Apple
Junior Associate
Always travel with a sense of humor
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:51:04 GMT -5
Posts: 9,938
Mini-Profile Name Color: dc0e29
|
Post by Apple on Jun 24, 2013 22:56:20 GMT -5
I had it done and I LOVE the results!
I went to the surgeon recommended to me by the eye doctor I had since I was little (I went to school with his son--small town).
My insurance didn't cover it, but I did get a discount for having the insurance I had. I still paid around $4000 for it (both eyes).
Yes, I have heard of things going wrong, but in the cases I've heard about, they were many years ago using equipment that is no longer used for surgery.
I can't remember, but I read once the questions you should ask. You want to make sure the surgeon does the regularly ("use it or lose it"). There is a "BBB" type place for doctors, but I can't think of what it is called.
A good surgeon will explain what this will and won't help. Pretty much everyone will still need reading glasses as they get older--that vision loss is a muscle/lens rigidity loss and not something lasix can fix.
|
|
KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 24, 2013 23:02:28 GMT -5
Wrongside - YES! I looked into it for myself (my vision is -9.5 in both eyes). I'm trying to bring up the company I talked to that I was going to go with. While it's loading, let me tell you: IMHO - stay away from the places that advertise on the radio! I called several of the places and all of them wanted me to come in the next day and promised surgery the day after, just sign on the dotted line and make easy monthly payments.
I went to the place my insurance recommended that didn't advertise on the radio and they gave me a TON of information. First off - if you wear contacts, to get an accurate reading of what your vision truly is, you should not wear them for a minimum of 2 weeks. The pressure of the contacts in your eyes will distort the true shape and throw the reading "off" slightly.
There are three measurements the doctor should take of your eye - the thickness of the lens in your eye, the depth of correction, and the slope of your eye curvature (on the back side). I know I'm not explaining this as well as my doctor did. But all three of these measurements should be within a certain range. My measurements were so border-line that the doctor told me that he would not do the surgery on me because he could not be confident in a positive outcome for me. He said that there are doctors out there that will do it if I was insistent on having it done.
This particular place I went to talk with was at UT Southwestern in Dallas and I saw Dr. Bowman. When I talked to my regular doctor (after the fact) about attempting lasik, he asked me who I talked to. When I told him, his response was, "He would know, he's the best."
The other thing that isn't advertised is there are a year's worth of follow-up appointments (or should be). The follow up appointments are to ensure the surgery is still a success.
Well - shoot, the site I originally pulled up several years ago I'm not finding. I'll keep looking as it was very informative.
My advice - ask lots and lots of questions and if you go through with it, find a place you feel comfortable with. I was very comfortable with the staff with Dr. Bowman's office just on the phone. They made me feel like I was important and that my eyesight was very important, while the other guys just seemed like they couldn't get my money fast enough from me.
|
|
Apple
Junior Associate
Always travel with a sense of humor
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:51:04 GMT -5
Posts: 9,938
Mini-Profile Name Color: dc0e29
|
Post by Apple on Jun 24, 2013 23:12:02 GMT -5
I forgot about the whole two-week deal, but I had to do the same thing--glasses only, no contacts for those two weeks.
This isn't an area you want to do a "stop-and-go" type place.
My first appointment was the morning after surgery (it was out of town, they contracted with a couple nearby hotels for discounts), the next one was probably a week later? Then a month, then 6, then a year. I believe they were all covered under the original surgery cost. I was able to use my local eye doctor for the later appointments.
|
|
raeoflyte
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 15:43:53 GMT -5
Posts: 14,996
|
Post by raeoflyte on Jun 24, 2013 23:21:08 GMT -5
I was told to wait until I was 100% positive that I was done having kids, and several months past bf'ing because of the hormonal changes those cause with your eyesight.
I'm so sick of my glasses, but looks like I'm not getting rid of them any time soon.
|
|
KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 24, 2013 23:25:00 GMT -5
Apple - I'm so glad the surgery was a success for you! I suspected up front that I wouldn't be a candidate, but finally decided to talk to them anyway. When he told me the facts, I was very upset, but thankful I didn't go with one of the other places that was pushing me to "just come in! We'll have you seeing correctly in no time!" I'm not sure if the doctor at one of those places would have agreed with Dr. Bowman or not, but since I couldn't get a straight answer out of the appointment desk, I wasn't going to take chances.
