Has anyone had the Lasik eye procedure done?

[SwampYankee]

Has it been awhile since you had it done? Everything ok? Would you recommend it?

I've been considering it. I've worn glasses for almost 25 years now. I would probably still wear some everyday frames with clear lenses because of my Alopecia (since I don't have any eyelashes there is the protection issue). Also they break up my otherwise blank face (not to be confused with my blank stare ). But there are times when it would be great not to need them to see!

I just wonder what the long-term prognosis is?

[Stoney]

and has had issues with dry eyes and some loss of night vision (more like the halos and stars around any pinpoint of light make the contrast ratio smaller).

You will still need reading glasses for close work and the computer monitor.

[MS Fowler]

After preforming it on myself-( foreign body in the eye that formed scar tissue and changed my optical prescription.) I had an eye surgeon do the real procedure.
Quick, non painful, no issues.

Well one. If you know what the optical aberration called "flare" is, I have that to a degree. That is, I have difficulty seeing highly back-lighted subjects. Like the numbers on a train locomotive at night when the headlight is in my eyes. My friend can easily see the numbers in that situation, but I cannot. Or like a deer in the road when back lite by oncoming traffic.
Other than that--no problems.

[HuskyMan]

I believe the procedure was first performed by eye surgeons in Columbia. Saw a television special on it, people still fly to Columbia for the surgery. Apparently some of the Columbian doctors taught our doctors how to do it.

[The Clk Man]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

Has it been awhile since you had it done? Everything ok? Would you recommend it?

I've been considering it. I've worn glasses for almost 25 years now. I would probably still wear some everyday frames with clear lenses because of my Alopecia (since I don't have any eyelashes there is the protection issue). Also they break up my otherwise blank face (not to be confused with my blank stare ). But there are times when it would be great not to need them to see!

I just wonder what the long-term prognosis is?

If you want to see like this guy does, you won't have the procedure done. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkwJ-g0iJ6w

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

If you want to see like this guy does, you won't have the procedure done. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkwJ-g0iJ6w

If I could see clearly now, I wouldn't need glasses or LASIK.

[The Clk Man]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

If I could see clearly now, I wouldn't need glasses or LASIK.

You will see what you need to see my Brother.

[MS Fowler]

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

After preforming it on myself-( foreign body in the eye that formed scar tissue and changed my optical prescription.) I had an eye surgeon do the real procedure.
Quick, non painful, no issues.

Well one. If you know what the optical aberration called "flare" is, I have that to a degree. That is, I have difficulty seeing highly back-lighted subjects. Like the numbers on a train locomotive at night when the headlight is in my eyes. My friend can easily see the numbers in that situation, but I cannot. Or like a deer in the road when back lite by oncoming traffic.
Other than that--no problems.

Ignore what this guy wrote!
My wife informs/ reminded me that I did not have Lasik procedure. She's right ( of course). It was a procedure involving using a laser, but not the Lasik.

[Bill Wood]

I had lasik about 7 years ago. Results continue to be pretty good.

No problem with dry eyes but, I do get halos around bright lights at night especially in my left eye. That's the eye that required the most correction.
My eyes were so bad (nearsighted) that one doctor refused to do lasik and wanted to do another procedure. Previously, I was wearing contacts. 7.75 diopter in my left eye and 5.75 in my right eye.

For the lasik, I chose to do "monovision". Basically, my left eye (dominant eye) is corrected for distance and my right eye is correct for reading. That way I rarely need glasses for any reason. About the only time I wear glasses is when I drive so both eyes are corrected for distance. It makes driving less tiring.

[okyoureabeast]

If you're considering the treatment, ask your optician for a referral to a competent lasik doctor. They can recommend a decent one. I see a retinologist yearly for a partially detached retina I had my sophomore year of high school.

A good laser eye doctor won't leave you with the typical visual problems.

[The Gears]

After looking into all the various laser techniques I opted for lens replacement. This procedure is usually reserved for cataract correction but can also be used for vision correction. The job takes fifteen minutes at the hospital day surgery. You don't even take your shoes off.
$350.00 for each lens, the government paid he rest. My night vision is better than 20 20 as more low level light is collected. I use reading glasses at the computer. $ store, $1.75.

[elchivito]

I have bionic lens implants too. For cataracts. Surgery is great, but for anything but cataracts lots of health insurance won't pay for it. If it's correctible by glasses, they won't cover it. I have multifocal lenses and don't need glasses at all.
I have friends who have had the Lasik surgery for regular, aging related vision issues. They all seem to have to continue going back periodically to get re-zapped as their eyes continue to change. Laser surgery doesn't alter the natural process of change with age.

[SwampYankee]

Thanks, guys. Interesting feedback! I'm nearsighted, I'd say 20/30, but they are otherwise healthy. The "halo" effect might drive me nuts. Good to know that might be minimized if using the right doctor.

Like I said, it's not a cosmetic thing for me since I'd still wear glasses most of the time. Glasses are a cosmetic improvement in my case! It's just there are times (mainly winter activities when fogging is an annoying issue, waterskiing/wakeboarding and swimming) that it would be great not to need them.

Now, I just need to get over the squeamish factor...

[sfloriII]

I had lasik done in '06. I'm very pleased, the only issue being the halo effect. I work in television so I also notice the lack of contrast during the day as well. Those are the only bad effects though, and after wearing glasses for about 30 years it was great to finally take them off for good.

If you have a stigmatic eye you may not be able to be completely corrected. My left eye is 20/25 because of this. Luckily my right eye is now 20/15, so I'm pretty good there.

Find a reputable doctor. Never go to one of those $300/eye clinics!

[The Gears]

elchivito. The multifocal lenses cost around $1,200.00 each in Canada. The same rules apply here but if you have a friendly eye doctor the suggestion of early cataract onset will sometime get approved.
Our ins program won't cover the lens cost but pay for all exams and surgery.