My Eyeballs Were Smoking!!! Literally!!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

300EVIL · #1 07-22-2006, 01:56 AM

That’s right folks! I finally had laser vision corrective surgery two days ago. AKA... LASIK. They slice your cornea off with a razor blade, fold it back and obliterate the surface of your lens with a class IV excimer laser thus causes smoke and steam to rise form the surface of my eye!! OUTCH!!

Actually it didn't hurt a bit. They douse your eyes with a numbing solution that would make sticking a white hot needle in your eye feel comfortable.

(BTW: This is from a guy who could never get a contact lens in!) The Microkeratome... AKA, mini deli meat slicer of the cornea was the worst part. It didn't hurt, but was a little funky feeling because the donut shaped jig sucks your eyeball in place for the cut.

See Link: http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?p=microkeratome&ei=UTF-8&b=1&oid=4942ad1330e1769a&rurl=www.ipconsulting.org&vdone=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fvideo%3Fp%3Dmicrokeratome%26ei%3DUTF-8&vback=Results

From there, the laser makes the burn. You can’t see much with your cornea removed but you can see light blue sparks and smell burnt flesh. My dad came to pick me up, he saw the laser beam and the smoke. After that they wipe your lens off with a swab and fold back the cornea which heals and sticks in a matter of seconds.

The whole process takes about 2 minutes per eye and was really easy and comfortable. From there, I sat up from the operating table and walked out the front door. They sent me home with a kit filled with many eye drops and skiing goggles to keep dust out of my eyes. Post –op was fine. I closed my eyes on the way back home as they were very sensitive to light. After 3 hours resting, my eyes felt fine.

As for the results………

WOW!!,,,, I CAN SEE!!!

I started off with 15/20 and now I have better than 20/20 in just a couple of days! My eyes would make a hawk jealous! The only issue I have is “halos” around lights at night which they said I would see and will pass in a couple of weeks.

My eyes have never been this good, even with glasses! I find myself reaching for my glasses when I get up from bed or my desk but then I realize…. Uh, DUH! My vision is fine now!

In conclusion,, I love my new eyes! There is nothing wrong with wearing glasses but they were starting to bother me. They would slide off when looking down, cause a bad rash on my nose and were always fogging up. My best investment EVER so far….

I would highly recommend this procedure to anyone that has issues with wearing glasses. You won’t be disappointed.
Adam

cmac2012 · #2 07-22-2006, 02:17 AM

Whoa, high marks for courage. My vision is not too bad -- I'm legally required to wear glasses for driving but I'm just over the line into that requirement. I only wear them to drive and to watch movies or look at the stars. I can read menu boards in fast food joints easier with them as well.

What was your vision before the surgery, if you don't mind me asking?

The thing that blows my mind about that, is how do they fine tune the amount of laser adjustment that your particular corrective needs require?

I wish you the best, sounds like you found a good surgeon, I've read of some less than top of the line practitioners not doing so well (not to bring up negative vibes, man).

Carleton Hughes · #3 07-22-2006, 03:11 AM

You got balls,pal,no arguing that.

Been getting progressively more myopic as I get older,generally need new glasses every 2 years.

This procedure has been suggested to me but I generally do not make a co-operative patient,might have to sedate myself.

300EVIL · #4 07-22-2006, 03:13 AM

Hi cmac,
Thanks! I was a little worried going into surgery but I'd take that all over again versus a blood test. I HATE needles! Their paperwork sucks! They actually ask you if you will be providing a "WILL" before surgery!!!

Unfortunately they have to protect themselves from getting sued. Kinda like those drug commercials where they say; may cause diarrhea, bloating muscle cramps etc... ect.. you get the point.

My vision was 15/20 nearsighted myopia with astigmatism, before the surgery. I could see about 20 feet in front of me before everything was a blur.

As for the laser, they do a number of measurements and tests on your eyes pre-op. They basically map the surface of your eye's topographic form to see where the astigmatic abnormalities and convex measurements are. from there, the optics in the machine track the pupil of your eye. (cause your eye muscles are going to flinch.) The laser then vaporizes the high spots and reshapes the lens to focus on the retina in a matter of about 10 seconds.

