So, I got laser eye surgery.

[Flipmo]

I thought I should make this thread since I recall some people being interested in it...

Anyways, I didn't do both eyes simultaneously. My ophthalmologist is very cautious and conservative on the issue and likes doing 1 eye at a time, you know just in case something goes wrong. Now before you ask, I didn't do that Lasik surgery where some random guy cuts up your eye and sprays confetti in the air when it's done.

There are 3 different kinds of surgeries

- Lasik
- Lasek
- PRK (Photorefractive keratectomy)

I did PRK, usually the safest surgery because it doesn't involve using a metal blade to create flaps in the cornea. Technically, what they do is they freeze your eye and clear off the top layer of the your eye (took about 10-15 minutes), after that it's the laser into the eye (it was about 22 seconds, they did a count down like a Russian warship launching a nuke).

The only problem with PRK is the recovery time is longer. The first eye took about 3 days to recover, and it's irritating as hell. Once they take out the 'contact lens bandage' you're required to put drops constantly. Also, the vision isn't 20/20 right away since the top layer of the eye is still returning to normal. It might take a week, or 2... for some even a month to be 20/20, but for me after a week I was practically at 18/20 (I'm a very fast healer apparently).

I did my left eye on Friday (the right eye I did 3 weeks ago), and the lens was out on Sunday, which apparently is very fast. I'm on eye drops now and my eye is still a bit swollen, but not really noticeable.

It cost me about 700$ an eye (thankfully I have good family insurance and a decent paying job), which I've been told is a lot less than what some people pay in the USA which ranges between 1000 to 1200$ the eye. (Yikes)

Is it worth the money? Hell fucking yeah. Glasses are already expensive, and I have pretty sensitive eyes, so contacts are hell for me. Especially it would be about 200 to 300$ a year + the glasses whenever my prescription changed. In the end, it financially it was worth doing with the correction surgery since it will more than likely last me till I'm in my 50s and need reading glasses. I pay sports so it helps, among other reasons. Also as a bonus, I don't have to throw my glasses across the room once I get into passionate hawt secks. :embarresd:

Anyways, if there are any questions feel free to ask!

PS: Oh yeah, before you can get the surgery, they'll have to check your eyes to see if your retina and cornea can handle the laser. Most eyes can do it, but there are some that can't. It didn't cost anything to get that done though, since it's a referral 2

Oh, and none of it hurts (the procedure itself, the recovery can be frustrating though)

 

[keco52]

I want this soooooo bad but I have to wait for my vision to stop getting worse and stabilize. I lost my contact in the pool the other day and now I have bruises all over the left side of my body from where I kept bumping into shish.

Yay for you!

 

[Pittsey]

I quite like glasses. Although I don't wear them very often my eyes are only -1.25.

 

[Elmira]

I'm sure my vision is deteriorating every day, especially with the time spent idly on the computer. I wouldn't put a laser in the hand of any 'professional' though and let him point it at my eyes. I feel like if that procedure for some reason went wrong, it could go terribly wrong. And I rather not take that gamble.

 

[Pittsey]

I'm sure my vision is deteriorating every day, especially with the time spent idly on the computer. I wouldn't put a laser in the hand of any 'professional' though and let him point it at my eyes. I feel like if that procedure for some reason went wrong, it could go terribly wrong. And I rather not take that gamble.

I have a laser generator at work. It says do not look into the laser. I kind of feel like it is daring me.

 

[S O F I]

I don't get it. What's your question again?


Anyway, congrats.

 

[Flipmo]

I want this soooooo bad but I have to wait for my vision to stop getting worse and stabilize. I lost my contact in the pool the other day and now I have bruises all over the left side of my body from where I kept bumping into shish.

Yay for you!

Hmm, were you looking into Lasik? That wasn't an issue once I went to see my doctor. Unless your vision really fluctuates a lot!

I quite like glasses. Although I don't wear them very often my eyes are only -1.25.

You know, I also loved wearing glasses; they suited me well, but when you play sports, are out on the beach, etc... I just didn't want to bother anymore going between contacts, glasses, contacts, glasses.

I'm sure my vision is deteriorating every day, especially with the time spent idly on the computer. I wouldn't put a laser in the hand of any 'professional' though and let him point it at my eyes. I feel like if that procedure for some reason went wrong, it could go terribly wrong. And I rather not take that gamble.

LOL. I felt the same way. No matter who it is, I was like hell NO. Once I learned about it a bit more I said why not. Sometimes you just have to overcome any paranoia or fear and take the plunge.

If it is any reassurance. It's usually a doctor and an assistant. He doesn't really point something at your eye - you're under a machine. lol. The laser can't go crazy on you either. What happens is that it targets your eye, and makes 12 points on the eye so it always stays focused. So if your eye moves a bit, the laser will follow it with perfect precision. Now, if you spas out and make a huge movement with the eye - the laser and machine completely stops until it focuses with the 12 point system. It's really interesting how it works. It's nothing like the technology that was around 5 years ago. At least that's for the case where I went; they tend to keep up with every new laser and system that comes out.

If you're really considering it - go see an ophthalmologist and ask him some questions before you make a decision. I did the same since I was pretty paranoid that my eye would go out, and I'd have to wear a pirate eye-patch (which didn't bother me too much - ladies love pirates :love: ) ... it helped alleviate some of that tension I had.

