done.

[BlaqueKatt]

http://www.lifeafterlasik.com/patients.htm
http://www.visionsurgeryrehab.org/
http://www.lasikmemorial.com/
http://www.lasikinfocenter.net/

LasikInfoCenter was established in 2001 by Ariel Berschadsky, a New-York-based commercial lawyer. Nobody profits from LasikInfoCenter, which in fact incurs a small yearly loss. LasikInfoCenter's purposes are to:



1) Provide prospective patients with documented information from reputable sources about the serious risks of Lasik eye surgery.



2) Shed light on reprehensible marketing practices unbecoming of the medical profession and effectuated by people like Glenn Hagele and his bogus physician-certifying mill, CRSQA.



3) Expose the negligence and incompetence of various refractive surgeons and medical device manufacturers.



4) Expose the hypocrisy of refractive surgeons who readily operate on their patient's eyes yet refuse to go under the knife themselves.

5) Provide damaged Lasik post-operatives with medical information to determine why they have complications and to provide them with visual simulations that can (a) help them describe their symptoms to others and (b) prevent them from being tricked into believing that they represent a rare occurrence of that complication.The Lasik industry depends on overstating the safety and efficacy of Lasik while downplaying the extent of post-operative complications. In fact, refractive surgeons have developed an entire lingo of deceptive euphemisms. Images of beautiful models are a mainstay of Lasik marketers who strive to entice those who may be self-conscious about their glasses. Endorsements by famous athletes such as Tiger Woods are unparalleled in promoting an elective surgical procedure. But frank discussion of risk is nearly non-existent because it is not required by law and would scare away the customers. Concerns about the ethics of using the hard sell to promote a surgical procedure fall by the wayside.

you have one pair of eyes-don't risk them for vanity


BlaqueKatt-who is legally blind but still wears her coke bottles, as does her husband

[Rapscallion]

I have to admit that I would freak as soon as I saw the knife coming for my eyes - I'd have to be asleep with general anaesthetic for that.

I would also point out that while my prescription is about -6 or so, now I'm heading towards forty, my eyes are starting to go longsighted, therefore correcting themselves naturally. I reckon I'll have perfect sight by the time I'm in the nursing home.

What happens to Lasik patients once their eyes start to do this? It's quite the trend as people age, so I would imagine they'd need glasses again in a few years.

Rapscallion

[BlaqueKatt]

also

A doctor needs only a medical license, and no special certification, to perform LASIK. Although most surgeons are ophthalmologists, they don't to have be, and their training in the procedure can range from a weekend seminar to a fellowship in corneal surgery.
10 reasons not to have lasik:
1. The True Degree of Risk is Unclear and is Being Downplayed.

2. Lasik Technology is in its Infancy.

3. Lasik Induces Optical Aberrations that are Poorly Understood by Ophthalmologists.

4. Lasik Reduces Contrast Sensitivity.

5. Lasik Reduces the Cornea’s Structural Stability.

6. Lasik Can Cause Photophobia.

7. Myopia Will Eventually Be Your Friend.

8. Lasik Indirectly Increases the Risk of Cataracts.

9. Lasik Causes Drier Eyes.

10. Lasik’s Long-Term Risks are Unknown.

the full informed consent that is not required by law anywhere!!!
http://www.lasikinfocenter.net/Miscellaneous/Informed%20Consent%20Form.htm

lists:
Lasik should not be performed on people With progressive myopia or hyperopia;-meaning if you need stronger glasses/contacts every year or two-the FDA even says if you prescription changes more than once in 4 years DO NOT HAVE LASIK!!!!!

in a survey conducted in early 2002 of 1,511 members of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, 81% indicated that they had not undergone refractive surgery. Some would argue that this is primarily because they realize that refractive surgery is still a rapidly evolving area of medicine, and given that Lasik is purely elective, they prefer to wait for further advancements. If Lasik isn't good enough for their eyes, then why should it be good enough for yours?

Personal stories here:
http://www.lasikinfocenter.net/Webpages/Personal%20Experiences%20Webpage.htm

BlaqueKatt-who has a couple friends that are nearly blind due to LASIK-and IT CAN'T BE FIXED!!!!! one of them has had 2 cornea transplants-again don't risk your only pair of eyes for convienence or vanity!!!!!


Sorry I'm just very against this for anyone

[NightAngel]

My husband had it done in 1990 and it wasn't lasers. He didn't have the same problem as you either.

I have known him for about 10 years and he does not wear glasses and is only now getting to a point where he could foresee needing any vision correction in the furture.

He says it is the best thing he ever did- he doesn't regret it at all. It's given him 16 years of good vision.

He is right this moment telling me about the fact that the recovery SUCKS though!
:lol:

[squall]

I had it done early last year. I was given morphine or vicadin, I can't remember. It makes you not even care if a blade is coming at your eye. I don't remember what all they used, I just remember the sensation of having pressure placed on my eye, like a book or a flat board was slighty pressed against my eyeball. It was tolerable. So they made an incision and everything went black, except for a brightish speck of light made by a machine they then placed over my eye. It blinked rapidly and some machine noise was being made. And it was over in a couple of minutes. I had to wear sunglasses outdoors for a week or two. I had to wear goggles to bed.....very uncomfortable wearing goggles to bed. That will be the worst of having the surgery done. There is slight discomfort in the eyes, like having dry eyes. Used eye drops every hour for a couple of weeks. I see better than 20/20 now.. Don't worry about the procedure, you will be so doped up you won't care when the time comes. There is some negative connotation attached to this procedure as I was reading above. My surgeon had done it since the technology was in its infancy in the early 80s (no lasers back then). Find a surgeon with a great long running reputation and go with them. I don't want to point fingers at anyone, but I am living proof that the procedure worked. I suggest go for it.

