LASIK surgery

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Replies

  • tlmclennan
    tlmclennan Posts: 26 Member
    I had Lasik about 3 years ago (don't remember exactly). I live around Dallas, so I had many options. I chose a board certified & highly experienced doctor. In other words, do your research. Cheap is sometimes too good to be true.

    First, they had to check my eyes to see if I qualified. I did.
    Then, I scheduled my appointment. I was given three medications before the surgery. The 10 mg Valium was to be taken 30 minutes before surgery. Then, I was to use the 2 kinds of eye drops a few days before the surgery. Also, I had to go without my contacts for several days (don't remember how many) before the surgery.

    The day of surgery I was instructed to go without makeup. I went and signed in & took the valium when they told me it was 30 minutes until surgery. They took me in the room & they gave me a stress ball to squeeze & I squeezed the HELL out of it. Haha.

    You can't blink because they keep your eye open with these metal claw type things. I was told to follow the "green light" as they did the surgery. I was scared because I couldn't keep up with the green light & I was so afraid that it would ruin my eyes. But, the doc said that it automatically quit cutting if it was lined up (something like that). At some point, they will warn you that everything is about to go white. And, it does. That was scary. The whole process didn't take long at all.

    Recovery time was nothing as I was in no pain. I had to wear a super cool pair of goggles (insert sarcasm) for several days after the surgery. They are to prevent you from scratching or rubbing your eyes. It's imperative that you DO NOT scratch or rub them because the lens can be pushed out of place (it's healing).

    My vision didn't become super clear until a few weeks after. Even then, I had to continuously use lube eye drops bc they cut your tear ducts in the process. Don't worry, the tear ducts will heal.

    Yes, it was scary. The following days and weeks were uncomfortable due to severely dry eyes. I went through tons of eye drops.

    Am I glad I got the surgery? HELL YES. It was worth every penny & I love, love, love not having to wear contacts or glasses. It was a miracle being able to see clearly first thing in the morning. I started wearing corrective lenses in the 3rd grade.

    I have perfect vision now. I still keep a bottle of eye lube with me. But, I only use it once or twice a day. I know that I will most likely have to have glasses again someday. That's normal as you age.

    Bottom line: Yes, it's scary and expensive. But, it was totally worth it. Be sure and research your doctor. Good luck. :)

    Thanks for the description of the process. Those are the things I need to know so I will know what to expect.
    You said that your vision didn't complete clear up for a few weeks. Did you have trouble reading/driving/etc during the healing process?

    Also, I was reading that those were more the effects of PRK. Did you have PRK/Lasek or Lasik? Just curious! Thank you!

    It was definitely only Lasik. The reason my eyes were so dry is because when they create the LASIK flap, they cut your cornea nerves. It was just dry eye & luckily it healed over time. But, it wasn't so bad that I was unable to drive, read, etc.

    The dry eye that I had with contacts was painful, whereas the dry eye that I had from the surgery was just "uncomfortable" and annoying. The blurry vision that I was experiencing periodically was only due to dry eye. It cleared right up after I put drops in.
    Are we sure this was Lasik? I had it done as well and best decision ever, but lasik only uses a laser to shape the eye? There is definitely no cutting or flaps involved? My eyes were very dry afterwards as well but that is from the laser re-shaping your eye. Mine was done over 12 years ago now and my eyesight is still perfect.
  • cbluna
    cbluna Posts: 26
    I did it about 10 years ago, best choice I could have made for the health of my eyes I either wore my contacts WAY longer than was okay between cleanings, or I didn't wear my glasses. Did the LASIK and was literally out of work for 1 day (the Friday), then back to work Monday, no worse for the wear. Though I did interestingly learn that I'm one of the 1 in 200,000 people who has the opposity reaction to synthetic Valium...who knew it would turn me into a chipmunk on crack--didn't affect the surgery, but it sure made laying still a challenge :laugh: . The zillions of "preservative free wetting drops" got a little old before long, but totally worth it in every way. Oh, and I don't get the halos at night, never did. I'm 37, and don't yet need reading glasses for close stuff.
  • spersephone
    spersephone Posts: 148 Member
    I'd love to do it - I've worn glasses since I was 16 and find contacts incredibly uncomfortable. There's no money for it now, but in a couple of years I'm planning to.
  • fShaw86
    fShaw86 Posts: 878 Member
    You can't blink because they keep your eye open with these metal claw type things. I was told to follow the "green light" as they did the surgery. I was scared because I couldn't keep up with the green light & I was so afraid that it would ruin my eyes. But, the doc said that it automatically quit cutting if it was lined up (something like that). At some point, they will warn you that everything is about to go white. And, it does. That was scary. The whole process didn't take long at all.

    lol forgot about when everything goes white/black. It's like whoa what the heck is going on, am I alive?
  • fShaw86
    fShaw86 Posts: 878 Member
    Am I the only one here with the halo effect?! Maybe I'm an angel. :devil:

    And for everyone contemplating LASIK, totally do it.

