In my usual impulsive vein, I pulled the trigger and scheduled a lasik procedure next week. I’m expecting masking will be with us for a long time and I was super uncomfortable last school year in my glasses, plus little kids, plus working out…I’m ready.
I know a few people have had it - TR I remember you had mixed feelings. Any updates? Anyone else feel up to sharing their experience? Suggestions to help with any of it?
I had Lasik done a super long time ago. It was my parents college graduation gift to me. I know the procedure has changed some (for the better) since then. 18 years later I still have perfect vision. Really, the best gift I've ever gotten. They give you some valium for the procedure, but it's a super quick deal. Each eye took less than a minute to correct.
Post by maudefindlay on Jul 23, 2021 8:39:26 GMT -5
I had my LASIK done 16 yrs ago and still going strong. Just had an eye exam 2 months ago and still no need for prescription Eyewear. I'm 44 now. The only issue I noticed after is that with night driving I see oncoming headlights as much brighter/blurry blobs which is annoying.
As far as what helps see if someone can watch your kids that day so that you can come home after and lay down and nap (I didn't have kids yet when I had mine done). I was asked to keep my eyes closed for a time after when I got home, so a nap made sense. I also had all my blinds closed ahead of time for when I got home. They say initially it is like you are looking thru wax paper, but I never really experienced that. My vision was maybe a little blurry initially, but after my nap it was pretty clear and noticeably better vision. You of course need someone to drive you home after and iirc to drive you to/from the next day for an appt. Not sure if I was allowed to drive after the second day or how long it took. The actual procedure was easy. They gave me something to mellow me out, but I was awake. The things to hold your eyes open are maybe the worst of it, but not awful. They covered me in a blanket from the warmer too and the chair was reclined back all the way like I was laying down. They maybe even gave me a pillow or stuffed something or other to hug. It was an overall great experience.
I had it done about 15 years ago and it's still some of the best money I've ever spent. I was RIDICULOUSLY nearsighted and had issues with haloing at night due to astigmatism; my vision is still 20/20 and my night vision is a million times better. Definitely stay on top of the post-op eye drops, the dryness/itching was the worst part since you can't rub your eyes. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
My boyfriend had it about 5 years ago and has been nudging me since I started waffling about it after I started my job and then the money became available…so I’m doing it!
I wanted to hear more from women because I think hormones and aging are different and can impact how people feel about the procedure.
Kids are with XH until 2 days after so I should be golden!
Post by lightbulbsun on Jul 23, 2021 8:52:01 GMT -5
I had it done four years ago, and I am so happy I did. The recovery wasn't too bad, there was a lot of burning for about 4 hours after the procedure, and after that it mostly just felt like irritation for a few days.
The only side effect I had was halos at night for a while. That lasted for maybe six months before it went away, and now I only get them if I really strain my eyes for a long time (like if I work late and spend 10+ hours looking at a screen).
I had it done 11 years ago and still have 20/20 vision (I’m 45). My prescription before was -9, and I have always said it was hands down the best money I’ve ever spent.
My experience: I went in, and they gave me a pill to relax me and put some numbing drops in my eyes and had me sit and wait for about 15 minutes. Then I went in and sat in this big chair, which they reclined way back. They put this sort of heavy thing over my eye, which basically just felt like pressure. Then I looked into this lens - like when you’re at the optometrist sort of, and they put in some sort of liquid spit looked sort of like looking underwater. They said to hold very still, and I didn’t really feel anything, just the continued pressure of that weight they’d put on. It was over in less than a minute. Then repeat with the other eye.
Then they walked me to a second room where they had me sit for a bit. At that point I could already tell my vision was perfect, but things were sort of…foggy and my eyes felt gritty. Went home and slept for few hours. When I woke up I had quite a bit of pain, took some Advil then slept on and off for the rest of the day/night. You’ll generally keep the goggles on as it’s very important to not accidentally rub your eyes. By the next day I felt almost normal, and by the day after completely normal. The worst part was not being able to wear eye makeup for a couple of weeks. 😂
Dh did it probably 10 years ago and it’s been great….he’s 40 now. It was an easy procedure and fast recovery and went smoothly. I even got to watch. . His only complaint is that his night vision isn’t as perfect now but I think it was probably super human before. But he highly recommends it and is very happy he did it.
