Slightly OT: Lasik

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I was wondering if anyone here has had lasik and if so, are you satisfied? I'm contemplating getting it since I can't wear my contacts because of GPC.

For those of you with dry eyes, is it just a minor annoyances or a huge issue?

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.

everyone I have asked about has loved it, a couple of folks said they had dry eyes after, but wouldn't change anything.

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i hope it works out for you

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
For those of you with dry eyes, is it just a minor annoyances or a huge issue?

At first, it was a huge issue. For about the first month. I felt like I had sand in my eyes if I didn't put drops in very frequently. But I had dry eye to start with. As time went along, I needed less and less drops. By about 3 months, I only had to put drops in first thing in the am. My husband had the same experience. We would both do it again in a second. 6 years later, my eyes are a bit dry when I walk into a very heated room or in front of a heater that is blowing heat into my face. But they do not feel scratchy and I don't need to put drops in or anything. You can have plugs put into your tear ducts if dryness is a problem. There are temporary (disolveable) and permanent (but removable) ones. I had the temporary ones, and took them out b/c I found them more annoying than the dry eyes. I would still have the Lasik done, even knowing that I had the temporary severe dry eyes.

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Specializes in Child/Adolescent Mental Health.

[color=sienna]anyone care to share experiences of the actual procedure? i am seriously considering lasik but i am somewhat (understatement :uhoh3:) fearful of the actual procedure.

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I had lasik 1 1/2 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. I was scared to death but my brother-in-law was legally blind and has perfect vision now and doesn't need reading glasses. My son had it done 3 years ago and loved it. I can see far away without glasses but it won't correct my need for reading glasses unless I want to have that other surgery done and I don't have another 5K to spend so I don't mind using reading glasses. My doctor took 600.00 off of my bill and it was slightly under 5K. Mine was more because he said I some issue with my lens. I am still paying it off but HAPPILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:lol2:

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

The actual procedure wasn't bad at all. They gave me Valium 5mg po before hand, so I wasn't so nervous. They put a drop into your eyes that numb them so you don't feel anything. They put some kind of stabilizer on your eye so you can't move it, and same with your head. You feel a little pressure for a short amount of time during it, and you loose vision for a few seconds during the feeling of pressure. The actual laser part isn't bad at all. You just look at the red or green dot. They had me keep my eyes closed for the first 15 mins afterwards, and when I opened them, I was already able to see so much better!

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Keep in mind mine was years ago. I didn't get sedation or anything. They offered gravol 1/2 tab if you wanted. They let me video tape it if i brought in a vhs tape which was cool. I had the drops to freeze the eye. They put a plastic drape on the eye area which keeps the lashes out of the way. Then they put a speculum in the one eye. The doctor then did some zapping.

The most uncomfortable part they say is when they use sort of a suction like thing to stabilize the eye while they cut the cornea ( they need to make a flap) they flip it and then zap it with the laser- all you see is a bunch of light flashing. they then do the same thing with the other eye. Easiest 10 minutes for not having the hassle of glasses and not seeing

I could see within 10 mins. I found the worst part strangely to be the draping of my eye.

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That's my only issue with eye surgery. That site explains the risks, and it can be comforting, but it's still my main issue. Still, going over all the posts, it seems like not many people here have had problems. Best of luck to them.

I suppose it's normal to be hesitant.

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you people have me tempted

how long was before you drove or did fine work?

i just punked dow over $150 and the opt said i would need cataract surgery at some point in time would sx interfer with the other??

thanks for bringing this up

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Specializes in Cardiology.
you people have me tempted

how long was before you drove or did fine work?

i just punked dow over $150 and the opt said i would need cataract surgery at some point in time would sx interfer with the other??

thanks for bringing this up

I had high-def lasik done roughly 3 months ago. I drove myself to my post op visit the next morning, 20/15 vision in both eyes! I went back to work 2 days after that but could have sooner.

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One of our endocrinologists had this done, and he approaches all the staff who wear glasses and tries to convert them--- I think he's paying off his bill with free advertising :lol2:

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