Lasik Poll (ankle, surgery, arms, doctor)

[Hobokenkitchen]

I just had the bladeless lasik procedure the day before yesterday. So far so good - I am seeing great and feel relatively comfortable.
I am awaiting my check up on Saturday anxiously to make sure that everything looks good to the doctor and to see what my 'official' new vision is.

I have read a lot of negative articles about Lasik on this site and others, but I did a ton of research and had a LOT of pre surgery tests to determine my candidacy.

I would like to do a poll here for others considering the surgery so they can see whether those of us who have had the procedure are happy with it or not.

I am waiting until after my check up to vote as I don't want to jinx anything!!

If you vote that you are UNHAPPY with your results, please post why, and how long ago you had your procedure.

[blossom4792]

I had lasik about 4 years ago to correct very severe myopia. I was in the high -7's in both eyes and I guess (?) if I had measured in the -8's I would have been ineligible. I'm thrilled to be able to function without glasses. I've had a lot of issues since the lasik surgery - migraine, pre-glaucoma, etc. But, the migraine is probably not related (nobody knows) and the other retinal issues just relate to my poor "eye genetics". Now here is something a little bit off the wall: I haven't felt thin one day since my lasik - my arms and fingers and ankles look much larger than they did with glasses or contacts. On the whole though, I'm happy to live without bottlecap glasses.

[Hobokenkitchen]

Thanks Blossom, hopefully as more people who have had lasik see this, they will at least vote, making it easier for those deciding on the procedure to get some first hand views.
I think all the warnings, etc are valid and good. People considering the procedure should know the risks, but what I found tough was getting first hand reports from people who had actually been through the procedure, so could give first hand knowledge.

I actually know 5 people who have had laser eye surgery and they are all very happy with their results. Didn't stop me being scared half to death doing it myself though!

[redjuel]

I had Lasik surgery back in 2000 and am 100% satisfied with the results. For a few months afterwards, I had a hard time driving at night due to the horrible halo/starbusts around all lights but that cleared up after a while. Now that you've have it done, you'll be wondering why you didn't do it years before!

[Hobokenkitchen]

It's now been 2 weeks and a couple of days. So far so great.
I am actually not having any side effects at all yet. Hoping that it continues that way, but I have been surprised at how good it has been so far. I am still careful about not getting water into my eyes when I'm in the shower, but they really feel back to normal. I don't even have much dryness so far.

I'll keep updating as time goes on.

[Flamingo13]

I'm thinking about doing this, would like to hear more opinions on those that have had it, and hopefully! somebody in my area that is recommended.

[DubbleT]

I had Lasik two years ago, went to the eye doc a few weeks ago and got a prescription for bifocals.

[juststoppinby]

My husband had Lasik surgery today. (I got to watch...very cool!) Before we left the surgery center he could read all except the bottom line on the eye chart. Before the surgery he could not read the bottom three lines.
This afternoon he had to lay with his eyes closed for 4 hours. We have two antibiotics to put in his eyes every 4 hours while he is awake and Refresh tears that he is to use as much as he likes but at least once an hour while he is awake. So far so good. I have to take him back in the morning and if everything is okay he will be released to drive again. No squinting, touching, rubbing his eyes for a month. He has dark glasses to wear for 48 hours even to sleep. Somewhat for the light sensativeness (which has not really been much of an issue for him) but more to keep him from touching his eyes or putting any pressure on them in any way while sleeping. He said already he sees as well as he did with glasses. They told us vision would improve over the next few weeks.

[Elipar]

I thought it was interesting that my optometrist is still wearing glasses... I have not had it done but 3 family members have. All three are happy to have done it, but one has frequent dry eyes. Despite that she's happy to have had it done. I would like to do it but I can't fathom something coming at my eyes. I know hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people do it every year, but that doesn't give me any more courage!

[McGowdog]

You make a good point. Seeing the doc wearing glasses is a testimonial to bad and irresponsible marketing on the front end.

News Flash! Having LASIK done does not guarantee you'll not still need vison correction to see!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then what's the point, I ask? Think on that one for a while. Let it sink in.

From 96' to 99' when the popularity of the PRK and by then LASIK "Elective" surgery for vision correction ramped up, they used to say we'll make you 20/20 and you won't need glasses anymore. [It was truly and is truly their aim. One doc once told me, "It's just math" (reshaping the cornea), and that made sense.]

The truth came out that not all get 20/20 nor does 20/20 mean you'll be able to see sufficiently where you need to actually "use" your eyes. The truth is that once you get LASIK or PRK, you can go ahead and throw your current set of glasses away because your prescription just changed drastically forever.

Now, you bring up another good point; the side-effects. A post for another day.

Many people who've had LASIK say how much they love it. I used to see all or some of as many as 30 patients come in for their post-op the next day. Most of them were still a bit shaken and not yet "happy" with the results. Some of them were thrilled! Some high myopes seemed to be so happy to see without glasses and not be blind without them. Some still need glasses for reading or for driving, but they are way happy with their vision overall, but not all. That's cool. But I can take my glasses off and not see good or not be able to read the scoreboard, but with my astigmatism, it's just no fun. If I put my glasses on, I want perfection. That alone makes me a bad candidate.

That doc, btw, to be fair, there are many things that makes one not a candidate. But there again, just because someone is wearing glasses, don't assume they DIDN'T have LASIK or PRK! See the false assumption? That came from effective marketing folks.

It also speaks to me of the vanity aspects of it. Here's one marketing scheme I used to hear a company tout; "There I was on my boat with my young child. I reached to pull the net into the boat and into the drink went my glasses." He had a backup pair or something and had he not had them, I guess they would have drowned in the boat or something. I can't even remember the logic of the "absolute necessity" of having to have LASIK or PRK, but they used to use that. That and some famous golfer. But what ever happened to his ex-girlfriend? Granted, I don't know the current or long-term stats of those who've had terrible complications, but when it happens to you, you're now in the 100% bracket.

I personally like my glasses and I could have had the surgery done for free. That's a fact.