Me too! I hate doing for my yeearly exam and getting that "puff" of air blown in your eye. :mad: That always freaks me out.

I can relate! When Mr. 1228 drove me down to Seattle to get it done, we got on the elevator and honey, the minute the door opened, I was ready to run the opposite direction.

Coming up on the 18th, it will be 2 years since I had it done...no regrets

Same here. Everytime I can sense the air coming, I back away from the machine. It takes my doctor at least 5 attempts (on each eye) to see whatever it is he needs to see.

It took me FOREVER to be proficient at putting contact lenses in. I use to have to get up an hour earlier in the morning when I first got them because that's how long it would take me to put them in. It now takes me under 30 seconds but practice makes perfect. I've been wearing contacts for almost 10 years.

I'm a good candidate for Lasik (-2.50) but I'm scared. :( Plus, if you get your nearsightedness fixed, I've heard it can mess with your ability to see up close.

I used to bribe my younger brother to help put my contacts in (I got them when I was 16--he was 11 at the time).

My vision was left eye -7.00 Right eye -6.50 Cylinder -4.00 (VERY bad astigmatism)

I went to get glasses turned in my prescription and the folx at the glasses place were like "DAMN!"

I'm going in for a preliminary check up on the 6th. My eyes are pretty bad. -6.75 and -7.5

I'm willing to just about any amount of money to get them fixed. I can wear contacts fine and have to trouble with them, but I'm in the Army and dealing with glasses/contacts are something I just don't want anymore.

I haven't had the puff of air test in years. Now my doctor numbs my eyes and touches a device to it. It's weird seeing the circle of light coming at me, but I don't flinch.

ewww it took me til 10th grade to be able to put in a pair of contacts. and STILL! to this day, it freaks me out :o ... i would love to get the LASIK done, because i have the worlds thickest glasses, and im soo sick of putting contacts in every day .. but i already have light sensative eyes and the worst astigmatism EVER ... so, sadly, i will live with my eyeballs the way they are now ;)

I feel you. I now ONLY will buy glasses from my docor's office because seriously, even though I'm -7.5 (THICK AS HAYLE) he can make them super thin and light - probably the equivalent of someone with a -2.0 to -3.0.

Now granted, I do plunk down $500 a pair but its so worth it. I can wear them outside and they are light as can be.

One year, when funds were TIGHT, I went to Lenscrafters instead. Even with their featherweight lens my glasses were so thick, Mr. Magoo would have done a double-take! I took them back and headed STRAIGHT for my doctor's office immediately.

Never again. :o

I wear contacts (Focus) about 80% and my glasses the other 20%. I don't think I can imagine the feeling of not needing either.

The doctor can decide how to focus your eyes. Most people have one eye focused up close and one farther away so that they can see close up for reading and far away for distance. I was extremely near sighted and because of that and my other eye problems (I had extremely bad double vision -- prisms of +7) my doctor focused both my eyes at middle distance. This was a big issue of discussion between my regular opthamologist at UCLA's Jules Stein Institute (who has been treating me since I was 7) and my Lasik surgeon, Dr. Maloney. The results are amazing. I can't express how wonderful it is not to have to wear glasses anymore.

I know that I lucked out with my LASIK (ten years ago!), and now have mono-vision (I see far in the one eye, and near in the other), but my understanding is that a lot of doctors can actually plan it that way. In fact, many of the pro athletes who need to see things both ways (Tiger Woods) had it done purposely!

I haven't been to an eye doctor in a few years, and need to go to one. The doctor who did my eyes moved to Arizona, and I need to find a new one.

I had lasik done in 2001 for my 21st birthday. I was at a -8.25 and -8.50. I now have better than perfect vision at 15/20 in both eyes. When I had lasik they told me I had astigmatism - something my eye doctor had never informed me of. They corrected my astigmatism with the lasik. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I was so blind I would take my contacts out ever 2 months or so - with 2 week disposables because I hated the idea that if I didn't wear them one night something bad would happen - like there would be a fire and I wouldn't be able to get out of my house. Trying to put makeup on without contacts was a sight to see since my nose would be pressed against the mirror so I could see. :)

I had mine done at lasikplus - I'd reccomend this to anyone simply because the plan I purchased covers any touch ups on my eyes for the rest of my life.

It was the most expensive surgery per minute - it took 45 seconds for each eye and cost me 3k and it was worth every penny.

I hope you get lasik, you will love it. Good luck!

