Lasik Eye Surgery

[ashleybea1]

Getting it done next month and just wanted to hear some peoples experiences. Any advice, info etc is appreciated

 

[pryncess527]

I had it done over 13 years ago -- still have 20/20 vision. The procedure was a bit uncomfortable but not painful. over very quickly and I could see almost immediately!

It's one of the best decisions I ever made. Congrats on getting it done, and good luck!

 

[CPanther95]

I've only shied away because of the high percentage of people that get halos from lights when driving at night and the hazy vision in anything but bright light. Last I saw, it was over 30% had unsatisfactory vision afterwards - despite reaching 20/20 or near 20/20.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I haven't had it, but my DH did. His was in 2008, and he's still happy. Clear vision and no halos.

 

[VandVsmama]

I've often thought about it, but I opted not to because the way I look at it, you only get 1 set of eyeballs. If your lungs, heart, or liver fail, they can replace those with a transplant. Nobody does eyeball transplants.

 

[ashleybea1]

I had it done over 13 years ago -- still have 20/20 vision. The procedure was a bit uncomfortable but not painful. over very quickly and I could see almost immediately!

It's one of the best decisions I ever made. Congrats on getting it done, and good luck!

Thanks. Did you feel like you needed to blink during the surgery. Im worried about feeling the urge blink and not being able to relax.

 

[pryncess527]

Thanks. Did you feel like you needed to blink during the surgery. Im worried about feeling the urge blink and not being able to relax.

I don't remember trying to blink -- they put this plastic thing over my eye so that I couldn't. That's what caused the discomfort -- it just felt like pressure on my eye which I wasn't crazy about, but it wasn't bad. and was over in like, 2 minutes then they moved to the next eye.

I have not had any issues with halos or night vision. I did make sure I had a very good surgeon (he performed LASIK on an ATL Braves pitcher a few months before my surgery, made me feel much better about my choice!)

 

[BrianL]

I've only shied away because of the high percentage of people that get halos from lights when driving at night and the hazy vision in anything but bright light. Last I saw, it was over 30% had unsatisfactory vision afterwards - despite reaching 20/20 or near 20/20.

This is why I didn't go through with it. I had a consult many years ago and I did not like what the doctor said about the halos and other problems that I don't have with my glasses. I don't find wearing glasses that onerous anyway.

 

[minniecarousel]

I had it done 2 years ago at age 60. I almost didn't do it because they said I'd still have to wear reading glasses. I'm one of those people who had always been near-sighted in one eye & far sighted in the other. So we ended up correcting for distance in one eye & reading in the other. This isn't for everyone, but since my brain has done it my whole life, it was easy for me.

I'm pleased with my vision. No "halos" or difficulty with night vision. My only problem is dry eyes but I use specific eye drops in the AM - no problem!

 

[sonnyjane]

Thanks. Did you feel like you needed to blink during the surgery. Im worried about feeling the urge blink and not being able to relax.

For me they gave me a valium before the procedure (standard, I didn't request it). Held the nurses hand during the procedure. They do make it so you can not blink so don't worry about that. The actual laser part was over in seconds. I was crying with adrenaline but it was fine and didn't affect outcome. I was 20/10 day after.

No halos but driving at night does feel challenging... "Darker than normal" would be my description, like I want brighter headlights. Still totally worth it. Mine was in 2008.

 

[ashleybea1]

For me they gave me a Xanax before the procedure (standard, I didn't request it). Held the nurses hand during the procedure. They do make it so you can not blink so don't worry about that. The actual laser part was over in seconds. I was crying with adrenaline but it was fine and didn't affect outcome. I was 20/10 day after.

No halos but driving at night does feel challenging... "Darker than normal" would be my description, like I want brighter headlights. Still totally worth it. Mine was in 2008.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Do they let S/Os in with you. You said you held the nurses hand but can my boyfriend come with me?

 

[pryncess527]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the Valium. They gave me valium to help me stay calm, and numbing drops on the eyes. They did not allow anyone in the operating room with me.

 

[camreesmom]

Best money I ever spent. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. The only pain that I had was about 30 minutes after the surgery when the numbing drops wore off but it didn't last long. The worst part was having to wear my glasses and no makeup for three weeks before hand.

 

[Disneychix]

I just had this done 3 weeks ago. I went with all laser LASIK.
I have had great results and am MAD at myself for putting this off for so long. It truly is life-changing for me, coming from a girl who has worn contacts/glasses constantly for 25 years.