Yes, I had it done in 2018. Before I tell the bad parts, I’d probably say I’m ultimately glad I did it, but it wasn’t the OMG MIRACLE I had heard stories about before I did it.
I had a hard recovery day. My surgery was mid-morning and the Valium didn’t relax me enough to really sleep when I got home, I wish I’d taken an actual Unisom or something. I only slept maybe an hour and was in a LOT of pain when I woke up. I remember finding my phone through squinty, watery eyes and calling my mom (bc I didn’t want to bother H at work) sobbing asking her to Google what the recovery time was so I’d know when it would be over.
I had really bad dry eye initially and for the first year - 18 months. I had to use drops 5-6 times a day and any time other than right after I used them, things weren’t totally sharp. This is unique to me, but I felt kind of dismissed bu the doctor about my concerns and I actually think the issue was also that they didn’t correct them quite all the way because I finally saw a different doctor she was like, “Yeah, you should probably have some glasses with a small prescription.” WTF. So now I have those and use them for driving at night or when it’s rainy (that’s when things are a little less sharp than I’m comfortable with). I will also use them if I ever go to a play or show again because I could never see faces down on a stage clearly after LASIK. Unfortunately, I picked up my new glasses March 13, 2020 lol so I haven’t been able to enjoy that experience yet.
Anyway. It is very nice not worrying about contacts, but I’ve traded that for worrying about having eye drops. I still need them once at night and once first thing in the morning. My eyes are painfully dry in the mornings.
One really interesting thing is that I used to have recurring nightmares about trying to find something or find my way and everything was blurry (I’d had glasses or contacts since 4th grade). After LASIK, those stopped immediately. It’s like my subconscious knew that wasn’t something wr had to worry about anymore.
I had it done five years ago and have zero regrets! The procedure itself is so quick. I took the valium beforehand, it relaxed me during the procedure that was only a couple minutes, then slept it off for a few hours. I had to keep my eyes closed for a certain time period after (I forget how long) so the ride home felt weird being guided around with closed eyes, but then I got home, slept off the meds which kept my eyes shut for the required time frame, and was good to go. I did have to sleep with these plastic eye patch things on for some time after. It's so you don't accidentally rub your eyes in your sleep. The eye drops are the only real "recovery" piece, so as long as you keep up with that it's not a big deal. My eye doctor told me that eventually as my eyes age I'll need readers, but that's basically unavoidable because it's just a part of the aging process. Lasik can't fix/prevent that.
I’ve always wanted LASIK, but the cost is really daunting. Can someone share just how much it was?
I just found my email receipt and it was $3650 for both eyes. In 2018. That would have included one adjustment within 6 months which I think I should have had, but they pushed aside my concerns as dryness. Anyway. I’m clearly not happy with my doctors lol.
Did any of you have dry eyes before the procedure?
For about the last 6 months my dry eye has gotten significantly worse. One time I had to pull over while driving because my eyes were burning so badly that I couldn't keep them open. I've thought about getting LASIK for years but this has spurred me to consider it more seriously so that I don't need contacts (which seem to spark my dry eye issues), but then I've also read that it can make dry eye worse.
I didn’t shop for pricing because I’m very close with my eye doctor and he gave me 2 doctors who he would trust to do his procedure. I went with the one with a more convenient schedule.
Mine is 2k per eye after 25% off from my insurance and I got a small discount for paying cash vs using credit.
Thanks for all the anecdotes everyone, this is really helpful.
TR, do you get 7+ hrs of sleep? My bf had terrible dry eyes since his LASIK up until he met me and started on a better sleep schedule!
Post by aprilsails on Jul 23, 2021 10:28:53 GMT -5
lust2hart I would definitely go in for a consultation with them and see if LASIK is appropriate for you. I can’t wear contacts at all due to allergies to contact solution, but I had no issue with LASIK or the recovery period.