 

[Synful*Luv]

I really enjoy my glasses but I can't imagine what it would be like to just See. LOL

It's scary but it's nice to know someone who went through it and hear that it wasn't so bad.

So, during the process itself you felt absolutely nothing at all?

Can you give more details about the recovery period?

 

[Shadows]

I quite like glasses. Although I don't wear them very often my eyes are only -1.25.

My vision i think is like the same. 1.25 on one eye, and -1.00 on the other.

Flipmo, you may have just inspired me to get this thing done. I was always wondering how far technology has gone with that, because I was scared.

Was your eyes sensitive to light? Mine are.
does it fix that too?

 

[Flipmo]

I'm about to step out now, but I'll reply to any other questions you have involving this post.

I felt more during the 10 minutes of cleaning off the top layer of the eye. It doesn't hurt, but you can feel the pressure of the cleaning tool. The laser itself, nothing at all. You might smell hair burning or so, but that's just the laser correcting your eye lol. Generally, you can't see much except fuzziness when the top layer is removed, so when you're asking to look straight into the laser, you don't really see much. There's no real red beam of light that strikes you in the eye. You'll see a flickering orange-like light, and that's the laser.

The recovery, I spent most of it sleeping. You're given pain blockers so it's not as irritable. My doctor asked me to only used it once at night, and once in the morning because it slows down the healing process. You're also given tear drops for comfort of the eye.
The first day itself it usually not too bad, slight irritation. It's usually the 2nd day where you feel like clawing your eye out (at least for me, since I have very sensitive eyes). It feels like your contact lens is stuck in the corner of your eye, or even an eye lash stuck in your eye... and you can't get it out.
I woke up at 2am and only fell asleep at like 7am because my eye was driving me nuts.

Now, this doesn't mean you'll feel the same. The girl who got it before me (she was at 8am and I at 8:30am) and had the check ups at the same time (everyday after the procedure for 2-3 days) had it better for the first eye, the 2nd one she had it worse. lol. It's different for everyone.

As I said, my doctor is more anal, so he wouldn't give a lot in terms of pain blocker or pain killers because it wanted it to heal asap.

Oh, you also get anti-bacterial drops to put in regularly, you know ... in case of infection (it also helps ease some of the irritation)

I heard if you get Lasik, it's 1 day recovery, but since cutting tools are used - there are more risks for the future. Such as eye dryness because certain nerves may be cut for example.

 

[hizzle?]

I didn't read your post, but thanks for the shout-out.

 

[Bobby Sands]

^^fuck you for answering just before me.

flip,

how bad was you eye sight before that?

i find that my eyes get strained easier these days.

 

[Little Skittle]

I don't want to read all of these responses but I will say this; I got Lasik in February or March of 2007, a little over 6 months after I turned 18, and I still love it to this day. I think I paid about 1300 (ish) per eye, and it was worth every penny.

 

[Flipmo]

My vision i think is like the same. 1.25 on one eye, and -1.00 on the other.

Flipmo, you may have just inspired me to get this thing done. I was always wondering how far technology has gone with that, because I was scared.

Was your eyes sensitive to light? Mine are.
does it fix that too?

My eyes are EXTREMELY sensitive to light. To the point where my eyes will tear up like hell. Sadly, it doesn't really fix that lol. Your eyes, like mine may have trouble for a few days in actual day light, and even looking at a TV - I know I did. That's why I pretty much slept for the first 2-3 days.

^^fuck you for answering just before me.

flip,

how bad was you eye sight before that?

i find that my eyes get strained easier these days.

I had a astigmatism on the eyes, so one was weaker than the other. I can't remember but one was at -3.5 and the other -2.5... something like that. In other words, without glasses everything would be fuzzy just by a couple of meters away.

As for Skittles - awesome sauce :thumb:

 

[Shadows]

^Fuck our lives (about the light sensitivity).

but it didn't get worse, right?

 

[Flipmo]

Nope it didn't get worse.
If anything now - I'm that asshole who always walks around with sunglasses now. If you get the surgery, you can be an asshole just like me.

 

[Shadows]

^lol, I still do that now. I just choose not to stare at stuff far so I don't hurt my eyes.
*im an asshole. lmfao

 

[Preach]

Sounds cool, must be awesome to have your 20/20 vision back, nice to hear there were no complications

 

[Kobe]

Yeah, I noticed your slight disappearing act and I was wondering about that. *cyber stalker alert*

Not the same condition but my Dad had laser surgery on one eye for glaucoma recently. Yeah, he went through a lot when he had the procedure done. Being a busy surgeon he hasn't had enough rest, which of course has hindered his recovery period. Anyway, he's also on those eye drops 24/7 and, he told me the same thing about the downside of taking painkillers.

Speedy recovery. Let me know if you a notice a reduction in migraines as well.

 

[_carmi]

congrats! sounds cool.

those type of surgeries make me wonder about long lasting effects. and do you have to go through this again in a couple of years? your eye sight will probably deteriorate again during your life time. how long is your eye sight supposed to stay at 20/20?<

i'm thankful i don't have to wear glasses. because 1st neither sunglasses or regular eye glasses look good on me. and 2nd, it's expensive and annoying. and 3rd, i don't understand how people can put contact lens in their eyes, creeps me out. looks uncomfortable!