Lazer Eye Surgery Review

[Sprawl]

I qualify this as gear because it helps your game....


Scariest ****ever in my life.

I took a valium before. They offer.

then i lay down in this very uncomfortable chair with some big clunky device hanging over me. they put some drops in my eyes to numb them. Doc leans over and says "now dont worry, this will be quick" and within an instant....

BAM i'm blind. can't see ****. everything is completely black. I actually almost screamed. but the doc kept assuring me that i was ok. Though i think i cracked my finger from twisting it.

so you cant see anything but you feel pressure on your eyes. stuff moving around. No idea what was being done. Than slowly you start seeing this circle of light with a red dot. it's all hazy and dim. But he kept telling me to stare into it. So i did. than I hear a buzzing and clicking and i wanted to jump right up.

tiny dim green dots dance accrross your vision from top to bottom then left to right. meanwhile you're told to stare directly at the light. after that is done he puts the flap back in place. you can tell cause suddenly you can see again. Not very well as everything is hazy, blurry, and dim. but you start to see.

after smoothing things out for a few minutes he had me close my eyes and then walked me to a resting room. I sat there with my eyes closed for about 20 minutes till a nurse came over and explained the aftercare procedures, put some drops in my eyes and then left. Another 20 minutes or so went by and my eye starts to absolutely burn like like hell. I coudlnt' open it, and when i did tears poured out and it looked like i was underwater.

the doctor finally comes back, puts in more anesthetic drops, has me read some of the vision chart, which is near impossible with the haziness. He says it's fine, it's just the pupil is swollen and will take around 24 hours to recover. in that time vision will fluctuate and seem weird.

Afterwards on the drive home there wasn't a lot of pain, but just uncomfortable. couldn't open my eye or it felt like it was drowning and couldnt see anyways. got home, put a patch over my eye just so i didnt even try, ate pizza and then slept. woke up to take some more drops, then slept all night.

woke up this morning. there is no pain or any discomfort at all. However there is still a "fog" over my vision, which i've been assured to as normal for less only arounud 14 hours later. I think my vision is better, but hard to tell through the fog.

Right now, it's hard to say if it's worth it or not. My parents and sister have all had it done and say it was the best thing of their lives. but nothing they told me prepared me for the nerve racking experience that it was.
Hopefully in another 12 hours or so i'll be able to tell you if it was worth it or not. However already I'm typing all this without wearing my glasses and it's not half bad

[Law Goalie]

For your pain, I award you the prize of "Most Creative Review Ever," though you will be required to either specify what machine and doctor you used, or to qualify your eyes as 'new'. :D

[Beccaraptor]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I don't do well with surgeries that I have to stay awake for. I watched them do this on How it's Made and said "nah!" LOL!

[Candyman]

No review is complete without pics!

I think we could let this one slide:D

What was your vision like before (what kind of lenses and strength)?
My wife has pretty bad eyes, and she's concidering this but is scared $h..less.

[Ryano42]

Thanks for the great review...you and my optometrist have reinforced my decision.

Several years ago, I went to Dr. Carter and he spent a lot of time going over my eyesight. I was playing baseball on the weekends and my contacts were bugging me and I was hitting pretty badly.

Over the time he spent he got my vision to 20/10 in each eye! I hit and played the outfield like a new person after that. Nothing like seeing the rotation on the pitch!

My brother had Lasik done and I asked Dr. Carter again about it...he pointed to the glasses on his face and said "I can get it done for free from the best clinic in the state...I still can get it closer with contacts, so..."

I still have to pry my eyes open to put in my lenses so I can imagine I would slide off the table during Lasik!!!

[TheBigM]

I'm curious what your prescription was too. I don't think my eyes are bad enough to bother.

M.

[Sprawl]

my prescription wasn't horrible. but it was bothering me. I have 20/20 vision in my left eye, and then regular astigmatism in the right eye. Contacts were out of the question because they actually hurt.

i figured, I have coverage for this, so i'd get it done.


going to the doc again today for a checkup. we'll see what he says about the haziness

[Ryano42]

Mine is -5.50 Left, -5.00 Right...little astig.

I would benefit from it, but the latest contacts I've got are really comfy. I want to pick up a pair of Nike Maxsight lenses and look like a zombie!

