Did you/will you get lasik? I am practically blind without glasses/contacts and I want to get it! I'm interested to hear other people's experiences. Were you scared? How much did you spend?
Thanks!
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I did! It was the best decision ever. I'm really squeamish with my eyes, so if I can do it, anyone can! It was $4000, but I got a payment plan so it's pretty affordable. I think I only have about $1000 left to pay on it.
The recovery wasn't difficult either. They gave me some Valium and pain pills. I came home and took a 3 hour nap and when I woke up, there was barely any pain. I had to do antibiotic drops for a week, but it was pretty easy.
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I cannot wait to have it done. I was supposed to have it done in October last year, but surprise, #2 is on the way so I had to postpone. The thing that stinks is I have to wait until I'm done breastfeeding too. While the surgery is ok, the medication you take to help you relax and 'feel better' afterwards can get into your milk, so you can't do it while breastfeeding (at least they won't at our place). I thought it would be great to have it done before #2 so that way, middle of the night wake-ups I wouldn't be half blind and fumbling. My parents had it done last year and have loved the results so far.
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I have wanted to get it done forever. I have worn glasses since second grade, and like you am almost blind without my glasses or contacts. I can really only see large shapes unless it is an inch or two away from my eyes.
I am watchinng this thread:)
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I paid about $1500 and used my HSA so it was really affordable and I have a lifetime warranty. If my vision ever changes, I can get it redone at no cost.
My vision wasn't THAT bad before, according to the eye dr but I couldn't see to function (like walk down the hall to the bathroom) without glasses. I also had astigmatism which made night driving nearly impossible.
It's 20/20 now and I had LASIK nearly 2 years ago. I was really nervous but it was so quick and easy. The actual procedure was less than 5 minutes total. I had it done at 4pm and was fully recovered and back to work at 8am the next day.
If you have the chance, do it!! I love not having to worry about glasses or contacts or cleaner and I can wear whatever sunglasses. I love it!
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I am way to scared for Lasik. I don't think I need it though, my eye site isn't that bad. I can see fine without wearing my contacts, but I get headaches by the end of the day without them. My friend got the surgery and has double vision now. She got it 10 years ago or more, so I'm sure the technology has improved. But, hearing here talk about it makes me never want to do it.
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I got it done 8 years ago when I was 22. I was blind as a bat without it - my prescription was -6.5 and -5.75. The surgery itself was very easy and recovery was not much problem. However, by two years after the surgery I needed glasses when driving at night, and from there progressed to while driving all the time to just all the time. Right now I'm at -2.5 and -2. My surgeon (one of the TLC centers) offers lifetime adjustment which I tried to do three years ago. Unfortunately as a side effect of surgery I also have some dryness, and since that could affect my healing they didn't want to do the surgery until we got the dryness under control, which we weren't able to do to their satisfaction. At this point knowing that pregnancy and hormones can affect vision, I've put off adjustment until we are done having kids. Hopefully at that point we'll be able to treat the dryness agressively enough for me to get the second surgery.
FWIW they said less than 5% of patients need a second adjustment. No idea how common my particular situation is where I want a second adjustment but can't have it, but I feel like it's worth mentioning at least.
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Have you gone for a consult yet?
I had a very strong prescription (-8.5 in one eye and -6.5 in the other) and could not get lasik done because my cornea was not thick enough. I got the PRK surgery 4 years ago and it was a painful recovery but so worth it. Being able to see without glasses was life changing.
My eyes regressed a bit over the years, especially during pregnancy and I ended up with a small prescription of about -1.00 in each eye so I had a lasik touch up. OMG, the recovery with lasik was 100x better. I had pain for only the first day which was easily managed with tylenol. When I woke up the next day, there was no pain and I had almost 20/20 vision. A week later, I had 20/15 vision. I loved my lasik experience and would totally recommend it!
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@laurenec I am so glad I started this thread because I am pumping and totally forgot about the meds and my supply! I guess I'll have to wait until August or whenever I'm done.
@nerdbee I went for a consult about 5 years ago and chickened out! They said my corneas were good and that I was a candidate for it. I heard about pregnancy effecting your vision and originally I was going to wait until after #2 to get it, but my contacts are really getting to me (allergy season) and I would like to not have to bother with it if I have two kids running around.
@mamabolt 5% is a high number when it comes to your eyes/vision! =(
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@crunch: I had it done and it was the best.decision.ever! I even had a correction 5 years later and while I was semi annoyed - it really wasn't that big of a deal and much easier because I knew what to expect and wasn't paranoid. It cost about $4500.
I honestly don't know why everyone doesn't do it! You will feel the same when you have it done as well (why did I even hesitate! this is flipping awesome!)
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I had PRK done. Best thing ever!!
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I'm technically blind, and do not qualify for Lasik. Super sad.
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I had it done around 3 years ago and I'm SO glad I did. My eyes were really bad (contacts were like -6 and -6.5 or so, mild astigmatism) and they did warn me that with my vision, I had a slightly increased chance of needing an adjustment or mild prescription later on (like, general population was 3-5, for someone with my eyes, it was 5-7%). Within about a year after the surgery, I did need a really light prescription-- only for things like watching movies, driving (especially at night, but I'm more comfortable with them on during the day driving too) and for powerpoint presentations at work. For my day to day stuff I'm totally fine without glasses and I'd pass a driving vision test without. Since it's so mild I won't go back for a surgical adjustment.