    The most amazing feeling in the world is waking up to a crystal clear world without reaching for your contacts or glasses.
  • 84woolf
    84woolf Posts: 153
    3 members of my family have had it done. Within 2 days eyes were much better, not as sore & as dry.......2 had very bad vision, now they're all perfect & so glad they had it done! Majority of the studies out there regarding the procedure are dated. Its an extremely safe & has a huge success rate. Go for it!
  • jennpaulson
    jennpaulson Posts: 850 Member
    I had my LASIK done 12 years ago, back when they still used a knife to cut the flap on your eye. And as I tell anyone who asks, if this was a procedure I had to have done every year, heck.. every month to maintain the results I'd do it. It was the best money I've ever spent. They say it can take up to a year afterwards for all the swelling to be gone but I was at 20/30 that day after the procedure and at 20/20 when I went back either the next day or two days afterwards (driving myself). I didn't take valium beforehand but the numbing eye drops that I used beforehand definitely felt a little freaky (to see yourself blinking but not feel your lids on your eyeball). After the procedure my eyes were gritty that day but fine by the next. I had antibiotic eye drops and I believe some sort of sterroid drops for swelling that I used for a week or two afterwards and that was it. I still see perfectly, although as someone else said a little more sensitive to sunlight.

    Good luck with your decision!!
  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    I had Lasik about 3 years ago (don't remember exactly). I live around Dallas, so I had many options. I chose a board certified & highly experienced doctor. In other words, do your research. Cheap is sometimes too good to be true.

    First, they had to check my eyes to see if I qualified. I did.
    Then, I scheduled my appointment. I was given three medications before the surgery. The 10 mg Valium was to be taken 30 minutes before surgery. Then, I was to use the 2 kinds of eye drops a few days before the surgery. Also, I had to go without my contacts for several days (don't remember how many) before the surgery.

    The day of surgery I was instructed to go without makeup. I went and signed in & took the valium when they told me it was 30 minutes until surgery. They took me in the room & they gave me a stress ball to squeeze & I squeezed the HELL out of it. Haha.

    You can't blink because they keep your eye open with these metal claw type things. I was told to follow the "green light" as they did the surgery. I was scared because I couldn't keep up with the green light & I was so afraid that it would ruin my eyes. But, the doc said that it automatically quit cutting if it was lined up (something like that). At some point, they will warn you that everything is about to go white. And, it does. That was scary. The whole process didn't take long at all.

    Recovery time was nothing as I was in no pain. I had to wear a super cool pair of goggles (insert sarcasm) for several days after the surgery. They are to prevent you from scratching or rubbing your eyes. It's imperative that you DO NOT scratch or rub them because the lens can be pushed out of place (it's healing).

    My vision didn't become super clear until a few weeks after. Even then, I had to continuously use lube eye drops bc they cut your tear ducts in the process. Don't worry, the tear ducts will heal.

    Yes, it was scary. The following days and weeks were uncomfortable due to severely dry eyes. I went through tons of eye drops.

    Am I glad I got the surgery? HELL YES. It was worth every penny & I love, love, love not having to wear contacts or glasses. It was a miracle being able to see clearly first thing in the morning. I started wearing corrective lenses in the 3rd grade.

    I have perfect vision now. I still keep a bottle of eye lube with me. But, I only use it once or twice a day. I know that I will most likely have to have glasses again someday. That's normal as you age.

    Bottom line: Yes, it's scary and expensive. But, it was totally worth it. Be sure and research your doctor. Good luck. :)

    Thanks for the description of the process. Those are the things I need to know so I will know what to expect.
    You said that your vision didn't complete clear up for a few weeks. Did you have trouble reading/driving/etc during the healing process?

    Also, I was reading that those were more the effects of PRK. Did you have PRK/Lasek or Lasik? Just curious! Thank you!

    It was definitely only Lasik. The reason my eyes were so dry is because when they create the LASIK flap, they cut your cornea nerves. It was just dry eye & luckily it healed over time. But, it wasn't so bad that I was unable to drive, read, etc.

    The dry eye that I had with contacts was painful, whereas the dry eye that I had from the surgery was just "uncomfortable" and annoying. The blurry vision that I was experiencing periodically was only due to dry eye. It cleared right up after I put drops in.
    Are we sure this was Lasik? I had it done as well and best decision ever, but lasik only uses a laser to shape the eye? There is definitely no cutting or flaps involved? My eyes were very dry afterwards as well but that is from the laser re-shaping your eye. Mine was done over 12 years ago now and my eyesight is still perfect.

    Yes, we are sure it was Lasik. Perhaps it would benefit you to look it up. :wink:

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