[Stryker908]

Was that the RBK Premire II Laser they used ? ;)

[Jester]

Sprawl,

Absolutely fantastic write up. I had the procedure done some years ago. Prior to surgery, I had coke bottles for glasses. I wore contacts for sporting events but struggled during my spring and fall allergy seasons. I was corrected to 20/10 and I can see the puck rotate as it comes to me (I wish!!!!). I too had a haze problem so my Doctor increased the frequency of lubricating drops for the first 3 days. Good luck with the recovery.

P.S.: Are your eyeballs all red from the suction cups??? Mine took forever to heal up from them.

[Ryano42]

SUCTION CUPS???!!!!!??!!!?!?!?!?! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

AHHHHHhhhhhh.....<thud>

[Jester]

The apparatus that is placed on the eye for the surgery is held in place with a slight suction action. That is how they prevent it from moving. So when you are done, you have this blood spot on the white of the eye. It doesn't hurt, it just looks awful.

[Sprawl]

ya, there is some red, but not bad, the only real red spots on my eyes are above where the top eyelid is so it's not visible. ya, according to the doc this afternoon, my eyes are nearly 20 / 20, but the haze is perfectly normal and should go away as healing progresses.

[spacepico]

Thanks Sprawl!

You just convince me to never do that to my eyes! My doctor told me last time I saw her that I could do it if I want it to. Hum... no. I stay with my contact lenses.

[Sprawl]

Spaceico

Really, I'm now 2 days after and i'm beginning to love it. there's still some haze, but it's gone down. But here i am. At work, typing and reading what i'm typing perfectly clearly.

I'm still not at the "OMG THAT WAS THE BEST THING I"VE EVER DONE" but it's gettin there. when this haze goes away completely, (as everyone assures me it does) than i would hole heartedly recommend it. The 5 - 10 minutes of discomfort almost feels worth it now.

it's really crazy. it's one of those things that everyone tells you is "night and day". I will tell you that it's not. It does take a few days to start to normalize itself. But it's definately a great feeling to be liberated from glasses.

[Stryker908]

Every time I hear somebody discribe this all I can think of is

http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~blk/lasik/images/clockwork_orange_plakat2.jpg

[Sprawl]

if thats what you think

I recommend watching a procedure being done

it's more gruseome

[BoltThrower]

This is next for me. Been wearing glasses for awhile now. Tried contacts and absolutely hated them. Didn't matter what brand I tried, none felt any better than sandpaper in my eyes and I found that I didn't see nearly as well with contacts as I did with glasses due to astigmatism.

My prescription has remained the same for better than three years now and my doctor says I'm a perfect candidate for lasik, a 30 year old with a stable prescription. The only X factor is that I'm insulin dependent diabetic, but I take excellent care to monitor blood glucose levels and I know my regular M.D. would sign off on it. The idea of not having to fumble for glasses in the morning or wear goggles for hockey is so appealing it'd be worth any minimal discomfort I think.

[Jester]

The problem with lasik is that the mental aspect is more demanding than the physical one. As Sprawl stated, the surgery part is real quick and the recovery basically painless. You just have to get yourself mentally prepared about the procedure.

For what it is worth, I have a family friend in the Boston area who is a leading eye surgeon. He waited for years before he got into surgical vision correction like Lasik. He only did it when he was satisfied that he was not putting people at risk due to equipment shortcomings. I got my eyes done when he started doing the procedure (though not by him).

I knew I had made the right decision on Lasik when, the morning after the surgery, I rolled over and was able to look at my alarm clock and tell time for the first time without my glasses. It only got better from there...

[Mitch92]

Was that the RBK Premire II Laser they used ? ;)

BEEROXEYES!!!:D:D:D

[Ryano42]

To get up first thing in the morning look over with perfect vision...and reach for glasses that are not there out of habit....
:)

[Jester]

Not finding glasses you no longer need is not a problem in my book...LOL

[spacepico]

Sprawl,

how are your eyes now? Love it? discomfort? pain?

[Sprawl]

No discomfort. Absolutely no pain

Vision is pretty damn clear

I keep trying to take off my non existant glasses

[MrZero]

This is my first post here and I wanted to thank Sprawl for the great write up. I have been considering this for the longest time yet nobody I know that has had the procedure would go into the detail that was found here.