Recovery was not bad-- I went home and slept, and they told me to have it done on a Thurs, take Friday off, and I'd be fine for work on Monday. They didn't want me reading, working on the computer, or watching TV (anything that you'd keep your eyes open a long time without blinking) for at least 24 hours, and to keep my eyes closed a lot in the first 24 hours. The first night, my eyes did hurt a little-- not a lot, but they stung, almost like I got something spicy in them or something. But the next morning I woke up and could SEE.
I would do it again in a heartbeat, even knowing I need glasses for a few things now. Mine was about $4600 and I paid for it with my flex spending account, which saved a lot with the tax stuff. -
I had LASIK done last summer. It was the BEST decision ever. It is so amazing to wake up and be able to see. Activities like swimming, skiing are all so much easier.
I was a bit nervous but they gave me an adavan and it took the edge off, ha. The whole thing took like 10 mins - only seconds per eye. The clinic I went to (TLC) was amazing. They were so kind.
It cost me about 4000$, and insurance covered $1000. I got te highest package bc I wanted the best technology and if I went with a cheaper option I'd always wonder if things could have been better. It has a lifetime guarantee which is great so if I need a touch up it will be covered.
The recovery was also better than I anticipated. After the surgery I slept. It felt like my eyes had pins in them. After I woke up I felt much better. The next day at my check up I already had 20/15 vision! My sight has been improving all the time too and I see way better than I ever did with glasses.
Truly the worst part was the 72 hours I had to go without reading, computers, texting, TV...leaves little else to do!
My only lasting side effect is dry eyes. In the mornings I put a drop in each eye and am good to go for the rest of the day.
Good luck!!! I love my new eyes
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Wow I am thrilled to hear all the good experiences. I really want to get it done and have only waited these past 10 years for the technology to get better. Sounds like now is the time! I am debating to wait until next year when I can factor it into my FSA contributions.
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I am SOOO ready to get LASIK done. I am blind blind blind without my glasses or contacts, not to mention my astigmatism makes night driving impossible (halos everywhere)
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@T-Mom: I had the evaluation done in the fall so I could max out my flex spending account for the next year, then had the surgery in January. Saved a lot of money that way but make sure you are a candidate first.
@stlginkgo: They mentioned I might still have halos at night, but since I did with my bad eyes anyway, it was no work. It is part of te reason I need glasses to drive though.
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My DH has been thinking about it, but he's so squeamish about his eyes (I basically have to trick him into getting drops in there!). He had an appointment for a consult and then he bailed. Maybe someday!
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@Foodnerd81: great advice, thanks!
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I say go for the consult and get answers to your questions
I was nervous about it but the consult (I met with the actual surgeon during mine) put me at ease and made me realize that it was the right decision.
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My DH got LASIK at the end of February and he loved it!! He paid $1500 and it seriously changed his life. He was blind without his glasses/contacts and the ability to see at every moment was amazing to him. His surgery went great and he has had zero side effects, not even extra blindness which i think is pretty common. His check-ups have all gone smoothly and his doctor offers him free touch-ups as well, so he's not too worried about the future.
I say go for it!!
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About 10 years ago. Best money spent ever! It was a couple thousand but I planned ahead and used a Flexible Spending Account so it was tax-free. I was only a little nervous because I went to the 'best doctor' in town and both my optometrist and a good friend had theirs done there too. I was pretty blind without glasses but having Lasik opened up surfing, scuba and waking up non-stop with a newborn. Love it..and now I sound like a commercial.
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Did anyone get LASIK between kids? All this talk makes me want to do it, but I am hoping we will have 1-2 more kids. Any experience with that??
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I had LASIK done about 6 months before getting pregnant. I knew I wanted to be rid of contacts for the purpose of napping during the day, but I didn't realize the other benefits I would get from the surgery. During pregnancy I was really glad to not have to put on my glasses every time I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night! And I am a better napper now that I can close my eyes when I'm tired and not need to remove my contacts before falling asleep.
I also had very bad vision, so I couldn't go to one of the "storefront" LASIK locations (where the price is usually cheaper). I had an ophthalmologist from one of the local hospital systems do my surgery. The cost was $4,500 but I used my HSA account to pay for it. Of course, considering that I just paid $4,500 for the birth of my daughter, sometimes I think it would have been nice to still have that money in my pocket. But think about the savings when it comes to not buying contacts, solution, glasses, etc. for the next 30 years! -
@char54: When I went in for my surgery, the doctor asked me if he had given me a sedative to take before coming in. I replied that he hadn't and gave him a quizzical look. He saw my look and said that he doesn't usually see people so calm before the procedure so he was sure I was sedated!
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I kind of want to but I'm a little scared of lasers near my eyes... This morning while putting on my contacts, I said to DH, "I wish these could just be permanently implanted in my eyes." And he said, "They have that. It's called LASIK." Lol, easy for him to say with his 20/20 vision! It just makes me nervous but I hate putting in contacts and wearing glasses.
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