I did not have valium or zanax, I do have a BIG eye phobia and did not elect to watch a surgery before having mine.
I was relaxed. My DR was extremely calming, the room was dark, i was aware of everything that was happening and talked through it all.

It was honestly 7 mins total for 2 eyes! So easy!

 

[sonnyjane]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Do they let S/Os in with you. You said you held the nurses hand but can my boyfriend come with me?

I don't think anyone else is allowed in the room, but obviously you'll need someone to drive you home. I misspoke earlier, it was Valium (the post above this reminded me) not Xanax. I'll change my original post.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I had it done in 2004 in one eye, and it basically wore off last year. I had 11 years of great vision, and would do it over again. My left eye is only slightly near sighted, while my right eye is really nearsighted. I was having issues with night vision, so I had it done in the one eye (in case they made a mistake). I made sure I went to a doctor who had already operated on coworkers with good results, and he had a good reputation. I remember the numbing drops, but didn't need any relaxing drug. I remember them propping my eye open, and I was scared to death that I might sneeze & move my head, so barely breathed while they did the procedure, which took a few seconds. It was so interesting to "see" the procedure being done. I was given pain pills, and though my eye was a little sore when the numbness wore off I didn't take any pills. My kids were in school, so I took a taxi since you cannot drive afterwords. It was a good decision for me, and worth the money, in my opinion.

I have glasses now, but I don't have to wear them. I like to wear them when I'm tired or driving since they do make things in the distance more clear for me, and work well when I need to see the screen during meetings in conference rooms.

 

[alc571]

Had it done in 2003 and again in 2004 (retouch). I could see immediately after 20/20. My husband was allowed in the operating room with me. I only had discomfort the second time I had it done - my eyes were really scratchy afterwards. I put the drops in they gave me, went to sleep and was fine once I woke up. In 2010 I had to get glasses again for night driving, and in 2012 I had to start wearing them again full time. Now, I had a REALLY strong prescription - so much so that my eye doctor told me after that he was surprised I didn't have to wear glasses when I first had it done. My prescription now is really light - I can see without them, but not details and I can't drive at night without them. I didn't get halos but do have some glare at night - which I'm pretty sure I had at night before the surgery. I've always had bad eyesight at night time.

You should know that your eyes are always going to change, and just because you get the surgery it doesn't mean they won't continue to change. All the surgery does is re-set your eyes. You may still need glasses again in the future if that's the way your eyes are going anyway. I don't regret being glasses free for 7 years - especially when my son was young - but I am bummed I am wearing glasses again. At least I can still see my alarm clock at night (which I couldn't prior) and I can see well enough swimming not to need them.

Also, my coworker had them done around the same time as me and she also wears glasses.

 

[Disney Dynamite]

I just had LASIK a few weeks ago, and I'm thrilled with the results! At my two-week post-op appointment, my vision was 20/15 in both eyes. (They were 20/20 and 20/30 the day after the procedure.) After more than 20 years of wearing glasses and contacts, I can't even begin to tell you how exciting that is to me.

The procedure itself is very quick (not even 10 minutes) and painless. They gave me a couple of Ativans to keep me calm. Once those started working, I probably would've been okay with them cutting my eyeballs right out of head. One thing I wasn't expecting: I couldn't open my eyes for a better part of the day beginning about an hour after the procedure. My doctor assured me everything was okay and to let my eyes open when they were ready, but it was still a little alarming at the time.

The first couple of weeks after the procedure, I did experience halos while driving at night. However, they've vanished to almost nothing at this point.

 

[Crazy4DisneyandTink]

I had LASIK over ten years ago and it was the best money that I have ever spent! My vision was horrible before the surgery, I couldn't even find my glasses that I had dropped behind the bed. I started wearing glasses again last year for driving at night and sharpness. My most recent glasses have invisible bifocals for reading. I rarely ever wear my glasses unless I'm driving, but my prescription is NOTHING like I had before. I say go for it.

 

[cijay]

I only know about 20 people who had it done. Two went 'quite poorly', one went drastically poorly (needed cornea transplant) and the rest went well. That's just a teeny tiny percentage of the population and I know many many people are happy with it. It's just a huge percentage of the people *I* know so I'm going to stick to wearing glasses.