Now that I know, I can start taking the steps to get ready.

Thanks!!

[lars3939]

Sprawl Cheers BUT I want updates my eyes are getting worse and would like an in depth diary style commentary, please

[Reebok5]

Haha yes,thats definatly a creative review.

My grandfather had it done and it didnt do too much though. He still has 18/20 vision (or so he claims) though.

[BoltThrower]

I'm scheduled for lasik on August 9th. I'm excited, wish it was tomorrow!

[Cujo_64]

awesome... my dad had this... he loves it !

Rob

[Huntster]

Sprawl, just curoius how much the procedure cost?

[Sprawl]

pricing is always variable depending on the place you go and the "features" you get.

I went to one of the more expensive, But reputable places. Depending on the Dr you get it will change, But i got mine for about 2800 / Eye. (Thank god for health coverage)

just an update

Had my First month checkup with the Doc yesterday. says according to the tests my right eye now see's at virtually 20/20 vision. I was baffled, I said how is that possible my left eye still see's so much clearer than it. So we checked my left eye. My left eye has gone undiagnosed in all this as being even stronger than 20 / 20 vision!

Everything seems good. I am having absolutely no discomfort at all. Feels like my eye is perfectly healthy and fine.

[KristianMN]

I had LASIK three or four years ago. The biggest discomfort I had was my sore ass from kicking it because I didn't do it earlier. I went from 20/2400 (legally blind) with astigmatism to 20/20 (20/15 for the first few weeks, then they settled down). My eyes were so bad I simply said "E" when he asked me to read the smallest line. If they ever changed that letter on teh eye chart, I would have never known. I was lucky I could even figure out where the chart was.

I wasn't worried at all about the procedure, but took the Valium like they asked. It calmed me down even more. The whole thing took about 20 minutes from the time I sat in the chair to the time I walked out.

The morning after the procedure, I simply walked around like an alien who just landed on the planet. I looked at EVERYTHING like I was looking at it for the first time. I was simply amazed that I was able to see this well without anything in or on my eyes.

It took a month or so to stop reaching for my nonexistant glasses, but I never missed them.

If you're thinking about it, DO IT. It was, by far, the best thing I did for my life AND for my game. I see everything now and never have to worry about foggy glasses or aggravated contact lenses.

[Beccaraptor]

Thanks for sharing Kristian, that makes me want to get this done even more now! I don't have the money but when I do, if I have the guts, I want to get this done. I watched the operation they did on how it's made, and now I wonder because a sign outside the office down the street from me that does this says they have a no cut process available. Does anyone know anything about that?

[Sprawl]

ya, usually the no cut process is bladeless.

like mine instead of using a knife edge to cut the flap open, they use a lazer to peal it back. Means faster healing time and less discomfort


I had my 6 month the other day. I was having concern overy my vision in that eye again as it didn't seem to be nearly as good as my left eye.

after testing we determined...

My right eye is slightly better than 20/20.. it's my left eye thats 20/15!!!!!

[KristianMN]

I'm not kidding on this, but seriously look into the payment plan your clinic has available. Mine was doing a super-low-interest (3 or 4%) payment plan over two or three years. It was worth EVERY PENNY.

I can't believe I put up with contacts and glasses for so many years. For what I paid in contact solution, contacts, glasses, exams, I could have been seeing this well all along. AND, like Sprawl said, the new process is even better!

Do it! Eagle-eye vision is a goalie's best friend.

[home0006]

This is something I'm seriously considering. I'm finding my contacts are causing some eye issues with my cornea, and infections according to my doctor. It was so bad last month I couldn't even open my left eye for 2 days.

Kristian if you're from MN where did you get yours done at?

[Bassai]

Take a look at whether or not your employer offers a Cafeteria plan or if you are eligible for one of those Health subscriber accounts.

[home0006]

I'm self employed and pay for my own insurance and my insurance covers jack. I had a colinoscapy and they paid like 40 bucks of a 600 procedure. It was a joke.

[IbeLeaf]

Hey Sprawl,

I might get the surgery. To be honest your review freaked me out!! I know other people in your family have told me it's the best thing ever and worth the discomfort. How long did it really effect your vision for?