For the OP, I had it done 5 years ago now. I still have perfect vision and I’ve gone through one pregnancy since. I did have to use drops very religiously for the first 6 months, and daily until 18 months before and after I woke up, but I am allergic to my cats and that mostly presents as itchy eyes so mine were always irritated at home. I still use them occasionally, but that’s more as a solution to having itchy eyes rather than the dry pain it is at the start.
I had mild prescription (1.00 and 0.75) correction and no astigmatism and my entire procedure cost $1400CDN. Very well worth the price for me, even though I didn’t need to wear my glasses at all times.
Post by keweenawlove on Jul 23, 2021 10:41:50 GMT -5
I had LASIK when I was 21. I think I got it on the Thursday, got cleared to drive the day after, and my vision was okay enough to study for an exam that Monday.
I had a little bit of regression (expected given my prescription starting point) so I got a PRK enhancement in early 2020. Recovery was a little longer, maybe a week until I felt okay driving. Overall, 100% no regrets on getting either.
I’ve always wanted LASIK, but the cost is really daunting. Can someone share just how much it was?
Mine was about $3800 in January. I have an HDHP with HSA but that means I can also have a limited expense FSA just for eye and dental. I maxed that out (2,750) so it’s coming out of my check all year but was able to submit the bill the day I had it and the money was released a couple days later.
Post by purplepenguin7 on Jul 23, 2021 18:06:02 GMT -5
I’ll offer a little bit of a counter experience, but will preface it by saying I do not regret the procedure at all and it has definitely made my life easier. For me, the surgery itself was super easy, quick and painless. It was pre-kids so I basically came home and slept all day maybe listened to a podcast when I could squint enough to press play. My recovery felt fine but my eye sight never adjusted to 20/20. My eye doctor and surgeon both thought it would adjust when my eyes were less dry or as recovery continued but it never did. I had a “correction” done one eye a few months later but still never got to 20/20. I don’t know my exact eyesight but I struggle with reading things that are far away, like some street signs or like work presentations if I’m in the back of a large room.
Overall my eyesight is extremely better than it was pre lasik and not having to wear contacts all day, and most of all waking up and just being able to see without fumbling for contacts or glasses have made it worth for me.
[…] my eye sight never adjusted to 20/20. My eye doctor and surgeon both thought it would adjust when my eyes were less dry or as recovery continued but it never did. I had a “correction” done one eye a few months later but still never got to 20/20. I don’t know my exact eyesight but I struggle with reading things that are far away, like some street signs or like work presentations if I’m in the back of a large room.
Overall my eyesight is extremely better than it was pre lasik and not having to wear contacts all day, and most of all waking up and just being able to see without fumbling for contacts or glasses have made it worth for me.
Yeah, this is similar to my outcome. They told me I had 20/20 vision and never offered a correction, but I obviously don’t if 2.5 years later another doctor gave me a prescription for glasses.
Post by purplepenguin7 on Jul 23, 2021 19:04:12 GMT -5
TR, sorry you had a similar experience. I’m “lucky” that I don’t actually need glasses. It’s been about 5 years for me now so I’ve just come to terms with this being my vision for now. While I’m not at 20/20 it’s not quiet enough to be an impairment to my vision. Back when I figuring everything out the eye doctor did give me contacts for one-step up (.5?) I used them once or twice but then decided it just wasn’t worth it.
I had it in mid June, so I'm about 6 weeks out. So far it's fine. I'm not having to swap glasses for reading and then for the tv and then for the computer. I still need readers for reading and the computer. I'm probably a bit older than most of you, and I knew it was a definite possibility. It's not the end of the world since I wore glasses all day working on the computer. I just got some Warby Parker readers, and the quality it much better than anything I have gotten on Amazon. Granted, they are 10x as expensive ($95 all inclusive). They also look a lot cuter. I have a feeling I'll wind up with prescription "readers" later this fall after my vision stabilizes. WP has a guarantee for the first year and will replace the lenses for FREE if you switch what you want/need.
