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Lasik Anyone? (Page 2)
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 2006-08-31 9:52 AM in reply to: #527224 |
Elite  3687     |  Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone?I had it din aboot fiv yers ago. Sory abot bad spellin, hard to typ wit braille computor. Just kidding. Best 2 grand I ever spent. Little tip if you are not in a big rush. When I went in to get checked it turned out I needed a little more expensive surgery than I could afford. So I pushed it off for a few months and eventually they sent me a $800.00 off coupon. Signed up the next day. Edited by mndiver 2006-08-31 9:55 AM |
| 2006-08-31 10:16 AM in reply to: #527454 |
Veteran 102 NoVa | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? Dr. Mark Whitten. I went to him also, about 6 years ago. |
| 2006-08-31 10:27 AM in reply to: #527224 |
Science Nerd 28760 Redwood City, California | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? I've looked into getting Lasik. One of the possible side effects is that the flap can lift up or shift. My father-in-law (who is my optometrist) has actually recommend that I get PRK instead because of the activities I do. |
| 2006-08-31 10:34 AM in reply to: #527224 |
Extreme Veteran 474 W. Michigan | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? I got the procedure done about 6 yrs ago and have zero complaints. I had the halo-effect for the 1st year or so, but had it with my hard contact lenses as well (astygmatism). I was nervous about it as well, but the place I went to allowed me to observe the procedure as someone else was getting it done. Once I saw not only the procedure, but how the machine & staff worked, I felt much better about it. Since I sail, wakeboard & waterski a lot in the summer and ski in the winter, this has truly been one of the best investments I've made. No more blind watersports (stupid hard lenses) or contacts popping out of dry eyes on the slopes. |
| 2006-08-31 10:53 AM in reply to: #527224 |
Expert 960 Highlands Ranch, CO | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? The best $1800 I ever spent. I had it done 4 years ago and have had no problems. |
| 2006-08-31 11:00 AM in reply to: #527647 |
Expert 1169 Sherman Oaks, CA | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? mcole158 - 2006-08-31 9:43 AM I looked into have Lasik about 5 years ago and I still ask my eye doctor questions every year when I have my exam. I still haven't done it but what I have learned is similar to what others have stated. Pick the best surgeon you can regardless of cost. The results you get really depend on the experience the surgeon has. I decided to still deal with contacts and glasses. Sounds just like me! I go to my optometrist every year and inquire about it and he had it done himself and he says I would be a perfect candidate. I am so damn chicken! I don't want to be that one in a thousand that goes bad. Seems I can get away with glasses. I don't know. I play the same game in my head. I even went to have a pre-exam and he said I could sign up and go. |
| 2006-08-31 11:01 AM in reply to: #527661 |
Expert 1169 Sherman Oaks, CA | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? mndiver - 2006-08-31 9:52 AM I had it din aboot fiv yers ago. Sory abot bad spellin, hard to typ wit braille computor. Just kidding. Best 2 grand I ever spent. Little tip if you are not in a big rush. When I went in to get checked it turned out I needed a little more expensive surgery than I could afford. So I pushed it off for a few months and eventually they sent me a $800.00 off coupon. Signed up the next day. Lol. Good one! |
| 2006-08-31 11:02 AM in reply to: #527459 |
Expert 1169 Sherman Oaks, CA | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? Konabound - 2006-08-31 4:10 AM Two friends had it done - dramatically different outcomes - older guy: worked although he went from needing distance glasses to needing reading glasses. - younger guy: got it totally screwed up and was off work for about a month and his sight is now worse. He actually went into a serious depressive episode over it. Since you only have one set of eyes I'd be shopping for the best or not have it done! Do you know why the young guy got it screwed up? Did he go to a back alley in Tijuana or have Dr. Nick Riviera do it or something? I could see myself going into a depression too if it was screwed up. Any details would be appreciated. Thanks |
| 2006-08-31 11:08 AM in reply to: #527224 |