Were you out on the ice at all within a week after?

[Sprawl]

i gave 2 weeks from when getting it done. They said knock myself out after the first week, but i took the extra just for rest.

the discomfort is WELL worth it. No pain, at all, just weird feeling. I would definately recommend it

[Huntster]

I am getting my eyes done in a few days. Slightly different procedure that what Sprawl had done as there is no flap cut during.

Hopefully all goes well. :) They told me to take 5 days from work off which is a bonus. :D

[Leaferguy]

Hunty, you getting PRK?

I'm still trying to figure out which is the best way to go when I get the scratch.

[David29]

Just got back from the eye doctor today and my prescription is still -2.25 in both eyes. It has been that for the past 12 years when I started needing glasses.

Still unsure about the surgery....

[Timmaayy]

Wow... just found this. I had no idea you went blind when they peeled back the lense. I thought it would just be very very blurry.

Did they do both at the same time? I mean.. could you see perfectly well out of one eye while they cut open and fixed the other one?
:confused:

I just this past winter got contacts, after wearing reading glasses for nearly everything for the last four years. My prescription is +2.5 in the right and +3.0 in the left.

I don't know if I'm ready for LASIK just yet... maybe down the road when I get sick of contacts. I'm just not there yet. :D

[Jester]

Timmaayy,

When they perform the surgery, you lose your focus when the flap is peeled back. Basically you see a greyish light, NOTHING is in focus. When they send you out of the office, you barely make out shapes like doorways and stuff. About four hours after my surgery, I sat in my garden and could kinda distinguish steps, trees and stuff.

That night I went to bed still seeing everything very blurry. I woke up the next morning to perfect vision. Simply amazing...

I find it funny that people who think nothing of getting their bodies in front of a high velocity hard rubber object get sqeamish about LASIK. If you are insane enough to play goal, LASIK is a breeze, period.

The only caveat is that you can't shop LASIK on the basis of price. You want a person that does this all the time. My ophtalmologist set the parameters for my surgery but a different ophtalmologist was at the controls. That guy did mote than 40 LASIK a week. He knew his stuff. That is what your money ought to buy.

Dan.

[Leaferguy]

Dan, I think the hesitation is that it's not reversible. Bones can heal and ligaments can be replaced, but you only have one pair of eyes, which is the only reason I'd like to see some more long-term studies.

[Timmaayy]

That guy did mote than 40 LASIK a week. He knew his stuff. That is what your money ought to buy.

Holy crap... and I thought cardiologists raked in the big bucks! 40 times a week X average of $4,000 a patient. $160,000 a week!!!????!?!?!?! Jeeeeeeeeeeebus.

Gotta go. Going to get my online ophthalmologist degree! :D

[Botts]

Amateurs... try having cataract surgery done instead. ;)


Ok. Had my one day followup last Thursday. Vision in my left eye checked out at 20/20 with two missed letters (my right eye is at about 20/25). Doc said everything looked good, and will see me again on April 19th for another followup.

Operation review: The procedure went off with no complications. I was awake through the whole process and felt no pain, due to numbing eyedrops and a valium IV drip. 8) The whole procedure took 24 minutes. An example video can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJhikjz__6g&mode=related&search

Equipment review: I received the AcrySof IQ Intraocular Lens (IOL). Specifics can be found here:
http://www.cataractsurgery.com/us/professional/acrysofiq/default.asp

All in all I'd give it a 10 of 10 so far. It's nice to see again, and playoffs start tomorrow night. :wink:


Had my left eye done last March, and should be doing my right one next month.

[Huntster]

Hunty, you getting PRK?

I'm still trying to figure out which is the best way to go when I get the scratch.

Yup, apparently it is a very advanced version of PRK, or least that is what the brochure says. :D:rolleyes:

[bengal34]

I was looking at laser eye surgery... I wonder if there's a way for them to put you out for the procedure.

[Bassai]

I was looking at laser eye surgery... I wonder if there's a way for them to put you out for the procedure.

Naw! they just put a device over your eye that makes you look like that one wizard in the Harry Potter movie, the guy with the bulgin eye and fake leg. :D

[Bassai]

Hunty, you getting PRK?

