Has anyone had lasik surgery?

[curiousgrl]

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!

[Coramoor]

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.

[KillarneyRose]

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???

[MooseGirl]

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

[KillarneyRose]

I did it!!!

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!

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
I did it!!!

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.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
I did it!!!

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!

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

[honeychile]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
I did it!!!

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!

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!!!

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
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.

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.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
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.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by honeychile
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!!!

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"?

[honeychile]

Originally posted by Rudey
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

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!

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by honeychile
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