http://www.ratemds.com/

I posted earlier in this thread. Ill give a quick update. It's been six months since the surgery and my eye sight has actually improved from the 20/20 I originally had following the first few weeks after the surgery. Couldnt be happier and still is the best thing I have ever done.

better than 20/20, i can't imagine!!!

my surgery is in 2 weeks!!!!11111111

just got approved for the chase freedom card to cover $2,500 of it. will use two other cards.

will get 1% cash back on $4,000 = $40, plus, $200 back from using the chase freedom card, and $100 back from the other card, = $340 back. Not a lot but better than nothing!

plus i'll figure out how to make the rest tax deductible.

Sweet results, I actually ended up 20/15 in one eye and 20/25 in the other. For someone who's needed glasses from like age 7 or so on, the fact that my eyesight was better than average in one eye was a tiny thrill. Just like being able to buy and wear cool shades.

Even my doctor was surprised by the vision improvement, it happens, but is not common. Usually, whatever your eye sight is following surgery is what your results will be over the long term.

Financially it took me about 5 months to save the 4600, but it was worth every penny. Ill have to check into the tax deductible thing myself. It sucks that my insurance doesnt cover it.

My wife & I had it done in 2000. A local radio station was running a promo: the first 101 people could have the procedure for $1,001 (both eyes). I was 44 at the time and was told that I would need reading glasses shortly after having the procedure. The operation went well and I was amazed at what I could see (I was -5/-6 before). Everything seemed to 'pop'. Truly a miracle. Fast forward 4 years and I could tell my long distance vision was starting to degrade. I went to the optometrist and she gave me a mild prescription (-1). I passed the DMV test without glasses but I really did need them at night. Fast forward another 4 years and I needed even stronger glasses. I was now a -3. I don't need reading glasses. I can still read the smallest print. Even though my experience was less than optimal I would still do it again. At least I had about 4 years of great vision.

My wife didn't fare as well. The operation never really helped her. She came out still needing her glasses. The doctor tried telling her she wasn't following her post-op instructions correctly. She was frustrated with the whole ordeal and didn't want to go back for a touch up.

GT, based on the admittedly small sample size of my family you have a 50/50 chance of being happy. JK. I'm sure everything will be fine.Technology has improved and there are many more success stories than not. Good luck and enjoy your new eyes.

just bought the post op eye drops - like $170, FFFUUUUU

Had lasik about 10 days ago, very happy with the decision. My vision wasn't awful, but went from having ~-3 in each eye to 20/15 vision within a day. I hope it lasts!

I'm going to expect some daily updates from you soon

ya monday is the big day.

omnomnom valium soon.

congratulations dvda i hope it lasts!!

Are the drops for numbing? Because yeah, you are going to need those. The doctor forgot to give them to me right after the surgery, so I didn't get them until my follow-up at 7 am the next morning. I literally had to pry my eyes open with my fingers to see anything at all, and my eyes were watering so badly that every time I did pry them open, hot tears would just pour down my face.

Then I got those drops. Bliss.

had it done in feb
now 20/15 in both eyes
the procedure was quick and painless
i thought the doctor was joking when he said he was done

Haven't read thread, but my wife had this done 3 years ago and has nothing but rave reviews. Quick, easy, painless procedure....better than 20/20 vision as a result.....guaranteed free touch-ups/corrections if need be down the line. Seems to be worth it if u can scratch the $$$ together.

Seriously? I didn't pay for any drops or anything. Ack.

Good luck with the procedure... chill out, it's quick and easy.

probably not the best idea to select your lasik doctor based on some radio "promo"

Yeah, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that if you want to treat yourself to the best of X that's available that you can afford, eye surgery is probably one of those times where you should splurge rather than skimp.

I'm lucky that my eye surgery and all the meds were free (was in the military at the time). If I had to pay for it myself, I'm pretty sure I just would have said "**** it" and gone on wearing glasses.

My only real concern is that my right eye had that injury about 8 years ago or whenever so now they're doing PRK in that eye. I feel like I should have gotten additional opinions, even though the place I'm going to is highly respected. Not additional opinions about whether PRK was necessary over Lasik, but whether or not the procedure should be done at all.


But I'm not about to cancel last minute..........regret, here we come!

How many days did most of you have to spend in the dark? I have -6.5 and -5.5 and i cant stand the idea of anyone or anything playing with my eyes although i cant see jack without my glasses or lenses

which brings me to the question: how the f did people like me (us) survive evolution during days when glass hadnt been invented????

PRK surgery, much less severe eyesight pre than you, I got the surgery Monday and was comfortable enough to turn lights on (as long as they weren't fluorescent) by Friday, IIRC. Fluorescents were a problem for a couple of weeks, but nothing so bad that sunglasses didn't correct it. I lost the night halos after around 5 weeks, didn't need eye drops for dryness after 2.5 months. Direct sunlight was the longest to completely heal, and I'm still slightly more light sensitive than I was prior to the surgery, but again, nothing that good sunglasses can't compensate for.

Also, if you are a runner, it will be a while before you can run again - the wind effect in your eyes is excruciating. After my profile expired I tried to run with my company and ended up having to have one guy basically run right next to me so I could run with my eyes closed. If you aren't a runner, no worries, although I imagine other activities that lead to wind sheer in the eyes (like riding a motorcycle without eye protection) would also be problematic for several weeks.

Getting Intralase SBK done next week. I had the choice between that and PRK (not a candidate for LASIK, plus my doc doesn't do LASIK anyway), and when they told me the difference in recovery time between the two, I couldn't imagine why anyone who had the choice would ever get PRK.

ya i wish i could just do lasik.

i need to find a pair of sunglasses that doesn't make me look even uglier than usual...i've never found a pair of sunglasses i liked.

i've got the sunglasses, i look ******ed in them but o well

i'm off to the surgery!! will post brief TR upon return assuming laser doesn't malfunction and burn through my eyes into my brain killing me instantly.

Be quick. The amount of time after the surgery where you feel basically normal is only a few hours. After that, it's hello temporary blindness (due to extreme light sensitivity, not actual blindness).

am not blind.

surgery sched for 2:00, waited for hour and a half procedure took 3 minutes.

lasik eye (left eye) perfect (but painful and stinging), PRK eye (right) i can barely tell there's a computer screen in front of me.

halo effect powerful and disconcerting.

no light sensitivity as of yet, well, nothing too bad.

$4,000 gone.

pretty sure lasik eye is just about perfect though.

okay, now my PRK eye is starting to hurt as i type this, going to go lay down.

go lay down asap you will need a day or two before you hang around a computer