I've kept up with the drops although I only do it about 5x/day. Some days my eyes are drier than others. I do go back for a checkup in about 3 weeks. There was some concern about a scar I had on my eye, but I think it got lasered off. Definitely use the preservative free ones. I've found Costco and Walmart to be cheapest. Go ahead and buy 2 big boxes of them (100 count). You'll burn through them faster than you think.
The procedure itself was a snap. They did the incision with one laser, moved you to another table and did the LASIK with another laser, and that was it. No valium, nothing. I was able to drive the next day. Halos aren't bothering me too much, but maybe I don't have it as bad as some people.
It was expensive, but I also needed new sunglasses this year ($65 even through Zenni), new lenses for my cycling glasses ($175-200 just the lenses), a new good pair of glasses ($200 even with insurance), and 2 backup pairs from Zenni ($35) plus a new pair to wear for the computer ($30). So, I'll save money over 20 years or so. Maybe it will pay for itself before I retire.
Post by basilosaurus on Jul 24, 2021 1:29:15 GMT -5
I think I'm around 10 years out. I don't need any correction. I thought that since I'd had correction since age 6 it wouldn't really matter. And, it really didn't that much. I'd already taken out contacts every night for many years.
The weird thing is now I have dreams where my vision is fuzzy. I never had that before. My dreams previously were clear.
Since I'd worn corrective everything for so long, I didn't think I would care to ditch them. In retrospect I don't think it had mattered. I would have said taking out lenses is nbd, and it really isn't, but it's been nice to only have those dreams rather than real life. I don't think I can explain it better than that because it's not exactly life changing. But it is in a way if you've done with worrying about lenses for over 20 years and now you don't.
This thread prompted me to contact a clinic to see about getting it done and the place my friend suggested is actually in the same building as my work!
I had a very positive experience as well. I had it done about 14 years ago and still have perfect-ish vision (I think it’s 20/20 And 20/25) and occasional dry eye issues but I had them before as well. My parents paid for it because my dad always felt bad he surely passed down his terrible eye sight (and he went to Canada for corrective surgery as soon as he felt it was safe) and it was truly the best gift and one of the best days of my life. When I walked out of the surgery center I remember squinting out of one eye and saying to my mom, “OMG! I can see stuff!”
Post by basilosaurus on Jul 24, 2021 13:07:19 GMT -5
I shouldn't say my above means I regret it. I don't in the least. I, too, went out that night for dinner. I had to squint b/c I lived on the beach, and it was windy, but I enjoyed what H ordered for me. Next morning I was 20/20. I still have a few dry eye issues, but I might have had them anyway.
I just want to give the perspective that it wasn't life changing, but I don't regret it for a second. You'll be fine either way. I'd be fine if I still had to deal with contacts and glasses. But I'm happy I don't have to.
Post by gibbinator on Jul 24, 2021 13:21:03 GMT -5
I had lasik done in Summer 2019 and it was the best money I ever spent. Even with mild side effects since then (slight dry eyes, slight star bursts) the ability to just see everything so much outweighs those inconveniences. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
I had the all-laser version where they use a laser to make the corneal flap instead of a knife. It was over so fast. I had it done around 2pm and by evening the "someone's cutting onions beside me eyes" feeling was mostly gone and I could see pretty well (things were just a bit cloudy). I went to a bachelerette party the next day
Make sure to follow the rules on the drops, and if they tell you to start doing drops in the days before the procedure make sure you do that as well - the healthier your eyes are going into it, the faster they'll heal. Being moist is a big part of that.
At my 2yr follow up I've still got better than 20/20 vision.
ETA: For about 3 months after the surgery, one of my eyes would frequently feel like there was something in my eye - usually this meant it was dry and I should put in some drops. I also had starbursts around any lights for a good 6 months after the procedure. It was particularly distracting at Christmas and when driving at night. But by about a year the effect was minor enough to be barely noticeable. I still notice it with driving at night but it's not a degree that it's problematic for safety, etc. Usually the dry eyes are only noticeable in dry months (Jan and Feb mostly) after working in front of a computer all day. It goes away pretty fast after I finish work and actually start blinking properly.