Funny/sad story - just a short time after I started wearing contacts (probably around a year), one night I forgot to take them out before falling asleep. I woke up in the morning and could see the clock numbers. I COULD SEE! I could really, really see! It was a miracle! I was so happy/ecstatic! And then I realized I forgot to take my contacts out. That was around 20 years ago - I still remember how I felt thinking I could actually see. I would love it if everyone could feel the way I felt for just those few seconds. Wrongside - I wish you luck and if you qualify - I say go for it.
|
|
Jaguar
Administrator
Fear does not stop death. It stops life.
Joined: Dec 20, 2011 6:07:45 GMT -5
Posts: 50,108
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/IZlZ65.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Text Color: 290066
|
Post by Jaguar on Jun 24, 2013 23:32:54 GMT -5
Apple - I'm so glad the surgery was a success for you! I suspected up front that I wouldn't be a candidate, but finally decided to talk to them anyway. When he told me the facts, I was very upset, but thankful I didn't go with one of the other places that was pushing me to "just come in! We'll have you seeing correctly in no time!" I'm not sure if the doctor at one of those places would have agreed with Dr. Bowman or not, but since I couldn't get a straight answer out of the appointment desk, I wasn't going to take chances.
Funny/sad story - just a short time after I started wearing contacts (probably around a year), one night I forgot to take them out before falling asleep. I woke up in the morning and could see the clock numbers. I COULD SEE! I could really, really see! It was a miracle! I was so happy/ecstatic! And then I realized I forgot to take my contacts out. That was around 20 years ago - I still remember how I felt thinking I could actually see. I would love it if everyone could feel the way I felt for just those few seconds. Wrongside - I wish you luck and if you qualify - I say go for it.
That's how I felt after my eye cataract surgery on both eyes. I could finally see without glasses the first time in 40 years. It's been awesome.
|
|
Gardening Grandma
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:39:46 GMT -5
Posts: 17,962
|
Post by Gardening Grandma on Jun 25, 2013 0:11:40 GMT -5
I had it done about 8 years ago. I was (and am still) thrilled with the results. Truly a miracle.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 12:20:43 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 2:08:07 GMT -5
I've had lasik done. I used to wear a -11-12 depending on the eye. It took two lasik procedures to correct me.
First off - it's amazing to see without glasses or contacts and I'm so glad I did it. I was completely blind without corrective help and it affected so many aspects of my life. Not being able to see without help is really limiting. Last week I took DS to a waterpark and spent hours splashing around without worrying or losing a contact. What a miracle! I no longer worry about not having glasses, or what happens if the house is on fire and I can't find my glasses.
I was lucky to have thick corneas - not everyone with my rx can be fixed to the point of not requiring glasses. The doctor warned me that a complete correction was unlikely. I decided that not having to wear glasses over my contacts was good enough. When I went into the process I had made up my mind that better was good enough.
I used to work for an optometrist - one who worked closely with another doctor to manage lasik patients. He told me to never go to a doctor that had done less than 500 procedures and to pick skill over price. When I decided to get lasik done I chose a surgeon who did the procedure at a local hospital, with cutting edge equipment, and multiple staff on site and involved. I had a nurse for initial prep, doc running the laser, laser assistant, and nurse holding my hand. Not to mention hospital staff. This doctor had done some of the original lasik trials. It cost around 4k - about twice what it would have cost at an in office facility.
The bad news - it took two procedures. I was told that three to four days after the first I would be back to normal functioning. Unfortunately I was still pretty blind so I need glasses (-3 or 4 after initial correction) but didn't have any because I'd just had lasik done. I also need driving glasses and have trouble seeing under fluorescent lighting or at night. I find my vision is best in natural lighting.
This is anecdata but take it for what you will - a friend of mine with a -3 rx decided to have lasik done around the same time I did. He went to an in office type space rather than a hospital. They told him at his appt (rather than beforehand) that he was only eligible for PRK. Being so far in he decided to go through with it. The recover was prolonged and painful. Without knowing the details of what occurred I wonder if he might have been eligible for lasik in a setting with more advance equipment.
|
|
zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,910
|
Post by zibazinski on Jun 25, 2013 6:23:04 GMT -5
I had it and love it! I got it for DD as well and she loves it!
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 12:20:43 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 8:12:04 GMT -5
A number of my friends have gotten it done and they all love the results. I am just too scared to have it done. What if I was one of the less than 1% that has something go wrong and my sight is all messed up because I didn't want to bother with contacts anymore? That scares me. But I am only -5 and -4.5
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on Jun 25, 2013 8:18:01 GMT -5
I had it done in 2001. $1000. Done in Canada.