[CherryB]

My LASIK was done in 2004 with a laser. My Rx at the time was -4.75 with astigmatism. My worst problem was Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-intralasik-dlk.htm)

My vision has definitely slipped in the past 2 years- I was 20/20 for just a short while. Now I am more like 20/50 and I have to wear reading glasses and distance glasses (driving). I have also had very dry eyes. I typically use drops or mist every hour or so. I wake up in the night and my eyes are extremely dry-I have to put drops in a couple times during the night.

Would I recommend it? Well my vision is certainly better now-but I could love without dry eyes.

[Crazyredhead]

I was given morphine or vicadin, I can't remember. It makes you not even care if a blade is coming at your eye.

It better be on helluva high does, cause my eyes are very sensitive. I can't stand anything coming near my eyes. I can put on make up and my contacts but if someone else does it to me, my eyes automatically clamp shut. The doctors had trouble putting eye drops in my eyes.

I had an eye injury when I was little. I wqas running with a stick and it caught in the mud and slammed into my eye, it threw me back as though I was clotheslined. My eye was nearly pushed out of its socket. I wouldn't let anyone look at it, at least until I went to sleep. That is the only time that my mom and grandmother could see what I did. My eye glued shut and swelled up. When I went to the eye doctor, he grabbed my upper and lower lid and tried to pull it apart. Well, when you eye is glued shut it isn't easy. I started screaming and fighting him, and he continued to pull. I could hear my eyelashes being ripped out. My dad ran into the office like a man possessed (I'm a daddy's girl, I'm his only baby girl) when he heard me screaming. The doctor finally decided to use eyedrops to loosen up everything. http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d186/LuvlyLass/Smileys/36_2_39.gif
I think he though that it was either eye drops or his life, with the look that was on my dads face. I still have trouble with that eye, the vision is a little worse than the other eye.

For the next week, I looked like I had my face beat to a pulp. It was so bruised it was purple and swollen shut. I don't remember the recovery, but I know that I never saw that eye doctor again.

[morgana]

I got Lasik in Kansas City for my 47th birthday, nine years ago. I just (about three years ago) started needing reading glasses to do embroidery.

I first got glasses in first grade, should have had them in kindergarten. Astigmatism, extreme myopia (I walked into a mailbox once, not wearing my glasses). Spent years with dents in the sides of my nose from the weight of my glasses.

My husband dropped me off at the doctor's office at 8:00 am. He was called to pick me up at 9:30. I had no discomfort beyond slightly dry eyes for a couple of days. I took a nap when I got home, and we had dinner guests that night.

I have nothing but good to say about the experience. So good, in fact, that two of my siblings have now had it done. Also with no problems.

Yes, they do take a tiny slice off the top of the cornea. You won't feel it, they numb your eyes before hand. I had no medication except numbing drops before and an antibiotic drop after. No sedatives, although it sounds like you might want them.

The whole process took twenty minutes from numbing drops to "we've called your husband, have a seat here to wait for him". I spent more time in the waiting room than in surgery.

Yes, there are occasional problems with the surgery. There are occasional problems with *every* surgery. But every one *I've* talked to who's had it, was pleased with it.

[Knightmare]

|I had two procedures done back in 1990. RK (Radial Keratotomy [sp?]) and ALK (automated lemalkjf;lkadjar keratotomy - I don't remember what ALK stands for)
anyway, no lasers, but blades. Yes, I had part of my cornea shaved off (ALK) and then had 8 radial cuts (RK). And I have it all on video! Yay!

It wasn't too bad. They gave me some valium and a local. I was comfortable, but my heart still almost pounded out of my chest when I saw that contraption coming at my eyes.

But I had 20/20 vision for a good many years. My eyes have since changed, and I do wear glasses again, but no where near as thick as they used to be.

However, because of the previous surgery, I am not a viable candidate for LASIK. So I have to suffer with glasses. But it's ok with me. I can see, my glasses are lighter than they used to be... and I just look better with glasses.

[NightAngel]

|I had two procedures done back in 1990. RK (Radial Keratotomy [sp?]) ... anyway, no lasers, but blades.

RK (with blades instead of lasers) is what my hubby had. They gave him much drugs but he was awake and remembers it well but he doesn't speak of any physical discomfort during the proceedure. He said he had trouble with lights for a few days or a week after- bright lights weren't his friend.

I've seen pictures of him before he had the surgery- his glasses were huge, thick "coke bottles". He says he can tell now that he'll need reading glasses in the next couple of years still, in all, 16 years is a good run, eh?

[Ringtail Z28]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but it's relevant. I had LASIK three days ago and still recovering but I can say that it's great. It was pretty trippy getting the whole procedure done. It took less than a couple of minutes and was completely painless. Afterwards it's a bit of a pain in the ass, but I've had worse. I went from 20/2000 (I kid you not) to just less than 20/20, and it should get clear up more as I recover. If you get the chance to do it, go for it. Just don't go cheap on something like this, spend the extra money on the kind of doctor that does celebs and the like. Not to brag but that's what I did.

[strawbabies]

I had Lasik done almost 5 years ago. It was right before my 20th birthday. Nobody mentioned at the time that because I was so young, my eyes may have not stabilized yet. The day after surgery, my vision was 20/15.

I'm now back in contacts, and my vision is the same as it was prior to the surgery. My optometrist has recommended that if I do the surgery again, I need to wait until I'm much older. If I have kids, I have to wait until after that, because pregnancy can change the shape of your eyes as well. He also warned me that no reputable doctor will allow a patient to have more than 2 corrective procedures on their eyes.