I urge people considering LASIK to properly inform themselves of the side-effects. Doctors can usually play down the possible consequences.

Please note, I'm not saying lasik does not help some (or a lot) of people. I am just saying that there are people who have ended up killing themselves due to lasik complications

http://www.lasikdisaster.com/
http://www.lasiknewswire.com/2009/12...isfaction.html

Straight from wikipedia:


My gf for whom having to wear glasses/contacts all the damn time has been a source of discomfort, confidence-loss, etc was super excited about LASIK. until she spent 10 hrs reading up on it online (yeah, turns out it makes sense to put in a few hours of research on your own before life changing decisions). Eventually, she decided there is no way she's doing lasik and eventually we came across something that looks much more promising, in the shape of contact lenses you wear at night that reshape the cornea.

To get an idea, I would compare the side-effects section of wikipedia's Lasik article to the article on this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthokeratology

with all things, and especially laser eye surgery, you get what you pay for.

I know, right? I just decided to spend several thousand dollars on a whim and hoped to get lucky.

would you recommend me taking LASIK, when my vision is like -0.50 - -0.75? i have some discomfort watching a movie in cinema, recognizing ppl from distance, driving is fine. hate glasses, hate contact lenses ( takes 1hour to put it in ), so not using any of it, for 2 years cant feel my vision is becoming worse.

I would say no. What is your visus without glasses?

How old are you? You should be sure that your vision is not getting worse (by an eye doctor).

Putting lenses in is a matter of training. After a while you can do it being drunk without a mirror (1st hand experience).

Edit: I can't come up with any circumstances where I would get lasik in your position. IMO the answer to your question should be almost always NO. The risks are not worth it.

lol you'd be surprised

That what, some people don't bother researching? You very well might be right. I got the impression that you were saying that people that have had the procedure done didn't bother doing even any cursory research about it which I found kinda insulting.

This is hard to answer because I have no idea what the quality of LASIK is in Lithuania.

Regardless, if you are going to consider it check up on the doctor/doctors you would consider and on potential side effects etc.

You have to research your doctors and their methods. They have been doing this surgery for years and years and years. It's not exploratory by any means. Most places in my area (DC area) are super careful about qualifying you as a candidate and take lots of measurements such that these machines are pretty much automatic. And in DC the market is pretty competitive adn they're still extremely careful, but the quality of doctor may just be better here than in other places.

I get a chuckle from the guy who scoffs at 20 years of LASIK having risks, but is excited about letting a contact lens reshape the cornea. I mean, I do expect that doctors will come up with better solutions than LASIK but how long will you need to wait until you are comfortable with those experimental techniques?

oh herro all

so my 1 year checkup was in early november which was right after Sandy hit so I had more important **** to do, and then I've just been busy, so I got it today.

Update:

My Lasik eye - 20/15
My PRK eye - 20/15

Lasik eye still feels better than PRK eye feels, though as stated both see equally well.

Still have a little dryness, though its less bad in the summer.

fyi - driving home after they dilate your eyes on a sunny day without sunglasses is probably the dumbest thing you can do....

Question for everyone. Does LASIK work if one eye is significantly stronger than the other and will it correct this problem?

I don't see any reason why it wouldn't, you should ask your eye doctor though.

but yeah, they tailor the procedure to each eye.

yes, as long as the worse eye isn't so bad that it's inoperable.

What's the going rate for Lasik nowadays in the states or specifically so cal area? I don't get all the hate with the groupon deals. FWIW it is currently at $1750.

I got a Groupon Excel Laser Center deal almost a year ago now, at the same $1750. They upcharged me for my astigmatisms another $1500 which is pretty standard, but I still have zero regrets. I've had no problems at all and love just waking up and doing stuff. And traveling is so much better without that extra bag of eye stuff and my glasses.

bump for 5 year update, vision still great after custom PRK in both eyes. -7.75R and -7.25L, now 20/15ish.

10 years and 2 months post PRK here.

20/20 for distance. I've had to start using cheaters for extended reading or computer work, but I'm 42, and this is not unexpected.

Can you get it again eventually?

Its not the shape of your cornea that makes you need reading glasses, but apparently the flexibility or something. It's a separate issue from long distance eyesight. LASIK corrects the shape of your lens for focusing properly but won't prevent you from needing reading glasses past 40 or so.

To have my near vision improved? Yes, but then I'd loose my distance vision. It's not a question of cornea shape, it's my focus muscles getting old. Happens to everyone.

Wow, I guess I'm 10+ years post surgery now.

Sometimes I'll get a bit of blurriness, but it's transient, I'm not sure if it's anything about my vision or medication or what.

I am approaching the age where I'll probably start to see some vision loss due to age factors but hopefully I still have at least 5+ years of relatively normal vision.

bump

any recent stories on this? what's the current rate per eye? Looking into this ATM and would like to know what people's current opinion of it is. Really more looking for motivation to go ahead with it, I'm sick of my contacts.

I'm ~4-5 years since PRK. Would highly recommend getting it done. I was terrible with my contacts, would regularly leave them in etc.

Vision is 20/15 now, no contact hassles. Highly recommend.

I'm 3 weeks post-PRK. I'm still not used to going to bed without taking my contacts out. It's amazing. Waking up and seeing clearly is mind-blowing as well. I am now ready for societal collapse, preferably via zombie apocalypse. Probably the best money I ever spent. (I was -8 in contacts)

I'd recommend PRK over LASIK. It takes longer for your eyes to reach the final result, but the process is healthier for your eyes long term (in my layman's opinion).

I spent 4k, but I went to the best guy in the state. You can probably get it done for half that, but this is definitely not a purchase you want to take the discount route on.

I just (potentially) took my contacts out for the last time.

I went to the eye doctor today thinking all I was going to do was price the surgery. Ended up being $2900 for both eyes, which was in my price range, and there one day a month surgery is next Thursday. The pre surgery appointment is a week from tomorrow, and I can't wear my contacts for that week so I really lucked out on the timing end. I'm pretty pumped-thanks to the advice of you guys and a couple of people I work with that have had this done by the same doctor, I'm going through with it.

Using my one time to not go blind!