Still 20/20 12 years later.
|
|
|
Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jun 25, 2013 8:35:33 GMT -5
Apple - I'm so glad the surgery was a success for you! I suspected up front that I wouldn't be a candidate, but finally decided to talk to them anyway. When he told me the facts, I was very upset, but thankful I didn't go with one of the other places that was pushing me to "just come in! We'll have you seeing correctly in no time!" I'm not sure if the doctor at one of those places would have agreed with Dr. Bowman or not, but since I couldn't get a straight answer out of the appointment desk, I wasn't going to take chances.
Funny/sad story - just a short time after I started wearing contacts (probably around a year), one night I forgot to take them out before falling asleep. I woke up in the morning and could see the clock numbers. I COULD SEE! I could really, really see! It was a miracle! I was so happy/ecstatic! And then I realized I forgot to take my contacts out. That was around 20 years ago - I still remember how I felt thinking I could actually see. I would love it if everyone could feel the way I felt for just those few seconds. Wrongside - I wish you luck and if you qualify - I say go for it. I did this too! My eyes are REALLY bad, I'm about -11 in both, am not eligible for LASIK. Cut off is around -9 or so and the likelihood of a successful correction drops considerably.....like to around 50-60%. If you have a really severe correction, they can remove your lens like they do in cataract surgery and replace it with a optically correct lens for your eye. I keep thinking that this s something that I'd like to do.....
|
|
|
Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jun 25, 2013 8:38:39 GMT -5
Has anyone here had this procedure done? I'm tired of being so reliant on my contacts. My eyes are terrible. I think 7.5 in one and 8 in another. How much did you pay? How did you decide which doctor to go with? What other questions should I be asking? Has anyone heard of this procedure going wrong? Yeah....a professor that was one of my instructors in my doctoral program. She was left with a less than perfect correction, an inability to drive at night and very dry eyes.
|
|
NancysSummerSip
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 19:19:42 GMT -5
Posts: 36,673
Today's Mood: Full of piss and vinegar
Favorite Drink: Anything with ice
|
Post by NancysSummerSip on Jun 25, 2013 8:45:42 GMT -5
I am going to my pre-op exam for the measurements this coming Friday. I am -4 and -4.25, but I also have cataracts, so I am not a LASIK candidate. I will be undergoing RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) and cataract removal. I also have some astigmatism, and may need PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy), which reshapes the cornea. I have worn glasses for 50 years; I have never been able to read more than the top of the eye chart.
Approximate cost of all this is $10,000. Doctor has known me for a long time, so he knocked it down to $8,000. Insurance will cover some of it, because of the cataracts. I am using inherited funds for the rest.
On the LASIK question, I know about a half-dozen people who have had the procedure done. All very happy with it.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 12:20:43 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 9:27:57 GMT -5
I had it done in Canada for $900 fifteen years ago. I needed to stay overnight for the next day checkup so it really cost me an extra $200 in hotel, travel and food costs. It was wonderful. Unfortunately my eyes have changed due to middle age and I need to wear one contact for distance vision. I don't know if having the surgery again would correct it or not but my vision isn't as bad as it was before the surgery so for now I am fine.
My husband didn't want to drive up to Canada so he had his done here in the Twin Cities. He paid about $2500 14 years ago. I was the guinea pig. He decided if I didn't go blind he would get his done.
My daughter needs to wear corrective lenses so I recently looked up the pricing. It is $4000 here in the Twin Cities and it is still $900 in Canada.
I would definitely go to Canada again. The facilities were nice. The doctors have been doing Lasik longer in Canada than in the U.S. and I can think of many fun ways of spending the $3000 difference.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 25, 2013 10:20:42 GMT -5
I had it done 4 or so years ago. I love it. My eyes weren't too bad, but my husband's were worse. He also had it done. The one thing I would have done, if I had known... If you are 44 years or older, they might be able to adjust your eyes so one if perfect for close up and one is good for long range. It takes a few weeks to get used to it, but then you won't need reading glasses. If I had known that, I may have waited until I was 43 or so, and then I wouldn't need readers. But, here I am, just a few years later, and now I need readers. I think I paid $2600 for ours. I went to the best, most expensive place I could find. This was not somewhere that I wanted to cheap out and save a few bucks.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 12:20:43 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 10:25:29 GMT -5
I don't think I could do it. What if something went wrong? But that's just me being a scaredy cat. I know plenty of people that have done it and have been fine.
Personally, I have worn glasses/contacts since I was very, very young. I don't often wear contacts because they just annoy me and, honestly, I've worn glasses for so long it doesn't really faze me to put them on.