I did my research on surgeons. I went with Lasik Plus. They have been in the US since the beginning. My particular doctor has done over 20K surgery's! Thus the Porsche in the parking lot! Nice guy, very quick and nice. The price fits the work though... I don't have optical insurance. It was definitely $2800 well worth spent! There's guys out there that will do it for $1000 but these are my eyes were talking about here!!! and no guarantees!!

cmac2012 · #5 07-22-2006, 03:29 AM

Hey good feedback. I read where you mentioned 15/20 in your first post and I thought you meant that was the temporary numbers after surgery.

Those numers are misleading for me. 15/20 sounds like it would be OK but then you have (had

) the other factors so I can see why it would be a good option for you.

Mine is 20/40 or thereabouts. If I had to wear glasses at all times I would seriously consider it.

Kuan · #6 07-22-2006, 07:49 AM

Congrats! My prescription is -9.25 on one side and -9 on the other. Jeebuz. I have horrible eyesight.

Jim H · #7 07-22-2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

Congrats! My prescription is -9.25 on one side and -9 on the other. Jeebuz. I have horrible eyesight.

My eyesight was about there too, -6.75, and 3.75 astigmatism in each.

In 2000 Lasik worked for me.

During the first surgery, the the right eye developed an imperfect flap or 'doughnut' when the blade did not cut in far enough in the middle. These events happen about 1 in 10,000. My surgeon had performed over 20,000 surgeries at that point, and I was his third such experience.

The flap was replaced immediately and left alone to heal for 90 days. At that point, I was able to go in for a second attempt.

My surgeon said that there had never been a 'doughnut' in the same eye twice, so

I now have 20/25 left eye on a bad day, 20/40 in the right due to a small 'wrinkle' that developed during healing. The good news is that this left me with 'monvision' so at my age I don't need reading glasses unless the print is smaller than an 8-point type. I need a mild prescription for night driving.

I could not be happier.

Dee8go · #8 07-22-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carleton Hughes

You got balls,pal,no arguing that.

Been getting progressively more myopic as I get older,generally need new glasses every 2 years.

This procedure has been suggested to me but I generally do not make a co-operative patient,might have to sedate myself.

Some people tell me I'm pretty myopic after hearing my opinions on various things. You think LASIK might help that?

Dee8go · #9 07-22-2006, 11:59 AM

My eyesight is pretty bad. I think it's 20/200 or therreabouts. I've worn glasses since I was in Jr High and loathe them. Wore contacts for awhile, but got to where my eyes wouldn't tolerate them anymore.

I had a neighbor who used to bug me about getting LASIK. He owned a chain of LASIK centers in the DC area. I asked him why his wife (who wears glasses, BTW) didn't get LASIK. "Oh, she doesn't trust the procedure," he said. "Yeah, me neither," I replied. Maybe one day . . .

davestlouis · #10 07-22-2006, 06:27 PM

my vision's horrible too, I can't even read the clock by my bed without pulling it right in front of my face. I only have 2 eyes and I'd hate to be the 1 in a million that something really bad goes sour on...I'll keep dealing with glasses and contacts, thanks.

Hatterasguy · #11 07-22-2006, 07:57 PM

My vision is horrible, I hate glasses because they are always in my way when I am working. Contacts, ehh I just can't stick something in my eyes.

In a couple of years I'm getting them zapped.

RobTheMod · #12 07-22-2006, 09:08 PM

No way in hell for me, man. I have 20/10 in my left eye and 20/20 in my right, no deterioration by the age of 30. I get squeamish about my eyes. I had to remove a bit of metal which caused a cornea scratch once, that was somehow almost terrifying. when the vision goes, I will put on my glasses and deal with it, no one's pointing a laser at my eyes.

cmac2012 · #13 07-23-2006, 02:26 AM

You guys who couldn't bear contacts, I'm down with that. I tried the "soft" contacts (yeah, right) about 20 years ago...God I could not stand that $h!t. Liking having a finger stuck in my eye full time, almost.

Must clearly be big differences in eyeball physiology cause some people seem to take to them quickly. I'd almost like to do laser surgery but my vision is not that bad so it seems like a foolish gamble. I dunno, maybe when I'm over 60 if I can afford it easily. Not sure if it's advisable at that age though.