Post: #1

Cause my vision is starting to get shit.

I've read about that laser eye surgery you can get which is a one time procedure meaning your vision should be good for life. I'm interested in that as I don't want to go back to wearing glasses like a few years ago.

Anyone ever have this done?

Post: #2

Yeah, I used to have really bad vision, now it is close to 20/20. Not everyone can have it done, you need thick corneas. If you go in and they say "sorry your corneas are too thin" then you can't get it done.

make sure you go to someone reputable

Post: #3

use search function

Post: #4

(12-07-2013 03:52 PM)master_thespian Wrote:  Yeah, I used to have really bad vision, now it is close to 20/20. Not everyone can have it done, you need thick corneas. If you go in and they say "sorry your corneas are too thin" then you can't get it done.

make sure you go to someone reputable

Cool.

What is the procedure exactly if you know? Is there risks of your eyes getting damaged beyond repair(not that I'd cheap out on something like this)

Post: #5

Make sure you go to someone reputable, just like Master T said. Also, make sure that you meet the criteria for the procedure, and if you follow through and do it, make sure to follow Dr.'s orders. I've seen one Lasik operation, it's very cool!

Post: #6

My experience: It worked for me. It's not for everybody (it has a pre-check to see how likely it is to work), but when it does, you are set. Whatever happens to your eyes after (if surgery is successful), it's up to you. Some guys claim their vision kept worsening but truth is, unless you are nearing 60, it's likely your habits also taking a toll. I had to have it done because that's a part of my body where I got a mediochre deal on ghe gene lottery.

Post: #7

I got it, my only regret is not getting it earlier.

Went from contacts to 20/15.

If you have an HSA, you can cover through that.

Post: #8

(12-07-2013 05:04 PM)ms224 Wrote:  I got it, my only regret is not getting it earlier.

Went from contacts to 20/15.

If you have an HSA, you can cover through that.

I have no idea what a HSA. Care to explain?

Post: #9

(12-07-2013 05:16 PM)Red Dog Wrote:  

(12-07-2013 05:04 PM)ms224 Wrote:  I got it, my only regret is not getting it earlier.

Went from contacts to 20/15.

If you have an HSA, you can cover through that.

I have no idea what a HSA. Care to explain?

Health savings account

Post: #10

(12-07-2013 05:16 PM)Red Dog Wrote:  

(12-07-2013 05:04 PM)ms224 Wrote:  I got it, my only regret is not getting it earlier.

Went from contacts to 20/15.

If you have an HSA, you can cover through that.

I have no idea what a HSA. Care to explain?

Flex spending accounts. Pre-tax money.

Post: #11

Yea, and if you tell your boss you need $3k this year, it available Jan 1st and you have all year to pay for it.

Out of your pretax funds with 0% interest.

Post: #12

If you never have used contacts, I would do that first before getting any kind of laser eye surgery. If you get visual halos, starbursts or other distortions at night time with contacts on, you have a really good chance of getting that with normal laser eye surgery, except it would be permanent.

Post: #13

Cataract surgery has the same effect as LASIK

How old are you?

Post: #14

My ophthalmologist told me he'd been involved in the development of laser eye surgery at Hopkins and strongly advised against it, to the extent that he said he would refuse me as a patient if I had it. My eyes aren't that bad anyway.
Anecdote two: high school acquaintance on Facebook raved about his Lasik results, now all his pictures have him wearing thick glasses again.

Post: #15

I got PRK. I put up a thread about it back in April of this year. It was some painful shit, I don't know if it was worth getting PRK instead of LASIK. I have dryish eyes sometimes, and sometimes that dryness leads to a bit of cloudiness in my vision.

I would totally get it done again though. I had been feeling like glasses held me back too much, and it is so liberating to not have to wear them anymore. Contacts didn't work for me as well as they do for some people.

Post: #16

Get multiple opinions on it. It's also hard to determine who is an 'expert' and who is not. I went and got 3 opinions: 1 doctor told me I'd be a great candidate, and the other two told me they couldn't sleep at night if they told people like me to get it done.

Without saying, I didn't get it done.

Post: #17

I got my lasik done with perhaps the best surgeon in the country, according to the references. He is the son of the founder of the ophtalmologic clinic I have gone to all my life. My dad had his lasik done with him 9 years ago (being 53 at the moment). Since then, he had been doing surgeries 3-5 times a day for years. He seems like a robot: precise and calm. Just after finishing college, my parents paid for my lasik and I can only say it is the best investment anyone can do.

The procedure itself is relatively simple, but to reduce any risk you must follow the doc's instructions.

Before, I wore glasses with about 5-6 dioptrias, which turned out to make the lenses very thick and made me look dorky. Now, I do look better without the need for prescription glasses, and I can wear nice sunglasses.

Some say the effect lasts at most 10 years. If so, ask yourself: Is it worth to get rid of the glasses during your prime years (say 25-35)? For me it is worth it.

I have dryish eyes -as a fellow member writes-, which was the leading factor for me to be against getting the lasik done. I took the risk. Today my eyes have improved, and I barely need any eyedrops to be fine.

A funny side effect of the procedure is that at night your eyes might have an optical aberration with halos around the lights, like a 'Bokeh' effect. When compared to the upsides, it is not a big deal to me.

Post: #18

Had LASIK at the top place in the UK 4 years ago. Cost a f***ing fortune. Over £4k at the time.

Was worth every single penny. Have referred 6 people including family members there to have it done since and all have had the same experience as me.
Side effects were dry eyes for first 6 months. Slight halos at night when looking at lights, but this wasn't that bad and has gone away totally after a year.

As a sportsman who also flies planes and races cars it has been a huge huge improvement to the quality of my life. And my prescription of -1 & -1.5 previously was hardly a big deal. But 20/20 and never having to think about it is amazing.