I'm still trying to figure out which is the best way to go when I get the scratch.

HSA account or your new yob may offer a cafeteria plan.

http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/

[Motogoalie]

http://www.aspyr.com/files/software/header_image/22/swbf_header.jpg

I think i got the wrong kind of Lazer surgery done.:(

[Bassai]

http://www.aspyr.com/files/software/header_image/22/swbf_header.jpg

I think i got the wrong kind of Lazer surgery done.:(

Next time ask for laser surgery. :rolleyes::p

[Leaferguy]

Yup, apparently it is a very advanced version of PRK, or least that is what the brochure says. :D:rolleyes:
Cool. I like that one better because if I remember correctly, it's bladeless. I do think the skill of the surgeon comes more into play, though. Just talkin' out my ass as usual, so if I'm wrong don't take it too hard :D


HSA account or your new yob may offer a cafeteria plan.

http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/
I know I have a health care FSA. It doesn't roll over. Between 401k deductions and health care money put aside, I'll be alright, tax-wise :D

[snlsmith]

I had mine done about 7 years ago. I was 20/200 in my right eye, 20-80 in my left. One year after, I was 20/20 in my right and 20/15 in my left. For the first 6 months or so after, I kept trying to push my glasses up (they had a tendency to slide down my nose) whenever I would get that phantom feeling.

I ended up with 1-1/2 valium as I had a problem with things around my eyes. it was even hard for me to touch my eyes, hence the glasses and not contacts. Needless to say I was very relaxed. For my safety, they had two nurses escort me to the recovery room after the procedure to make sure I did not fall down. Apparently I was a little too relaxed, because even though my wife was right there following us, she said I was hitting on the nurses. :rolleyes::p

My wife still yells at me for squinting at stuff. I tell her not to worry, I am just squinting a further stuff than I used to. Sometimes I think my vision may be getting worse again when distant things are blurry, but then I realize just how far away it is/must be when I look at a distant street sign and can read it with no issues.

[Huntster]

The day of the surgery was today. Showed up a bit early. Filled out the forms etc.

They re-took some of the test they did when I first had my consult.

Doctor comes into the room to explain some stuff with my eye and says I am not a candidate. :mad: ****in hell.

All the buildup and excite blown to crap with a few words.

To drown my sorrows I went to costco and bought a nice new 40" TV and carpet cleaner. Figured I had an extra $2500 to spend now. :rolleyes::p

[Timmaayy]

What makes you NOT a candidate?

[Leaferguy]

What makes you NOT a candidate?
A lack of eyes

[Motogoalie]

What makes you NOT a candidate?

C'mon, It's Hunty. Showing up to the procedure with a boner in sweat pants, probably.

[Timmaayy]

I thought maybe it was because of his cataracts. :p:p

(medicinal mj joke for the slow)

[Huntster]

C'mon, It's Hunty. Showing up to the procedure with a boner in sweat pants, probably.

Just the way your wife likes it, no? :p:D

Apperently my cornea was to thin in one area and slightly bulging. The doc explained they can't take a different amount off the cornea so the procedure would increase the odds of some eye problem happening (can't remember the name he used for it). I am already at risk for it happening and the surgery increases the odds dramatically. :mad:

[Motogoalie]

Sheesh hunty. Is there nothing not wrong with you?:( I got something or the other that greatly increased glaucoma risk:mad:

[Bassai]

Bladeless Lasik instead?

[Huntster]

Sheesh hunty. Is there nothing not wrong with you?:( I got something or the other that greatly increased glaucoma risk:mad:

Well, I also found out I may have a genetic disorder called hemochromotosis, which is means my body absorbs too much iron. :( It can lead to serious problems if not caught early. Luckily it was and the solution is to have a series of blood letting to get my levels down then have maintenence lettings every 6 months or so. I am hoping it is this condition because the other alternatives are worse (cancer, etc)

I am falling apart at 37. What else can I look forward too. :mad::o:(

[Huntster]

Bladeless Lasik instead?

The doc said lasik is even worse for my eye condition. He said right now the technology isn't able to work for me. Maybe in the future (of course I will be old and probably not care by then :rolleyes::p )

[Timmaayy]

Nah, at this rate, you'll be pushing up Daisies. :p:p