I might feel differently if I couldn't see without my glasses. I'm lucky enough that I can read and see without my glasses and can go for a few hours without having them on...until I get a headache.
I'd agree to ask lots of questions and don't go with the ones that advertise all over the place with coupons and such. Good luck!
|
|
formerroomate99
Junior Associate
Joined: Sept 12, 2011 13:33:12 GMT -5
Posts: 7,381
|
Post by formerroomate99 on Jun 25, 2013 10:31:29 GMT -5
Everybody I know who has had lasik swears up and down that they'd do it again in a heartbeat. But with almost all of them, there were adverse effects, like a lifetime of eye drop addiction or not being able to drive at night before age 50. I don't hate my glasses enough to think that being able to see without glasses is worth being hooked on eye drops or loosing the ability to drive at night. But in my case, no reputable doctor would operate on me, so it's a moot point.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 12:20:43 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 10:31:33 GMT -5
I thought they were going to have to do this due to my high rx. I spoke to a surgeon about 7 years ago and I wasn't eligible for lasik, this time around I was.
If you get yourself slightly under corrected for distance then apparently it will take longer for you to need readers. I used to wear glasses over my contacts and had gotten into the range of specialty contacts so I'm thrilled with what I got.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 12:20:43 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 10:37:17 GMT -5
I have dryer eyes and need glasses at night to help with halos and glares. Getting lasik with wavefront has better results for night vision. With the RX I had there was already a substantial amount of distortion, weirdness and blind spots with glasses on.
So surgery was worth it. Also it's not clear if the dry eyes are from surgery. I also have rosacea, which can lead to eyeball itchiness.
|
|
Angel!
Senior Associate
Politics Admin
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 11:44:08 GMT -5
Posts: 10,722
|
Post by Angel! on Jun 25, 2013 10:37:32 GMT -5
I had mine done in 2001 & love it! Seriously the best thing I ever did. Mine was $4k, but I know insurance covered some of that. I will probably need glasses for driving eventually, pregnancy seriously does affect your eyesight. But, even if I end up eventually wearing glasses for stuff like driving, I still don't regret it. 12 years of no contacts, no glasses,& waking up in the middle of the night & being able to read the clock has been fantastic.
Don't go to a cheap place or anyplace that has deals like $500/eye. Find a good doctor & go there.
I did have problems with dry eyes for a while after the surgery, probably like 6 months. I was having to use eye drops a lot & ended up getting something put into my tear ducts so they wouldn't drain so fast. But, even with those problems I still never regretted it & those problems are long gone now.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 25, 2013 10:38:36 GMT -5
Everybody I know who has had lasik swears up and down that they'd do it again in a heartbeat. But with almost all of them, there were adverse effects, like a lifetime of eye drop addiction or not being able to drive at night before age 50. I don't hate my glasses enough to think that being able to see without glasses is worth being hooked on eye drops or loosing the ability to drive at night. But in my case, no reputable doctor would operate on me, so it's a moot point. So far, neither my husband nor I have had any adverse effects.
|
|
Angel!
Senior Associate
Politics Admin
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 11:44:08 GMT -5
Posts: 10,722
|
Post by Angel! on Jun 25, 2013 10:43:25 GMT -5
Everybody I know who has had lasik swears up and down that they'd do it again in a heartbeat. But with almost all of them, there were adverse effects, like a lifetime of eye drop addiction or not being able to drive at night before age 50. I don't hate my glasses enough to think that being able to see without glasses is worth being hooked on eye drops or loosing the ability to drive at night. But in my case, no reputable doctor would operate on me, so it's a moot point. So far, neither my husband nor I have had any adverse effects. I had the worse experience out of anyone I have ever talked to & I had to use a lot of eye drops for 6 months. My mom had hers done at the same time & had no problems. I drive at night all the night with no problems & don't need eyedrops anymore. Some of it might be the type of surgery you get. The old stuff I think used to cause starbursts or halos, which could defintely cause problems driving at night. I remember we had a choice of which machine we wanted to use - it was the same surgery, but one machine "watched" your eyeball & if you flinched then it automatically shut off. We paid extra to get the better machine - who would cheap out on something like this?