I went in for an eval, and they told me that my cornea's were to thin.

I have like -8.5 in each eye.

My cornea was to thin because of the amount they would have to remove to make my vision perfect would affect the structure of my eyes. I wonder if it would be possible to get it done to the extent that it helps correct my vision and not affect the integrity of my eye...?

I also signed up for the intralens thing that was just approved by the FDA. Soon as my eye clinic offers that I'm getting an eval for that. Hopefully that works. I hate glasses/contacts.

I'M GOING FOR IT!!!!!

Well, as of now I am. I have my consultation on Friday, and I may yet chicken out. I don't think I will, though :)

Honey: Valium? You get to take Valium??? :D

I wore glasses from 2nd grade, contacts from 1st yr uni.

I got Lasik about 5 yrs ago now, back in 2001.

My eyes were -7.5 and -8, now (after 5 yrs) they're -.75 and -.5. So not perfect, but still good enough to drive w/o glasses (although I do have a pair of driving glasses)

I did get the halo thing a bit, but either it's gone away or i got used to it. the pain from surgery? on scale 1-10, about a 3 - didn't really hurt much at all. It smelled though - ew! I pretty much had an anxiety attack on the table - held the male nurse's hand though - he was cute (as I saw after).

Yes, I saw immediately after. I looked up and could read the clock on the wall.

So it was good. Yeah sometimes I worry about the future, but there's only so much worrying one can do. I still go and get my eyes checked every year (and this last time was with a new doc who said he could tell I had the surgery and it was done very well).

I think I do need to get a job where I'm not at the computer hrs/day though :p

I did it!!! :D

I had the surgery done on Wednesday and as I type this I am actually able to see the screen without corrective lenses (the first time since I was nine years old)!

It wasn't bad at all. Not the most pleasant experience, but worth it. The nurse gave me two Tylenol PMs beforehand so by the time the doctor saw me I was pretty woozy. That's good, though, since I didn't panic when he did the surgery.

However, I can't believe that none of the posters who have had LASIK done did not mention the BURNING EYE SMELL! That was kind of unsettling, to say the least!

Jealous!

My eyes are unfixable. I'm -9 in one, -8.5 in the other - my contacts don't correct my astigmatism but I usually wear them all the time anyway.

How do people keep their eyes open if someone is putting a needle into it? I'm freaking out right now thinking about it and the smell.

-Rudey

What, no Valium?! I took two prior to the ones they gave me!!!

I keep telling people who go for it to prepare themselves for the smell (which also freaked me out!) and the second of blindness as they actually peel back the cornea layers. I wish someone had warned me!

Rudey, there are NO needles. You have to watch a video first, but a special razor takes the layers of cornea off on 3 sides, then after the laser, they are put back. When each layer of the cornea is put back on, it's like when you're getting new glasses, and you see better... and better... and better!

I'm thrilled for you, KR!!!

Kath, when's the last time you checked that out? If it's been awhile, maybe the technique has since improved so that you're no longer unfixable.

The reason I mention this is because I had astigmatism and my eyes were -7.75 and the doctor said that even people with much worse vision than me could still have it done.

This summer. :( I don't even care too much except that I can't drive in my glasses because I never learned how to.

That, and the fact that I have to put on my glasses to read the clock 1" from my face at night.

I can't look at my finger when i put my contacts in (I look up and to the side). So I have no idea how I could possibly sit still while a razor is brought anywhere near my eye.

-Rudey

Yea I think I would pass out if I had that done. I just remember watching some really weird movie when I was little where these aliens captured these people and were running "tests" on them and this one alien put this thing on this guy's head and it held his eye open while the other stuck this long needle in it. Anyway, that's what I think of when I think of having it done.
My eyes are -2.25 and -2.50 so while it's not the worse eyesight ever, I can not function long without corrective lenses. My dad had lasik surgery done....he was very nearsighted and had astigmatism (sp??) and he was not able to wear contacts because they were so uncomfortable for him....anyway, he's had great results from the surgery and that was a few years ago. He does have to wear reading glasses though sometimes so I guess as someone mentioned before it can mess up your close up vision.

Unfortunately, after seeing many LASIK surgeons, I medically did not qualify for the procedure because I have any eye condition called keratoconus. I'm still weighing my options before deciding to proceed with a corneal transplant. As anyone tried "INTACTS"?

You have no choice. Your eye is completely held & taped open, so that you can't blink. Take as much Valium as I did, and you really don't care!

