Lasik Surgery Opinions Needed

happystudent, RN · Jul 17, 2003

Hi!

My MIL had it done last year! She wore eyeglasses for forty years...extremely nearsighted her vision now is 20/30....... She had it done in canada... less expensive there.... She paid about 1200 for both eyes. She highly reccomends it to everyone!

According to her it was virtually painless! the thing that was most uncomfortable was when the dr took the tape off her eyes!! :cool:

PJMommy · Jul 17, 2003

I had it done back in...wow, must have been 1996. It actually was the old radial keratotomy surgery as they weren't using lasers yet. My vision was horrible - couldn't see the alarm clock two feet away.

My vision was 20/20 right after the surgery. Now it runs 20/30 or 20/40 - mainly because I have an astigmatism which they tell me is always changing. I do have a pair of glasses I use when I'm tired or on the computer for an extended period. Regardless, I've never regretted doing it...best money I've ever spent.

toronto rn · Jul 17, 2003

My husband kept getting scratches on his corneas from prolonged contact use, he hated glasses and as a result took the risk of the lasik surgery. That was 2 years ago and he says it was the best money he ever spent. Immediate improvement and he didn't have any complications.

My only concern is the longer term issues with aging eye changes. Presbyopia will still come with age and result in eventual need for glasses with most adults.

In any event he's happy+++ and recommends it to any who qualify. Cost was around $1400. both eyes canadian.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2003

The one group who are definitely rulled out for any kind of laser surgery are the keratoconic patients because the cornea is thinned and warped. There is also some suggestion within the literature that Keratoconics have abnormal corneal healing.

ERNurse752, RN · Jul 17, 2003

One of the ER docs I work with had it done...he had good results, although he still wears reading glasses.

A nurse I work with is getting it done in the next couple weeks...I'll try to remember to keep you posted on how it turns out! :)

Katnip, RN · Jul 17, 2003

I'm considering doing it also. I know one person who had it done on only one eye so she doesn't need reading glasses. Not sure that would suit me or not. I guess you could just go and get the other eye done if it drove you too nuts.

Right now, I'm trying to schedule glaucoma screenings since I showed signs of that. Once that's done, I'm going for the Lasik screening. You can do it even if you have glaucoma.

renerian, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2003

I had a friend who had it done and developed ulcers on her eyes. Now her vision is worse than before. She indured alot of pain and infections after she had it done.

Has your hubby tried accuve contacts extended wear? I wear the bifocal kind and I wear them sometimes for six days and most of the time I cannot even tell they are in Mom rn?

renerian

twarlik · Jul 17, 2003

I know a few people who have had the surgery and are thrilled with the results. I considered it but decided to stick with contacts after reading about many complications that others had. There is a TON of information available online. Do some research and make sure you go to a good surgeon. This procedure has gotten rather popular and I've read where some rather unscrupulous doctors are performing the surgery on people who aren't really good candidates.

MomNRN, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2003

He has tried many types of contacts. I think his eyes are overly sensitive. I can't even feel when mine are in, and he feels them the entire time. Might even be a combination of dry eye as well. We have tried rewetting drops and sensitive-eye solutions - nothing seems to work.

He wears glasses at night and to golf, otherwise he suffers through. He does have a restriction on his license, so he is supposed to be wearing them to drive!

I saw an ad for a local doc in the paper this am. We might get an appt scheduled to at least see if he is a candidate. We are about 3 - 3 1/2 hours from Chicago, and he was debating the merits of going there as opposed to here.

My concern with that is what if he has a reaction or problem? I can't imagine making another trip up just to save a couple of bucks!

Thanks for your responses. I'll let you know how his appt turns out.

nursebucky · Jul 17, 2003

I was one of the unlucky ones. I have an astigmatism in one eye and also keratonicus (sp?). When I went in for the consultation, they told me that I would never be a candidate for lasik. I cried the entire day. I was standing there with cash, ready to do it.

They kept $100 for the consultation.

moonshadeau, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, APN, NP, CNS · Jul 17, 2003

My husband had it done about 3 years ago. The wait time for me was 4 hours, the procedure was 10 seconds for each eye. He ended up with some broken capillaries in both his eyes that are more of a cosmetic problem than a eye condition. He experiences "halos" around lights, which I have been told is normal. Otherwise, he went from being 20/200 to 20/10 in both eyes. I would like to see what his eyesight will be like in 20 years though.

Good luck.