Thinking about Lasik - Page 2

limitup · 09-25-2012, 06:49 AM

I'm getting mine done on the 5th. Paying $4200 but like someone else said, your eyes aren't something to cheap out on. I remember I used to see signs around town touting the lowest prices - something crazy like $499 an eye - and I just cringed lol.

The place I'm going uses the latest and best laser (intralase with wavefront something blah blah blah) and they do the pro athletes in the area. I figure they are good as I'm pretty sure the sports teams vet the doctors they use pretty good.

Everyone I talk to who has done it say they wish they had done it sooner, so I'm going for it. The worst for me is every now and then when I'm playing I'll get a drop of sweat that falls into my eye just a certain way and it makes my contact move, then I can't see for the next 30 seconds or so. No more!!

r2473 · 09-25-2012, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limitup

I'm getting mine done on the 5th. Paying $4200 but like someone else said, your eyes aren't something to cheap out on. I remember I used to see signs around town touting the lowest prices - something crazy like $499 an eye - and I just cringed lol.

Just look at the machine / technology they are using.

It could be that this place does so many procedures, that they pay their expenses by volume. The $499 is no indication whatsoever of the quality.

Also, if you were to inquire, you'll find that nobody actually qualifies for that price. It's just to get people in the door talking to the salesman.

gh65721 · 09-25-2012, 11:55 AM

Got mine done 12 years ago, still see 20-20. Never will forget waking up next morning actually being able to see the clock

ollinger · 09-25-2012, 04:57 PM

Things are certainly not all rosy with Lasik. "Ophthalmology," the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, published a study in January indicating that problems such as starburst patterns in bright light, decreased contrast sensitivity, and dry eye were "relatively common" in people who've had the procedure. A study out of Ohio State found that a third of people report decreased night vision as a consequence of having had Lasik. Many subjects still need to wear glasses or lenses, though usually of less refractive strength. The notion that one can cut the cornea, either with a laser or a scalpel, and have no risk of adverse consequences, defies reason.

sureshs · 09-25-2012, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gh65721

Got mine done 12 years ago, still see 20-20. Never will forget waking up next morning actually being able to see the clock

That was actually the fan.

Just kidding.

sixftlion · 09-26-2012, 01:29 PM

About 10 years ago, I was together with a LASIK surgeon, one of the best one in the country. He did personally over 150,000 surgeries. It sounds like a lot, but when the LASIK was extremely popular (2001-2002), he was doing up to 100 surgeries per day. So when you choose your doctor, find one who's done many surgeries and has a lot of experience.

I worked in the LASIK office myself, for a year or two (on the side of my fitness business), and I used to be the laser operator. The price depends on what laser they use, some lasers (like VISX) have a special card that doctor has to pay for and it will increase the price of the patient. Nidek laser didn't have this extra fee, so the prices could be lower. Not sure if it is so still now.

Other things came out, like the custom (wavefront) technology which is supposed to be "like a fingerprint" of your eye and make the treatment so much better. Honestly, the regular Nidek/VISX treatment is just as good. For the marketing purposes, they have to promote the wavefront, because the price is so much higher.

I had LASIK done in 2002, just on one eye. The dryness you experience afterward is normal, and I was putting eye drops in my eye every hour or so and I was just fine. Went to my workouts a few days after.

The "life-time" guarantee means that they will do any enhancement necessary for the rest of your life. It can happen, because eyes are changing. After 40+ something, people become presbyopic (hard to read) and will need to get another treatment. I used to go to vision therapy and you can actually postpone presbyopsia with training your eyes. I am 47 now and no signs of presyopsia. When it comes, you don't need to wear glasses if you choose the mono-vision option. One eye for reading, one for distance and let the brain figure it out. It works for many people, some people's brain may never adjust. For athletes, it could mean a loss of perfect depth perception... but you can figure out all this later when the time comes.

I would highly recommend LASIK. It's very safe. If the doctor is skilled, they are hardly ever any complications, other than the patient doesn't listen to the doctor and digs in his/her eye and moves the flap a few days later.

The low prices $499 are marketing to bring the patient in. Very few people get the price (if you are maybe -0.5D or so), but it does happen. Often the price will climb up. You can get cheaper prices in higher performance centers (a lot of patients) because they compete with the "famous" doctors whom you pay $5K for the same procedure.