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 25, 2013 10:57:20 GMT -5
I also think that when you use anecdotal evidence, it is easy to find people who have had problems. If someone is complaining that they can't drive or need drops, they may tell you that they had lasik and it went wrong. But, if you saw me in the grocery store, or came to work at my company, you wouldn't come up to me and say "I notice you aren't wearing glasses. Have you had Lasik by any chance?" So, you might not know that "most" of the people you know that have had lasik haven't had a single problem.
|
|
movingforward
Junior Associate
Joined: Sept 15, 2011 12:48:31 GMT -5
Posts: 8,385
|
Post by movingforward on Jun 25, 2013 11:03:03 GMT -5
I had it done in 2003 and paid about $2300. The results are wonderful but keep in mind that it isn't forever. It last on average about 10 yrs. I can tell my eye sight is not as sharp any longer. Not sure if it will continue to get worse. Right now it still isn't bad. I only have to wear glasses at night when I drive so no biggie. If they revert back to being as bad as they were (which was pretty bad) then I will get lasik again. The $2300 was well worth it for a more than a decade of good eye sight.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 25, 2013 11:07:41 GMT -5
Ned Flanders says that at the 20 year mark, you just go blind.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 25, 2013 11:12:30 GMT -5
I was freaking out too. In fact, I had it done in December, because I was going to lose the amount I had put into my medical flex spending if I didn't. But I had put it off all year long, because the thought was freaky.
They give you valium, and the room is dark and soothing. And the machines are locked into place - so it isn't like some guy with a scalpel standing over you. It wasn't something I would do for fun, but the 15 minutes of freaky, eye touching stuff was worth it.
|
|
movingforward
Junior Associate
Joined: Sept 15, 2011 12:48:31 GMT -5
Posts: 8,385
|
Post by movingforward on Jun 25, 2013 11:16:02 GMT -5
So, are you awake when they are doing this? I'm just freaking out thinking about it. It's not bad though. The part I hated was the tong thingy they used to hold my eye open. I did NOT like that thing but still worth it.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on Jun 25, 2013 11:18:59 GMT -5
The part I hated was the thing they clamped onto your face. It is right on the bone and I felt like my skull was getting crushed. But, it was only 40 seconds (I counted..1 banana, 2 banana, 3 banana, 4 banana.)
|
|
goldensam
Established Member
Joined: Jul 6, 2012 11:40:27 GMT -5
Posts: 295
|
Post by goldensam on Jun 25, 2013 11:29:28 GMT -5
I had LASIK back in January. It took me several years to finally talk myself into doing it and I truly wish I had done it sooner. My eyes weren't terrible (20/60) but enough that I needed glasses or contacts. I preferred contacts and wore them almost exclusively the last couple years but they dried my eyes out like crazy, even with the super thin, daily disposables. I also had an astigmatism in both eyes that made night driving very difficult and even my contacts couldn't make it better, so I had to wear glasses if I wanted to drive at night. The halos and glares made it impossible to drive safely otherwise. I chose my dr and facility carefully and because I wanted to use a FSA account for as much of the cost as possible, I booked the surgery in 2012 for the first week of 2013, which gave me three more months to stress out over everything that could go wrong. I called the dr office several times to ask questions and they were always very accommodating and helpful. My cost ended up being $3700 (not covered by insurance). The dr and his staff did several tests to make sure I was a good candidate for the operation. I don't know all the specifics, but one of the tests determined if my cornea was thick enough. I had to wear glasses only for the two weeks prior to the surgery so that my eye shape was not impacted by contacts. The day of the operation (Thursday), they did most of the tests and exams again to be sure everything was still ok to proceed. They gave me two Valiums a few minutes before I went in so that it would take effect at the end of the operation so I could sleep the rest of the day. The surgery took just a couple minutes and I was absolutely freaking out during it. But then it was over. I had covers over my eyes to prevent scratches or pokes, but I could see through them, although it was blurry. I spent the rest of the day sleeping it off, with DF coming in per the schedule to administer the RX drops. The next morning, I was 20/25 at my first followup appointment. I had no pain whatsoever and just needed to put in my RX and lubricating drops. I was reading my iPad the day after surgery. I took it easy that weekend and avoided the sun because I was extra sensitive to bright lights, but I was back at work on Monday at the computer, albeit with a lot of drops. At my one week followup, I was 20/20. I am now 20/15. I am horrible about putting in drops, I try to do it at least once a day now but sometimes it will be several days in between. The first couple months, my eyes would feel tired after a long day working on the computer, but even that has subsided even though I suck at putting in drops (which would help the fatigue if I would remember). It's been the most awesome thing. I'm not hooked on drops. I can see perfectly to drive at night. My astigmatism was also treated. The hardest part of the whole thing was not being able (or willing) to wear mascara for a couple weeks.
|
|