Veteran 120 Raleigh, NC | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? YES! No regrets. I had it done in February, 2005. Best $$ I've spent on myself. Because I work on computers, wearing contact lenses caused me severe eye fatigue, so I ended up wearing glasses all the time. If I remember correctly, I was instructed not to swim for about 2 weeks after the procedure. It was amazing. Although I spent about 2 hours in the office, the procedure only takes about 5 minutes. Although my vision was blurry, I could tell a difference from the moment I got up off the table. They gave me valium and told me to go home and take a nap. I woke up 3-4 hours later and I could see clearly. I have mild irregularities in my eyes which caused me to see - the best way I can describe it is 4-pointed starbursts around lights at night. After the procedure, if my eyes are dry or fatigued at night, I still have the starbursts but they are more compact and multi-faceted...which actually bothers me less than before. However, I've never been wary of driving at night before or after the procedure. I did research on doctors in the area and solicited recommendations and opinions from friends who'd had the procedure to pick the doctor I ultimately used. You'll know when the time is right for you. |
| 2006-08-31 11:23 AM in reply to: #527454 |
Expert 1205 Herndon VA | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? Dr. Holtzman, who I think now works with Millenium Eyes here in Washington. They did have an office in Reston. Not sure if it's still there. Ernie |
| 2006-08-31 12:38 PM in reply to: #527224 |
Extreme Veteran 444 Olathe, KS | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? Good timing on the thread... I actually have my LASIK consultation this afternoon. This is something I've been wanting to do for years, but have been nervous about (and hesitant to pay for!). After doing some research, I think it is extremely rare for anyone to lose their vision; more common are the halos and night spots you might see. To me, that's worth it to be glasses-free. After wearing contacts for 13 years, I just can't take them anymore... my eyes get irritated usually within an hour, and I can't wait to take them out. Pretty much the only time I wear my contacts anymore is when racing or training- and I still run in glasses sometimes!  I'm in the camp of getting the best doctor you can, regardless of price. Also, new technology (IntraLase laser) can make the corneal flap cut by computer (instead of the doc's hand), so that eliminates human error from that part. It adds some $ to the price, but since that's where most of the complications occur, I think it's worth it! As as side note, if you are going to do the surgery, you should look into paying for it with a flexible spending account. This can save you a lot of money- I figured it'll save me around 20%. You just have to make sure you get a consult and figure out the total cost before you make your yearly elections for how much to withhold. And then you have to be able to wait till January.  This is what I'm going to do. Good luck with your decision! Edited by LindaKC 2006-08-31 12:40 PM |
| 2006-08-31 12:42 PM in reply to: #527224 |
Veteran 139 Concord, CA | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone?Hello, I just did it on 8-29-06 and yesterday 8-30-06 that I went for my check up I got 20/20!!! This is like magic!! I'm 3K poorer, but it's well worth it... I just have to stop swimming for a week or so, but besides that, everything else is great! Isaac |
| 2006-08-31 4:27 PM in reply to: #527224 |
| 28 | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? My husband has the surgery just over a year ago. He had the new interlase procedure as well. It was about $2500 per an eye, but we got the very best doctor we could find in Texas (Houston). It is your eyes after all. Because his corneas are thin he would not have qualified if it weren't for the interlase, which minimizes the amount of your cornea that is damaged when they cut it open, in addition to reducing the margin for error. He still thinks of it as miracle surgery. And by best doctor, I mean, he'd written textbooks and done some of the original surgeries. One thing we weren't really prepared for is that it is painful for the first couple of hours, but I just drove him home, he took a nap and he could see! He nearly panicked about it and cancelled it the day before the surgery, but his eye sight was already so bad, he finally decided that unless they actually blinded him they couldn't do anything to make his eyes worse than they already were. Turns out, we didn't need to worry. We also used flex spending. Since it's almost the beginning of the new year, you could declare the savings for 2007 and do the surgery in January as you repay the flex account through out the year. Good luck! |
| 2006-08-31 4:33 PM in reply to: #527224 |
