What can you tell me about Lasik eye surgery?

coasterqueen wrote: I mentioned to Dh the other day that I need to get in to have my annual eye exam and purchase a year supply of contact lenses so that it's covered by our plan. Each year they pay for that and I haven't done it this year so I need to get in before the 31st.

Anyways, he mentioned that maybe I should just get Lasik done since our insurance covers a portion of it. Not sure the amount, though.

So can you give me any info on it?

boyohboyohboy replied: I have always wanted to do that, but I am so afraid to let someone mess with my eyes,
I only know one person who had it done, and she still had to wear glasses to read..

luvmykids replied:
That is very common, 95% of people have to wear reading glasses when they near their 40's, Lasik or not. I don't know the age of your friend but Lasik does make that disclaimer.


I had it done about three years ago and can't imagine not having done it. It wasn't that bad, a little freaky but they give you a Valium to take the edge off. All you have to do is hold still, they gave me a stress ball to squeeze if I needed to freak out, which I didn't. The only part that was weird to me is when they make the cut, everything goes black but you don't feel anything, in fact it just feels like you've closed your eyes. A big thing was the urge to blink but you can blink without screwing anything up because they have a shield around your eye. The numbing drops are great, nothing uncomfortable whatsoever other than psychological and even that wasn't bad, and I am one who typically freaks out, even at someone putting eyedrops in for me.

It helped tremendously with my night vision, I couldn't drive at night even with glasses or contacts because glare was soooo bad. Once in awhile now I feel like my vision is slipping but it's b/c after Lasik you are a little more prone to dry eye, eyedrops clear it right up.

I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Depends on your situation. Both my inlaws had it done..they had what they call monovision, where they do one eye for near and one for far. My FIL doesn't need glasses at all, but my MIL needs glasses to read up close.

I had it done last year..and i'm a big chicken. It was fine. I had horrible vision... and now i't pretty much 20\20. This past year has brought about an adjustment (as expected) and I'm going in on January 8th because my right eye is a little blurrier than my left. Not enough to cause vision problems...but if I spend too much time at my computer, I get a headache. Small price to pay.

It cost me 3000$ - but I had top of the line, from the #1 eye institute in Canada. Average cost is between 700 - 1200$ per eye if you go to a specialised clinic.. There are a few different types of procedures... the ones that were an option for me was either cutting the top flap of the cornea, doing the surgery, then putting the flap back down... or removing the top layer of the cornea alltogether to do the surgery and letting the cornea rebuild itself, with the help of a contact to cover it. That's what I had.

The pain afterwards wasn't all that bad... stung. Much like getting soap in your eyes... for a few days. You can expect to be pretty much in bed sleeping for 3 days straight... not much else you can do, conisidering you can't see much. Then there are the trillion drops you have to put in your eyes a few times a day... they do really help. I still use the liquid refresher once in a while when my eyes are dry. It takes a few days for you to be able to open your eyes properly and of course the time period to adjust to the light. You should be wearing sunglasses. *I wear my sunglasses at night..so I can so I can.. * lol

Anyways, well worth it, in my opinion. Well worth it.

luvmykids replied: Mine was the higher end too, at a specialist, mostly because nobody else would do mine as my astigmatisms were too severe. I had the first surgery Rocky mentioned, where they cut the flap and put it back down.

The day of was my sleeping day, I was home by 10am and slept all day. But by the next day for my follow up, I had 20/20 and could drive, in fact drove myself there. The only thing I felt that day and maybe the next was a little irritation, like I had something in my eye, but I could totally ignore it. Had to wear goggles to sleep for the first four or five days, so you don't accidentally rub it in your sleep.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
Oh you're lucky!! I guess I got the crap end of the stick... lol

coasterqueen replied: Ok, maybe I will stick with contacts.

Calimama replied:
So would I! I'm too worried that they'll make mistakes and I'd go blind.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
ME TOO!!!! It freaks me out.

luvmykids replied: Honestly, I am SO freaked about my eyes, but it was totally doable and absolutely worth it

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
Same here. my mom kept telling me - wait til the kids are older in case you go blind and won't see them grow up

honestly the chances of something going wrong are ridiculously miniscule.

My eyes water if something comes to close to them. I shut them at loud noises. I can't stand watching ppl touch their eyes... and I don't know how in the world i managed to put contacts in. Absolutely worth it.

gr33n3y3z replied: My friend had it done and what Mon said its no big deal

luvmykids replied:
The surgery was actually easier than the entire first week I had contacts

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
I agree!!!!!

My3LilMonkeys replied:
Really? My doctor said I couldn't have Lasik because my astigmatisms are so severe...maybe what he meant was I couldn't afford the higher end specialist I would need.

luvmykids replied:
Yes, they were BAD. I went to two different places before I tried this guy as a last resort, turns out he specializes in severe astigmatisms.

choochoo replied: Go for it! I had it done about 3-4 years ago and it was easy-peasy.

I was 20/400 with astigmatism in both eyes...and now, I'm 20/20. Love it! I keep talking about how great it is, and people who have perfect vision look at me like I'm weird...'cuz they just can't comprehend the joy of not having to reach for glasses or contacts so you can see what time it is or whatever.

The first time I saw actual blades of grass instead of a blanket of green, I was soooo happy I had lasik, and I'm sure you will, too.

mckayleesmom replied: Wow...I wonder if I should have it done. Im suppose to wear my glasses for reading and driving, but I can't stand anything on my face..so I never wear then..Except for driving. My night vision is getting bad too.

I wonder if tricare covers lasic

DVFlyer replied: Had mine done over 7 years ago. No regrets.

choochoo replied: I must restress that lasik will NOT help with age-related near-sightedness (having to wear reading glasses) unless you try monovision.

luvmykids replied:
It made a HUGE difference for me in my night vision....it had gotten so bad I honestly could not drive at night. Now it's no problem.

:.Mrs_Mommy.: replied: I guess I am with alot of people, I have worn glasses since I was a little girl and would love to have Lasick done just so I don't have to alway take off and put on my glasses. I am just freakin a bit about having a SURGERY on my eyes. One of my biggest fears is going blind. I have trouble putting eye drops in ( have to make DH do it for me, I lie back and he puts them in, laughing at me the whole time cuz I squint and shut my eyes lol)

I have been thinking about it for years though...maybe I should do more research.

coasterqueen replied: I decided, for now, against the surgery. Why? Because I hear about how Kathy Griffin had it done and had permanent eye sight loss in one eye. Nope, sorry, not taking a chance right now.