Mick · 09-26-2012, 01:33 PM

my corneas weren't thick enough, so they performed PRK. Later on, under the microscope another eye doctor told me, there's no sign that anything was done to my eyes, unlike Lasik.

sixftlion · 09-26-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

my corneas weren't thick enough, so they performed PRK. Later on, under the microscope another eye doctor told me, there's no sign that anything was done to my eyes, unlike Lasik.

Yes, Mick, PRK is great too, only the post-op care is much more painful for about two weeks or so. Some patients don't like to deal with that discomfort. LASIK post-op is pretty much pain-free. But if you have thin corneas, of course, you have no choice. Also, contact sports athletes, pilots etc have to have PRK so they wouldn't risk moving their flap.

red rook · 09-26-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixftlion

Yes, Mick, PRK is great too, only the post-op care is much more painful for about two weeks or so. Some patients don't like to deal with that discomfort. LASIK post-op is pretty much pain-free. But if you have thin corneas, of course, you have no choice. Also, contact sports athletes, pilots etc have to have PRK so they wouldn't risk moving their flap.

I read that Tiger Woods and Lebron James had Lasik. If its good enough for them...

mark999 · 09-30-2012, 11:20 AM

[quote=ollinger;6919090]Things are certainly not all rosy with Lasik. "Ophthalmology," the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, published a study in January indicating that problems such as starburst patterns in bright light, decreased contrast sensitivity, and dry eye were "relatively common" in people who've had the procedure. A study out of Ohio State found that a third of people report decreased night vision as a consequence of having had Lasik. Many subjects still need to wear glasses or lenses, though usually of less refractive strength. The notion that one can cut the cornea, either with a laser or a scalpel, and have no risk of adverse consequences, defies reason.[/QUOTE

totally agree. at the eye specialist center my wife goes to, every single doctor wears glasses, not a single doctor has had lasik surgery. maybe they know something we don't?
NOBODY knows the long term effects of this surgery.

Chas Tennis · 09-30-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg G

................................... But with the LASIK, you take away your nearsightedness, hence the eventual need for reading glasses.
...................

Lasik does not take away the need for reading glasses.

The eyes can accomodate or change the shape of the eye lens to change focal length when people are younger. Almost everyone loses the ability to adequately accomodate between say 45 & 55. Then you need reading glasses (unless you were near sighted before).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accommodation_%28eye%29

Lasik is usually done to reshape the cornea to focus at distance with both eyes. There is a Lasik option to have one eye for distance and the other eye for close up, 16" for reading. Then you don't need reading glasses. My friend has that and has been very pleased. I would not be interested and would want both eyes focused for distance. My friend says that depth perception is no problem once you get used to it but I would rather use reading glasses and have both eyes the same.

A new lens lens for cataract treatment is the Crystal Lens. It has a special mechanism that uses the old muscles that focused the removed eye lens to move the replacement lens in & out to focus. My wife could see both distance and was able to read in the treated eye. She usually prefers using 1.25 diopter reading glasses (one of her eyes is untreated and needs a reading lens.)

sureshs · 09-30-2012, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red rook

I read that Tiger Woods and Lebron James had Lasik. If its good enough for them...

Medical needs do not work like that ......

ollinger · 09-30-2012, 04:04 PM

^^ I read that Michael Jackson and Melanie Griffith had plastic surgery. If it's good enough for them...

sureshs · 09-30-2012, 04:07 PM

I am thinking of having a kidney removed because I heard many celebrities had it done.

limitup · 10-06-2012, 02:38 PM

Wow. Had my intralase wavefront lasik yesterday and it's simply amazing. Went home, took the valium they gave me, slept for about 4 hours, woke up and had 20/20 vision. Not one ounce of discomfort at any point either during the surgery or after. Totally freakin' crazy. I have to keep reminding myself to be careful and not touch my eyes because I honestly keep forgetting I just had it done.

red rook · 10-06-2012, 06:34 PM

Congratulations! What was your vision like before? Have you had any drawbacks?

TonyB · 10-06-2012, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limitup

Wow. Had my intralase wavefront lasik yesterday and it's simply amazing. Went home, took the valium they gave me, slept for about 4 hours, woke up and had 20/20 vision. Not one ounce of discomfort at any point either during the surgery or after. Totally freakin' crazy. I have to keep reminding myself to be careful and not touch my eyes because I honestly keep forgetting I just had it done.

Congratulations. Glad things worked out for you.