Veteran 332 Calgary | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? I waited 8 years until the technology to do this improved to the point where I was confident in it, and had the procedure done in March of this year at Gimbel Eye Centre here in Calgary. I had the IntraLase flap and LASIK using the Nidek NAVEX System w/ a wavefront guided aspheric correction. (Which might not actually be available in the USA yet - these things get approved a lot faster in Canada, so they have had this equipment at Gimbel for over a year now.) Definately shop around for the best surgeon you can afford. There are all sorts of questions you can and should ask, PM me if you want the list I came up with. If you are young or participate in any serious impact sports (kick-boxing type of stuff), you might want to consider PRK instead of LASIK. Takes a bit longer to get "back to normal" initally (3-5 days vs. 1 day with LASIK), but can be "re-done" when you get older, and you don't have any chance of a "flap problem" due to impact. LASEK (with an E) is another good choice, but not a lot of surgeons have that equipment yet. (Gimbel doesn't do LASEK, but Mitchel here in Calgary does.) I had "dry eyes" for several months, but I do live in Calgary where 20% humidity is considered unbearably humid. I have not had "dry eyes" for several months now, so I am very happy with the outcome (went from -3.5 to +0.25 in both eyes.) |
| 2006-08-31 5:09 PM in reply to: #527224 |
Veteran 151 Kalispell MT | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? Best money I ever spent also. I had mine done in Denver because of my large pupils. The surgeon one one of the best in the country. I would highly recomend you find the best surgeon instead of the cheapest. There are lots of risks, just depends how much you want out of it. I had 20/700 before now I am 20/30. It was traumatic for me because it took awhile for the laser to correct that bad of vision, not every one goes under the laser for the same amount of time. I probably would be training like I have if I hadn't done it. I hated the sweaty nose piece sliding down my nose all of the time. |
| 2006-08-31 5:22 PM in reply to: #527224 |
Champion 5850 Michigan | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? had it, love it. nuff said. |
| 2006-08-31 5:33 PM in reply to: #527771 |
Extreme Veteran 392 , Queensland Gold member | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? GolfMark - 2006-09-01 2:02 AM Konabound - 2006-08-31 4:10 AM Do you know why the young guy got it screwed up? Did he go to a back alley in Tijuana or have Dr. Nick Riviera do it or something? I could see myself going into a depression too if it was screwed up. Any details would be appreciated. ThanksTwo friends had it done - dramatically different outcomes - older guy: worked although he went from needing distance glasses to needing reading glasses. - younger guy: got it totally screwed up and was off work for about a month and his sight is now worse. He actually went into a serious depressive episode over it. Since you only have one set of eyes I'd be shopping for the best or not have it done! He was quite short sighted beforehand so maybe he was on the edge of what could be corrected? (I'm not familiar with the extent that you can be corrected. He went to a reputable clinic (there are only a few here in Melbourne). I never asked him for the details because of the trauma he suffered it was a kind of unspoken no-go topic. Perhaps he was just the "statistical adverse outcome"? I think I have posted the only negative story so the overwhelming message seems to be get it down by the best and things should be fine. The difference is 'sposed to be amazing! I just wanted people to be aware that like all surgery, sh1t can happen. |
| 2006-08-31 7:44 PM in reply to: #527224 |
Master 1938 La Crosse | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? I wanna do it, but my health insurance bites -- does anyone get any help with this from their insurance, or is it considered elective cosmetic surgery? Yeah, I understand that you can take out money pre-tax in a flexible spending account, but is that it? |
| 2006-08-31 8:18 PM in reply to: #528277 |
Champion 8936 | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? Yep. I've never heard of insurance covering a penny of it for anybody. They just consider it an elective procedure. stupidnickname - 2006-08-31 7:44 PM I wanna do it, but my health insurance bites -- does anyone get any help with this from their insurance, or is it considered elective cosmetic surgery? Yeah, I understand that you can take out money pre-tax in a flexible spending account, but is that it? |
| 2006-08-31 9:35 PM in reply to: #528315 |
Science Nerd 28760 Redwood City, California | Subject: RE: Lasik Anyone? Some insurance companies do cover it, but you usually have to have vision insurance. If we get actual vision insurance (our current health care covers one eye visit per year), they will cover a portion of the LASIK. DerekL - 2006-08-31 9:18 PM Yep. I've never heard of insurance covering a penny of it for anybody. They just consider it an elective procedure. stupidnickname - 2006-08-31 7:44 PM I wanna do it, but my health insurance bites -- does anyone get any help with this from their insurance, or is it considered elective cosmetic surgery? Yeah, I understand that you can take out money pre-tax in a flexible spending account, but is that it? |
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