Yeah, it's pretty much out of your hands at that point. You've got to lay there with your eyes open and like it!

I just noticed that when the surgeon removed the tape that was helping hold my right eyelid up, he took about 1/2 of the eyelashes on my upper lid with it! So now I have this funky bald spot on my eyelid :eek:

I am bumping this because I am going in tomorrow!! I am so excited but a bit scared. It's my BD present to myself. Anyone have this surgery in the last few years since this thread was last active?

A bit old, maybe someone has up to date info?

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/...6-28-lasik.htm

My husband got implantable contact lenses a couple years ago when we moved to AZ. He was not a candidate for Lasik due to the thinness of his corneas. He has been very pleased with the results.

I've never even heard of this. This sounds interesting.

The implantable contact lens procedure sounds like the procedure they do for cataract patients. I think this is what they did for my mom when she had eye surgery a couple of weeks ago. Medical professionals - am I correct?

That's what I was thinking too. After my dad had his cataract surgery, he had 20/20 vision for the first time in over 60 years. He doesn't wear glasses now and it seems really strange that he doesn't!

It is basically the same procedure as cataract surgery, but they don't remove your native lens. They have to perform a laser iridotomy to prevent glaucoma since the new lens is placed behind you native lens. The nice thing about it is you can have the lenses replaced if needed down the line.

I'm going to ask about this. I tolerate contacts very well, but wearing reading glasses on top of contacts is annoying. I've been increasingly considering lasik.

It's not available everywhere. My husband was lucky that we moved to AZ where they were the first to do the technique in the US. It's been used in Europe for 15 years or so. It's not widely available in the US or wasn't two years ago. His alternative as a someone who was not a candidate for Lasik was PRK. He wasn't excited about that since it has a long recovery time and a higher complication rate. He had perfect vision the day after his surgery with IOL, but had a monster headache when he came home.

My dad got the surgery about five years ago and is very happy. He wears glasses once in a while for reading, but besides that, he is able to go without his glasses almost all of the time!

About ten years ago, I worked as a Patient Educator for a group of Ophthalmic Surgeons, and they did a lot of LASIK. They also did cataract surgeries, and they were starting to get into IOC (interocular lenses).

LASIK is a very safe procedure, but remember, it's surgery - so follow your post-op instructions and ask lots of questions. I got, as a benefit of that job, a free LASIK - but I have 20/20, so I gave it to my boyfriend (who is now my husband).

He did well - he works in television - he produces now, but at the time he was a videographer/editor, so it was a little scary for us both - and he had a few weeks where his night vision wasn't perfect, but within three weeks, he was completely happy with the results.

He had acute astigmatism, so he does still wear glasses for work, to make sure everything is crisp and in focus. But where he could not function without them before, today they're optional - a mild prescription.

Of course, we're both about to hit 40, so we'll be seeking out cheaters pretty soon!

Good luck!

I made it!! I love it thus far!! My distance vision has adjusted well, it's the close up I am working on. I have my computer settings blown up and I still have a bit of a headache, 1.5 days now post-op...

Glad things went well.

Glad things are going well! I am thinking of having lasik; my vision is extremely poor and my eyes have become intolerant to wearing my contact lenses. I have had so many problems with my eyes (chronic allergies that had to be treated with steroids, dryness) over the last couple of years that I think I am overly concerned about complications.

Keep us updated. Incidentally, do you have to wear glasses during the day, initially? I just read some information about the procedure on my opthamologists' website and it said that protective glasses are recommended during the day for the first couple of weeks post-surgery, in addition to goggles at night. I didn't recall that from my appointment with them.

So happy for you!

Of course, if you're the one in 10,000 for whom LASIK doesn't work out, it's pretty catastrophic. But in the years since I've had it, I think they have learned the better candidates.

I started wearing glasses when I was five, and the hard contacts when I was 12. The thought then was that the hard contacts would act much like braces on the teeth, and keep my eyes from getting any worse. FWIW, they didn't. I eventually went to the soft contacts, then of course, LASIK. I still have monovision (no bifocals for me - ever!), and no regrets!

I reread this thread and want to say that my mother was legally blind at the time of her death. She had both glaucoma AND macular degeneration. She was on the protocol for the medication Preservision, so her AREDs didn't progress at quickly as many others at the time. However, when it did, she had to get shots in her eyes to stop the bleeding into the retina. I know it hurt her badly, and it hurt me to watch it. I honestly hope that I die prior to having to go through that!