Please be sure to keep us updated if you have any relapses or discomfort. Seems like there can be complications with this type of surgery and some people complain of light sensitivity, shift in visual acuity (declines from 20/20), etc.

I'd like to get it done, but the horror stories make me stay far, far away from the surgery. Wearing glasses isn't THAT bad where I would risk having headaches all day, every day from a botched eye job. Or having to wear sunglasses every day because the light hurts my eyes. Yeah, I know the odds are slim, but that's exactly why I'm scared. I have bad luck.

09-25-2012, 06:49 AM	#21
limitup Semi-Pro Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: End of the rainbow Posts: 774	I'm getting mine done on the 5th. Paying $4200 but like someone else said, your eyes aren't something to cheap out on. I remember I used to see signs around town touting the lowest prices - something crazy like $499 an eye - and I just cringed lol. The place I'm going uses the latest and best laser (intralase with wavefront something blah blah blah) and they do the pro athletes in the area. I figure they are good as I'm pretty sure the sports teams vet the doctors they use pretty good. Everyone I talk to who has done it say they wish they had done it sooner, so I'm going for it. The worst for me is every now and then when I'm playing I'll get a drop of sweat that falls into my eye just a certain way and it makes my contact move, then I can't see for the next 30 seconds or so. No more!! Last edited by limitup : 09-25-2012 at 06:56 AM.

09-25-2012, 04:57 PM	#24
ollinger Hall Of Fame Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,419	Things are certainly not all rosy with Lasik. "Ophthalmology," the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, published a study in January indicating that problems such as starburst patterns in bright light, decreased contrast sensitivity, and dry eye were "relatively common" in people who've had the procedure. A study out of Ohio State found that a third of people report decreased night vision as a consequence of having had Lasik. Many subjects still need to wear glasses or lenses, though usually of less refractive strength. The notion that one can cut the cornea, either with a laser or a scalpel, and have no risk of adverse consequences, defies reason. __________________ Angell 105 WC Silverstring

09-26-2012, 01:29 PM	#26
sixftlion Rookie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Venice, CA, US Posts: 262	About 10 years ago, I was together with a LASIK surgeon, one of the best one in the country. He did personally over 150,000 surgeries. It sounds like a lot, but when the LASIK was extremely popular (2001-2002), he was doing up to 100 surgeries per day. So when you choose your doctor, find one who's done many surgeries and has a lot of experience. I worked in the LASIK office myself, for a year or two (on the side of my fitness business), and I used to be the laser operator. The price depends on what laser they use, some lasers (like VISX) have a special card that doctor has to pay for and it will increase the price of the patient. Nidek laser didn't have this extra fee, so the prices could be lower. Not sure if it is so still now. Other things came out, like the custom (wavefront) technology which is supposed to be "like a fingerprint" of your eye and make the treatment so much better. Honestly, the regular Nidek/VISX treatment is just as good. For the marketing purposes, they have to promote the wavefront, because the price is so much higher. I had LASIK done in 2002, just on one eye. The dryness you experience afterward is normal, and I was putting eye drops in my eye every hour or so and I was just fine. Went to my workouts a few days after. The "life-time" guarantee means that they will do any enhancement necessary for the rest of your life. It can happen, because eyes are changing. After 40+ something, people become presbyopic (hard to read) and will need to get another treatment. I used to go to vision therapy and you can actually postpone presbyopsia with training your eyes. I am 47 now and no signs of presyopsia. When it comes, you don't need to wear glasses if you choose the mono-vision option. One eye for reading, one for distance and let the brain figure it out. It works for many people, some people's brain may never adjust. For athletes, it could mean a loss of perfect depth perception... but you can figure out all this later when the time comes. I would highly recommend LASIK. It's very safe. If the doctor is skilled, they are hardly ever any complications, other than the patient doesn't listen to the doctor and digs in his/her eye and moves the flap a few days later. The low prices $499 are marketing to bring the patient in. Very few people get the price (if you are maybe -0.5D or so), but it does happen. Often the price will climb up. You can get cheaper prices in higher performance centers (a lot of patients) because they compete with the "famous" doctors whom you pay $5K for the same procedure. __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then is not an act, but a habit. www.TennisFitnessLove.com

09-30-2012, 04:04 PM	#33
ollinger Hall Of Fame Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,419	^^ I read that Michael Jackson and Melanie Griffith had plastic surgery. If it's good enough for them... __________________ Angell 105 WC Silverstring

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